US4039790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inertia switch having reciprocating mass
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-29
•
Granted: 1977-08-02
•
Expires: 1996-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An inertia mass is supported in a housing for movement along a given path. Two pair of spring blades are cantilever-mounted in the housing. Movement of the mass in one direction closes the first pair of blades and movement in a second direction closes the second pair of blades. Adjustment members are mounted in the housing and bear against one of the blades in each pair to adjust the switching sensitivity. The blades and a warning member, such as an electric light, are mounted in the base of a channel shaped member which snaps into an outer housing shell. A transparent cap is mounted on the housing shell making visible the warning light. Housing flanges are convexly formed and have a plurality of parallel ribs which may be adapted to a large variety of supporting flanges. In one embodiment, the mass is slidable on an elongate rod. Also, the mass may be suspended on two of the spring blades.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Treckman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
Inertial switch apparatus comprising: a housing; an energizable circuit; an inertial mass mounted for movement in said housing in opposite directions from a normal position along a given linear path; a first conductive spring blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely in said path and resiliently deformable by movement of said mass in one direction away from said normal position; a second conductive spring blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely in said path and resiliently deformable by movement of said mass in a second direction away from said normal position; a third conductive blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely of said path, said third blade portion being normally spaced from said first blade portion and being engageable in circuit-completing relation therewith when said first blade portion is resiliently deformed by said mass; a fourth conductive blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely of said path, said fourth blade portion being normally spaced from said second blade portion and being engageable in circuit-completing relation therewith when said second blade portion is resiliently deformed by said mass; said first and third blades being coupled in said circuit to energize the same when engaged and said second and fourth blades being coupled in said circuit to energize the same when engaged, said first and third, and second and fourth blade portions being respectively spaced when said mass is in said normal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
Inertial switch apparatus comprising: a housing; an energizable circuit; an inertial mass mounted for movement in said housing in opposite directions from a normal position along a given linear path; a first conductive spring blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely in said path and resiliently deformable by movement of said mass in one direction away from said normal position; a second conductive spring blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely in said path and resiliently deformable by movement of said mass in a second direction away from said normal position; a third conductive blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely of said path, said third blade portion being normally spaced from said first blade portion and being engageable in circuit-completing relation therewith when said first blade portion is resiliently deformed by said mass; a fourth conductive blade mounted in said housing and having a portion extending transversely of said path, said fourth blade portion being normally spaced from said second blade portion and being engageable in circuit-completing relation therewith when said second blade portion is resiliently deformed by said mass; said first and third blades being coupled in said circuit to energize the same when engaged and said second and fourth blades being coupled in said circuit to energize the same when engaged, said first and third, and second and fourth blade portions being respectively spaced when said mass is in said normal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 including first and second means in said housing for limiting movement of said mass in said opposite directions; said first means limiting movement of said mass in said one direction after said first and third blades are engaged and said second means limiting movement of said mass in said second direction after said second and fourth blades are engaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first means comprises a first abutment formed in said housing and said second means comprises a second abutment formed in said housing and spaced from said first abutment in said second direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 including adjustment means for respectively adjustably positioning said third and fourth blades with respect to said first and second blades thereby to adjust the normal spacing therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 4 wherein said third and fourth blades are cantilever mounted in said housing and are resiliently deformable, said adjustment means comprising a first threaded member adjustably mounted for longitudinal movement in a first housing wall registrable and engageable with said third blade to position said third blade with respect to said first blade; said adjustment means further comprising a second threaded member adjustably mounted for longitudinal movement in a second housing wall and registrable with and engageable with said fourth blade to position said fourth blade with respect to said second blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes signal means mounted in said housing and energizable when said circuit is energized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 6 wherein said signal means comprises an element that becomes illuminated upon energization.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes one generally convex surface, said one surface having a plurality of parallel abutments formed thereon and spaced therealong and adapted to engage a supporting surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 8 wherein said one surface is formed by a plurality of planar panels with adjacent panels forming obtuse angles with one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing has opposite sides, each of said sides having a slot formed therein; a channel-shaped support within said housing and having a base and two spaced side walls upstanding from said base, each of said side walls having a tab formed thereon and extending therefrom, said tabs being snappable into respective slots to secure said support to said housing sides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 10 including an elongate rod supported at each end on said support side walls; said mass being loosely slidable on said rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes side walls, and further comprising an elongate rod having ends supported on said side walls, said mass being slidably supported on said rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes opposite sides, said first and fourth blades being integrally joined to form a first U-shaped member, said second and third blades being integrally joined to form a second U-shaped member, said first member being mounted on one said housing side and said second member being mounted on the other said housing side; the free ends of said first and third blades being in overlapping relation and the free ends of said second and fourth blades being in overlapping relation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 1 including means for guiding said mass for linear movement in said path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The inertial switch apparatus of claim 14, wherein said housing includes opposite walls, said guiding means including webs respectively extending from said opposite housing walls on either side of said path and parallel therewith to guide the movement thereof in a first plane in said path; and elongate ridges formed on said opposite housing walls intermediate said webs on either side of said path and parallel therewith to limit movement of said mass in a second plane transverse to said first plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE324626C
Cited
US1845848A
Cited
US2344854A
Cited
US2487433A
Cited
US2553708A
Cited
US2930863A
Cited
US3038151A
Cited
US3108252A
Cited
US3161739A
Cited
US3341851A
Cited
US3571539A
Cited
US3663780A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-01 | 1981-01-31 | 1981-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-01 | 1985-01-31 | 1985-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-01-31 | 1989-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |