Electrical switch

Claim 2

An electrical switch comprising a casing, an elongated switch blade having a pair of ends and a contact portion mounted within the casing so that the contact portion thereof is movable between a first position and a second position, the switch blade having a depressed portion between the ends thereof, means biasing the contact portion of the switch blade toward the first position, the biasing means providing a tensile force on the switch blade tending to straighten the depressed portion, and actuating means movably mounted in the casing, the actuating means being received by the depressed portion of the switch blade and being engageable therewith, the actuating means being movable from a first to a second position in the direction in which the depressed portion of the switch blade is depressed, movement of the actuating means from its first position to its second position causing movement of the contact portion of the switch blade from its first position to its second position.

Claim 3

The switch of claim 1 in which the biasing means is provided by a tongue portion provided integrally with the switch blade.

Claim 4

The switch of claim 1 in which the switch blade includes a pair of end portions and a pair of spaced-apart leg portions extending between the end portions, said depressed portion being provided in each of the leg portions.

Claim 5

The switch of claim 3 in which the casing means is provided by a tongue portion provided integrally with the switch blade and extending from one of the end portions between the leg portions.

Claim 6

The switch of claim 4 in which the tongue portion is substantially flat when the contact portion is in its first position, movement of the contact portion to second position causing bending of the tongue portion.

Claim 7

The switch of claim 1 in which the depressed portion extends below a line extending between the ends of the switch blade, the switch blade having a raised portion between the ends thereof which extends above a line extending between the ends of the switch blade.

Claim 8

The switch of claim 1 in which the switch blade includes a pair of end portions and a pair of spaced-apart leg portions extending between the end portions, said depressed portion being provided in each of the leg portions, the biasing means being provided by a tongue portion provided integrally with the switch blade and extending from one of the end portions between the leg portions, the tongue portion having a pair of lateral edges, the switch blade having an opening adjacent the juncture between each lateral edge of the tongue portion and said one end portion, said one end portion having a pair of lateral flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of said one end portion.

Claim 9

The switch of claim 1 in which the switch blade includes a pair of substantailly flat end portions and a pair of spaced-apart leg portions extending between the end portions, the contact portion being provided by one of the end portions, each of the leg portions having a general S-shape provided by a first curved portion extending downwardly from one of the end portions and a second curved portion extending upwardly from the other end portion, the first curved portion of each of the leg portions providing the depressed portion of the switch blade.

Claim 10

The switch of claim 8 in which the biasing means is provided by a tongue portion provided integrally with the switch blade and extending from one of the end portions between the leg portions.

Claim 11

A snap action electrical switch comprising a casing, a common terminal, a normally closed terminal, and a normally open terminal mounted in the casing, a switch blade movably mounted within the casing and engaging the common terminal, the switch blade having a pair of substantially straight end portions, a pair of spaced-apart leg portions extending between the end portions, each leg portion having a depressed portion extending below the planes of the end portions, and a tongue portion extending from one of the end portions between the leg portions, first abutment means within the casing engaging the tongue portion and second abutment means within the casing engaging one of the end portions whereby the depressed portions are tensioned and the other end portion is biased into engagement with the normally closed terminal, and an actuator movably mounted within the casing above the depressed portions of the legs of the switch blade, the actuator being movable in the direction in which the depressed portions extend below the end portions to engage the depressed portions and to move said other end portion out of engagement with normally closed terminal and into engagement with the normally open teRminal.

Claim 12

A snap action electrical switch comprising a casing, a common terminal, a normally closed terminal, and a normally open terminal mounted in the casing, a switch blade movably mounted within the casing and engaging the common terminal, the switch blade having a pair of substantially straight end portions, a pair of spaced-apart leg portions extending between the end portions, each leg portion having a depressed portion extending below the planes of the end portions, and a tongue portion extending from one of the end portions between the leg portions, first abutment means within the casing engaging the tongue portion and second abutment means within the casing engaging one of the end portions whereby the depressed portions are tensioned and the other end portion is biased into engagement with the normally closed terminal, and an actuator movably mounted within the casing above the depressed portions of the legs of the switch blade, the actuator being movable in the direction in which the depressed portions extend below the end portions to engage the depressed portions and to move said other end portion out of engagement with normally closed terminal and into engagement with the normally open teRminal.

Claim 13

The switch of claim 10 in which at least one of the abutment means is provided by the common terminal.

Claim 14

The switch of claim 10 in which the common terminal is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of leg portions, one of the leg portions of the common terminal providing said first abutment means and the other leg portion of the common terminal providing said second abutment means.

Claim 15

The switch of claim 10 in which each of the leg portions of the switch blade includes a raised portion adjacent the depressed portion thereof, each raised portion extending above the planes of the end portions substantially the same distance as the depressed portions extend below the planes of the end portions.

Claim 16

The switch of claim 10 in which the actuator includes a pair of spaced-apart engaging portions and a centering portion extending downwardly between the engaging portions, each of the engaging portions engaging the depressed portion of one of the legs of the switch blade and the centering portion extending downwardly between the legs.

Claim 17

The switch of claim 10 in which each depressed portion includes a substantially straight central portion which extends generally parallel to the end portions.

Claim 18

The switch of claim 10 in which the tongue portion is substantially straight when said other end engages the normally closed terminal.

Claim 19

The switch of claim 10 in which the tongue portion includes a pair of lateral edges, the switch blade having an opening adjacent the juncture between each lateral edge of the tongue portion and said one end portion, said one end having a pair of lateral flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of said one end portion.

Claim 20

The switch of claim 17 in which each opening adjacent the juncture between each lateral edge of the tongue portion has a diameter of at least five time the thickness of the switch blade.

Claim 21

An electrically conductive switch blade for an electrical switch having switch blade actuating means, the switch blade having a pair of end portions, a tension member extending between the end portions, and a compression member extending from one of the end portions, the tension member being formed of flexible and resilient material and having a depressed portion extending below the end portions of the switch blade, the switch blade being adapted to be mounted within the switch so that the depressed portion is prestressed by the compresssion member and is positioned below the actuating means whereby engagement of the depressed portion by the actuating means to move the switch blade reduced the net tension forces within the depressed portion.

Claim 22

An electrically conductive switch blade for an electrical switch having switch blade actuating means, the switch blade having a pair of end portions, a tension member extending between the end portions, and a compression member extending from one of the end portions, the tension member being formed of flexible and resilient material and having a depressed portion extending below the end portions of the switch blade, the switch blade being adapted to be mounted within the switch so that the depressed portion is prestressed by the compresssion member and is positioned below the actuating means whereby engagement of the depressed portion by the actuating means to move the switch blade reduced the net tension forces within the depressed portion.

Claim 23

The structure of claim 19 in which the switch blade is provided with an opening in said one end portion adjacent the juncture between the tension member and the compression member, the opening having a diameter of at least five times the thickness of the end portion.

Claim 24

The structure of claim 20 including a reinforcing flange extending from said one end portion generally perpendicularly thereto.

Claim 25

The structure of claim 19 in which the tension member comprises of spaced-apart leg portions extending between the end portions, said depressed portion being provided in each of the leg portions, the compression member being provided by a tongue portion provided intergrally with the switch blade and extending from said one end portion between the leg portions, the tongue portion having a pair of leteral edges, the switch blade having an opening in said one end portion adjacent the juncture between each lateral edge of the tongue portion and the adjacent leg portion, said one end portion having a pair of lateral flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of said one end portion.

Claim 26

The structure of claim 22 in which said openings have a diameter of at least five times the thickness of the end portion.