Plural switch sliding cams atcuated by predetermined program grooves associated with common driving mechanism

Claim 2

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a plurality of means selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing, a pair of means disposed generally in overlaying relation in said casing and movable with respect to each other in a predetermined program for controlling the operation of said circuit completing means, and means rotatably mounted in said casing for driving each of said controlling means in the predetermined program with respect to each other so as to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means.

Claim 3

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said driving means includes means for respectively camming said controlling means to drive them in the predetermined program with respect to each other.

Claim 4

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said controlling means respectively include means for following engagement with said camming means.

Claim 5

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing includes means for generally isolating at least in part each of said circuit completing means from the others thereof.

Claim 6

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controlling means and said driving means respectively include means for camming engagement so as to effect the driving of said controlling means upon the rotation of said driving means.

Claim 7

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit completing means are disposed in said casing generally in opposed row formations, and means on each of said controlling means for actuating said circuit completing means in at least one of said opposed row formations thereof so as to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means.

Claim 8

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pair of means within said casing and respectively engaged with said controlling means for guiding the movements of said controlling means generally linearly with respect to each other.

Claim 9

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controlling means include a pair of plates disposed in the overlaying relation in said casing, at least one pair of opposite edges on said plates, and means respectively on said at least one opposite edge pair for actuating said circuit completing means so as to effect the selective thereof.

Claim 10

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means in said casing for indexing engagement with said driving meas upon the rotation thereof.

Claim 11

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said controlling means include means for actuating said circuit completing means so as to effect the selective operation thereof.

Claim 12

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means on said casing for guiding engagement with at least one of said controlling means.

Claim 13

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one controlling means includes other means for guiding engagement with the other of said controlling means.

Claim 14

An electical switch as set forth in claim 12 wherein one of said at least one controlling means and said other controlling means include means for actuating said circuit completing means so as to effect the selective operation thereof.

Claim 15

An electrical switcch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit controlling means include a plurality of switch blades disposed in said casing and selectively operable between circuit making and breaking positions.

Claim 16

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a pair of sets of means selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing, a pair of means disposed in overlaying relation in said casing and predeterminately movable in different directions with respect to each other generally along said sets of said circuit controlling means for controlling the selective operation of said circuit completing means, and means mounted in said casing for rotatable movement in response to an applied force thereon including means engaged with said controllingenas for camming said controlling means to effect the predetermined movement thereof with respect to each other generally in the different directions so as to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means in said sets thereof.

Claim 17

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a pair of sets of means selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing, a pair of means disposed in overlaying relation in said casing and predeterminately movable in different directions with respect to each other generally along said sets of said circuit controlling means for controlling the selective operation of said circuit completing means, and means mounted in said casing for rotatable movement in response to an applied force thereon including means engaged with said controllingenas for camming said controlling means to effect the predetermined movement thereof with respect to each other generally in the different directions so as to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means in said sets thereof.

Claim 18

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 15 wherein said camming means include a pair of cam configurations, and means on said controlling means for following engagement with said cam configurations, respectively.

Claim 19

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 15 wherein said controlling means respectively include means for actuating said circuit completing means in at least one of said sets so as to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means.

Claim 20

An electrical switch as set forth inclaim 15 wherein one of said controlling means includes means for actuating said circuit completing means so as to effect the selective operation thereof.

Claim 21

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 15 wherein said controlling means include a pair of plates, one of said plates being slidably movable in generally opposite linear directions in said casing, means on said one plate for sliding and guiding engagement with the other of said plates, said other plate being conjointly movable with said one plate in said casing and movable on said sliding means in a direction different than the opposite linear directions, and means on said other plate for actuating said circuit completing means so as to effect the selective operation thereof.

Claim 22

An electical switch comprising a casing, a pair of sets of means selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing with said sets of circuit completing means being disposed generally in opposite row formations in said casings, a pair of means disposed in overlaying and a sliding relation in said casing between said sets of said circuit completing means and movable generally linearly in opposite directions with respect to each other for controlling the selective operation of said circuit completing means, and means mounted i said casing and rotatably movable in response to an applied force for driving each of said controlling means generally linearly in the opposite directions to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing in said sets thereof, respectively.

Claim 23

An electical switch comprising a casing, a pair of sets of means selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing with said sets of circuit completing means being disposed generally in opposite row formations in said casings, a pair of means disposed in overlaying and a sliding relation in said casing between said sets of said circuit completing means and movable generally linearly in opposite directions with respect to each other for controlling the selective operation of said circuit completing means, and means mounted i said casing and rotatably movable in response to an applied force for driving each of said controlling means generally linearly in the opposite directions to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing in said sets thereof, respectively.

Claim 24

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 20 wherein said casing includes a pair of means engaged with said controlling means for guiding them generally linearly in the opposite directions.

Claim 25

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 20 wherein said controlling means respectively include a plurality of means for actuating an associated one of said circuit completing means in said sets thereof to effect the selective operation thereof upon the movement of said controlling means in their opposite directions.

Claim 26

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 20 wherein said controlling means include a pair of opposite edges extending generally along said sets of said circuit completing means, and a plurality of cam configurations in each of said opposite edges for engagement with an associated one of said circuit completing means so as to effect its selective operation upon the movement of said controlling means generally linearly in the opposite directions.

Claim 27

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a first and second pair of opposed sidewalls interconnected by a base wall, a first and second pair of opposite guide surfaces in the casing adjacent the first sidewall pair of and between the second sidewall pair, respectively, first and second sets of resilient switch blades respectively disposed generally along the second sidewall pair, one of the ends of the switch blades in the first and second switch blade sets being connected to the second sidewall pair and the free ends of the switch blades being disposed adjacent the base wall, a movable contact on each of the switch blades adjacent the free end thereof, a stationary contact assoicated with each of the movable contacts for making and breaking engagement therewith and mounted to the base wall, a plurality of dividing walls integral with at least the base wall for generally isolating each one of the associated stationary contacts and movable contacts from the others thereof, first and second plates reciprocally movable in the casing between the first and second switch blade sets generally toward and away from the first sidewall pair, the first and second plates including first and second pairs of opposite ends having first and second pairs of opposite notches therein engaged with the first and second guide surface pairs, a first and second side edge on the first and second plates between the first and second pairs of opposite ends and extending generally along the first and second switch blade sets, first and second sets of cam configurations in the first side edge of the first plate and the second side edge of the second plate for selectively actuating each of the switch blades in the first and second blade sets upon the reciprocal movement of the first and second plates, and first and second oppositely extending cam followers on the first and second plates, a shaft rotatably mounted to the casing and extending through the first and second plates, first and second cams on the shaft for conjoint rotation therewith and disposed adjacent the first and second plates, and first and second cam grooves in the first and second cams in which the first and second cam followers are received, the first and second cams and the shaft being conjointly rotatably in response to a rotative applied force thereon to drive the first and second cam followers in the first and second cam grooves and reciprocally move the first and second plates to selectively engage the first and second cam configurations thereof with the switch blades of the first and second switch blade sets so as to effect their actuation.

Claim 28

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a first and second pair of opposed sidewalls interconnected by a base wall, a first and second pair of opposite guide surfaces in the casing adjacent the first sidewall pair of and between the second sidewall pair, respectively, first and second sets of resilient switch blades respectively disposed generally along the second sidewall pair, one of the ends of the switch blades in the first and second switch blade sets being connected to the second sidewall pair and the free ends of the switch blades being disposed adjacent the base wall, a movable contact on each of the switch blades adjacent the free end thereof, a stationary contact assoicated with each of the movable contacts for making and breaking engagement therewith and mounted to the base wall, a plurality of dividing walls integral with at least the base wall for generally isolating each one of the associated stationary contacts and movable contacts from the others thereof, first and second plates reciprocally movable in the casing between the first and second switch blade sets generally toward and away from the first sidewall pair, the first and second plates including first and second pairs of opposite ends having first and second pairs of opposite notches therein engaged with the first and second guide surface pairs, a first and second side edge on the first and second plates between the first and second pairs of opposite ends and extending generally along the first and second switch blade sets, first and second sets of cam configurations in the first side edge of the first plate and the second side edge of the second plate for selectively actuating each of the switch blades in the first and second blade sets upon the reciprocal movement of the first and second plates, and first and second oppositely extending cam followers on the first and second plates, a shaft rotatably mounted to the casing and extending through the first and second plates, first and second cams on the shaft for conjoint rotation therewith and disposed adjacent the first and second plates, and first and second cam grooves in the first and second cams in which the first and second cam followers are received, the first and second cams and the shaft being conjointly rotatably in response to a rotative applied force thereon to drive the first and second cam followers in the first and second cam grooves and reciprocally move the first and second plates to selectively engage the first and second cam configurations thereof with the switch blades of the first and second switch blade sets so as to effect their actuation.

Claim 29

An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of means disposed in said casing and each selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing, means movable in said casing for controlling the operation of said circuit completing means, means disposed in overlaying relation with respect to said controlling means for guiding said controlling means and relatively movable with respect to said controlling means in said casing, and means rotatable in said casing in response to an applied force for respectively driving both said controlling means and said guiding means to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means.

Claim 30

An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of means disposed in said casing and each selectively operable for respectively completing a circuit through said casing, means movable in said casing for controlling the operation of said circuit completing means, means disposed in overlaying relation with respect to said controlling means for guiding said controlling means and relatively movable with respect to said controlling means in said casing, and means rotatable in said casing in response to an applied force for respectively driving both said controlling means and said guiding means to effect the selective operation of said circuit completing means.

Claim 31

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 25 wherein said driving means includes a pair of means respectively engaged with said guiding means and said controlling means for effecting the relative movements of said guiding means and said controlling means with respect to each other in the casing.

Claim 32

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 25 wherein said controlling means includes a plurality of means for respectively actuating an associated one of said circuit completing means to effect the selective operation thereof upon the driven movement of said controlling means and said guiding means.

Claim 33

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 25 wherein said controlling means is disposed in said casing generally in overlaying relation with respect to said circuit completing means, and a plurality of cam configurations on said controlling means for actuating engagement with associated ones of said circuit completing means to effect the selective operation thereof upon the driven movement of said controlling means and said guiding means.

Claim 34

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 25 wherein said driving means includes a pair of cams repectively drivingly engaged with said controlling means and said guiding means for predeterminately moveing them upon the applied force rotation of said driving means so that said controlling means effects the selective operation of said circuit completing means.

Claim 35

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 29 wherein each of said controlling means and said guiding means respectively include a pair of means for following engagement with said cams.

Claim 36

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a first and second pair of opposed sidewalls interconnected by a base wall, a first and second set of resilient switch blades, one of the ends of the switch blades in the first and second switch blade sets being respectively mounted generally along the first sidewall pair and the free ends of the switch blades extending generally adjacent the base wall, a movable contact on each of the switch blades adjacent the free ends thereof, a stationary contract assoicated with each of the movable contacts for making and breaking engagement therewith and mounted to the base wall, a plurality of dividing walls integral with at least the base wall for generally isolating each one of the associated stationary contacts and the movable contacts from the others thereof, a first plate having a first and second pair of opposite side edges, the first side edge pair being respectively slidable on the first sidewall pair of the casing to effect generally linear reciporcal movement of the first plate in the casing, a second plate disposed in the casing generally between the first plate and the resilient switch blades and including a pair of opposed abutments, the second side edge pair of the first plate being slidably received on the opposed abutments to effect generally linear reciprocal movement of the second plate with respect to the first plate in a direction generally normal to that ot the first plate, a plurality of cam configurations on the second plate for selectively actuating each of the switch blades in the first and second switch blade sets upon the respective movements on the first and second plates, a first and second pair of generally oppositely disposed cam followers on the first and second plates and extending generally normally with respect to each other, a pair of cams mounted in the casing for conjoint rotation and each having a face in a predetermined configuration for respective driving engagement with the first and second cam follower pairs, the cams being conjointly rotatably movable in response to a rotative force applied thereto to drive their faces on the first and second cam follower pairs and reciprocally move the first and second plates in their respective generally normal linear directions with respect to each other in the casing to selectively engage the cam configurations on the second plate with the associated switch blades of the first and second switch blade sets to effect their selective actuation.

Claim 37

An electrical switch comprising a casing having a first and second pair of opposed sidewalls interconnected by a base wall, a first and second set of resilient switch blades, one of the ends of the switch blades in the first and second switch blade sets being respectively mounted generally along the first sidewall pair and the free ends of the switch blades extending generally adjacent the base wall, a movable contact on each of the switch blades adjacent the free ends thereof, a stationary contract assoicated with each of the movable contacts for making and breaking engagement therewith and mounted to the base wall, a plurality of dividing walls integral with at least the base wall for generally isolating each one of the associated stationary contacts and the movable contacts from the others thereof, a first plate having a first and second pair of opposite side edges, the first side edge pair being respectively slidable on the first sidewall pair of the casing to effect generally linear reciporcal movement of the first plate in the casing, a second plate disposed in the casing generally between the first plate and the resilient switch blades and including a pair of opposed abutments, the second side edge pair of the first plate being slidably received on the opposed abutments to effect generally linear reciprocal movement of the second plate with respect to the first plate in a direction generally normal to that ot the first plate, a plurality of cam configurations on the second plate for selectively actuating each of the switch blades in the first and second switch blade sets upon the respective movements on the first and second plates, a first and second pair of generally oppositely disposed cam followers on the first and second plates and extending generally normally with respect to each other, a pair of cams mounted in the casing for conjoint rotation and each having a face in a predetermined configuration for respective driving engagement with the first and second cam follower pairs, the cams being conjointly rotatably movable in response to a rotative force applied thereto to drive their faces on the first and second cam follower pairs and reciprocally move the first and second plates in their respective generally normal linear directions with respect to each other in the casing to selectively engage the cam configurations on the second plate with the associated switch blades of the first and second switch blade sets to effect their selective actuation.

Claim 42

The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein the moving step includes engaging a plurality of cam configurations on one of the controlling means with associated ones of the circuit completing means so as to effect the selective operation thereof.

Claim 43

The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein the moving step includes engaging a plurality of cam configurations on each of the controlling means with associated ones of the circuit completing means so as to effect the selective operation thereof.

Claim 44

The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein the driving means includes a pair of cam configurations with the controlling means being disposed in following engagement therewith respectively, and wherein the rotating step includes driving the cam configurations so as to move the controlling means through the predetermined program thereof in the moving step, respectively.

Claim 45

An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of stationary contacts mounted in the casing, a plurality of resilient switch blades mounted in the casing and each having a movable contact for making and breaking engagement with the stationary contacts, respectively, the switch blades being adapted for selective operation to effect the making and breaking engagement of the movable contacts with the stationary contacts, a pair of plates disposed in overlaying and sliding relation and relatively movable generally linearly with respect to each other within the casing for controlling the selective operation of the switch blades, and a cap operation rotatably mounted in the casing including a pair of cam means drivingly engaged with the plates for translating rotary movement of the cam operator in response to an applied force thereon into the generally linear movement of the plates with respect to each other so as to effect the selective operation of the switch blades.

Claim 46

An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of stationary contacts mounted in the casing, a plurality of resilient switch blades mounted in the casing and each having a movable contact for making and breaking engagement with the stationary contacts, respectively, the switch blades being adapted for selective operation to effect the making and breaking engagement of the movable contacts with the stationary contacts, a pair of plates disposed in overlaying and sliding relation and relatively movable generally linearly with respect to each other within the casing for controlling the selective operation of the switch blades, and a cap operation rotatably mounted in the casing including a pair of cam means drivingly engaged with the plates for translating rotary movement of the cam operator in response to an applied force thereon into the generally linear movement of the plates with respect to each other so as to effect the selective operation of the switch blades.