Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A thermal switch comprising an elongated conductive housing having first and second ends, a first axial lead electrically connected to said conductive housing at said first end, an insulator positioned in said conductive housing at said second end, a second lead that passes through said insulator into the interior of said housing, a thermally sensitive pellet having a generally flat top surface inserted in said housing at said first end and positioned so as to leave a gap between said insulated lead and said pellet, and a compressed coiled spring that encircles at least a portion of said insulator so as to provide a spring bias force toward said sensing pellet and an electrically conductive contact member having a generally flat base surface which lies substantially parallel to said top surface of said thermal sensing pellet, side contact surfaces which contact the inside of said conductive housing, a plurality of inwardly-bent contact surfaces which contact said insulated lead and a plurality of bend portions, from which said inwardly bent contact surfaces project, in contact with said coiled spring, said inwardly-bent contact surfaces and said side contact surfaces being initially deformed as a consequence of the dimensions of said gap so that said contact makes electrical connection to said housing and said second lead.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A thermal switch comprising an elongated conductive housing having first and second ends, a first axial lead electrically connected to said conductive housing at said first end, an insulator positioned in said conductive housing at said second end, a second lead that passes through said insulator into the interior of said housing, a thermally sensitive pellet having a generally flat top surface inserted in said housing at said first end and positioned so as to leave a gap between said insulated lead and said pellet, and a compressed coiled spring that encircles at least a portion of said insulator so as to provide a spring bias force toward said sensing pellet and an electrically conductive contact member having a generally flat base surface which lies substantially parallel to said top surface of said thermal sensing pellet, side contact surfaces which contact the inside of said conductive housing, a plurality of inwardly-bent contact surfaces which contact said insulated lead and a plurality of bend portions, from which said inwardly bent contact surfaces project, in contact with said coiled spring, said inwardly-bent contact surfaces and said side contact surfaces being initially deformed as a consequence of the dimensions of said gap so that said contact makes electrical connection to said housing and said second lead.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A thermal switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a thin disc wafer is inserted between said generally flat base surface of said sensing pellet and said generally flat top surface of said contact member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermal switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said contact member is a thin, elongated split-ring and said inwardly-bent surfaces comprise a pair of contact arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A thermal switch as claimed in claim 3 wherein a thin disc wafer is inserted between said generally flat top surface of said sensing pellet and said generally flat base surface of said contact member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thermal switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said contact member is cup-shaped and is formed so that said inwardly bent-contact surfaces comprise a segmented rim of a plurality of contact surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein elongated vertical slots are formed in said contact member to create said segmented rim.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A thermal switch as claimed in claim 6 wherein a thin disc wafer is inserted between said generally flat base surface of said sensing pellet and said generally flat top surface of said contact member.