Proximity actuated magnetic button-contactor assembly for switches

Claim 1

A proximity magnetically actuated electrical switch for selectively making and breaking an electrical circuit, comprising: a rectangular channel defined by a floor member having an inner surface and an outer surface, a pair of spaced apart parallel sidewall members, and a pair of end wall members; said side wall members and end wall members being adjacent to and upstanding a distance from the inner surface of said floor member; said side wall members and said inner surface of said floor member being electrically conductive; a first circuit connector means electrically connected to said conductive wall members and inner surface for connection with an electrical circuit to be controlled by said switch; at least one of said end wall members comprising a fixed electrically conductive member mounted in electrically nonconductive relation with said wall members and inner surface; a second circuit connector means electrically connected to said one end wall member for connection with said electrical circuit; a cylindrical button contactor member slidably received within said channel; said button contactor member having a first end disposed on said inner surface of said floor member; said first end and the circular wall of said cylindrical member comprising a cylindrical capsule of electrically conductive material; a permanent magnetic member disposed within said cylindrical capsule with a first pole facing toward said inner surface of said floor member and with a second pole of opposite polarity facing away from said inner surface; the outer diameter of said cylindrical capsule being sufficiently less than the spacing between said side wall members of said channel to permit the button contactor member to freely side between said end members of said channel; a layer of magnetically permeable material disposed on said outer surface of said channel, and being of sufficient permeability and mass to sustain said cylindrical capsule in sliding electrical contact with said channel; a nonmagnetic window mounted in spaced apart relation to said floor member inner surface to enclose said channel; a magnetic actuating member positioned externally of said channel for movement adjacent to and along said window; said actuating member having a magnetic pole facing said window of the same polarity as said second pole of said button contactor member, so that said actuating member exerts a repulsive force tending to urge said button contactor member for sliding travel along said channel to contact either one of said end members; and switch control means operatively engaging said actuating member to selectively move said facing magnetic pole along substantially the same path of travel which said button contactor member can travel within said channel, so that such movement of the repulsive force of said actuating member causes snap-action movement of said button contactor member into contact with a selected one of said end members.