Electrical switch method operating such and indexing system

Claim 2

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, and means operable independently of said releasably holding means for retarding the rotation of the actuating means between at least some of its indexed positions.

Claim 3

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retarding means includes means associated with one of the actuating means and the housing for frictional engagement with the other of the actuating means and the housing.

Claim 4

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retarding means includes a plurality of means spaced generally about the periphery of the actuating means for frictional engagement with at least one associated part of the housing upon the rotation of the actuating means from one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 5

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retarding means includes a plurality of friction elements on the actuating means at least adjacent the periphery thereof, the elements being movable into frictional engagement with at least one associated part of the housing upon the rotation of the actuating means from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 6

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retarding means includes means associated with the housing for frictional engagement with at least one portion of the actuating means extending therefrom at least adjacent the periphery of the actuating means upon the rotation of the actuating means from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 7

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retarding means include a plurality of spaced apart friction elements disposed in the housing, and at least one extension on the actuating means for frictional engagement with the friction elements as the actuating means is rotated from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 8

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retarding means include at least one friction element disposed in the housing, and a plurality of means on the actuating means for respective frictional engagement with the at least one friction element upon the rotation of the actuating means from one at least of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 9

An electrical switch comprising a housing having at least one wall; a switch operating member rotatably mounted in the housing including a peripheral portion spaced from the one wall, and a plurality of detents on the switch operating member disposed in generally annular relation thereabout; resilient means mounted to the housing including an abutment portion for releasable holding engagement with the detents, the resilient means being operable generally to urge the abutment portion toward engagement with the switch operating member and toward the releasable holding engagement with each of the detents thereby to respectively define indexed positions of the switch operating member upon its rotation in response to a force applied thereto; and means for retarding the angular velocity of the applied force rotation of the switch operating member between its indexed positions including means associated with one of the switch operating member and the at least one wall for frictional engagement with the other of the switch operating member and the at least one wall only during a predetermined portion of the applied force rotation of the switch operating means from one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 10

An electrical switch comprising a housing having at least one wall; a switch operating member rotatably mounted in the housing including a peripheral portion spaced from the one wall, and a plurality of detents on the switch operating member disposed in generally annular relation thereabout; resilient means mounted to the housing including an abutment portion for releasable holding engagement with the detents, the resilient means being operable generally to urge the abutment portion toward engagement with the switch operating member and toward the releasable holding engagement with each of the detents thereby to respectively define indexed positions of the switch operating member upon its rotation in response to a force applied thereto; and means for retarding the angular velocity of the applied force rotation of the switch operating member between its indexed positions including means associated with one of the switch operating member and the at least one wall for frictional engagement with the other of the switch operating member and the at least one wall only during a predetermined portion of the applied force rotation of the switch operating means from one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 11

An electrical switch comprising a housing, a switch operator mounted in the housing for rotation in response to an applied force between a plurality of switch operating positions, yieldable means for indexing engagement with the switch operator and operable generally to releasably hold the switch operator in its switch operating positions, and means for retarding the angular velocity of the switch operator only during a predetermined portion of its applied force rotation from one of the switch operating positions toward another thereof.

Claim 12

An electrical switch comprising a housing, a switch operator mounted in the housing for rotation in response to an applied force between a plurality of switch operating positions, yieldable means for indexing engagement with the switch operator and operable generally to releasably hold the switch operator in its switch operating positions, and means for retarding the angular velocity of the switch operator only during a predetermined portion of its applied force rotation from one of the switch operating positions toward another thereof.

Claim 13

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein the retarding means includes means associated with one of the switch operator and the housing for frictional engagement with the other of the switch operator and the housing.

Claim 14

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 10, wherein the frictional engagement means includes at least one friction element.

Claim 15

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 11, wherein the switch operator includes at least one extension adjacent the periphery of the switch operator for engagement with the at least one friction element, the at least one friction element being mounted in the housing.

Claim 16

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein the retarding means includes a plurality of friction elements mounted in the housing so as to be disposed generally between the switch operating positions of the switch operator, and at least one extension on the switch operator for engagement with the friction elements.

Claim 17

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein the retarding means includes a plurality of friction means on the swtich operator so as to be disposed generally between the switch operating positions thereof for frictionally engaging at least one associated part of the housing.

Claim 20

The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the retarding step comprises moving means for frictional engagement associated with one of the switch operator and the housing into frictional engagement with the other of the switch operator and the housing.

Claim 21

The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the retarding step comprises engaging a plurality of means for frictional engagement on the switch operator with at least one friction part on the housing.

Claim 22

The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the retarding step comprises engaging means adapted for frictional engagement and disposed on the switch operator with a plurality of associated friction elements mounted in the housing.

Claim 23

The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the retarding step comprises engaging a plurality of friction elements on the switch operator with at least one associated friction abutment on the housing.

Claim 26

An indexing system for an electrical switch having a plurality of circuits and means adapted to be rotated between a plurality of indexed positions in the switch in response to an applied force for controlling the making and breaking of the circuits, the indexing system comprising means engaged with the controlling means and operable generally for releasably holding it in each of its indexed positions, and means for retarding the rotation of the controlling means so as to increase the total mechanical and electrical transfer time of the controlling means in its travel from one of its indexed position toward another thereof without affecting the operation of said releasably maintaining means when the applied force having a magnitude great enough to effect the release of said releasable maintaining means is exerted on the controlling means to rotate it between its indexed positions.

Claim 27

An indexing system for an electrical switch having a plurality of circuits and means adapted to be rotated between a plurality of indexed positions in the switch in response to an applied force for controlling the making and breaking of the circuits, the indexing system comprising means engaged with the controlling means and operable generally for releasably holding it in each of its indexed positions, and means for retarding the rotation of the controlling means so as to increase the total mechanical and electrical transfer time of the controlling means in its travel from one of its indexed position toward another thereof without affecting the operation of said releasably maintaining means when the applied force having a magnitude great enough to effect the release of said releasable maintaining means is exerted on the controlling means to rotate it between its indexed positions.

Claim 28

An electrical switch comprising a housing, a switch operator disposed in the housing for rotation in response to an applied force between a plurality of switch operating positions, and means for retarding the applied force rotation of the switch operator including at least one friction element movably mounted in the housing, a plurality of means on the switch operator for frictionally engaging the at least one friction element upon the applied force rotation of the switch operator from one of its switch operating positions toward another thereof, and means for opposing movement in the housing of the at least one friction element upon the frictional engagement therewith of the frictionally engaging means.

Claim 29

An electrical switch comprising a housing, a switch operator disposed in the housing for rotation in response to an applied force between a plurality of switch operating positions, and means for retarding the applied force rotation of the switch operator including at least one friction element movably mounted in the housing, a plurality of means on the switch operator for frictionally engaging the at least one friction element upon the applied force rotation of the switch operator from one of its switch operating positions toward another thereof, and means for opposing movement in the housing of the at least one friction element upon the frictional engagement therewith of the frictionally engaging means.

Claim 30

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 22, wherein the opposing means comprises means for urging the at least one friction element generally toward the switch operator at least during the frictional engagement of the frictionally engaging means with the at least one friction element.

Claim 31

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 22, wherein the opposing means includes resilient means for connection between the housing and the at least one friction element.

Claim 32

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 22, wherein the at least one friction element includes a pair of opposite end portions respectively disposed interiorly and exteriorly of the housing, the interior end portion being adapted for the frictional engagement with the frictionally engaging means, and the opposing means being engaged with the exterior end portion.

Claim 33

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 25, wherein the opposing means includes resilient means for mounting engagement with the housing exteriorly thereof and engaged with the exterior end of the at least one friction element.

Claim 34

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 26, wherein the resilient means comprises a yieldable band extending at least partially about the periphery of the housing exteriorly thereof.

Claim 35

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 22, wherein the housing includes at least one sidewall having a recess therein, and an opening in the at least one sidewall communicating with the recess, the at least one friction element being movable in the recess and the opening, and the opposing means including resilient means disposed in the recess for biasing engagement between the at least one friction element and a part of the at least one sidewall defining the recess.

Claim 36

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 28, wherein the at least one friction element includes an enlarged head movable in the recess, the resilient means being engaged with the enlarged head.

Claim 37

An electrical switch as set forth in claim 28, wherein the at least one sidewall includes a shoulder in the recess and extending generally about the opening the resilient means biasing the at least one friction element toward engagement with the shoulder.

Claim 40

An indexing system for an electrical switch having switch operating means adapted for rotatable movement therein between a plurality of discrete switch operating positions, the indexing system comprising means associated with the switch operating means for releasably holding it in the switch operating positions thereof, and means operable independently of said releasably holding means for retarding the switch operating means only during a predetermined portion of its rotatable movement from one of the switch operating positions to another thereof.

Claim 41

An indexing system for an electrical switch having switch operating means adapted for rotatable movement therein between a plurality of discrete switch operating positions, the indexing system comprising means associated with the switch operating means for releasably holding it in the switch operating positions thereof, and means operable independently of said releasably holding means for retarding the switch operating means only during a predetermined portion of its rotatable movement from one of the switch operating positions to another thereof.

Claim 42

An indexing system as set forth in claim 32 wherein the switch operating means has a plurality of means for defining the switch operating positions, said releasably holding means comprising yieldable means urged toward engagement with the defining means of the plurality thereof upon the rotatable movement of the switch operating means.

Claim 43

An indexing system as set forth in claim 32 wherein the electrical switch has a housing, said retarding means comprising means associated with one of the housing and the switch operating means and adapted for frictional engagement with at least an associated part of the other of the housing and the switch operating means during the predetermined portion of the rotatable movement of the switch operating means between its one and another switch operating positions.

Claim 44

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, and a plurality of friction elements on the actuating means at least adjacent the periphery thereof, the friction elements being movable into frictional engagement with at least one associated part of the housing so as to retard the rotation of the actuating means from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 45

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, and a plurality of friction elements on the actuating means at least adjacent the periphery thereof, the friction elements being movable into frictional engagement with at least one associated part of the housing so as to retard the rotation of the actuating means from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 46

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, and means associated with the housing for frictional engagement with at least one portion of the actuating means extending therefrom at least generally adjacent the periphery of the actuating means so as to retard the actuating means upon the rotation thereof from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 47

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, and means associated with the housing for frictional engagement with at least one portion of the actuating means extending therefrom at least generally adjacent the periphery of the actuating means so as to retard the actuating means upon the rotation thereof from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 48

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, a plurality of spaced apart friction elements disposed in the housing, and at least one extension on the actuating means for frictional engagement with the friction elements so as to effect retardation of the actuating means as it is rotated from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 49

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, a plurality of spaced apart friction elements disposed in the housing, and at least one extension on the actuating means for frictional engagement with the friction elements so as to effect retardation of the actuating means as it is rotated from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 50

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, at least one friction element disposed in the housing, and a plurality of means on the actuating means for respective frictional engagement with the at least one friction element so as to effect retardation of the actuating means upon its rotation from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.

Claim 51

An electrical switch comprising a housing, means operable generally for switching power through the switch, means rotatable in the housing between a plurality of indexed positions for actuating the switching means, means engaged with the actuating means during its rotation and operable generally for releasably holding the actuating means in each of its indexed positions, at least one friction element disposed in the housing, and a plurality of means on the actuating means for respective frictional engagement with the at least one friction element so as to effect retardation of the actuating means upon its rotation from at least one of its indexed positions toward another thereof.