US4159563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical switch construction and method of making the same
Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
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Filing: 1978-02-09
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Granted: 1979-07-03
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Expires: 1998-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A double throw electrical switch construction having a housing carrying a movable actuator unit for moving a snap switch blade of the housing over center to snap a contact portion of the blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by the housing with a contact force being sustained at the "trip point" of the switch construction by an actuator spring of the actuator unit being moved over center before the blade is moved over center by the snap movement of the actuator spring. The actuator unit includes an actuator plunger having lost motion means directly acting against the actuator spring whereby the actuator spring can move relative to the actuator plunger through the lost motion means thereof when the actuator plunger moves the actuator spring over center in either direction thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner R. Bauer
- 👤 William N. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H11/00; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/26; H01H13/36; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of making an electrical switch construction comprising the steps of forming a housing means to carry a pair of spaced contact stops and a snap switch blade having a contact portion for being snapped between said stops when said blade is moved overcenter, forming a movable actuator means to be carried by said housing means for moving said blade overcenter in one direction when said actuator means is moved in one direction thereof and for moving said blade overcenter in the opposite direction when said actuator means is moved in the opposite direction thereof, forming said actuator means with an adjustable means for adjusting the movement differential of said actuator means without adjusting the air gap between said control stops, forming part of said actuator means with an actuator plunger, forming part of said actuator means with an actuator spring that is moved by movement of said actuator plunger, operatively interconnecting said actuator spring to said blade to move said blade as said actuator spring is moved, and forming said adjustable means of said actuator means with an adjustable gap in said actuator plunger that defines a pair of spaced shoulders on said actuator plunger that are adapted to respectively engage said actuator spring.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of making an electrical switch construction comprising the steps of forming a housing means to carry a pair of spaced contact stops and a snap switch blade having a contact portion for being snapped between said stops when said blade is moved overcenter, forming a movable actuator means to be carried by said housing means for moving said blade overcenter in one direction when said actuator means is moved in one direction thereof and for moving said blade overcenter in the opposite direction when said actuator means is moved in the opposite direction thereof, forming said actuator means with an adjustable means for adjusting the movement differential of said actuator means without adjusting the air gap between said control stops, forming part of said actuator means with an actuator plunger, forming part of said actuator means with an actuator spring that is moved by movement of said actuator plunger, operatively interconnecting said actuator spring to said blade to move said blade as said actuator spring is moved, and forming said adjustable means of said actuator means with an adjustable gap in said actuator plunger that defines a pair of spaced shoulders on said actuator plunger that are adapted to respectively engage said actuator spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method of making an electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of forming said housing means with a pair of spaced actuator spring stops receiving a portion of said actuator spring therebetween for limiting movement of said actuator spring relative to said housing whereby relatively high movement differentials can be provided for said actuator means without substantially any detremental rise in contact forces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of making an electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of causing said actuator spring to move with a snap movement when moved overcenter by said actuator plunger whereby said actuator spring snaps relative to said plunger through said adjustable gap thereof when said actuator plunger moves said actuator spring overcenter in either direction thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method of making an electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 3 and including the step of causing the overcenter position of said actuator spring to be reached by movement of said actuator plunger before said actuator spring has moved said blade to its overcenter position whereby the resulting snap movement of said actuator spring thereafter causes snap movement of said blade so that a contact force is sustained at the "trip-point" of said switch construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a method of making a double throw electrical switch construction having a housing means carrying movable actuator means for moving a snap switch blade of said housing means overcenter to snap a contact portion of said blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by said housing means, the improvement comprising the steps of forming part of said actuator means with an actuator plunger and an actuator spring, causing said actuator spring to be movable relative to said housing means and be operatively interconnected to said blade to move said blade as said spring is moved, and forming said plunger with lost motion means for acting against said actuator spring to cause movement thereof as said actuator plunger is being moved whereby said actuator spring can move relative to said actuator plunger through said lost motion means thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a method of making a double throw electrical switch construction having a housing means carrying movable actuator means for moving a snap switch blade of said housing means overcenter to snap a contact portion of said blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by said housing means, the improvement comprising the steps of forming part of said actuator means with an actuator plunger and an actuator spring, causing said actuator spring to be movable relative to said housing means and be operatively interconnected to said blade to move said blade as said spring is moved, and forming said plunger with lost motion means for acting against said actuator spring to cause movement thereof as said actuator plunger is being moved whereby said actuator spring can move relative to said actuator plunger through said lost motion means thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method of making a double throw electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 5 and including the step of causing said actuator spring to move with a snap movement when moved overcenter by said actuator plunger whereby said actuator spring snaps relative to said plunger through said lost motion means thereof when said actuator plunger moves said actuator spring overcenter in either direction thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method of making a double throw electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 6 and including the step of causing the overcenter position of said actuator spring to be reached by movement of said actuator plunger before said actuator spring has moved said blade to its overcenter position whereby the resulting snap movement of said actuator spring thereafter causes snap movement of said blade so that a contact force is sustained at the "trip-point" of said switch construction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of making a double throw electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of forming said actuator spring to have a pivot point and said blade to have a pivot point spaced from said pivot point of said actuator spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of making a double throw electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 8 and including the step of causing said pivot points of said spring and blade to be disposed on a straight line that substantially bisects the air gap between said spaced contact stops.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a method of making a double throw electrical switch construction having a housing means carrying movable actuator means for moving a snap switch blade of said housing means overcenter to snap a contact portion of said blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by said housing means with a contact force being sustained at the "trip-point" of said switch construction by an actuator spring of said actuator means being moved overcenter before said blade is moved overcenter by the snap movement of said actuator spring, the improvement comprising the step of forming part of said actuator means with an actuator plunger having lost motion means directly acting against said actuator spring whereby said actuator spring can move relative to said actuator plunger through said lost motion means thereof when said actuator plunger moves said actuator spring overcenter in either direction thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a method of making a double throw electrical switch construction having a housing means carrying movable actuator means for moving a snap switch blade of said housing means overcenter to snap a contact portion of said blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by said housing means with a contact force being sustained at the "trip-point" of said switch construction by an actuator spring of said actuator means being moved overcenter before said blade is moved overcenter by the snap movement of said actuator spring, the improvement comprising the step of forming part of said actuator means with an actuator plunger having lost motion means directly acting against said actuator spring whereby said actuator spring can move relative to said actuator plunger through said lost motion means thereof when said actuator plunger moves said actuator spring overcenter in either direction thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of making a double throw electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 10 and including the steps of forming said actuator spring with a pair of legs interconnected by an intermediate portion, causing said lost motion means to act on said intermediate portion of said actuator spring, and forming said blade with a pair of tongues respectively engaging said legs of said actuator spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-07-02 | 1983-01-01 | 1983-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-07-02 | 1987-01-01 | 1987-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-07-02 | 1991-01-01 | 1991-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |