US 3,944,761 AGranted

Rotary switch

AssigneeNicholl Brothers, Inc.

InventorsThomas H. Nicholl, John J. Collins

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Abstract

A finger-actuated rotary switch adapted for use in electric devices, such as lanterns, and operative to select a desired light or light combination wherein the rotary switch is a waterproof structure and includes an elongated rotatable stem extending through a stator and having a switch rotor retained on one end thereof. The switch rotor is in engagement with the stator and relative movement between the switch rotor and the stator is effective to move the switch rotor into and out of engagement with electrical contact heads extending from the stator all in response to movement of cam followers which extend from the switch rotor and move along and in engagement with a cam surface on the stator. The switch rotor is resiliently maintained in engagement with the stator. A support is positioned between the stator and an operating knob on the stem.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A rotary switch comprising:

a. an elongated rotatable stem having an operating knob on one end thereof and retainer means on the other end thereof and keying surfaces adjacent said retainer means;
b. a stator having an aperture therethrough for rotatably receiving said stem;
c. spaced electrical contact means on said stator including a plurality of spaced heads extending therefrom;
d. an electrically conductive switch rotor positioned between said retainer means and said stator, said switch rotor being mounted on said stem and movable longitudinally thereof and having an aperture with keying surfaces in engagement with said keying surfaces of said stem and rotatable therewith, said switch rotor being adapted for selective engagement with said electrical contact means;
e. means on said stator engageable by said switch rotor to permit same to move into and out of engagement with said electrical contact means in response to rotation of said stem;
f. a support positioned between said stator and the operating knob on said stem, said support having an aperture therethrough for receiving said stem and permit rotation of said stem;
g. means between said stator and said support for retaining said stator against rotation and permitting movement of the stator longitudinally of said stem;
and
h. resilient means between the support and stator urging the stator toward the switch rotor for maintaining engagement thereof and the switch rotor in engagement with the retainer means with the keying surfaces engaged and permitting the switch rotor to engage selected electrical contact means in response to rotation of said stem.

6 more elements

A rotary switch comprising:

a. a support having a wall with an aperture therein;
b. an elongate stem extending through said aperture and rotatably mounted therein, said stem having first and second ends of opposite sides of said support wall, said stem having outwardly extending portions at said second end having surfaces facing said support, said stem having a reduced portion spaced from said outwardly extending portions and forming a shoulder facing same, said stem having a non-circular portion having keying surfaces between said reduced portion and the outwardly extending portions;
c. a control member on the stem at said first end and operative to rotate same;
d. a stator having an aperture through which said second end of the stem extends permitting rotation of the stem therein;
said stator beng movable longitudinally of said stem;
said stator having a plurality of electrical contacts in a coaxial circle radially spaced from the stem;
e. a rotor removably mounted on said second end of the stem and having electrical conductive portions engageable with contacts on the stator in response to rotation of the rotor and movement of the stator toward said rotor, said rotor having an axial opening shaped to move over said second end of the stem and outwardly extending portions in one position and having engagement with said outward extending portions in another position to provide pressure points therebetween, said axial opening having edges positioned to engage said keying surfaces of the stem when said rotor engages the surfaces of the outwardly extending portions of the stem for rotation of the rotor by said stem;
f. resilient means engaging the stator and applying force thereto to move the stator toward the rotor and the rotor toward said outwardly extending portions into keyed engagement of the rotor and stem;
and
g. cam members and cam followers on the stator and rotor and coopeating to selectively move the stator to separate the stator and rotor and to permit movement of the stator toward the rotor for engagement of the stator contacts and conductive portions of the rotor, the engagement of one of said plurality of electrical contacts and the rotor and the cam members and followers providing at least three spaced pressure points between the stator and rotor that define a polygon within which the stem axis and the pressure points between said outwardly extending portions and rotor are located.

7 more elements

A rotary switch comprising:

a. a support having a wall with an aperture therein;
b. an elongate stem extending through said aperture and rotatably mounted therein, said stem having first and second ends on opposite sides of said support wall, said stem having outwardly extending portions at said second end having surfaces facing said support, said stem having a reduced portion spaced from said outwardly extending portions and forming a shoulder facing same, said stem having a non-circular portion having keying surfaces between said reduced portion and the outwardly extending portions;
c. a control member on the stem at said first end and operative to rotate same;
d. a stator having an aperture through which said second end of the stem extends permitting rotation of the stem therein;
said stator being movable longitudinally of said stem;
said stator having electrical contact means including a plurality of electrical contact heads extending therefrom toward said second end of the stem in a coaxial circle spaced from the stem;
e. a rotor removably mounted on said second end of the stem and having electrical conductive portions engageable with contacts on the stator in response to rotation of the rotor and movement of the stator toward said rotor, said rotor having an axial opening shaped to move over said second end of the stem and outwardly extending portions in one position and having engagement with said outward extending portions in another position to provide pressure points therebetween, said axial opening having edges positioned to engage said keying surfaces of the stem when said rotor engages the surfaces of the outwardly extending portions of the stem for rotation of the rotor by said stem;
f. resilient means engaging the stator and applying force thereto to move the stator toward the rotor and the rotor toward said outwardly extending portions into keyed engagement of the rotor stem;
g. cooperative means on the stator and rotor effecting movement of the stator to separate the contact heads and conductive portions of the rotor in response to selective rotation of the rotor;
h. the engagement of the contact heads and rotor provide at least three spaced pressure points that define a polygon within which the stem axis and the pressure points between said outwardly extending portions and rotor are located.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.