Patent US4400673A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4400673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal switch housing
Assignee: Progress Lighting LLC
•
Filing: 1981-12-21
•
Granted: 1983-08-23
•
Expires: 2001-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A thermal switch housing is provided in a recessed lighting fixture for interchangeably accommodating a thermal cut-off switch to protect against overtemperature conditions. The housing allows thermal switches having differing cut-off temperatures to be interchangeably removed and inserted to adjust for variations in fixture design, such as the size, shape and materials of construction.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester J. Gilman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H37/00; H01H37/02; H01H37/32; H01H37/52; H01H37/54; H01H37/5427; H01H37/5436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for interchangeably accommodating a thermal switch comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a channel disposed within said housing adapted to accommodate a thermal switch having an open or closed status, wherein said channel extends through a side of said housing to define a first access opening; (c) a pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing and arranged along said channel to provide an electrical connection between said electrical contacts and terminals of said thermal switch; and (d) means for conductively connecting a pair of external electrical conductors to said electrical contacts wherein said thermal switch is interchangeably insertable through said first access opening into said channel such that an electrical path is established through said external electrical conductors when said thermal switch has been inserted and is in said closed status.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for interchangeably accommodating a thermal switch comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a channel disposed within said housing adapted to accommodate a thermal switch having an open or closed status, wherein said channel extends through a side of said housing to define a first access opening; (c) a pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing and arranged along said channel to provide an electrical connection between said electrical contacts and terminals of said thermal switch; and (d) means for conductively connecting a pair of external electrical conductors to said electrical contacts wherein said thermal switch is interchangeably insertable through said first access opening into said channel such that an electrical path is established through said external electrical conductors when said thermal switch has been inserted and is in said closed status.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said channel extends through a side of said housing which is opposite to said first access opening to define a second access opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for conductively connecting a pair of external conductors to said electrical contacts comprises a pair of wires which enter said housing through said second access opening and are fixedly and conductively secured to said electrical contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said housing is comprised of a first half and a second half wherein said halves cooperatively engage to form said housing and means for maintaining said halves in cooperative engagement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for maintaining said halves in cooperative engagement comprises a plurality of cooperatively aligned openings defining holes, said holes being interiorly threaded to receive screws to maintain said halves in engagement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The appartus according to claim 5 wherein each of said halves contains one of said electrical contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said housing is cylindrical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said channel is disposed along a line defining the diameter of said cylinder and wherein said first and second access openings are disposed in opposite facing walls of said cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pair of electrical contacts are diametrically disposed about said channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein one of said electrical contacts has contains a greater contacting surface area than the other of said pair of contacts.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for interchangeably accommodating a thermal switch comprising: (a) a cylindrical housing; (b) a channel disposed within said housing along a line defining the diameter of said cylindrical housing adapted to accommodate a thermal switch having an open or closed status, wherein said channel extends through opposite facing walls of said cylindrical housing to define first and second access openings; (c) a pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing and diametrically disposed about said channel; and (d) means for connecting a pair of external electrical conductors to said electrical contacts wherein said thermal switch is interchangeably insertable through said first access opening into said channel and said external conductors enter through said second access opening and are fixedly and conductively secured to said electrical contacts such that an electric path is established through said external electrical conductors when said thermal switch has been inserted and is in said closed status.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for interchangeably accommodating a thermal switch comprising: (a) a cylindrical housing; (b) a channel disposed within said housing along a line defining the diameter of said cylindrical housing adapted to accommodate a thermal switch having an open or closed status, wherein said channel extends through opposite facing walls of said cylindrical housing to define first and second access openings; (c) a pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing and diametrically disposed about said channel; and (d) means for connecting a pair of external electrical conductors to said electrical contacts wherein said thermal switch is interchangeably insertable through said first access opening into said channel and said external conductors enter through said second access opening and are fixedly and conductively secured to said electrical contacts such that an electric path is established through said external electrical conductors when said thermal switch has been inserted and is in said closed status.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claims 2 or 11 wherein said first access opening is larger than said second access opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein one of said electrical contacts has a greater contacting surface area that the other of said pair of contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said housing is comprised of a first half and a second half wherein said halves cooperatively engage to form said housing and means for maintaining said halves in cooperative engagement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for maintaining said halves in cooperative engagement comprises a plurality of cooperatively aligned openings defining holes, said holes being interiorly threaded to receive screws to maintain said halves in engagement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein each of said halves contains one of said electrical contacts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2907871A
Cited
US822336A
Cited
US2037058A
Cited
US2098507A
Cited
US2101135A
Cited
US2367639A
Cited
US2762889A
Cited
US3287599A
Cited
US3359523A
Cited
US3496422A
Cited
US4216411A
Cited
US4275433A
Cited
US4234819A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-22 | 1987-02-21 | 1987-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-22 | 1991-02-21 | 1991-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-22 | 1995-02-21 | 1995-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |