US3887892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable resistance slide control
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-16
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A variable resistance slide control employs a housing having a front wall and a side wall integral therewith. A dielectric base having a resistance element and a collector element mounted thereon is secured to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall. A contactor engaging the resistance and collector element is constrained to move with a slider projecting outwardly of the housing through an elongated slot defined by the front wall and the base. The slider comprises a U-shaped section bearing against and interfitting with the front wall, a contactor frame provided with a pair of runners engaging the side wall, and a tolerance compensator limiting lateral movement of the slider. A pair of terminals secure the resistance element to the base and a bowed portion integral with each of the terminals electrically engages the resistance element at the innermost portion of the terminals.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur L Rozema
- 👤 John D Saik
- 👤 Mervin B Arisman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/38; H01C10/44; H01C1/00; H01C1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A variable resistance slide control comprising an elongated housing having a front wall and a side wall extending normal to the front wall, a dielectric base mounted to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall, the dielectric base having a top edge abutting against the edge of the front wall and having a bottom edge, the dielectric base being provided with notches communicating with the bottom edge, a resistance element and a collector element supported on the base, a plurality of terminals connected to the resistance element and to the collector element for connecting the control to an external electrical circuit, the terminals being partially received in the notches provided in the base, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor constrained to move with the control operating means, the contactor wipably engaging said resistance element and the collector element, the edge of the front wall of the housing and the top edge of the dielectric base being spaced from each other and defining an elongated slot, the control operating means having a portion extending through the slot and bearing against the front wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A variable resistance slide control comprising an elongated housing having a front wall and a side wall extending normal to the front wall, a dielectric base mounted to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall, the dielectric base having a top edge abutting against the edge of the front wall and having a bottom edge, the dielectric base being provided with notches communicating with the bottom edge, a resistance element and a collector element supported on the base, a plurality of terminals connected to the resistance element and to the collector element for connecting the control to an external electrical circuit, the terminals being partially received in the notches provided in the base, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor constrained to move with the control operating means, the contactor wipably engaging said resistance element and the collector element, the edge of the front wall of the housing and the top edge of the dielectric base being spaced from each other and defining an elongated slot, the control operating means having a portion extending through the slot and bearing against the front wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
191 words
A variable resistance slide control comprising an elongated housing having a front wall and a side wall extending normal to the front wall, a dielectric base mounted to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall, the dielectric base having a top edge abutting against the edge of the front wall and having a bottom edge, the dielectric base being provided with notches communicating with the bottom edge, a resistance element and a collector element supported on the base, a plurality of terminals connected to the resistance element and to the collector element for connecting the control to an external electrical circuit, the terminals being partially received in the notches provided in the base, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor constrained to move with the control operating means, the contactor wipably engaging said resistance element and the collector element, the edge of the front wall of the housing and the top edge of the dielectric base being spaced from each other and defining an elongated slot, the control operating means having a portion extending through the slot and bearing against the front wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
191 words
A variable resistance slide control comprising an elongated housing having a front wall and a side wall extending normal to the front wall, a dielectric base mounted to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall, the dielectric base having a top edge abutting against the edge of the front wall and having a bottom edge, the dielectric base being provided with notches communicating with the bottom edge, a resistance element and a collector element supported on the base, a plurality of terminals connected to the resistance element and to the collector element for connecting the control to an external electrical circuit, the terminals being partially received in the notches provided in the base, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor constrained to move with the control operating means, the contactor wipably engaging said resistance element and the collector element, the edge of the front wall of the housing and the top edge of the dielectric base being spaced from each other and defining an elongated slot, the control operating means having a portion extending through the slot and bearing against the front wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the operating means comprises a U-shaped section interfitting with the front wall and slidably supported thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control of claim 2, wherein the legs of the U-shaped section of the operating means slidably engage the inner and outer surfaces of the front wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the dielectric base contains an elongated indentation defining the edge thereof, and the elongated indentation and the edge of the front wall define the elongated slot facing a side of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control of claim 1, wherein a frame extends rearwardly from one leg of the U-shaped section of the operating means, and the contactor is constrained to move with the frame of the operating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control of claim 5, wherein a pair of runners extending from the frame of the operating means slidably engage the inner surface of the side wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control of claim 6, wherein the runners extending from the frame of the operating means prevent lateral movement of the slider toward the side wall, and a tolerance compensator integral with the frame of the operating means and extending toward the dielectric base limits lateral movement of the slider away from the side wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The control of claim 5, wherein a tolerance compensator extends laterally from the frame of the operating means for limiting lateral movement of the frame away from the side wall, the end of the tolerance compensator being engageable with the contactor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The control of claim 1, wherein the housing has a U-shaped cross section, one of the legs of the U defining the front wall, the other leg of the U defIning a rear wall and the bight portion of the U defining the side wall, the housing is of sheet metal and the slider is of electrically nonconductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a variable resistance control, the combination comprising an elongated housing having a U-shaped cross section, a dielectric base supported by the housing and defining a first side wall of the housing, a resistance element and a collector element supported on the base, the housing being defined by a front wall, a rear wall and a second side wall integral with the front and rear walls, a slider comprising a U-shaped section having legs interfitting with the front wall and slidably supported thereon, the legs slidably engaging the inner and outer surfaces of the front wall, and a contactor disposed in the housing and wipably engaging the resistance element and the collector element, the contactor being constrained to move with the slider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a variable resistance control, the combination comprising an elongated housing having a U-shaped cross section, a dielectric base supported by the housing and defining a first side wall of the housing, a resistance element and a collector element supported on the base, the housing being defined by a front wall, a rear wall and a second side wall integral with the front and rear walls, a slider comprising a U-shaped section having legs interfitting with the front wall and slidably supported thereon, the legs slidably engaging the inner and outer surfaces of the front wall, and a contactor disposed in the housing and wipably engaging the resistance element and the collector element, the contactor being constrained to move with the slider.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control of claim 10, further comprising a pair of end walls integral with the side wall and closing the ends of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control of claim 11, wherein a pair of mounting tabs are integral with the end walls for securing the control to a mounting panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The control of claim 10, wherein the front wall and the dielectric base are spaced from each other and define an elongated slot through which the slider projects outwardly of the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a variable resistance control, the combination comprising a housing, a dielectric base supported by the housing, a resistance element containing a resistance path and a collector element supported on the base, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor wipably engaging the resistance element and the collector element and constrained to move with the operating means and terminal means joined to the resistance element for connecting the ends of the resistance path to an external electrical circuit, the terminal means comprising a curved portion having a first edge and a second edge spaced apart from the first edge, the first edge being disposed on the resistance element nearer said resistance path than the second edge and making electrical contact with the resistance path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a variable resistance control, the combination comprising a housing, a dielectric base supported by the housing, a resistance element containing a resistance path and a collector element supported on the base, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor wipably engaging the resistance element and the collector element and constrained to move with the operating means and terminal means joined to the resistance element for connecting the ends of the resistance path to an external electrical circuit, the terminal means comprising a curved portion having a first edge and a second edge spaced apart from the first edge, the first edge being disposed on the resistance element nearer said resistance path than the second edge and making electrical contact with the resistance path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control of claim 14, wherein the terminal means comprises attaching means integral with the curved portion, the attaching means affixing the terminal means and the resistance element to said base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control of claim 15, wherein the resistance element contains an end tab and the attaching means is disposed around the end tab for securing the resistance element to the base.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
134 words
A variable resistance control comprising an elongated housing having a plurality of walls, a dielectric base supported by the housing, a resistance element containing a resistance path and a collector element supported on the base, a pair of end tabs integral with the resistance element and of greater width than the resistance element, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor constrained to move with the control operator means, the contactor wipably engaging the resistance path and the collector element, and a terminal joined to the base and the resistance element, the terminal having a first portion and a second portion spaced from said first portion, the first portion clinching the end tabs of the resistance element to the base and the second portion making contact with the resistance element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
A variable resistance control comprising an elongated housing having a plurality of walls, a dielectric base supported by the housing, a resistance element containing a resistance path and a collector element supported on the base, a pair of end tabs integral with the resistance element and of greater width than the resistance element, control operating means supported for movement relative to the housing, a contactor constrained to move with the control operator means, the contactor wipably engaging the resistance path and the collector element, and a terminal joined to the base and the resistance element, the terminal having a first portion and a second portion spaced from said first portion, the first portion clinching the end tabs of the resistance element to the base and the second portion making contact with the resistance element.
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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |