US5532441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact block having convertible normally open or normally closed electrical contact
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-13
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Granted: 1996-07-02
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Expires: 2014-10-13
Abstract
Abstract The present invention defines a convertible electrical contact. The convertible contact comprises two pair of movable contacts attached to an actuator which is supported by and enclosed within a housing. The actuator is biased to a first position and is slidably movable to a second position in response to a force applied to the actuator. The movable contacts are attached to the distal ends of a flexible member which is supported at its approximate midpoint by the actuator. The movable contacts are also movable between a first position and a second position as the actuator is moved. A pair of contact cavities are defined by the housing such that the one contact cavity lies on each side of the actuator and the flexible member and movable contacts are contained within the cavities. The housing defines a first pair of access apertures associated with the first position of the movable contacts and a second pair of access apertures associated with the second position of the movable contacts. A convertible stationary contact module which includes a pair of bussing conductors, each with a stationary contact attached at its end is employed to complete the electrical contact. By selectively placing the bussing conductors and their associated stationary contacts in either the first or second pair of access apertures either a normally closed or a normally open electrical contact can be chosen. The contact module is attached to the outside of the housing by a mounting screw.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley H. Edwards, Jr.
- 👤 Richard Marshall
- 👤 Tony R. Robbins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/20; H01H1/2008; H01H11/00; H01H11/0006; H01H11/0012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A contact block having at least one set of electrical contacts convertible between a normally open and normally closed state comprising: a housing defining a generally hollow interior; an actuator partially received within said housing and being slidably movable between a first position and a second position; means for biasing said actuator to said first position; at least one pair of contact cavities being defined by said housing and being positioned immediately adjacent to and on opposite sides of said actuator; at least one pair of movable contacts, said movable contacts being attached to said actuator such that said movable contacts are movable between a first position and a second position within said contact cavities; means for attaching said movable contacts to said actuator; at least two pair of access apertures providing access to said contact cavities such that one pair of said access apertures generally coincides with said first position of said movable contacts and one pair of said access apertures generally coincides with said second position of said movable contacts; and a stationary contact module having at least one pair of stationary contacts which can be received through either of said pairs of access apertures for being selectively engaged with said movable contacts in one of said first or second positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A contact block having at least one set of electrical contacts convertible between a normally open and normally closed state comprising: a housing defining a generally hollow interior; an actuator partially received within said housing and being slidably movable between a first position and a second position; means for biasing said actuator to said first position; at least one pair of contact cavities being defined by said housing and being positioned immediately adjacent to and on opposite sides of said actuator; at least one pair of movable contacts, said movable contacts being attached to said actuator such that said movable contacts are movable between a first position and a second position within said contact cavities; means for attaching said movable contacts to said actuator; at least two pair of access apertures providing access to said contact cavities such that one pair of said access apertures generally coincides with said first position of said movable contacts and one pair of said access apertures generally coincides with said second position of said movable contacts; and a stationary contact module having at least one pair of stationary contacts which can be received through either of said pairs of access apertures for being selectively engaged with said movable contacts in one of said first or second positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The contact block of claim 1 wherein said actuator has a distal end which extends outboard of said housing through a passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The contact block of claim 2 wherein said actuator is selectively movable from said first position to said second position in response to an external force exerted on said distal end of said actuator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The contact block of claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a spring positioned between a portion of said housing and said actuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The contact block of claim 1 wherein said actuator is made from an electrically nonconductive material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The contact block of claim 5 wherein said means for attaching said movable contacts to said actuator is a flexible member, said flexible member being generally flat and made from an electrically conductive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The contact block of claim 6 wherein said flexible member is rigidly supported at its approximate midpoint by said actuator such that said flexible member is generally perpendicular to said actuator, said flexible member having two opposing ends extending away from said actuator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The contact block of claim 7 wherein one said movable contact is attached to each of the opposing sides of said flexible member at each of said opposing ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The contact block of claim 1 wherein said housing further includes an NC indicia adjacent one said pair of access apertures indicating a normally closed function and an NO indicia adjacent the other said pair of access apertures indicating a normally open function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The contact block of claim 9 wherein said stationary contact module includes a housing being generally rectangular in shape such that it is defined by a top surface and a bottom surface being generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and a front surface and a back surface being generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another, said front and back surfaces being intermediate said top and bottom surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
The contact block of claim 10 wherein said stationary contact module further includes at least one pair of bussing conductors, said bussing conductors being supported by and partially enclosed by said housing, a portion of each said bussing conductor extending outwardly from and generally perpendicularly to said bottom surface to a distal end, said bussing conductors passing through said housing at a point between a longitudinal center line of said stationary contact module and said back surface of said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The contact block of claim 11 wherein said distal end of each said bussing member further includes a contact pad on which said stationary contacts are fixedly mounted such that said stationary contacts face said front surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The contact block of claim 12 wherein said stationary contact module further includes a pair of contact indicators, each extending outwardly from and generally perpendicularly to said top surface at a point between said longitudinal center line of said contact module and said back surface such that the position of said stationary contacts is indicated by said contact indicators.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The contact block of claim 13 in which said contact indicators align with one of said NC indicia or said NO indicia depending on which pair of said access apertures said bussing conductors pass through.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The contact block of claim 11 wherein said contact module housing defines two passages communicating between said front and back surfaces, each said passage being adjacent one of said bussing conductors such that access is provided to a wire terminal screw associated with said adjacent bussing conductor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The contact block of claim 1 wherein said stationary contact module is attached to said contact block housing by a mounting screw.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
301 words
An electrical control device having a set of auxiliary electrical contacts convertible between a normally open and normally closed state, said control device comprising: a housing having a generally hollow interior and defining a pair of terminal apertures, a first pair of access apertures and a second pair of access apertures, each of said apertures providing access to said generally hollow interior; a base enclosed by said housing; an actuator being supported by said base such that said actuator is slidably movable between a first position and a second position; means for biasing said actuator to said first position; at least one pair of contact cavities being defined by said base, each said contact cavity being immediately adjacent said actuator such that said pair of contact cavities is separated by said actuator, said base being positioned within said housing such that said access apertures provide an external access to said contact cavities; a pair of stationary contacts supported by said base; a first pair of movable contacts being attached to said actuator such that said first movable contacts are movable between a first position and a second position relative to said pair of stationary contacts; means for attaching said first pair of movable contacts to said actuator; two second pairs of movable contacts, said movable contacts being attached to said actuator such that said second movable contacts are movable between a first position and a second position within said contact cavities; means for attaching said second pairs of movable contacts to said actuator; and a stationary contact module having at least one pair of stationary contacts which can be received through either said first or second pairs of access apertures for being selectively engaged by one of said second pairs of movable contacts in one of said first or second positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
301 words
An electrical control device having a set of auxiliary electrical contacts convertible between a normally open and normally closed state, said control device comprising: a housing having a generally hollow interior and defining a pair of terminal apertures, a first pair of access apertures and a second pair of access apertures, each of said apertures providing access to said generally hollow interior; a base enclosed by said housing; an actuator being supported by said base such that said actuator is slidably movable between a first position and a second position; means for biasing said actuator to said first position; at least one pair of contact cavities being defined by said base, each said contact cavity being immediately adjacent said actuator such that said pair of contact cavities is separated by said actuator, said base being positioned within said housing such that said access apertures provide an external access to said contact cavities; a pair of stationary contacts supported by said base; a first pair of movable contacts being attached to said actuator such that said first movable contacts are movable between a first position and a second position relative to said pair of stationary contacts; means for attaching said first pair of movable contacts to said actuator; two second pairs of movable contacts, said movable contacts being attached to said actuator such that said second movable contacts are movable between a first position and a second position within said contact cavities; means for attaching said second pairs of movable contacts to said actuator; and a stationary contact module having at least one pair of stationary contacts which can be received through either said first or second pairs of access apertures for being selectively engaged by one of said second pairs of movable contacts in one of said first or second positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical control device of claim 17 wherein said actuator has a distal end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical control device of claim 18 wherein said actuator is selectively movable from said first position to said second position in response to a force exerted on said distal end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical control device of claim 17 wherein said biasing means is a spring positioned between a portion of said base and said actuator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical control device of claim 17 wherein said actuator is made from an electrically nonconductive material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrical control device of claim 21 wherein said means for attaching said first pair of movable contacts to said actuator is a flexible member, said flexible member being generally flat and made from an electrically conductive material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electrical control device of claim 22 wherein said flexible member is rigidly supported at its approximate midpoint by said actuator such that said flexible member is generally perpendicular to said actuator, said flexible member having two opposing ends extending away from said actuator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical control device of claim 23 wherein one said movable contact is attached to each said opposing end of said flexible member such that said first movable contacts face said stationary contacts.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrical control device of claim 21 wherein said means for attaching said second pairs of movable contacts to said actuator is a flexible member, said flexible member being generally flat and made from an electrically conductive material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electrical control device of claim 25 wherein said flexible member is rigidly supported at its approximate midpoint by said actuator such that said flexible member is generally perpendicular to said actuator, said flexible member having two opposing ends extending away from said actuator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical control device of claim 26 wherein one said movable contact is attached to each side of said flexible member at each of said opposing ends.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrical control device of claim 17 wherein said electrical control device housing further includes an NC indicia adjacent one said pair of access apertures indicating a normally closed function and an NO indicia adjacent the other said pair of access apertures indicating a normally open function.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
The electrical control device of claim 28 wherein said stationary contact module includes a housing being generally rectangular in shape such that it is defined by a top surface and a bottom surface being generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and a front surface and a back surface being generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another, said front and back surfaces being intermediate said top and bottom surfaces.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
81 words
The electrical control device of claim 29 wherein said stationary contact module further includes at least one pair of bussing conductors, said bussing conductors being supported by and partially enclosed by said housing, a portion of each said bussing conductor extending outwardly from and generally perpendicularly to said bottom surface to a distal end, said bussing conductors passing through said housing at a point between a longitudinal center line of said stationary contact module and said back surface of said housing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrical control device of claim 30 wherein said distal end of each said bussing conductor further includes a contact pad on which said stationary contacts are fixedly mounted such that said stationary contacts face said front surface of said stationary contact module.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The electrical control device of claim 31 wherein said stationary contact module further includes a pair of contact indicators, each extending outwardly from and generally perpendicularly to said top surface at a point between said longitudinal center line of said and said back surface such that the position of said stationary contacts is indicated by said contact indicators.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electrical control device of claim 32 in which said contact indicators of said stationary contact module align with one of said NC indicia or said NO indicia depending on which pair of said access apertures said bussing conductors pass through.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The electrical control device of claim 30 wherein said stationary contact module housing defines two passages communicating between said front and back surfaces, each said passage being adjacent one of said bussing conductors such that access is provided to a wire terminal screw associated with said adjacent bussing conductor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical control device of claim 17 wherein said stationary contact module is attached to said electrical control device housing by a mounting screw.
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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) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-01-01 | 2000-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-02 | 2004-01-01 | 2004-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-02 | 2008-01-01 | 2008-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |