Claims
- 1. A pull-chain actuated electric switch mechanism for a multi-filament electric lamp, comprising:
- a. a plurality of contact surfaces arranged in a pattern on a circular array having an axis of symmetry, said contact surfaces having a non-conductive portion and conductive portions that are each electrically connectable to a filament of the multi-filament lamp;
- b. a pull-chain;
- c. an electrically conductive contactor having end portions and a central portion located between the end portions, the contactor being mounted so that it rotates about the axis of the symmetry of the circular array with its end portions contacting opposing portions of the circular array of contact surfaces;
- d. rotation means for rotating the contactor in response to displacement of the pull-chain; and
- e. resilient conductive means that so engages a terminal of an electrical power source and the center portion of the contactor that (a) the conductive means biases the end portions of the contactor into contact with the array of contact surfaces; and (b) current can flow through the power supply terminal, through the resilient conductive means, into the center portion and out of the end portions of the contactor, and through the conductive portions of the contact surfaces into one or more of the filaments of the multi-filament lamp;
- the pattern of the contact surfaces being such that rotation of the contactor about the axis of symmetry results in current energizing various combinations of the filaments of the multi-filament lamp.
- 2. An electric switch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which the conductive means is a resilient conductive member.
- 3. An electric switch mechanism as recited in claim 2, in which the resilient conductive member comprises a metal spring having one end in contact with the power supply terminal and another end in contact with the contactor, the spring being so sized and dimensioned that the contactor may be moved along the axis of symmetry towards the power supply terminal.
- 4. An electric switch mechanism as recited in claim 3, in which said contact surfaces are so slanted that the contactor moves along the axis of symmetry as the contactor rotates about the axis of symmetry.
- 5. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 4, in which the rotation means comprises:
- a. a first member on which the contact surfaces are formed; and
- b. a second member which rotates about the axis of symmetry with displacement of the pull-chain, the second member having a groove so formed therein for receiving the contactor that
- i. rotation of the second member about the axis of symmetry relative to the first member causes the contactor to rotate about the axis of symmetry, and
- ii. the contactor moves along the axis of symmetry within the groove relative to the second member.
- 6. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 5, in which an orifice is formed in the second member, where the resilient conductive member resides within this orifice.
- 7. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 6, in which the groove in the second member is substantially orthogonal to the axis of symmetry and intersects the orifice in the second member.
- 8. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 7, in which the orifice in the second member is cylindrical and is aligned with the axis of symmetry.
- 9. An electric switch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which the power supply terminal and the array of contact surfaces are fixed relative to each other.
- 10. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for selectively disconnecting one of the end portions of the contactor from at least one of the contact surfaces.
- 11. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which the contactor is asymmetrically mounted for rotation about the axis of symmetry, with a first end thereof being farther from the axis of symmetry than a second end thereof.
- 12. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 11, in which at least one of the contact surfaces has a non-conductive portion and a conductive portion, where, during rotation of the contactor, a first end of the contactor is able to contact both the non-conductive and conductive portions and a second end of the contactor is able to contact only the non-conductive portion.
- 13. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 12, comprising first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces, where the first contact surface is non-conductive, the second and third contact surfaces have a non-conductive portion and a conductive portion, and the fourth contact surface is entirely conductive.
- 14. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 13, in which the conductive portions of the second and third contact surfaces are electrically connected to a first filament of the electric lamp and the fourth contact surface is electrically connected to a second filament of the electric lamp.
- 15. An electrical switch mechanism as recited in claim 14, in which the first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces are arranged in first, second, third, and fourth quadrants of a circle, where the first quadrant opposes the third quadrant and the second quadrant opposes the fourth quadrant.
- 16. An electrical switch mechanism s recited in claim 15, in which the first filament is a high filament and the second filament is a low filament.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/647,418 filed on Jan. 29, 1991, now U.S. Pat No. 5,214,255.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
566941 |
Feb 1924 |
FRX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
647418 |
Jan 1991 |
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