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US 10,073,420 B2Granted
Switch actuation device
OwnerIan Blakemaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch actuation device for use in connection with electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure. The device includes an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure for use in urging the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism from a first position to a second position. An actuatable electrical switch arrangement is also disclosed.
Claims17
A switch actuation device for use in connection with an electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure, comprising an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure and configured to urge the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism between a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
- a housing having a movable portion movable by an urging force in a first direction, such that at least a portion of the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the second position;
- and
- at least one contact arrangement comprising a first contact element and a second contact element, wherein at least a portion the first contact element is configured to contact at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the at least one contact arrangement comprises a damper arrangement comprising at least one track having teeth and at least one damper cog having teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the at least one track, wherein the at least one track is rigidly attached to one of a surface of the movable portion of the housing and the base plate, wherein the at least one damper cog is rotatably attached to the other of the surface of the movable portion of the housing and the base plate, and wherein the at least one track is configured to rotate the at least one damper cog when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.
3 more elements
An actuatable electrical switch arrangement, comprising:
- an electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure;
- and
- an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure and configured to urge the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism between a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
- a housing having a movable portion movable by an urging force in a first direction, such that at least a portion of the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the second position;
- and
- at least one contact arrangement comprising a first contact element and a second contact element, wherein at least a portion the first contact element is configured to contact at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the at least one contact arrangement comprises a damper arrangement comprising at least one track having teeth and at least one damper cog having teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the at least one track, wherein the at least one track is rigidly attached to one of a surface of the movable portion of the housing and the base plate, wherein the at least one damper cog is rotatably attached to the other of the surface of the movable portion of the housing and the base plate, and wherein the at least one track is configured to rotate the at least one damper cog when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.
6 more elements
A switch actuation device for use in connection with an electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure, comprising an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure and configured to urge the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism between a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
- a housing having a movable portion movable by an urging force in a first direction, such that at least a portion of the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the second position;
- and
- at least one contact arrangement comprising a first contact element and a second contact element, wherein at least a portion the first contact element is configured to contact at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the at least one contact arrangement comprises a damper arrangement comprising at least one track having teeth and at least one damper cog having teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the at least one track, wherein the at least one track is rigidly attached to one of a surface of the movable portion of the housing and the base plate, wherein the at least one damper cog is rotatably attached to the other of the surface of the movable portion of the housing and the base plate, and wherein the damper arrangement is configured to damp a portion of the urging of the movable portion of the housing in the second, opposing direction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.