US4055736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Push switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-18
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1995-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A push-button, actuated electric switch is formed with a pair of flat, C-shaped fixed contacts which define an annulus, discontinuous at diametric points, the outer margins of which are clamped firmly between conformations in an upper and lower section of the switch housing. The fixed contacts are bridged to accomplish switching action by the circular perimeter of a moveable contact which is moved toward and away from the inner periphery of the annulus formed by the C-shaped contacts. A tab extending from an edge of each of those fixed contacts extends within a passageway formed in the housing where the tab is bonded to the end of an electrical conductor. The tab and conductor are free to bend and vibrate within the passageway without affecting the position of the portions of the fixed contactor that define the discontinuous annulus whereat mounting and bridging contact are accomplished.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Congelliere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
In a switch of the kind that includes a pair of electrically conductive contact elements and a plunger structure having an electrically conducting bridging surface, and means responsive to an actuating force for causing the plunger to be displaced such that said bridging surface is caused during successive actuations to assume a first position bridging said contact element, and a second position in which said bridging surface is spaced from said contact elements, the improvement which comprises: said contact elements comprising a pair of C-shaped members formed of sheet material disposed in a plane with the open portion of the C-shape of each facing the other such that togehter they define segments of an annulus incomplete at diametric points; and said bridging surface comprising a circular member having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said annulus and less than the outer diameter of said annulus; housing means in the form of a housing comprising a first housing member and a second housing member engaging respectively associated opoosite side of the outer peripheral portion of said annulus for retaining said C-shaped members in said plane and for guiding movement of said plunger structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a switch of the kind that includes a pair of electrically conductive contact elements and a plunger structure having an electrically conducting bridging surface, and means responsive to an actuating force for causing the plunger to be displaced such that said bridging surface is caused during successive actuations to assume a first position bridging said contact element, and a second position in which said bridging surface is spaced from said contact elements, the improvement which comprises: said contact elements comprising a pair of C-shaped members formed of sheet material disposed in a plane with the open portion of the C-shape of each facing the other such that togehter they define segments of an annulus incomplete at diametric points; and said bridging surface comprising a circular member having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said annulus and less than the outer diameter of said annulus; housing means in the form of a housing comprising a first housing member and a second housing member engaging respectively associated opoosite side of the outer peripheral portion of said annulus for retaining said C-shaped members in said plane and for guiding movement of said plunger structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 1 which further comprises a pair of insulating spacers disposed at the points at which said annulus is incomplete.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The invention defined in claim 2 in which said housing is formed with a pair of passageways extending from the exterior to the interior thereof adjacent to respectively associated ones of said C-shaped members; and in which said contact element further comprise a pair of tabs, one extending laterally from each of said C-shaped members into the passageway associated with the C-shaped member from which it extends, each tab having a thickness less than the dimension across the passageway into which it entends such that each tab may be bent, within its passageway, in the direction of its thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention defined in claim 3 which further conprises a pair of electrically conductive wires one extending into each of said passageways and each having an end bonded to the tab in its respectively associated passageway.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention defined in claim 4 in which the sum of the transverse cross-sectional area of said wires and the transverse cross-sectional area of said tabs is substantially less than the transverse cross-sectional area of the passageway in which the wire and tab are disposed whereby the space in said passageways is sufficient to permit flexure of said tabs after being bonded to said conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 4 which further comprises means in the form of a coiled compression spring for urging said bridging surface toward said contact elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
The invention defined in claim 1 in which said first housing member has an upper surface formed with a circular recess surrounded by an upstanding cylindrical sleeve of insulating material and in which said second housing member has a lower surface formed with a downwardly extending, arch-shaped skirt the arcuate portion of the arch of which is semi-circular and has an inside radius corresponding to the outer radius of said upstanding cylindrical sleeve of said frist housing member, said first and second housing members being assembled with their upper and lower faces toward one another, respectively, with said C-shaped contact elements clamped between them such that said contact elements lie within the skirt of said second housing member over the cylindrical sleeve of said first housing member with a center of the annulus substantially concentric with the axis of said circular recess in said lower housing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention defined in claim 7 in which said lower face of said second housing member is further formed with a projecting boss extending downwardly toward the upper face of said first housing member between the sides of said arch-shaped skirt whereby two passageways are defined extending from the exterior of said housing to the respectively associated ones of said C-shaped contact elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Th invention defined in claim 8 in which each of said C-shaped contact elements if formed with a tab extending laterally therefrom into a separately associated one of said passageways.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined in claim 9 in which said housing is formed with projections extending from one of said first and second housing members between said C-shaped contact elements at said diametric points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 10 which further comprises a pair of conductor wies having ends disposed in said passageways and thereby to respectively associated one of said tabs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined in claim 11 in which said contact elements and tabs are formed of a metal and in which said tabs are of size relative to cross-sectional area of said passagemways such that said tabs are free to bend out of the plane of the C-shaped contact areas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3829633A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |