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US3974347A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Switch assembly having rotatable, pivoted or slidable actuator and diode structure mounted between actuator contacts

Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1975-03-10
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1995-03-10
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Abstract

Abstract A manually actuated switch includes a pair of terminals forming switch poles and a knob which is manually actuated to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit across the poles. A pair of spaced contacts are embedded in the knob and resiliently grip therebetween a diode which controls current direction of the completed circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph Larue Lockard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 21:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H15/00; H01H15/005; H01H11/00; H01H11/0056; H01H23/00; H01H23/006; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0271

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
A diode switch, comprising: a housing, a pair of spaced terminals mounted in said housing and depending therefrom to provide electrical leads, a switch operator displaceably mounted on said housing, a first contact on said operator engaging one of said terminals, a second contact on said operator removably engageable on the other of said terminals and having a projecting resilient beam portion, a diode permanently press fit between said beam portion and said first contact to complete an electrical circuit through said terminals and said first and second contacts and said diode, said switch operator being displaceable to disengage said second contact from a corresponding one of said terminals to interrupt said circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
A diode switch, comprising: a housing, a pair of spaced terminals mounted in said housing and depending therefrom to provide electrical leads, a switch operator displaceably mounted on said housing, a first contact on said operator engaging one of said terminals, a second contact on said operator removably engageable on the other of said terminals and having a projecting resilient beam portion, a diode permanently press fit between said beam portion and said first contact to complete an electrical circuit through said terminals and said first and second contacts and said diode, said switch operator being displaceable to disengage said second contact from a corresponding one of said terminals to interrupt said circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said operator is rotatably mounted on said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said operator is slidably mounted on said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said operator is pivotably mounted on said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including means adhered to said diode securing said diode to said contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 138 words
A diode switch, comprising: a housing, a pair of spaced terminals mounted in said housing and depending therefrom to provide electrical leads, a switch operator displaceably mounted on said housing, a first contact on said operator engaging one of said terminals, a second contact on said operator, a diode permanently press fit between said first contact and said second contact completing an electrical circuit across said first contact and said second contact and through said diode, said second contact removably engageable directly on the other of said terminals without interposing said diode therebetween, thereby completing an electrical circuit through said first and second contacts through said diode and through corresponding ones of said terminals, and said switch operator being displaceable to disengage at least said second contact from a corresponding one of said terminals to interrupt said circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 138 words
A diode switch, comprising: a housing, a pair of spaced terminals mounted in said housing and depending therefrom to provide electrical leads, a switch operator displaceably mounted on said housing, a first contact on said operator engaging one of said terminals, a second contact on said operator, a diode permanently press fit between said first contact and said second contact completing an electrical circuit across said first contact and said second contact and through said diode, said second contact removably engageable directly on the other of said terminals without interposing said diode therebetween, thereby completing an electrical circuit through said first and second contacts through said diode and through corresponding ones of said terminals, and said switch operator being displaceable to disengage at least said second contact from a corresponding one of said terminals to interrupt said circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The structure as recited in claim 6, wherein, said contacts have C-shaped portions to resist collapse thereof and said C-shaped portions are compressibly engaged on opposite sides of said diode.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3194986A Cited
US3504198A Cited
US3588538A Cited
US3729600A Cited
US3746816A Cited
US3846791A Cited
US3858012A Cited
US3878344A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-08-10 1980-02-09 1980-08-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-08-10 1984-02-09 1984-08-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-08-10 1988-02-09 1988-08-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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