US4242545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical switch
Assignee: HE Schweitzer AG
•
Filing: 1978-01-11
•
Granted: 1980-12-30
•
Expires: 1998-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A momentary or latching mechanical switch wherein the externally threaded outer end portion of the housing has axially parallel external grooves each including a deeper portion, and the frame for the illuminated knob for a reciprocable plunger in the housing has elastic arms extending into the grooves and provided with protuberances received in the deeper portions of the respective grooves. The arms are separably held in their grooves by a nut which meshes with the end portion and is rotatable in a direction to expose the arms. The housing is inserted into the opening of a control panel from within before the arms of the frame are inserted into their grooves from the outside of the control panel, and the nut is thereupon rotated against the inner side of the control panel to confine the arms in their grooves and to urge the frame against the outer side of the control panel. The inner end portion of the housing is separably coupled to an adapter which separably supports several microswitches. A pin which is held in a slit-shaped opening of the housing and extends into a heart-shaped guide groove of the plunger is used when the switch is to function as a latching switch. When the pin is removed, the switch constitutes a momentary switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans E. Schweitzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/562; H01H13/564; H01H13/02; H01H13/04; H01H2013/566; H01H2229/00; H01H2229/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
In a mechanical switch, particularly in a latching or momentary switch, the combination of an elongated housing including a tubular front end portion having external threads and a plurality of external grooves extending lengthwise of said housing; a frame adjacent to said front end portion and having arms extending lengthwise of said housing and into said grooves; and a nut meshing with said end portion and movable on the latter frontwardly toward a mounting position in which it surrounds said arms and presses the same into said grooves to affix said frame to said housing, and rearwardly toward a releasing position in which said arms are exposed and said frame is separable from said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a mechanical switch, particularly in a latching or momentary switch, the combination of an elongated housing including a tubular front end portion having external threads and a plurality of external grooves extending lengthwise of said housing; a frame adjacent to said front end portion and having arms extending lengthwise of said housing and into said grooves; and a nut meshing with said end portion and movable on the latter frontwardly toward a mounting position in which it surrounds said arms and presses the same into said grooves to affix said frame to said housing, and rearwardly toward a releasing position in which said arms are exposed and said frame is separable from said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said arms are elastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said end portion has four grooves spaced apart from each other by 90 degrees, as considered in the circumferential direction of said end portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein at least one of said grooves includes a shallower first portion and a second portion of greater depth, that particular arm of said frame which extends into said one groove having a protuberance received in said portion of greater depth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 4, wherein said particular arm is received in said one groove with a clearance which is less than the clearance necessary to permit withdrawal of said particular arm from said one groove while said arms are surrounded by said nut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a second end portion and further comprising an adapter, means for separably coupling said adapter to said second end portion, a plurality of discrete switching elements, and means for separably coupling said switching elements to said adapter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said switching elements together constitute a block of closely adjacent aligned switching elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said switching elements include contacts extending therefrom in a direction away from said second end portion of said housing and disposed in a common plane making a right angle with the longitudinal direction of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said means for separably coupling said switching elements to said adapter comprises a pair of elastic tongues provided on said adapter for each of said discrete switching elements, the tongues of each pair flanking the respective switching element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein said switching elements and said tongues include cooperating detent means for separably holding the switching elements between the tongues of the respective pairs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein each of said detent means includes projections provided on said switching elements and openings provided in said tongues for reception of the respective projections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said housing has at least one transverse channel adjacent to and having an open side facing said switching elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 12, further comprising a tubular receptacle extending through said channel and being movable transversely of said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 12, further comprising a control rail extending through said channel and being movable transversely of said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a second end portion and further comprising an actuating element movably mounted in said frame, means for illuminating said actuating element, said illuminating means including a lamp socket installed in the interior of said housing and means for connecting said socket with a source of electrical energy including a pair of electric contacts extending from said second end portion of said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of switching elements separably secured to said second end portion of said housing and having second contacts extending in a direction away from said second end portion, said connecting means further including third contacts having first portions disposed between said switching elements and conductively connected with said first mentioned contacts and second portions aligned with said second contacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 16, wherein said switching elements are adjacent to each other and the neighboring switching elements define passages which receive said first mentioned contacts and said first portions of said third contacts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said housing has an opening including a slit-shaped inner portion and a second portion flaring outwardly toward the exterior of said housing, and further comprising a member movably received in said housing and having a guide groove inwardly adjacent said opening, a follower pin swingably received in said opening and having an inner portion extending into said guide groove, and means for holding said follower pin in said opening and said guide groove, said inner portion of said opening extending transversely of the direction of movement of said member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 18, wherein said movable member is a plunger which is reciprocable in said housing and said follower pin further includes an outer portion extending outwardly beyond said opening, said holding means including a resilient element abutting against said outer portion of said follower pin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 18, further comprising means for separably coupling said holding means to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 20, wherein said coupling means includes recesses in said housing and projections provided on said holding means and removably received in said recesses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2104206A
Cited
US2740023A
Cited
US2916673A
Cited
US2956446A
Cited
US2984726A
Cited
US3267245A
Cited
US3300613A
Cited
US3371180A
Cited
US3676630A
Cited
US3663780A
Cited
US3731028A
Cited
DE2233877A1
Cited
US3866008A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-30 | 1984-06-30 | 1984-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-30 | 1988-06-30 | 1988-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-06-30 | 1992-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |