Claims
- 1. A snap action electrical switch comprising:
- a housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least in part disposed within said housing;
- first electrical contact means mounted within said housing for defining a portion of a path for the flow of electrical current through said housing said first contact means including a stationary electrical contact;
- at least a second electrical contact means disposed within said housing for cooperation with said first contact means in defining said current flow path, said second contact means including a movable electrical contact, said stationary and movable contacts having at least a first relative orientation in which said contacts having at least a first relative orientation in which said contacts are spaced apart and a second relative orientation in which said movable contact is in contact with said stationary contact;
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current between said first electrical contact means and the exterior of said housing;
- at least a first movable member coupled to said actuator and to said second electrical contact means movable contact, said first movable member imparting movement to said movable electrical contact in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said first movable member whereby said first movable member has at least a first orientation, a second orientation and an unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said first orientation of said first movable member corresponding to said first relative orientation of said contacts and said second orientation of said first movable member corresponding to said second relative orientation of said contacts, said first movable member being arranged to move between said first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations of said first movable member being a stable orientation;
- means cooperating with said first movable member for causing said movable electrical contact to move towards said stationary electrical contact in a contact-closing direction as said first movable member moves from said first orientation towards said unstable orientation, said contacts remaining closed as said first movable member moves from said second orientation towards said unstable orientation; and
- means for establishing a path for the flow of electrical current between said second electrical contact means and the exterior of said housing.
- 2. The switch of claim 1 wherein said first movable member is an elongated arm, said arm pivoting in a first direction in moving from one of said orientations thereof towards the unstable orientation and pivoting in a second direction opposite to said first direction when moving from the other of said orientations thereof toward the said one orientation, said pivotal motion of said first movable member in said first and second directions being about different points on said first movable member.
- 3. The switch of claim 2 wherein said movable electrical contact is mounted on said arm, said arm having two oppositely disposed ends and pivoting about a first point adjacent one of said ends during movement in said first direction, and wherein said means cooperating with said first movable member causes said arm to pivot about a second point intermediate its ends when moving in the second direction, said first and second points being spatially displaced.
- 4. The switch of claim 1 wherein said first movable member is a contact arm having a pair of oppositely disposed ends, said contact arm being disposed generally transversely with respect to the direction of motion of said actuator during displacement thereof, said movable electrical contact being mounted on said contact arm adjacent one end thereof, said contact arm engaging said actuator adjacent the other end of said arm, movement of said actuator when said contacts are in said second relative orientation and the switch is in the closed condition causing said contact arm to pivot about said stationary contact until said contact arm moves from said second orientation thereof to said unstable orientation, said contact arm pivoting about said means cooperating with said movable member in response to movement of said actuator during closing of the switch from the open position where said contacts are in said first relative orientation, said means cooperating with said movable member comprising a fulcrum which engages said contact arm intermediate its ends.
- 5. An electrical switch comprising:
- a housing;
- a displaceable actuator disposed within said housing;
- at least a first pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- means establishing paths for the flow of electrical current between said electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- at least a first movable member coupled to said actuator and to one of said electrical contacts, said first movable member imparting movement to said one of said contacts;
- means for resiliently biasing said first movable member whereby said first movable member will have a first orientation in which said contacts are closed, a second orientation in which said contacts are open and unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said first movable member moving between said first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation; and
- means for causing said first movable member to move more rapidly in a first direction from the second orientation towards the unstable orientation than in a second direction from said first orientation towards the unstable orientation in response to the same amount of initial displacement of said actuator.
- 6. The switch of claim 5 wherein said first movable member rotates in moving between the first, second and unstable orientations and wherein said means for causing said first movable member to move more rapidly in said first direction than in said second direction comprises abutment means for causing rotation of the said first movable member about different spacially displaced points on the said first movable member during movement towards the unstable orientation from the first and second orientations respectively.
- 7. The switch of claim 6 wherein said first movable member comprises an arm, a first of said electrical contacts of said pair being mounted on said arm, said arm having two ends and being arranged to rotate about a first of said points located adjacent one of said ends during movement from the first orientation towards the unstable orientation and about the second of said points located intermediate its ends when moving in the second direction, said abutment means contacting said arm at said second point.
- 8. The switch of claim 5 wherein said first movable member comprises a contact arm, said contact arm having a pair of opposite ends and being arranged generally transversely with respect to the direction of displacement of said actuator, said one of said electrical contacts of said pair being mounted on said contact arm adjacent one end thereof, said actuator engaging said contact arm adjacent the other end thereof, displacement of said actuator causing rotation of said contact arm about said one electrical contact when the switch is in the closed condition and causing rotation of said arm about said means for causing said first movable member to move more rapidly in a first direction than in a second direction during closing from the open condition, said means for causing said arm to move more rapidly in a first direction than in a second direction comprising a fulcrum.
- 9. A snap action electrical switch comprising:
- a hollow housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least in part mounted within said housing;
- at least a first movable elongated contact arm disposed within said housing, said first contact arm extending generally transversely with respect to the direction of displacement of said actuator and being rotatably coupled at one end to said actuator;
- a first electrical contact means positioned within said housing, said first contact means including a first movable electrical contact mounted on said first contact arm;
- at least a second electrical contact means disposed within said housing for cooperation with said first electrical contact means, said second contact means including a second stationary electrical contact;
- means for establishing paths for the flow of electrical current between said first and second electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- means resiliently biasing said first contact arm for causing said first electrical contact to engage and disengage said second electrical contact in response to displacement of said actuator; and
- a fulcrum positioned to engage said first contact arm from a first side thereof at a point located between said first electrical contact and said one end of said arm whereby said first contact will pivot about said fulcrum only during movement of said first electrical contact towards said second electrical contact from a position where it is disengaged from said second electrical contact.
- 10. The switch of claim 9 wherein said actuator is reciprocally movable into and out of said housing, said second contact is fixedly mounted within said housing and said first contact arm pivotally engages said actuator at said one end and carries said first contact adjacent its other end, said first contact arm being resiliently biased by said biasing means so that during initial movement of said actuator when the said first and second contacts are engaged and the switch is closed said first contact arm pivots about said second electrical contact, and during initial movement of said actuator when said first and second electrical contacts are disengaged and the switch is open said first contact arm pivots about said fulcrum intermediate the ends of said contact arm and in each case said one end of said contact arm is moved by said actuator.
- 11. The switch of claim 9 wherein said fulcrum is mounted to said housing and engages said first contact arm during closing movement of the switch.
- 12. A snap action electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least partly disposed within said housing;
- a first electrical contact means disposed within said housing, said first contact means including a first electrical contact;
- at least a second electrical contact means disposed within said housing, said second contact means including a second electrical contact;
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current between said second electrical contact and the exterior of said housing;
- a movable member coupled to said actuator and to said first electrical contact, said movable member imparting movement to said first electrical contact in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said first movable member whereby said first movable member will have a first orientation in which said first electrical contact is closed with said second electrical contact, a second orientation in which said electrical contacts are spaced apart to define an open switch and an unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said first movable member moving between said first and second orientations in response to movement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation;
- means positioned on said housing and cooperating with said first movable member for causing said first electrical contact to move in a contact-closing direction when said first movable member moves from said second orientation towards said unstable orientation, said electrical contacts remaining closed as said first movable member moves from said first orientation towards said unstable orientation; and
- means for establishing a path for the flow of electrical current from said first electrical contact to the exterior of said housing.
- 13. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least partly disposed within said housing;
- a pair of first electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- a pair of second electrical contacts mounted within said housing for cooperation with respective of said first electrical contacts of said pair of first electrical contacts;
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current from the said second electrical contacts to the exterior of said housing;
- first and second movable members respectively coupled to said actuator and respective of said first electrical contacts, said movable members imparting movement to said first electrical contacts in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said movable members whereby said members each have a first orientation in which said first contacts are closed with respective of said second electrical contacts, a second orientation in which said electrical contacts are open, and an unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said movable members moving between said first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation;
- means cooperating with said movable members for causing said first electrical contacts to move in a contact-closing direction as said movable members move from said second orientation towards said unstable orientation, said electrical contacts remaining closed as said movable members move from said first orientation towards said unstable orientation; and
- means establishing a path for flow of electrical current from said first electrical contacts to the exterior of said housing.
- 14. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a housing;
- a displacement actuator at least partly disposed within said housing;
- a first pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- at least a second pair of electrical contacts mounted within said housing for cooperation with respective contacts of said first pair of electrical contacts;
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current from said second electrical contacts to the exterior of said housing;
- a pair of movable members coupled to said actuator and respective of said first electrical contacts, said movable members imparting movement to the associated contact of said first pair of electrical contacts in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said movable members whereby said movable members have a first orientation in which said contacts of said first pair are closed with respective contacts of said second pair, a second orientation in which said contact are open and unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said movable members moving between said first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation;
- means positioned on said housing and cooperating with said movable members for causing said first contacts to move in a contact-closing direction as said movable members move from said second orientation towards said unstable orientation, said contacts remaining closed as said movable members move from said first orientation towards said unstable orientation; and
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current from said first electrical contacts to the exterior of said housing.
- 15. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least partly disposed within said housing;
- at least a pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- means establish a path for the flow of electrical current between said electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- at least a first movable member coupled to said actuator and a first of said electrical contacts, said movable member imparting movement to said first electrical contact in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said first movable member whereby said first movable member will have a first orientation in which said first electrical contact is closed with the other of said electrical contacts, a second orientation in which said electrical contacts are open and an unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said first movable member moving between first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation; and
- means positioned on said housing and cooperating with said first movable member for causing said first movable member to move more rapidly in a first direction from the second orientation towards the unstable orientation than in a second direction from the first orientation towards said unstable orientation in response to the same amount of initial displacement of said actuator.
- 16. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least partly disposed within said housing;
- a first pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- at least a second pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current between said electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- a pair of movable members coupled to said actuator, said movable members also being respectively coupled to a first electrical contact of one of said pairs of contacts, said movable members imparting movement to said first electrical contacts in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said movable members whereby said movable members will each have a first orientation in which said first electrical contacts are closed with respective of the other of said electrical contacts of said pairs of contacts, a second orientation in which said electrical contacts are open and an unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said movable members moving between said first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation; and
- means cooperating with said movable members for causing said movable members to move more rapidly in a first direction from the second orientation towards the unstable orientation than in a second direction from the first orientation towards said unstable orientation in response to the same amount of initial displacement of said actuator.
- 17. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least partly disposed within said housing;
- a first pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- at least a second pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing;
- means establishing a path for the flow of electrical current between said electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- a pair of movable members coupled to said actuator, each of said actuators also being coupled to a first electrical contact of a respective one of said pairs of electrical contacts, said movable members imparting movement to said first electrical contacts in response to displacement of said actuator;
- means for resiliently biasing said movable members whereby said movable members will each have a first orientation in which said first electrical contacts are closed with respective of the other of said electrical contacts of said pairs of contacts, a second orientation in which said electrical contacts are open and an unstable equilibrium orientation intermediate said first and second orientations, said movable members moving between said first and second orientations in response to displacement of said actuator, at least one of said first and second orientations being a stable orientation; and
- means positioned on said housing and cooperating with said movable members for causing said movable members to move more rapidly in a first direction from the second orientation towards the unstable orientation than in a second direction from the first orientation towards said unstable orientation in response to the same amount of initial displacement of said actuator.
- 18. A snap action electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a hollow housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least in part mounted within said housing;
- at least a first elongated contact arm disposed within said housing, said first contact arm being movable transversely with respect to the direction of displacement of said actuator and being coupled at a first end thereof to said actuator;
- first contact means disposed within said housing, said first contact means including at least a first electrical contact mounted on said first contact arm;
- a second contact means disposed within said housing, said second contact means including a second electrical contact which cooperates with said first electrical contact;
- means for establishing paths for the flow of electrical current between said first and second electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- means for resiliently biasing said first contact arm to cause said first electrical contact to engage and disengage said second electrical contact in response to displacement of said actuator; and
- a fulcrum positioned on said housing, said fulcrum engaging said first contact arm between said first electrical contact and said one end, said first contact arm pivoting about said fulcrum only during movement of said first electrical contact towards said second electrical contact.
- 19. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a hollow housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least in part mounted within said housing;
- at least a first pair of elongated contact arms disposed within said housing, said contact arms being movable transversely with respect to the direction of displacement of said actuator, each of said contact arms being coupled at a first end thereof to said actuator;
- a first pair of electrical contacts, said contacts of said first pair being mounted on respective of said contact arms of said first pair of contact arms;
- at least a second pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing for cooperation with respective of said electrical contacts of said first pair of contacts;
- means for establishing paths of the flow of electrical current between said electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- means for resiliently biasing said contact arms to cause said electrical contacts of said first pair to engage and disengage associated electrical contacts of said second pair in response to displacement of said actuator; and
- at least a pair of fulcrums, said fulcrums being positioned to engage said contact arms between said electrical contacts of said first pair and said contact arm first ends, said contact arms pivoting about said fulcrums only during movement of said electrical contacts of said first pair towards said electrical contacts of said second pair.
- 20. An electrical switch comprising:
- means defining a hollow housing;
- a displaceable actuator at least in part mounted within said housing;
- at least a first pair of elongated contact arms disposed within said housing, said contact arms being movable transversely with respect to the direction of displacement of said actuator, each of said contact arms being coupled at a first end thereof to said actuator;
- a first pair of electrical contacts, said contacts of said first pair being mounted on respective of said contact arms;
- at least a second pair of electrical contacts disposed within said housing for cooperation with respective of said electrical contacts of said first pair of contacts;
- means for establishing paths for the flow of electrical current between said electrical contacts and the exterior of said housing;
- means for resiliently biasing said contact arms to cause said electrical contacts of said first pair to engage and disengage associated electrical contacts of said second pair of contacts in response to displacement of said actuator; and
- at least a pair of fulcrums mounted on said housing, said fulcrums being positioned to engage respective of said contact arms between said electrical contacts of said first pair of contacts and said contact arm first ends, said contact arms pivoting about said fulcrums only during movement of said electrical contacts of said first pair of contacts towards said electrical contacts of said second pair of contacts.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
8715412 |
Jul 1987 |
GBX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 213,315, filed on June 30, 1988, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
2526850 |
Charbonneau |
Oct 1950 |
|
2840657 |
Roeser |
Jun 1958 |
|
3192329 |
Murrle 200 16 A |
Jun 1965 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3511898 |
Oct 1986 |
DEX |
3531390 |
Oct 1986 |
DEX |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
213315 |
Jun 1988 |
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