Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A key-operated switch comprising: a block having a bore therein; a key-operated cylinder rotatably mounted in the bore of said block, said cylinder adapted to receive any of a plurality of associated keys, a row of pins mounted in a row parallel to the axis of said cylinder and adapted for sliding radial movement within said cylinder, said pins adapted to be displaced and project beyond the surface of said cylinder, said displacements corresponding to the irregularities of a selected key when inserted in said cylinder; a set of spring members including parallel sections of flexible wire mounted on said block, each of said wire sections extending across the path of travel of a corresponding one of said pins and in a direction transverse to said pin row; a set of contact reeds mounted on said block and adjacent said spring member, each of said reeds aligned with a corresponding one of said pins and being adapted for displacement responsive to displacement of said corresponding spring member; insulating means for electrically insulating said spring members from said contact reeds; and a set of contact members fixedly mounted on said block and adjacent said contact reeds, each of said contact members being aligned with a corresponding contact reed, and being positioned to contact said corresponding contact reed displaced by said corresponding spring member when a key is inserted in said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A key-operated switch comprising: a block having a bore therein; a key-operated cylinder rotatably mounted in the bore of said block, said cylinder adapted to receive any of a plurality of associated keys, a row of pins mounted in a row parallel to the axis of said cylinder and adapted for sliding radial movement within said cylinder, said pins adapted to be displaced and project beyond the surface of said cylinder, said displacements corresponding to the irregularities of a selected key when inserted in said cylinder; a set of spring members including parallel sections of flexible wire mounted on said block, each of said wire sections extending across the path of travel of a corresponding one of said pins and in a direction transverse to said pin row; a set of contact reeds mounted on said block and adjacent said spring member, each of said reeds aligned with a corresponding one of said pins and being adapted for displacement responsive to displacement of said corresponding spring member; insulating means for electrically insulating said spring members from said contact reeds; and a set of contact members fixedly mounted on said block and adjacent said contact reeds, each of said contact members being aligned with a corresponding contact reed, and being positioned to contact said corresponding contact reed displaced by said corresponding spring member when a key is inserted in said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
A switch according to claim 1 wherein said block includes a plurality of parallel grooves extending across a flat surface of said block in a direction transverse to said cylinder, the bottoms of each of said grooves including a slot adapted to pass pins of said cylinder displaced by a key, and each of said wire sections being a wire substantially coextensive with and positioned in a respective groove, and being slidable within said groove, said groove being adapted to guide said corresponding wire longitudinally while said wire is displaced by said corresponding pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A switch according to claim 1 wherein said insulating means comprises a comb-shaped sheet of flexible insulating material having its base portion fixedly engaged on said block, said sheet having fingers projecting over and covering said grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch according to claim 3 said set of contact reeds being comb-shaped and substantially congruent to and substantially aligned with said insulating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A switch according to claim 4 further comprising a plate fixedly mounted on said block adjacent said set of contact reeds, said contact members being mounted on a surface of said plate facing said contact reeds, said contact reeds including electrically conductive contact points disposed at the free ends thereof, said contact members having electrically conductive strips, a portion of each strip being aligned with a corresponding contact point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A switch according to claim 1, wherein said switch includes a first operating position corresponding to the insertion of a selected key for unlocking a recording unit associated with said switch, a second operating position with said inserted key partially turned in said cylinder and corresponding to the functional position of said recording unit, and a third operating position wherein said key may be withdrawn while allowing said recording unit to remain functional.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A switch according to claim 6, wherein said switch is adapted to actuate a mirco-switch for connecting said recording unit to a power source when said switch enters said second position.