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US 3,946,182 AGranted
Pushbutton actuator switch with pop-in head
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorPaul Dalton Holder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diaphragm type pushbutton actuator switch with self-contained contacts includes a pop-in head. The main switch body is mountable in a substrate or housing with an opening provided for the head. The head is then press-fittable into the main switch body for retention therein. With the head retained in the main switch body, it is movable therein to make or break electrical contact upon actuation.
Claims12
A pushbutton actuator switch comprising:
- a. a cylindrical housing having an opening at either end thereof;
- b. an electrically conductive contact member in said housing extending through the opening at one end thereof;
- c. an electrically conductive bias member mounted in said housing;
- d. an electrically insulative spacer member mounted in said housing separating said electrically conductive bias member from normally making ohmic contact with said contact member;
- e. a pop-in actuator member including a shaft with a pushbutton on one end thereof and a retention member on said shaft spaced from said pushbutton;
- and
- f. a unilateral detent member mounted in said housing and having a plurality of bendable spring prong members for passing the shaft and retention member of said actuator member only from the direction of the opening at the other end of said housing;
- wherein
- g. said actuator member is retained within said housing by said prong members in cooperation with an edge of said retention member and is movable within said housing to apply force against said conductive bias member for selectively causing said bias member to make ohmic contact with said contact member upon actuation thereof.
6 more elements
A switch assembly including a switch comprising:
- a. an electrically conductive housing having a main chamber formed therein and a cylindrical cavity extending from the exterior of said housing to said main chamber;
- b. an electrically conductive cylindrical casing having an opening at either end thereof within said cavity and being in ohmic contact with said housing;
- c. an electrically conductive contact member in said casing extending through the opening at one end thereof and into the main chamber of said housing;
- d. an electrically conductive bias member mounted in said casing and ohmically coupled thereto;
- e. an electrically insulative spacer member mounted in said casing separating said electrically conductive bias member from normally making ohmic contact with said contact member and extending through the opening at the one end of said casing, insulating said contact member from said casing;
- f. a pop-in actuator member including a shaft with a pushbutton at one end thereof and a retention member on said shaft spaced from said pushbutton;
- and
- g. a unilateral detent member mounted in said casing and having a plurality of bendable spring prong members for bending to pass the shaft and retention member of said actuator member only from the exterior of said housing through the opening at the other end of said casing;
- wherein
- h. said actuator member is retained within said casing by said prong members in cooperation with said retention member and is movable within said casing to apply force against said conductive bias member for selectively causing said bias member to make ohmic contact with said contact member upon actuation of the pushbutton thereof.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.