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US4575592A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical switch

Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1984-12-21
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-12-21
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Abstract

Abstract A switch comprises a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured in a base thereof with one of the contact members including a stationary contact section and the other of the contact members having a movable contact section. The contact sections are disposed in a profiled arcuate inner surface formed by the base and resilient sections of the housing. A dielectric actuator having a cavity and an external arcuate surface mates with the arcuate inner surface. The surfaces are movable relative to each other when the actuator has been mounted on the housing with the contact sections being disposed in the cavity. The resilient sections of the housing maintain the actuator on the housing. The movable contact section is disposed in a section of the actuator cavity and is movable into and out of electrical engagement with the stationary contact section upon movement of the actuator from one position to another position. A detent arrangement is provided between the actuator and the housing to maintain the actuator in either position.

Inventors

  • 👤 William H. Rose

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 14:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/36; H01H21/50; H01H1/00; H01H1/58; H01H1/5805; H01H19/00; H01H19/64

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 196 words
An electrical switch comprising a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured therein including stationary and movable contact sections, a dielectric actuator movably mounted on the housing for moving the movable contact section into and out of electrical engagement with the stationary contact section, and a detent arrangement for maintaining the actuator in a first or second position, characterized in that: said housing having a base, resilient sections extending outwardly from said base, a profiled arcuate inner surface formed on said base and resilient sections with the stationary and movable contact sections being located in and extending outwardly from said arcuate inner surface; and said actuator having a cavity and an external arcuate surface matable with said arcuate inner surface, said surfaces movable relative to each other when said actuator has been mounted on said housing, stationary and movable contact sections disposed in said cavity, said resilient sections of said housing maintaining said actuator on said housing, said movable contact section being disposed in a section of said cavity and is movable into and out of electrical engagement with said stationary contact section upon movement of said actuator from the first position to the second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical switch comprising a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured therein including stationary and movable contact sections, a dielectric actuator movably mounted on the housing for moving the movable contact section into and out of electrical engagement with the stationary contact section, and a detent arrangement for maintaining the actuator in a first or second position, characterized in that: said housing having a base, resilient sections extending outwardly from said base, a profiled arcuate inner surface formed on said base and resilient sections with the stationary and movable contact sections being located in and extending outwardly from said arcuate inner surface; and said actuator having a cavity and an external arcuate surface matable with said arcuate inner surface, said surfaces movable relative to each other when said actuator has been mounted on said housing, stationary and movable contact sections disposed in said cavity, said resilient sections of said housing maintaining said actuator on said housing, said movable contact section being disposed in a section of said cavity and is movable into and out of electrical engagement with said stationary contact section upon movement of said actuator from the first position to the second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, charcterized in that said detent arrangement comprises spaced recesses in said actuator or housing and radiussed projections on said housing or actuator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said housing has outer arcuate surfaces along which outer arcuate sections of said actuator are movably disposed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said contact members have terminal sections extending outwardly from said housing for electrical connection with respective conductive paths on a printed circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that stationary contact sections are disposed on both sides of said movable contact section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one resilient section is narrower than the other and said actuator includes a U-shaped member through which said narrow resilient section extends, said U-shaped member being disposed at right angles with respect to an operating section of said actuator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said housing includes means for connecting said housing to other switch housings thereby grouping the switches together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 164 words
An electrical switch, comprising: a dielectric housing having a base and resilient sections along which an inner arcuate surface extends; electrical contact members having mounting sections secured in said housing and stationary and movable contact sections of said contact members disposed in said inner arcuate surface and extending outwardly therefrom for electrical engagement with each other; a dielectric actuator disposed within said housing between said resilient sections and having a cavity in which said contact sections are disposed and arcuate surface means matable with said inner arcuate surface, said resilient sections maintaing said actuator in position on said housing, said movable contact section being disposed in a section of said cavity and engageable with said actuator, and said actuator having an actuating section for moving said actuator from one position at which said movable contact section is out of electrical engagement with said stationary contact section to another position at which said movable contact section is in electrical engagement with said stationary contact section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 164 words
An electrical switch, comprising: a dielectric housing having a base and resilient sections along which an inner arcuate surface extends; electrical contact members having mounting sections secured in said housing and stationary and movable contact sections of said contact members disposed in said inner arcuate surface and extending outwardly therefrom for electrical engagement with each other; a dielectric actuator disposed within said housing between said resilient sections and having a cavity in which said contact sections are disposed and arcuate surface means matable with said inner arcuate surface, said resilient sections maintaing said actuator in position on said housing, said movable contact section being disposed in a section of said cavity and engageable with said actuator, and said actuator having an actuating section for moving said actuator from one position at which said movable contact section is out of electrical engagement with said stationary contact section to another position at which said movable contact section is in electrical engagement with said stationary contact section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein detent means are provided between said housing and said actuator for maintaining said actuator in said one or said other position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said actuator has outer arcuate sections matable with outer arcuate surfaces of said housing adjacent said inner arcuate surface which stabilize said actuator on said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein another actuating section of said actuator encompasses one of the resilient sections and is movable relatively therealong.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein stationary contact sections are diposed on both sides of said movable contact section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said housing includes means for connecting said housing to other switch housings forming the electrical switches in a group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein said connecting means comprises recesses in said housings in which a rod is frictionally disposed.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3221131A Cited
US3588409A Cited
US4024362A Cited
US4359611A Cited
US4417106A Cited
US4412108A Cited
US4496802A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-03-10 1989-09-09 1990-03-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-03-10 1993-09-09 1994-03-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-03-10 1997-09-09 1998-03-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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