US4540871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Welding gun with multi-directional switch
Assignee: Miller Electric Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1983-06-07
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2003-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A welding gun having a switch comprising two spaced apart coaxial conducting springs which act as switch contacts for completing a circuit to initiate a welding process. A coaxial flexible wall in the handle of the welding gun surrounds the two springs such that, when a welding machine operator depresses the flexible wall, the two springs make electrical contact to complete the circuit. When the flexible wall is released, the springs return to their original positions, thereby interrupting the electrical circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Don J. Corrigall
- 👤 Floyd D. Hansen
- 👤 James R. Kujawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:18
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/24; B23K9/28; B23K9/29; B23K9/291; H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/06; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/24; H01H1/242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a welding gun having an elongated tubular rigid handle including a switch means for electrically completing an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process, the improvement wherein said switch means comprises: a flexible electrically insulating tubular wall completely surrounding a portion of said rigid handle in a circumferential opening thereof and also surrounding a corresponding portion of the longitudinal axis of the handle, said wall being manually depressible at all points around the circumference thereof inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the handle; electrically conducting outer tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of, and adjacent to, said flexible wall and depressible inwardly when engaged by said wall; and electrically conducting inner tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of said outer spring means and adapted to be contacted by the depressed outer spring means to complete an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process; wherein said outer spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; wherein said inner spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; and wherein said wall, said outer spring means and said inner spring means are cylindrical and coaxial.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a welding gun having an elongated tubular rigid handle including a switch means for electrically completing an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process, the improvement wherein said switch means comprises: a flexible electrically insulating tubular wall completely surrounding a portion of said rigid handle in a circumferential opening thereof and also surrounding a corresponding portion of the longitudinal axis of the handle, said wall being manually depressible at all points around the circumference thereof inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the handle; electrically conducting outer tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of, and adjacent to, said flexible wall and depressible inwardly when engaged by said wall; and electrically conducting inner tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of said outer spring means and adapted to be contacted by the depressed outer spring means to complete an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process; wherein said outer spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; wherein said inner spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; and wherein said wall, said outer spring means and said inner spring means are cylindrical and coaxial.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 further comprising an electrical circuit, and electrical conductor means connecting said outer spring means and said inner spring means to said electrical circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of both said inner and outer tubular coil springs are supported on said handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a welding gun having an elongated tubular rigid handle including a switch means for electrically completing a circuit to initiate a welding process, the improvement wherein said switch means comprises: a flexible electrically insulating tubular wall completely surrounding a portion of said rigid handle in a circumferential opening thereof and also surrounding a corresponding portion of the longitudinal axis of the handle, said wall being manually depressible at all points around the circumference thereof inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the handle; electrically conducting outer tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of, and adjacent to, said flexible wall and depressible inwardly when engaged by said wall; and electrically conducting inner tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of said outer spring means and adapted to be contacted by the depressed outer spring means to complete an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process; wherein said outer spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; wherein said inner spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; and wherein the handle has a circumferential void interiorly of said inner spring means to permit inward overtravel of said inner spring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a welding gun having an elongated tubular rigid handle including a switch means for electrically completing a circuit to initiate a welding process, the improvement wherein said switch means comprises: a flexible electrically insulating tubular wall completely surrounding a portion of said rigid handle in a circumferential opening thereof and also surrounding a corresponding portion of the longitudinal axis of the handle, said wall being manually depressible at all points around the circumference thereof inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the handle; electrically conducting outer tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of, and adjacent to, said flexible wall and depressible inwardly when engaged by said wall; and electrically conducting inner tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of said outer spring means and adapted to be contacted by the depressed outer spring means to complete an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process; wherein said outer spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; wherein said inner spring means is an elongated tubular coil spring having a longitudinal axis corresponding to that of said flexible wall; and wherein the handle has a circumferential void interiorly of said inner spring means to permit inward overtravel of said inner spring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a welding gun having an elongated tubular rigid handle including a switch means for electrically completing a circuit to initiate a welding process, the improvement wherein said switch means comprises: a flexible electrically insulating tubular wall completely surrounding a portion of said rigid handle in a circumferential opening thereof and also surrounding a corresponding portion of the longitudinal axis of the handle, said wall being manually depressible at all points around the circumference thereof inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the handle; electrically conducting outer tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of, and adjacent to, said flexible wall and depressible inwardly when engaged by said wall; and electrically conducting inner tubular means mounted in the handle interiorly of said outer spring means and adapted to be contacted by the depressed outer spring means to complete an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process; wherein said inner tubular means is a rigid metal tube; and further comprising means resiliently mounting said tube in the handle to permit overtravel of said inner tubular means when contacted by said outer spring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a welding gun having an elongated tubular rigid handle including a switch means for electrically completing a circuit to initiate a welding process, the improvement wherein said switch means comprises: a flexible electrically insulating tubular wall completely surrounding a portion of said rigid handle in a circumferential opening thereof and also surrounding a corresponding portion of the longitudinal axis of the handle, said wall being manually depressible at all points around the circumference thereof inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the handle; electrically conducting outer tubular spring means mounted in the handle interiorly of, and adjacent to, said flexible wall and depressible inwardly when engaged by said wall; and electrically conducting inner tubular means mounted in the handle interiorly of said outer spring means and adapted to be contacted by the depressed outer spring means to complete an electrical circuit to initiate a welding process; wherein said inner tubular means is a rigid metal tube; and further comprising means resiliently mounting said tube in the handle to permit overtravel of said inner tubular means when contacted by said outer spring means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said outer spring means is an accordion spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said outer spring means is a resilient tube made of a conducting plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said outer spring means is a oval spring, the depression of which causes compression of the oval spring to provide overtravel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |