This is a nonprovisional utility application of provisional application Ser. No. 62/856,620 filed Jun. 3, 2019.
A magnetic toggle switch to selectively control the continuity of an electrical circuit.
There are countless examples of electrical switching assemblies known in the art. Specific examples of the prior art are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,383 relates to a leaf-spring switch comprising an insulating switch base having parallel upper and lower arms each having a claw on the free end, upper and lower leaf springs midway between and in parallel with the arms. The upper leaf spring includes a tongue-shaped projection and a first contact and a terminal while the lower leaf spring includes a plate surrounded by a U-shaped slit larger in width than the upper leaf spring. The finger plate includes a second contact at one end, the lower leaf spring further including a lug and a terminal. The upper and lower springs are fixed by the switch base so that the first and second contacts face each other. A semicircular toggle spring including a forked part which engages the lug and a narrow section smaller in width than the U-shaped slit. The narrow section of the toggle spring includes a slit which engages the tongue-shaped projection of the upper leaf spring wherein the combined spring forces of the upper and lower leaf springs and the toggle spring create a very rapid on-off action.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,710,283 describes a fluid-level sensing device employing the interaction of a first magnet attached to the distal end of an external micro switch arm and a second magnet positioned within the distal end of a pivoting float body to close a circuit within the micro switch to generate a shut-off signal to stop fluid production. A single housing holds the micro switch and float body wherein magnetic forces acting through the housing wall between them and other magnet-positioning materials that separate the two magnets cause signal production. After float body deployment, manual reset of the float body is accomplished through its lever-like distal end. The main body of the micro switch which it is snap-fit into a fixed position within the upper housing chamber for use is entirely encapsulated in waterproof material to protect it from corrosion.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,992,260 and 7,067,749 teach a float switch, housing, and clamping member assembly including a wide float switch body for enhanced water displacement that results in a more responsive operation, a housing configured to protect the float switch body from malfunction due to airborne debris, the clamping member configured to create a J-shaped slot with the housing when connected together over the upper edge of a support surface such as a condensate collection pan with a flange.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,889,259 discloses an electrical snap switch including a molded insulating base having a recess, a rib formed integrally with a bottom wall of the recess having a flat surface located above the bottom wall. Lower and upper resilient stationary contacts are located within the recess and biased above and below the plane of the flat surface. A relatively thin flat insulating member is slidable disposed on the flat surface and interposed between the stationary contacts. The insulating member includes a conducting element movable into and out of bridging relation relative to the contacts.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,127 shows a snap action mechanism comprising supporting means, a manually operable actuating member movably supported by the supporting means, driving means movably supported by the supporting means and operatively connected to the actuating member for actuation thereby, driven means movably supported by the supporting means. The driven means includes at least two idle positions. A holding means is supported by the supporting means tending to hold the driven means in any of the idle positions. Means carried by the driving means acting on the holding means overcomes the holding tendency upon predetermined movement of the driving means. The means acting on the holdings means includes a cam on the driving member. Positive moving means including a stop terminating the cam and engageable with the driven member and resilient means means acting between the driving means and the driven means and acting upon movement of the driving means snaps the driven means from one another of the positions when the holding tendency is overcome and the positive means carried by the driving means effecting positive movement of the driven means by the driving means by movement beyond their normal relative movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,008,024 relates to a toggle switch mechanism comprising a U-shaped sheet material base having a pair of legs and a bight a switch mounted between the legs of the base adjacent the ends thereof opposite the bight, the switch includes an operating member projecting toward the bight lever pivoted between the legs on a pivot adjacent to one end of the lever and located to one side of the operating member engages near the longitudinal center thereof by the operating member. A rocking lever pivoted between the legs on the opposite side of the first lever relative to the switch and having a flange on one end of the rocking lever directed toward the first lever and engageable with the end thereof opposite from the pivot of the first mentioned lever. A handle projecting through the bight and pivoted intermediate its ends on said base has manually engageable end disposed outside of the base and includes a spring loaded end within the base engaging the rocking lever and positioned to move on either side of a dead center position relative to the pivot of the handle and the rocking lever. The spring loaded end of the handle when one side of the dead center position pivots the rocking lever and urges the flange thereon against the coacting end of the first lever to urge the first lever against the switch operating member. The spring loaded end when on the other side of the dead center position pivots the rocking lever to allow reverse pivoting of the first member and return of the operating lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,750 discloses a float switch assembly with a protective housing/clamping structure including a thumbscrew positioned between two upper bracing protrusions and external braces/ribs that make it less likely for the two parts of the protective housing to flex relative to one another to provide a more secure connection between the two parts of the housing during use to protect a float switch body within the protective housing for reliable shut-off signal activation when needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,967,267 describes a two-piece clamping assembly with an integral rail plate used to rapidly and securely mount a float switch within a fluid collection container for fluid level monitoring. The clamping assembly can be used or mounted on differing wall thickness, dimensions and different upper edge configurations. When the front and back clamping members are joined together over the top edge, lip, or flange of a pan using one centrally located top fastener, and at least one additional fastener is inserted through the back clamping member until it engages the exterior surface of the pan, the pan's upper edge becomes secured within an inverted J-shaped slot formed between the two clamping members. Vertically-extending internal ribs and horizontally-extending projections strengthen the clamping assembly.
While some of the prior art may contain some similarities relating to the present invention, none of them teach, suggested or include all of the advantages and unique features of the invention disclosed hereafter.
The present invention relates to a magnetic switch assembly to control the flow of electricity to at least one electrical load comprising a toggle bar and a switch actuator each rotatably between a first position and a second position.
A set of magnets including a first or toggle magnet mounted on the toggle bar and a second or switch actuator magnet mounted on the switch actuator such that the magnetic fields selectively interact as the switch actuator is moved from the first position and second position moving the toggle bar from the first position to the second position.
The magnetic switch assembly further includes a set of electrical contacts to selectively supply electricity to an electrical load comprising an upper electrical contact connected or coupled to the electrical load by a first conductor and a lower electrical contact mounted on the toggle bar and connected or coupled to the electrical load by a toggle bar conductor and a conductor coupled to the electrical load.
When the toggle bar is biased in the first position and the switch actuator is in the first position the first or toggle magnet is disposed in spaced relationship relative to the switch actuator magnet having a gap therebetween such that the upper electrical contact and the lower electrical contact engage each other to complete the electrical circuit to the electrical load (not shown).
When the switch actuator is rotated clockwise from the first position to the second position decreasing the gap between the first or toggle magnet and the second or switch actuator magnet the magnetic attraction therebetween increases overcoming the force of a first or toggle bar bias rotating the toggle bar counter-clockwise disengaging the lower electrical contact from the upper electrical contact to create an open electrical circuit between the power source and the electrical load.
Electricity or power is returned to the electrical load by rotating the switch actuator in the counter-clockwise direction thereby increasing the gap between the first or toggle magnet and the second or switch actuator magnet decreasing the magnetic attraction therebetween until the force exerted by the toggle bar bias overcomes the magnet attraction between the first or toggle magnet and the second or switch actuator magnet rotating the toggle bar clockwise until the upper electrical contact and the lower electrical contact again engage each other to complete the electrical circuit to the electrical load.
This Summary is not intended to describe essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. To the contrary, this Summary merely outlines various concepts and features that are developed in the Detailed Description.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
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The magnetic switch assembly 10 comprises a toggle bar generally indicated as 12 and a switch actuator generally indicated as 14 each rotatably between a first position (
A set of magnets includes a first or toggle magnet 18 mounted on the proximal end portion 20 of the toggle bar 12 and a second or switch actuator magnet 22 mounted on the proximal end portion 24 of the switch actuator 14.
The magnetic switch assembly 10 further includes a first set of electrical contacts to selectively supply electricity to a first electrical load (not shown) and a second set of electrical contacts to selectively supply electricity to a second electrical load (not shown). The first set of electrical contacts comprises a first upper electrical contact 26 connected or coupled to the first electrical load (not shown) by a first conductor 28 mounted on the base 16 and a first lower electrical contact 30 mounted on the proximal end portion 20 of the toggle bar 12 and selectively connected or coupled to the first electrical load (not shown) by a toggle bar conductor 32 mounted on the toggle bar 12 and a conductor 34 coupled to the first electrical load (not shown) when the toggle bar 12 and the switch actuator 14 are each in the first position. The second set of electrical contacts comprises a second upper electrical contact 36 connected or coupled to the second electrical load (not shown) by a second conductor 38 mounted on the base 16 and a second lower electrical contact 40 mounted on the distal end portion 42 of the toggle bar 12 and selectively connected or coupled to the second electrical load (not shown) by the toggle bar conductor 32 mounted on the toggle bar 12 and the conductor 34 coupled to the second electrical load (not shown) when the toggle bar 12 and the switch actuator 14 are each in the second position.
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The distal end portion 68 of the switch actuator 14 is rotatably mounted on a post or pin 70 mounted or formed on the base 16 extending through an aperture 72. Rotation of the switch actuator 14 is limited in a counter-clockwise direction by a first or lower switch actuator stop or limit 74 when in the first position (
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When the toggle bar 12 has rotated to the second position due to the magnetic attraction between the first or toggle magnet 18 and the second or switch actuator magnet 22, the lower surface 78 of the first or toggle magnet 18 and the upper surface 80 of the second or switch actuator magnet 22 are substantially parallel to each other and the second lower electrical contact 40 engages the second upper electrical contact 36 completing the electrical circuit with the second electrical load (not shown).
Engagement of the second upper electrical contact 36 with the second lower electrical contact 40 limits the counter-clockwise rotation of the toggle bar 12 when the switch actuator 14 is rotated clockwise from the first position to the second position.
Electricity is returned to the first electrical load (not shown) by rotation of the switch actuator 14 in the counter-clockwise direction thereby increasing the gap between the first or toggle magnet 18 and the second or switch actuator magnet 22 decreasing the magnetic attraction therebetween until the force exerted by the toggle bar bias 57 overcomes the magnet attraction between the first or toggle magnet 18 and the second or switch actuator magnet 22 rotating the toggle bar 12 clockwise until the first upper electrical contact 24 and the first lower electrical contact 30 again engage each other to complete the electrical circuit to the first electrical load (not shown).
The magnetic switch assembly 10 comprises a toggle bar generally indicated as 12 and a switch actuator generally indicated as 14 each rotatably between a first position (
A set or pair of magnets includes a first or toggle magnet 18 mounted on the proximal end portion 20 of the toggle bar 12 and a second or switch actuator magnet 22 mounted on the proximal end portion 24 of the switch actuator 14.
The magnetic switch assembly 10 further includes a set of electrical contacts to selectively supply electricity to a first electrical load (not shown) comprising an upper electrical contact 26 connected or coupled to the electrical load (not shown) by a first conductor 28 mounted on the base 16 and a lower electrical contact 30 mounted on the proximal end portion 20 of the toggle bar 12 and selectively connected or coupled to the electrical load (not shown) by a toggle bar conductor 32 mounted on the toggle bar 12 and a second conductor 34 coupled to the electrical load (not shown) when the toggle bar 12 and the switch actuator 14 are each in the first position.
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The distal end portion 68 of the switch actuator 14 is rotatably mounted on a post or pin 70 mounted or formed on the base 16 extending through an aperture 72. Rotation of the switch actuator 14 is limited in a counter-clockwise direction by a first or lower switch actuator stop or limit 74 when in the first position (
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Engagement of the distal end portion 42 of the toggle bar 12 engages an upper toggle bar stop or limit 80 to limit the counter-clockwise rotation of the toggle bar 12 when the switch actuator 14 is rotated clockwise from the first position to the second position.
When the toggle bar 12 has rotated to the second position, the lower surface 78 of the first or toggle magnet 18 and the upper surface 80 of the second or switch actuator magnet 22 are substantially parallel to each other.
Electricity is returned to the electrical load (not shown) by rotation of the switch actuator 14 in the counter-clockwise direction thereby increasing the gap between the first or toggle magnet 18 and the second or switch actuator magnet 22 decreasing the magnetic attraction therebetween until the force exerted by the toggle bar bias 57 overcomes the magnet attraction between the first or toggle magnet 18 and the second or switch actuator magnet 22 rotating the toggle bar 12 clockwise until the upper electrical contact 24 and the lower electrical contact 30 again engage each other to complete the electrical circuit to the electrical load (not shown).
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
In describing the invention, certain terms are used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations should be inferred beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different structural and functional elements, apparatuses, devices, compositions, and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other structural and functional elements, apparatuses, devices, compositions, systems and methods. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims hereinafter.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3052778 | Kathe | Sep 1962 | A |
3273091 | Wales, Jr. | Sep 1966 | A |
3743980 | Steiner | Jul 1973 | A |
4489297 | Haydon | Dec 1984 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62856620 | Jun 2019 | US |