US4599497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single and dual in-line package switch
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-30
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Granted: 1986-07-08
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Expires: 2004-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch comprises a dielectric housing along one side of which movable electrical contact members are disposed. A stationary electrical contact is disposed along the other side of the dielectric housing. Each of the movable contact members has a curved contact section, one end of the contact section being secured in the dielectric housing as a terminal section while the free end of the contact section is disposed within a recess of an actuating member pivotally mounted on the housing with actuating sections of the actuating members being operable from one surface of the housing to one position thereby moving the curved contact sections in electrical engagement with the stationary contact and to another position thereby moving the curved contact sections free of the stationary contact, the spring forces of the curved contact sections maintaining the actuating members and the contact sections in the one or the other position. The housing includes at one switch position an arrangement to maintain one of the movable contact members in electrical engagement with the stationary contact.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Rose
- 👤 David T. Shaffer
- 👤 Philip J. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H23/00; H01H23/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An electrical switch, comprising: a dielectric housing along which a plurality of contact members are located in actuating alignment with stationary electrical contact means; actuating means movably mounted in said dielectric housing and associated with respective movable ones of said contact members; each of said movable contact members has a curved contact section; said actuating means when moved to one position moving the respective movable contact section into electrical engagement with said stationary contact means, said actuating means when moved to another position moving the respective movable contact section free of the stationary contact means; and means provided by a selected one of said contact members and said housing maintaining the contact section of said selected contact member in continuous electrical engagement with said stationary contact means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An electrical switch, comprising: a dielectric housing along which a plurality of contact members are located in actuating alignment with stationary electrical contact means; actuating means movably mounted in said dielectric housing and associated with respective movable ones of said contact members; each of said movable contact members has a curved contact section; said actuating means when moved to one position moving the respective movable contact section into electrical engagement with said stationary contact means, said actuating means when moved to another position moving the respective movable contact section free of the stationary contact means; and means provided by a selected one of said contact members and said housing maintaining the contact section of said selected contact member in continuous electrical engagement with said stationary contact means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stationary contact means is a bus contact means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said maintaining means comprises inclined surfaces provided by said housing that form an off center apex in which a free end of said selected contact member is disposed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating means have notched areas, said curved contact sections have free ends disposed in the notched areas of the respective actuating means, the spring forces of the curved contact sections maintaining said actuating means in the one or the other position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a dielectric frame having spaced support members between which said movable contact members are mounted, said stationary contact means being mounted on said support members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
178 words
An electrical switch, comprising: a dielectric housing having a series of movable electrical contact members disposed along one side of the housing and a series of stationary electrical contact members disposed along another side of the housing in operating alignment with respective movable contact members, said movable contact members having curved contact sections for electrical engagement with respective stationary contact members; actuating members movably mounted in said housing and associated with respective said movable contact members; and free ends of said curved contact sections disposed in engagement with said actuating members, said curved contact sections applying spring forces onto said actuating members, said spring forces maintaining said actuating members in one position with the curved contact sections in electrical engagement with the stationary contact members, and upon actuation of said actuating members said spring forces maintaining said actuating members in another position with said curved contact sections out of engagement with the stationary contact members, said maintaining in said one position and in said other position occurring without said movable contact members being stressed into a different shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
178 words
An electrical switch, comprising: a dielectric housing having a series of movable electrical contact members disposed along one side of the housing and a series of stationary electrical contact members disposed along another side of the housing in operating alignment with respective movable contact members, said movable contact members having curved contact sections for electrical engagement with respective stationary contact members; actuating members movably mounted in said housing and associated with respective said movable contact members; and free ends of said curved contact sections disposed in engagement with said actuating members, said curved contact sections applying spring forces onto said actuating members, said spring forces maintaining said actuating members in one position with the curved contact sections in electrical engagement with the stationary contact members, and upon actuation of said actuating members said spring forces maintaining said actuating members in another position with said curved contact sections out of engagement with the stationary contact members, said maintaining in said one position and in said other position occurring without said movable contact members being stressed into a different shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said curved contact sections have sections that curve back to said housing which have a radius much larger than that of said curved contact sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said housing includes a dielectric frame having opposed slots along respective sides in which the movable and stationary contact members are disposed as aligned stationary and movable contact members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 8, wherein said frame has spaced support members between which are disposed respective aligned stationary and movable contact members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said housing has projections provided with arcuate recesses in alignment with said support members, said actuating members having pivot members disposed in said arcuate recesses.
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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) | 1989-07-07 | 1990-01-06 | 1990-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-07 | 1994-01-06 | 1994-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-07 | 1998-01-06 | 1998-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |