US3974352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch assembly module with insertable actuators and switches
Assignee: Rowe International Inc
•
Filing: 1975-01-15
•
Granted: 1976-08-10
•
Expires: 1995-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A manually disassemblable push-button and switch unit assembly for a merchandising machine in which an elongated frame is formed with a plurality of spaced recesses open at the top and at the side of the frame and with a plurality of openings extending through the frame from the top to the bottom and disposed between the respective recesses to permit respective switch units to be inserted into the recesses through the side openings thereof with their actuating elements accessible through the top openings of the recess and with the switch units held in position by laterally extending spring fingers on the frame. Resilient fingers on a push-button extend through the frame openings at the sides of the recess so as to mount the push-buttons over the top openings of the recesses and for limited movement toward and away from the switch units to operate the actuating elements thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Irving Pitel
- 👤 Richard S. Silverman
- 👤 Richard J. Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:17
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/38; G07F11/42; G07F5/00; G07F5/18; G07F9/00; G07F9/002; G07F9/02; G07F9/023; H; H01; H01H; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/002; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/066; H01H9/00; H01H9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a merchandising machine, a manually disassemblable push-button and switch unit assembly including a frame formed with a recess providing a side opening and a top opening, a switch unit having an element accessible externally of said unit for operating said switch unit, said switch unit adapted to be assembled in said frame recess through said side opening with said element accessible through said top opening, first manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said switch unit for releasably retaining said switch unit in said recess, a push-button, second manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said push-button for releasably mounting said push-button on said frame over said top opening in engagement with said actuating element and for limited movement toward and away from said switch unit to actuate said actuating element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a merchandising machine, a manually disassemblable push-button and switch unit assembly including a frame formed with a recess providing a side opening and a top opening, a switch unit having an element accessible externally of said unit for operating said switch unit, said switch unit adapted to be assembled in said frame recess through said side opening with said element accessible through said top opening, first manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said switch unit for releasably retaining said switch unit in said recess, a push-button, second manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said push-button for releasably mounting said push-button on said frame over said top opening in engagement with said actuating element and for limited movement toward and away from said switch unit to actuate said actuating element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a merchandising machine, a manually disassemblable push-button and switch assembly including an elongated frame formed with a plurality of recesses spaced along the length thereof, each of said recesses providing a side opening in said frame and a top opening in said frame, a plurality of individual switch units each having an element accessible externally of the unit for operating the switch unit, each of said switch units adapted to be assembled in one of said frame recesses through its side opening with the actuating element of the switch unit accessible through the corresponding top opening, first respective manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said switch units for releasably retaining said switch units in said recesses, a plurality of push-buttons, respective second manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said push-buttons for releasably mounting said push-buttons on said frame over the respective top openings in engagement with said actuating elements and for limited movement toward and away from said switch units to actuate said elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a merchandising machine, a manually disassemblable push-button and switch assembly including an elongated frame formed with a plurality of recesses spaced along the length thereof, each of said recesses providing a side opening in said frame and a top opening in said frame, a plurality of individual switch units each having an element accessible externally of the unit for operating the switch unit, each of said switch units adapted to be assembled in one of said frame recesses through its side opening with the actuating element of the switch unit accessible through the corresponding top opening, first respective manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said switch units for releasably retaining said switch units in said recesses, a plurality of push-buttons, respective second manually operable interengageable means on said frame and on said push-buttons for releasably mounting said push-buttons on said frame over the respective top openings in engagement with said actuating elements and for limited movement toward and away from said switch units to actuate said elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as in claim 2 in which said first interengageable means comprise respective spring fingers on said frame extending outwardly therefrom adjacent to said side openings and interengageable elements on said spring fingers and on said switch units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as in claim 3 in which said interengageable elements comprise detents on said fingers and recesses on said switch units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
An assembly as in claim 2 including respective intermediate openings in said frame between said recesses, each of said intermediate openings extending through said frame from top to bottom, and in which said second interengageable means comprise resilient fingers on said push-buttons, said fingers adapted to extend through said intermediate openings and lugs on said fingers for engaging the bottom of said frame to limit movement of said push-buttons away from said switch units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
An assembly as in claim 2 including respective intermediate openings in said frame between said recesses, said intermediate openings extending through said frame from top to bottom thereof, and in which said second interengageable means comprise respective pairs of spring fingers on said push-buttons, the spring fingers of a pair extending through respective intermediate openings at the sides of the recess with which a push-button is associated and a lug on one finger of each pair for engaging the underside of the frame adjacent to the corresponding intermediate opening to limit movement of the push-button away from its associated switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
As assembly as in claim 6 in which said first interengageable means comprise respective laterally extending spring fingers on said frame adjacent said side openings and interengageable elements on said lateral spring fingers and on said switch units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2853585A
Cited
US3182163A
Cited
US3586806A
Cited
US3619475A
Cited
US3663780A
Cited
US3749873A
Cited
US3868486A
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 |