Patent US4392034A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4392034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical switch construction
Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
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Filing: 1981-03-06
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Granted: 1983-07-05
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Expires: 2001-03-06
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch construction having a one-piece substantially U-shaped flexible member having a cross member and a pair of legs extending from the cross member and defining pivot points that pivotally mount pivot members to the construction. The legs respectively have cam followers intermediate the pivot points thereof and the cross member thereof. A plunger is axially movable between the legs and has a cam that serially engages the cam followers to serially flex the legs and thereby move the pivot points thereof to cause the pivot members to serially pivot as the plunger is axially moved in one direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Payne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H37/00; H01H37/02; H01H37/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
In an electrical switch construction having electrical contact means operated by an axially movable plunger means of a device carried by said construction, said contact means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating contacts arranged to have each cooperating pair thereof operated by said plunger means as said device axially moves said plunger means in one direction, each said pair of cooperating contacts comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, each movable contact being snap-acting, each movable contact having a pivot member pivotally mounted to said construction, a one-piece substantially U-shaped flexible member having a cross member and a pair of legs extending from said cross member and defining pivot means that pivotally mount said pivot members to said construction, the improvement wherein said legs respectively have cam follower means intermediate said pivot means thereof and said cross member, said plunger means being axially movable between said legs and having cam means serially engageable with said follower means to serially flex said legs and thereby move said pivot means thereof to cause said pivot members to serially pivot as said plunger means is axially moved by said device in said one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
In an electrical switch construction having electrical contact means operated by an axially movable plunger means of a device carried by said construction, said contact means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating contacts arranged to have each cooperating pair thereof operated by said plunger means as said device axially moves said plunger means in one direction, each said pair of cooperating contacts comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, each movable contact being snap-acting, each movable contact having a pivot member pivotally mounted to said construction, a one-piece substantially U-shaped flexible member having a cross member and a pair of legs extending from said cross member and defining pivot means that pivotally mount said pivot members to said construction, the improvement wherein said legs respectively have cam follower means intermediate said pivot means thereof and said cross member, said plunger means being axially movable between said legs and having cam means serially engageable with said follower means to serially flex said legs and thereby move said pivot means thereof to cause said pivot members to serially pivot as said plunger means is axially moved by said device in said one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein each movable contact has a tension spring provided with opposed ends, one of said ends of each tension spring being interconnected to its respective pivot member and the other of said ends thereof being interconnected to said construction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said springs has an adjustable member interconnecting said other end thereof to said construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plunger means causes said springs to serially be overcenter and operate said pivot members to serially operate said pairs of contacts when said plunger means serially flexes said legs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said legs respectively have free ends, said pivot means for each leg being substantially at said free end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said legs are of different length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger means has a peripheral side surface, said cam means of said plunger means forming part of said peripheral side surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said device has a flexible diaphragm means carried by said construction, said plunger means being interconnected to said diaphragm means to move in unison therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said construction has guide means operatively associated with said plunger means to guide the movement of said plunger means relative to said construction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein said guide means comprises a rod carried by said construction, said plunger means having an opening therein telescopically receiving said rod to be guided thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said device is vacuum operated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 11 and including a compression spring carried by said construction and acting on said diaphragm means to tend to move said plunger means in one direction.
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) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |