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US4218598A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Switch-latching mechanism

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1978-04-19
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Granted: 1980-08-19
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Expires: 1998-04-19
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Abstract

Abstract An end of a stiff wire latching member is slidable in a heart shaped groove of a slider in such a manner that the slider latches in a depressed position when pushed once and unlatches when pushed again. A compression spring retained by a cap member urges the end of the wire into the groove to ensure proper operation. In one embodiment of the invention a cap member which retains the spring is formed with an elongated hole through which the wire may be passed for assembly, after which the spring is inserted and retained together in this manner for assembly with the slider.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sadayoshi Iwasaki
  • 👤 Masao Kumagaya

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 15:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/562; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/03

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
A switch-latching mechanism comprising: a body comprised of an electrically insulating material; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals protruding from said body; a slider comprised of an electrically insulating material and being retained slidably by said body, said slider having an end portion disposed interiorily of said body and carrying an electrical contact adapted to engage selected ones of said terminals upon sliding movement of said slider into either of two stable positions, said slider further having a generally heartshaped latching groove; resilient means operatively associated with said slider for biasing it into one of said two stable positions; an elongate latching member having an end portion projecting slidably into said latching groove for holding said slider in one of said two stable positions; a compression spring biasing said latching member end portion downwardly into said latching groove; and a cap member fitting over and housing said compression spring and adapted to be mounted with said housed compression spring to said body for holding said spring to bias said latching member into said groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
A switch-latching mechanism comprising: a body comprised of an electrically insulating material; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals protruding from said body; a slider comprised of an electrically insulating material and being retained slidably by said body, said slider having an end portion disposed interiorily of said body and carrying an electrical contact adapted to engage selected ones of said terminals upon sliding movement of said slider into either of two stable positions, said slider further having a generally heartshaped latching groove; resilient means operatively associated with said slider for biasing it into one of said two stable positions; an elongate latching member having an end portion projecting slidably into said latching groove for holding said slider in one of said two stable positions; a compression spring biasing said latching member end portion downwardly into said latching groove; and a cap member fitting over and housing said compression spring and adapted to be mounted with said housed compression spring to said body for holding said spring to bias said latching member into said groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
A switch-locking mechanism according to claim 1, said slider having a longitudinal stopper groove, said cap member including a projection extending into said stopper groove for engagement with an end thereof to limit movement of said slider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 107 words
A switch-latching mechanism according to claim 1, said slider having a longitudinal stopper groove, said cap member including a projection extending into said stopper groove for engagement with an end thereof to limit movement of said slider, and a hole for holding the other end of said latching member so it can pivot downwardly away from said cap member, whereby said latching member can be swung out of said cap member and said compression spring can be inserted therein prior to mounting said cap member to said body so that said cap member, latching member and compression spring can be assembled as a sub-unit of said switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
A switch-latching mechanism according to claim 1, said slider having a longitudinal stopper groove, the other end portion of said latching member projecting into said stopper groove to limit movement of said slider.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE1233456B Cited
US3376504A Cited
US3493705A Cited
US3582592A Cited
US3732386A Cited
US3707610A Cited
US3624328A Cited
US3704353A Cited
US3697713A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-08-19 1984-02-18 1984-08-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-08-19 1988-02-18 1988-08-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-08-19 1992-02-18 1992-08-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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