US4218602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealed electric switch
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1979-03-06
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Granted: 1980-08-19
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Expires: 1999-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece seal for an electric switch for sealing the spaces between a pivotal switch actuator and its supporting frame and between such frame and the switch base. This seal comprises a generally rectangular molded member of resilient material having a bushing extending up into sealing engagement with the pivotal area of the actuator, a land on its upper surface locating and retaining the seal with respect to the aperture in the switch frame, a pair of lugs or pads on its bottom surface for locating and retaining the seal with respect to the switch base, a radius on each of the outwardly facing bights between these lugs and the planar bottom surface of the seal into which the sharp corners of the base bite to effect a tight seal, and thinner sections formed by recesses on opposite sides of the aforesaid land for receiving complementary shelf portions of the frame in combination with thicker side strips or ribs that are pinched between the frame and base for a tight seal. The seal is pinched between the frame and base and hugs the actuator around its pivot pin area to provide an economical but effective seal.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman I. Creech
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/04; H01H23/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A sealed electric switch comprising: a switch housing comprising an insulating open-top base and a frame having an actuator opening, said frame connected to said base to close the top thereof except for said actuator opening thereby to provide a contact compartment therewithin; contact means in said compartment including stationary contacts and movable contact means operable to close and open with respect to said stationary contacts; terminal means for connecting said stationary contacts to an external circuit; an actuator and pivot means mounting said actuator to said frame and having a stem extending freely through said opening into said compartment for actuating said movable contact means when said actuator is pivotally operated; and a seal member for sealing said compartment from the outside comprising: a preformed generally flat resilient member having its rim clamped between said frame and said base and having a hole therethrough and an upwardly and inwardly tapered bushing extending up from the rim of said hole for insertion onto said stem from below to grip at its upper reduced end said stem of said actuator in the area of said pivot means to provide a tight seal; and said stem comprises a convex portion and said upper end of said tapered bushing comprises a complementary concave portion maintaining tight sealing engagement with said convex portion during said pivotal operation of said actuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A sealed electric switch comprising: a switch housing comprising an insulating open-top base and a frame having an actuator opening, said frame connected to said base to close the top thereof except for said actuator opening thereby to provide a contact compartment therewithin; contact means in said compartment including stationary contacts and movable contact means operable to close and open with respect to said stationary contacts; terminal means for connecting said stationary contacts to an external circuit; an actuator and pivot means mounting said actuator to said frame and having a stem extending freely through said opening into said compartment for actuating said movable contact means when said actuator is pivotally operated; and a seal member for sealing said compartment from the outside comprising: a preformed generally flat resilient member having its rim clamped between said frame and said base and having a hole therethrough and an upwardly and inwardly tapered bushing extending up from the rim of said hole for insertion onto said stem from below to grip at its upper reduced end said stem of said actuator in the area of said pivot means to provide a tight seal; and said stem comprises a convex portion and said upper end of said tapered bushing comprises a complementary concave portion maintaining tight sealing engagement with said convex portion during said pivotal operation of said actuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 1, wherein: said convex portion comprises a circular, partial spherical portion and said upper end of said tapered bushing comprises said concave surrounding portion complementary thereto to maintain tight sealing engagement with said circular, partial spherical portion throughout said pivotal operation of said actuator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 1, wherein: said generally flat resilient member and said frame comprises interfitting means for locating and maintaining said seal member with respect to said frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 3, wherein: said interfitting means comprises a land on said generally flat resilient member around the lower portion of said bushing fitting snugly into said actuator opening in said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 3, wherein: said interfitting means comprises ribs along opposite portions of said rim of said generally flat resilient member and complementary grooves along corresponding sides of said frame for retaining said ribs and pinching them against said base to provide a tight seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 1, wherein: said generally flat resilient member and said base comprise interfitting means for locating and maintaining said seal member with respect to said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 6, wherein: said interfitting means comprises said opening at the top of said base being rectangular and a pair of rectangular lugs on the lower surface of said generally flat resilient member fitting snugly into opposite end portions of said rectangular opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 7, wherein said interfitting means also comprises: sharp inner corners on said rectangular opening at the top of said base; and a "radius" or rounded configuration on each of the outwardly facing bights between said rectangular lugs and said lower surface of said seal member into which said sharp corners bite to effect a tight seal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 1, wherein: said base, frame and seal member are rectangular in configuration; said actuator opening in said frame is defined by opposite lateral side walls and shelves extending inwardly from the opposite end walls of said frame, said shelves extending also a small amount downwardly below the side walls of said frames; and said seal member is provided with recesses complementary to said downward extensions of said shelves to provide a pair of ribs on opposite lateral sides of each said recess to be pinched between the side walls and shelves of said frame and said base for effective sealing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 9, wherein said seal member also comprises; rim portions on opposite lateral sides of said seal member connecting corresponding aligned ribs of said pairs thereof and being slightly thicker than said ribs to be pinched between the side walls of said frame and said base to insure an effective seal adjacent said actuator opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pivot means comprises a pivot pin extending through said frame and said actuator stem; and said bushing of said seal member comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical grooves on opposite sides of the upper end thereof affording extension of said bushing to engage said stem immediately adjacent the pivot point of said actuator for minimum relative motion therebetween when said actuator is pivotally operated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sealed electric switch claimed in claim 11, wherein; the inner surface of said bushing and said hole in said seal member are frusto-conical flaring downwardly to provide clearance for pivotal movement of said actuator stem.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |