US5153394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tilt-actuated switch
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1991-07-01
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Granted: 1992-10-06
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Expires: 2011-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A tilt-actuated switch features a housing 11 and a contact element 14 movable within the housing between a stable first position and a second position in which the contact element electrically connects two fixed contact elements secured to the housing. The movable contact element responds to tilting of said housing beyond a predetermined critical angle, with respect to the vertical, by flipping from the stable first position through an unstable position (FIG. 2) into a second position (FIG. 3) which is stable. Unlike prior art tilt-actuated switches, this improved switch applies sufficient force against the fixed contacts, even when the tilting is gradual, to assure reliable electrical contact, necessary for applications such as a "dead-man-switch" in a portable radio transceiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Abendroth
- 👤 Joachim Gillert
- 👤 Herbert Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A tilt switch having a housing (11); a contact element (14), having a base surface (15) with a peripheral edge, movable within said housing between a stable first position and a second position in which said contact element electrically connects two fixed contact elements (11, 18) secured to said housing (10); said movable contact element (14) responding to tilting of said housing beyond a first predetermined angle from vertical by flipping about said peripheral edge from said stable first position through an unstable position into said second position, said second position being stable, and responding to tilting or rotation of said housing, through a second predetermined angle, back toward its initial orientation, by falling back to said stable first position of said movable contact element, thereby electrically disconnecting said two fixed contact elements (11, 18) from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A tilt switch having a housing (11); a contact element (14), having a base surface (15) with a peripheral edge, movable within said housing between a stable first position and a second position in which said contact element electrically connects two fixed contact elements (11, 18) secured to said housing (10); said movable contact element (14) responding to tilting of said housing beyond a first predetermined angle from vertical by flipping about said peripheral edge from said stable first position through an unstable position into said second position, said second position being stable, and responding to tilting or rotation of said housing, through a second predetermined angle, back toward its initial orientation, by falling back to said stable first position of said movable contact element, thereby electrically disconnecting said two fixed contact elements (11, 18) from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
Tilt switch according to claim 1, wherein said movable contact element (14) is a rotationally symmetrical body; and said body has a center of gravity (P) so located, with respect to said base surface (15), that, upon tilting of said housing beyond said first predetermined angle, said body flips along a periphery of said base surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Tilt switch according to claim 1, wherein said movable contact element (14) has an essentially conical shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Tilt switch according to claim 3, wherein said conical movable contact element (14) has a rounded-off conical point (16).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Tilt switch according to claim 1, wherein said housing (11) is generally cylindrical and is formed with an upwardly widening frusto-conical interior chamber (12) which receives said movable contact element (14).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Tilt switch according to claim 1, wherein said housing (10) of said switch itself serves as a first one (11) of said fixed contact elements, a plate (18) atop said housing serves as a second one of said fixed contact elements, and an annular insulating layer (19) electrically separates said first and second fixed contact elements (10, 18).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
Tilt switch according to claim 6, wherein said movable contact element (14) has an essentially conical shape with a rounded-off conical point (16), and said plate (18) is formed with a central recess (17), into which said point (16) of said movable contact element extends, said point (16) and recess (17) being so dimensioned as to allow play therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Tilt switch according to claim 1, wherein said movable contact element (30) has a cylindrical portion (31) from which a conical portion (32) upwardly extends, and from which a downwardly widening frusto-conical portion (34) downwardly extends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
Tilt switch according to claim 1, wherein said movable contact element (14) is a rotationally symmetrical body with a longitudinal axis (LB) and flips to close an electrical connection between said two fixed contact elements (11, 18) in response to rotation in any direction by said first predetermined angle (alpha) away from an initial vertical orientation, and flips back to break said electrical connection between said two fixed contact elements (11, 18) in response to rotation back by said second predetermined angle (beta), said second predetermined angle being smaller than said first predetermined angle.
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) | 1995-10-06 | 1996-04-06 | 1996-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-06 | 2000-04-06 | 2000-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-06 | 2004-04-06 | 2004-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |