# US 12,770,809 B2 · Double pole double throw switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,770,809 B2 - Document ID: US12770809B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/640,105 - Filed: 2024-04-19 - Published: 2025-10-23 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2024-04-19 - Assignees: C&K Components S.A.S. - Applicants: C&K Components S.A.S. - Inventors: Fabrice Valcher; Laurent Bouvier; Robin Denat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12770809B2 ## CPC - H01H 13/14: Operating parts, e.g. push-button - H01H 13/28: using compression or extension of coil springs - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A double pole double throw switch including a housing containing a tactile dome disposed over movable input contacts, and an actuator disposed over the tactile dome and adapted to be engaged by a user. When the actuator is not engaged, the movable input contacts engage fixed open circuit output contacts within the housing, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the movable input contacts to open circuit output conductors extending out of the housing. When the actuator is engaged, the actuator presses on the tactile dome, causing the tactile dome to deflect, which in-turn causes the movable input contacts to move out of engagement with the fixed open circuit output contacts and into engagement with closed circuit output contact terminals within the housing, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the movable input contacts to closed circuit output conductors extending out of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A double pole double throw (DPDT) switch comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity; first and second input conductors extending through a first sidewall of the housing and terminating in respective first and second input contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second open circuit output conductors extending through a second sidewall of the housing and terminating in respective first and second open circuit output contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second closed circuit output conductors extending through the second sidewall and terminating in respective first and second closed circuit output contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second movable input contacts connected to the first and second input contact terminals, respectively, extending through the internal cavity and terminating in respective first and second free ends disposed over the first and second closed circuit output contact terminals; first and second fixed open circuit output contacts connected to the first and second open circuit output contact terminals, respectively, and defining respective first and second pads that extend over the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts, respectively; a bascule element pivotably mounted within the internal cavity and having a cantilevered portion extending over the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts; a tactile dome disposed within the internal cavity and extending over the bascule element; and an actuator disposed atop the housing and over the tactile dome and adapted to be engaged by a user; wherein, when the actuator is not engaged and the DPDT switch is in a non-actuated state, the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts are in contact with the first and second pads of the first and second fixed open circuit output contacts, respectively, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the first and second input conductors to the first and second open circuit output conductors; and wherein, when the actuator is engaged and the DPDT switch is in an actuated state, the actuator presses on the tactile dome, causing the tactile dome to deflect and press on the bascule element, causing the bascule element to press on the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts, moving the first and second free ends out of contact with the first and second pads of the first and second fixed open circuit output contacts and into contact with the first and second closed circuit output contact terminals, respectively, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the first and second input conductors to the first and second closed circuit output conductors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The DPDT switch of claim 1, wherein the bascule element is formed of a dielectric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The DPDT switch of claim 1, wherein the tactile dome has a domed central portion with a plurality of legs extending from edges of the central portion, wherein the legs are disposed on respective shoulders of the housing within the internal cavity, wherein the tactile dome can be deflected from a normal, convex state, wherein the tactile dome presents a convex surface to the actuator, and a concave state, wherein the tactile dome presents a concave surface to the actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The DPDT switch of claim 3, wherein the tactile dome is formed of stainless steel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The DPDT switch of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a flexible actuator formed of an elastic material and comprises an upwardly extending button adapted to be manually engaged by a user, and a plunger extending downwardly from an underside of the button, wherein a bottom surface of the plunger is disposed directly above the tactile dome, wherein the button is adapted to be depressed in response to application of a manual force and to automatically return to an undepressed position when the manual force is removed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The DPDT switch of claim 5, wherein the flexible actuator is formed of one of silicon and rubber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The DPDT switch of claim 5, further comprising a fastening frame comprising: a central portion disposed atop the flexible actuator, the central portion having an aperture formed therein for allowing the button flexible actuator to extend therethrough; and a plurality of retaining tabs extending from edges of the central portion, wherein the retaining tabs engage at least one of the flexible actuator and the housing to secure the fastening frame, the flexible actuator, and the housing together in a stacked arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The DPDT switch of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a spring-loaded actuator comprising: a plunger located above the tactile dome; and a coil spring disposed atop the tactile dome and extending into a cavity formed in a bottom of the plunger; wherein the DPDT switch further comprises: a housing cap disposed atop the housing and having an aperture through which the plunger extends; and a sealing boot disposed atop the housing cover, over the plunger, with a tip of the plunger extending through an aperture in a top of the sealing boot and defining a button adapted to be manually engaged by a user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The DPDT switch of claim 8, wherein the sealing boot has an annular base disposed within a complementary, annular groove formed in a top of the housing cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The DPDT switch of claim 8, wherein a top of the sealing boot defines an annular collar that extends into an annular recess formed in the plunger. ### Claim 11 A double pole double throw (DPDT) tactile switch comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity; first and second input conductors extending through a first sidewall of the housing and terminating in respective first and second input contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second open circuit output conductors extending through a second sidewall of the housing and terminating in respective first and second open circuit output contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second closed circuit output conductors extending through the second sidewall and terminating in respective first and second closed circuit output contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second movable input contacts connected to the first and second input contact terminals, respectively, extending through the internal cavity and terminating in respective first and second free ends disposed over the first and second closed circuit output contact terminals; first and second fixed open circuit output contacts connected to the first and second open circuit output contact terminals, respectively, and defining respective first and second pads that extend over the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts, respectively; a bascule element pivotably mounted within the internal cavity and having a cantilevered portion extending over the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts; a tactile dome disposed within the internal cavity and extending over the bascule element; and a flexible actuator disposed atop the housing and over the tactile dome, wherein the flexible actuator is formed of an elastic material and comprises an upwardly extending button adapted to be manually engaged by a user, and a plunger extending downwardly from an underside of the button, wherein a bottom surface of the plunger is disposed directly above the tactile dome, wherein the button is adapted to be depressed in response to application of a manual force and to automatically return to an undepressed position when the manual force is removed; wherein, when the button is not depressed and the DPDT tactile switch is in a non-actuated state, the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts are in contact with the first and second pads of the first and second fixed open circuit output contacts, respectively, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the first and second input conductors to the first and second open circuit output conductors; and wherein, when the button is depressed and the DPDT tactile switch is in an actuated state, the plunger of the flexible actuator presses on the tactile dome, causing the tactile dome to deflect and press on the bascule element, causing the bascule element to press on the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts, moving the first and second free ends out of contact with the first and second pads of the first and second fixed open circuit output contacts and into contact with the first and second closed circuit output contact terminals, respectively, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the first and second input conductors to the first and second closed circuit output conductors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The DPDT tactile switch of claim 11, wherein the tactile dome has a domed central portion with a plurality of legs extending from edges of the central portion, wherein the legs are disposed on respective shoulders of the housing within the internal cavity, wherein the tactile dome can be deflected from a normal, convex state, wherein the tactile dome presents a convex surface to the actuator, and a concave state, wherein the tactile dome presents a concave surface to the actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The DPDT tactile switch of claim 11, wherein the tactile dome is formed of stainless steel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The DPDT tactile switch of claim 11, further comprising a fastening frame comprising: a central portion disposed atop the flexible actuator, the central portion having an aperture formed therein for allowing the button flexible actuator to extend therethrough; and a plurality of retaining tabs extending from edges of the central portion, wherein the retaining tabs engage at least one of the flexible actuator and the housing to secure the fastening frame, the flexible actuator, and the housing together in a stacked arrangement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The DPDT tactile switch of claim 11, wherein the bascule element is formed of a dielectric material. ### Claim 16 A double pole double throw (DPDT) snap switch comprising: a housing defining an internal cavity; first and second input conductors extending through a first sidewall of the housing and terminating in respective first and second input contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second open circuit output conductors extending through a second sidewall of the housing and terminating in respective first and second open circuit output contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second closed circuit output conductors extending through the second sidewall and terminating in respective first and second closed circuit output contact terminals within the internal cavity; first and second movable input contacts connected to the first and second input contact terminals, respectively, extending through the internal cavity and terminating in respective first and second free ends disposed over the first and second closed circuit output contact terminals; first and second fixed open circuit output contacts connected to the first and second open circuit output contact terminals, respectively, and defining respective first and second pads that extend over the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts, respectively; a bascule element pivotably mounted within the internal cavity and having a cantilevered portion extending over the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts; a tactile dome disposed within the internal cavity and extending over the bascule element; a spring-loaded actuator disposed atop the housing and over the tactile dome, the spring-loaded actuator comprising: a plunger located above the tactile dome; and a coil spring disposed atop the tactile dome and extending into a cavity formed in a bottom of the plunger; a housing cap disposed atop the housing and having an aperture through which the plunger extends; and a sealing boot disposed atop the housing cover, over the plunger, with a tip of the plunger extending through an aperture in a top of the sealing boot and defining a button adapted to be manually engaged by a user; wherein, when the button is not engaged and the DPDT snap switch is in a non-actuated state, the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts are in contact with the first and second pads of the first and second fixed open circuit output contacts, respectively, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the first and second input conductors to the first and second open circuit output conductors; and wherein, when the button is engaged and the DPDT snap switch is in an actuated state, the coil spring of the spring-loaded actuator is compressed between the plunger and the tactile dome, causing the tactile dome to deflect and press on the bascule element, causing the bascule element to press on the first and second free ends of the first and second movable input contacts, moving the first and second free ends out of contact with the first and second pads of the first and second fixed open circuit output contacts and into contact with the first and second closed circuit output contact terminals, respectively, creating a path for electrical current to flow from the first and second input conductors to the first and second closed circuit output conductors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The DPDT snap switch of claim 16, wherein the tactile dome has a domed central portion with a plurality of legs extending from edges of the central portion, wherein the legs are disposed on respective shoulders of the housing within the internal cavity, wherein the tactile dome can be deflected from a normal, convex state, wherein the tactile dome presents a convex surface to the spring loaded actuator, and a concave state, wherein the tactile dome presents a concave surface to the spring loaded actuator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The DPDT snap switch of claim 16, wherein the bascule element is formed of a dielectric material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The DPDT snap switch of claim 16, wherein the sealing boot has an annular base disposed within a complementary, annular groove formed in a top of the housing cover. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The DPDT snap switch of claim 16, wherein a top of the sealing boot defines an annular collar that extends into an annular recess formed in the plunger.