US3882296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leaf spring switching means
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A switch having a plurality of leaf spring type contacts held in a stacked, but spaced-apart manner, with each spring having one end thereof secured in a common plastic base. The base has slots formed therein to receive the leaf springs and also has holes therein, at right angles to the plane of the slots, to receive lead-in wires. To assemble the switch, the lead-in wires are simply cut off at their ends and inserted into their respective holes. The leaf springs are then inserted in their respective slots. Each leaf spring has a slotted appendage thereon which slips over a particular and unique lead-in wire within the housing, cuts away the insulation thereon, and makes contact with the metal conductor therein. The assembled switch requires no discrete terminals secured to the ends of the lead-in wires nor any screws, bolts or other fastening means to hold the leaf springs in the common base. The plastic housing holds the leaf springs therein by force-fit means.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Keith Townsend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/242; H01R4/2425; H01R4/2429; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/24; H01H1/26; H01H1/28; H01H1/58; H01H1/5844; H01H1/585; H01H50/00; H01H50/54; H01H50/56; H01H11/00; H01H11/04; H01H11/06; H01H2011/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A leaf spring type switch comprising: a plurality of leaf spring contacts having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of lead-in wires; a base of molded, insulative material comprising a plurality of slots formed therein and positioned in a side-by-side relationship with each other in a stacked manner, and with said slots all opening in substantially the same direction from said base; each slot lying in a separate plane with said separate planes positioned to intersect a first given plane at parallel lines of intersection; said base further comprising a plurality of apertures formed therein, each of said apertures being oriented to intersect different ones of said slots; one of said lead-in wires being inserted in each of said apertures to intersect said different ones of said slots; one of said leaf spring contacts being retained in each of said slots with its longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to said parallel lines of intersection; at least some of said leaf spring contacts having a notch formed therein, with said notch of each leaf spring contact being positioned to engageably slide over the particular lead-in wire inserted in the aperture which intersects with the slot in which said each leaf spring contact is inserted, to thereby make electrical contact with said particular lead-in wire; and actuating means for connecting and disconnecting slective ones of said leaf spring contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A leaf spring type switch comprising: a plurality of leaf spring contacts having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of lead-in wires; a base of molded, insulative material comprising a plurality of slots formed therein and positioned in a side-by-side relationship with each other in a stacked manner, and with said slots all opening in substantially the same direction from said base; each slot lying in a separate plane with said separate planes positioned to intersect a first given plane at parallel lines of intersection; said base further comprising a plurality of apertures formed therein, each of said apertures being oriented to intersect different ones of said slots; one of said lead-in wires being inserted in each of said apertures to intersect said different ones of said slots; one of said leaf spring contacts being retained in each of said slots with its longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to said parallel lines of intersection; at least some of said leaf spring contacts having a notch formed therein, with said notch of each leaf spring contact being positioned to engageably slide over the particular lead-in wire inserted in the aperture which intersects with the slot in which said each leaf spring contact is inserted, to thereby make electrical contact with said particular lead-in wire; and actuating means for connecting and disconnecting slective ones of said leaf spring contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 1 in which: each of said leaf spring contacts comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said base to securely hold said leaf spring contact in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said notched appendage is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said leaf spring contacts has its free end bifurcated with a cut-out portion of distinct configuration between the two legs formed by said bifurcation, and further comprising: card means positioned within said cut-out portions of said leaf springs contacts and constructed to move selected ones of said leaf springs contacts to make and break electrical contact between predetermined ones of said leaf spring contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 3 in which: each of said leaf spring contacts comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said base to securely hold said leaf spring contact in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said notched appendage is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
A leaf spring type switch comprising: a base of molded, insulative material comprising a plurality of slots formed therein and positioned in a side-by-side relationship with each other in a stacked manner and with said slots all opening in substantially the same direction from said base; each slot lying in a separate plane parallel with the planes of the other slots; said base further comprising a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures being oriented to intersect different ones of said slots; a plurality of insulated lead-in wires individually inserted in each of said apertures to intersect said different ones of said slots; a plurality of leaf springs each inserted in a given one of said slots and each comprising an element thereon constructed to engage the lead-in wire intersecting said given slot to remove the insulation from said intersecting lead-in wire and to make electrical connectIon therewith; and actuating means for connecting and disconnecting selective ones of said leaf springs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
161 words
A leaf spring type switch comprising: a base of molded, insulative material comprising a plurality of slots formed therein and positioned in a side-by-side relationship with each other in a stacked manner and with said slots all opening in substantially the same direction from said base; each slot lying in a separate plane parallel with the planes of the other slots; said base further comprising a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures being oriented to intersect different ones of said slots; a plurality of insulated lead-in wires individually inserted in each of said apertures to intersect said different ones of said slots; a plurality of leaf springs each inserted in a given one of said slots and each comprising an element thereon constructed to engage the lead-in wire intersecting said given slot to remove the insulation from said intersecting lead-in wire and to make electrical connectIon therewith; and actuating means for connecting and disconnecting selective ones of said leaf springs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 5 in which: each of said leaf springs comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said molded base to securely hold said leaf spring in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said element is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 5 in which each of said leaf springs has the free end thereof bifurcated with a cut-out portion of distinct configuration between the two legs formed by said bifurcation, and further comprising: card means positioned within said cut-out portions of said leaf springs and constructed to move selected ones of said leaf springs to make and break electrical contact between predetermined ones of said leaf spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 7 in which: each of said leaf springs comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said molded base to securely hold said leaf spring in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said element is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A leaf spring switch comprising: a base of insulative material and comprising: a plurality of slots formed therein and positioned side-by-side in a stacked manner in parallel planes; a plurality of apertures formed therein, each oriented to intersect at least one of said slots; a plurality of insulated lead-in wires individually inserted in one each of said apertures to thereby intersect at least one of said slots; and a leaf spring inserted in each of said slots, and comprising an element constructed to engage the intersecting lead-in wire to remove the insulation from said intersecting lead-in wire and to make electrical connection therewith; and actuating means to connect together selected ones of said leaf springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
A leaf spring switch comprising: a base of insulative material and comprising: a plurality of slots formed therein and positioned side-by-side in a stacked manner in parallel planes; a plurality of apertures formed therein, each oriented to intersect at least one of said slots; a plurality of insulated lead-in wires individually inserted in one each of said apertures to thereby intersect at least one of said slots; and a leaf spring inserted in each of said slots, and comprising an element constructed to engage the intersecting lead-in wire to remove the insulation from said intersecting lead-in wire and to make electrical connection therewith; and actuating means to connect together selected ones of said leaf springs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 9 in which: each of said leaf springs comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said base to securely hold said leaf spring in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said element is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 9 in which each of said leaf springs has the free end thereof bifurcated with a cut-out portion of distinct configuration between the two legs formed by said bifurcation, and further comprising: card means positioned within said cut-out portions of said leaf springs and constructed to move selected ones of said leaf springs to make and break electrical contact between predetermined ones of said leaf spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A leaf spring type switch in accordance with claim 11 in which: each of said leaf springs comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said base to securely hold said leaf spring in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said element is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A switch assemblage in accordance with claim 9 in which: each of said base portions comprises holding elements formed thereon with contact the sides of the slot in said base to securely hold said contact in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said element is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A switch assemblage in accordance with claim 9 in which each of said contacts has its free end therof bifurcated with a cut-out portion of distinct configuration between the two legs Formed by said bifurcation, and further comprising: card means positioned within said cut-out portions of said contacts and constructed to move selected ones of said contacts to make and break electrical contact between predetermined ones of said contacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A leaf spring type switch assemblage in accordance with claim 14 in which: each of said leaf springs comprises holding elements formed thereon which contact the sides of the slot in said base to securely hold said leaf spring in the slot in which it is inserted; and in which said element is constructed to mechanically grip said intersecting lead-in wire to prevent unauthorized withdrawal thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
A switch assemblage comprising: a plurality of contacts each comprising a flat base portion; a plurality of lead-in wires; a base of molded, insulation material having a plurality of parallel slots therein arranged in a stacked manner, and a plurality of apertures therein each oriented to intersect at least one of said slots; a lead-in wire inserted in each aperture to intersect a slot; a base portion of a contact retained in each slot; said slots and apertures being arranged and constructed to enable the base portion of each contact to intersect one lead-in wire to the exclusion of the remaining lead-in wires; and each base portion comprising an element constructed to engage the intersecting lead-in wire to make electrical contact therewith; and means for making electrical contact between selected ones of said contacts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A switch assemblage comprising: a plurality of contacts each comprising a flat base portion; a plurality of lead-in wires; a base of molded, insulation material having a plurality of parallel slots therein arranged in a stacked manner, and a plurality of apertures therein each oriented to intersect at least one of said slots; a lead-in wire inserted in each aperture to intersect a slot; a base portion of a contact retained in each slot; said slots and apertures being arranged and constructed to enable the base portion of each contact to intersect one lead-in wire to the exclusion of the remaining lead-in wires; and each base portion comprising an element constructed to engage the intersecting lead-in wire to make electrical contact therewith; and means for making electrical contact between selected ones of said contacts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |