US5749458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature jumper switch with wire contact maker
Assignee: Autosplice Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1996-11-15
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2016-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A low profile, push-pull, jumper switch that relies on movement of an electrically-insulating switch housing to make and break the connection between two contact members mounted on the surface of a PCB or other substrate. The only metal used are the two contact members and a fixed wire in the housing. The wire is forced into contact with the contact members to electrically interconnect them by movement of the housing when placed in its closed-switch position. In a preferred embodiment, the two contact members are identical and are each constituted of a one-piece U-shaped metal member, with the U-bight depending from the housing and configured to be solderable to the PCB pads or through-holes and thus being fixed. The contact members are configured to latch the housing in its open-switch position or closed-switch position. The switch lends itself to SMT applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Giuseppe Bianca
- 👤 Robert M. Bogursky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H15/00; H01H15/02; H01H15/06; H01H15/10; H01H15/102; H01H15/005; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7094; H01R31/00; H01R31/08; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A jumper switch comprising: a) a pair of contact members each having first contact portions and a second solderable portion, b) a switch housing mounted on and partially surrounding a portion of the contact members and wherein the entire housing is movable on the contact members from a first switch position to a second switch position to break and make, respectively, an electrical connection between the first contact portions of the two contact members, c) said second solderable portions extending out from the housing and configured for being soldered to conductive areas of external pads or through-holes, d) electrically-conductive means fixed on the housing and movable therewith for making contact to both of the first contact portions of the two contact members when the housing is in its second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A jumper switch comprising: a) a pair of contact members each having first contact portions and a second solderable portion, b) a switch housing mounted on and partially surrounding a portion of the contact members and wherein the entire housing is movable on the contact members from a first switch position to a second switch position to break and make, respectively, an electrical connection between the first contact portions of the two contact members, c) said second solderable portions extending out from the housing and configured for being soldered to conductive areas of external pads or through-holes, d) electrically-conductive means fixed on the housing and movable therewith for making contact to both of the first contact portions of the two contact members when the housing is in its second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically-conductive means comprises a wire fixed to the housing, said wire being spaced from and out of electrical contact with both of the first contact portions of the two contact members when the housing is in its first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the contact members each extend in a flat plane, and the wire is straight and extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the contact members, and the two contact members are constituted of metal and constitute with the wire the only metal in the switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first position of the housing with respect to the contact members is located further away from the second solderable portions of the contact members than that of the second position of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact members each comprise a generally bifurcated configuration having conductively connected resilient tines urged by spring forces into a spaced relaxed state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An SMT jumper switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tine portions occupy a first position when the housing is in its first position and second position when the housing is in its second position, said tine portions being visible from a point outside of the housing when in its second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the contact members and the housing are configured to prevent excessive deflection forces from exceeding the elastic limit of either of the conductive members or the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the contact members and the housing are configured such that any deflection of the contact members is matched by approximately twice the deflection of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has slightly flexible portions, and further comprising means including the slightly flexible portions providing interfering engagement of the housing with both of the contact members to maintain the housing in its first and second positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
A jumper switch comprising: a) a pair of contact members each having first contact portions and a second solderable portion, b) a switch housing mounted on the contact members and movable on the contact members from a first switch position to a second switch position to break and make, respectively, an electrical connection between the first contact portions of the two contact members, c) said second solderable portions extending out from the housing and configured for being soldered to conductive areas of external pads or through-holes, d) electrically-conductive means on the housing and movable therewith for making contact to both of the first contact portions of the two contact members when the housing is in its second position, e) each contact member being constituted of a one-piece U-shaped metal member having first and second tine portions on opposite sides of a bight portion, the bight portion constituting the second solderable portion, the first and second tine portions having facing surfaces constituting the first contact portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
A jumper switch comprising: a) a pair of contact members each having first contact portions and a second solderable portion, b) a switch housing mounted on the contact members and movable on the contact members from a first switch position to a second switch position to break and make, respectively, an electrical connection between the first contact portions of the two contact members, c) said second solderable portions extending out from the housing and configured for being soldered to conductive areas of external pads or through-holes, d) electrically-conductive means on the housing and movable therewith for making contact to both of the first contact portions of the two contact members when the housing is in its second position, e) each contact member being constituted of a one-piece U-shaped metal member having first and second tine portions on opposite sides of a bight portion, the bight portion constituting the second solderable portion, the first and second tine portions having facing surfaces constituting the first contact portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An SMT jumper switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bight portion comprises a generally flat portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bight portion comprises a generally pin-shaped portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means on the first and second tine portions for latching the housing in its first and second positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for latching comprises first, second and third projections, with the first and second projections positioned to interferingly engage portions of the housing in its first position and the second and third projections positioned to interferingly engage portions of the housing in its second position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically-conductive means comprises a straight wire portion fixed to the housing for producing a sliding rubbing contact between the first contact portions of both of the contact members when the switch is moved into its second position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing is configured with finger grip areas for easy user manipulation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing is configured with an exposed flat top surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has open sides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact members are plated with a solderable coating except for two side portions located above the solderable portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A jumper switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted to move in a straight path between its first and second positions, and the wire extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the straight path.
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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) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |