Magnetic switching device for contact-dependent and contactless switching

A magnetic switch comprising:

• a. a switch mounting structure,
• b. a first driver member mounted to said structure and comprising first and second magnetically attractive surface portions spaced from one another, and first and second bearing portions also spaced from one another,
• c. a second slave member mounted to said structure and having a third magnetically attractive surface portion and a third bearing portion,
• d. a third slave member mounted to said structure and having a fourth magnetically attractive surface portion and a fourth bearing portion,
• e. said first, second and third members having a first position where said first and third magnetically attractive surface portions are located adjacent one another in a manner to cause said first and second members to be magnetically held in said first position, with said second and fourth magnetically attractive surface portions being spaced from one another,
• f. said first, second and third members being so arranged that said first member is moveable by an applied force from said first position to said second position, with the first bearing portion engaging the third bearing portion to cause a corresponding movement of the second member to the second position, with said first and third magnetically attractive surface portion becoming spaced from one another,
• f. said first, second and third members being so arranged that said first member is moveable by an applied force from said first position to said second position, with the first bearing portion engaging the third bearing portion to cause a corresponding movement of the second member to the second position, with said first and third magnetically attractive surface portions becoming spaced from one another,
• h. said first member also being moveable by an applied force from said second position to said first position, with said second bearing engaging said fourth bearing portion to cause a corresponding movement of said third member to said first position, with said second and fourth magnetically attractive surface portions becoming spaced from one another.

A magnetic switch comprising:

• a. a switch mounting structure,
• b. a first driver member mounted to said structure and comprising:
• 1. a first mounting portion by which said first member is moveably mounted relative to a base structure,
• 2. a first magnetically attractive portion having a first magnetically attractive surface portion,
• 3. a first bearing portion,
• c. a second slave member mounted to said structure and comprising:
• 1. a second mounting portion by which said second member is moveably mounted relative to a base structure,
• 2. a second magnetically attractive portion having a second magnetically attractive surface portion,
• 3. a second bearing portion,
• d. said first driver member being mounted for linear travel back and forth between a first position of said switch and a second position of said switch, said second slave member being pivotally mounted for rotational movement between said first position and said second position,
• e. said switch being characterized in that in said first position said first and second magnetically attractive surface portions are located adjacent one another in a manner to cause said first and second members to be magnetically held in said first position, said switch being further characterized in that movement of said first member by an applied force from said first to said second position causes said first bearing portion to engage said second bearing portion to cause rotational movement of said second member to said second position, whereby said second magnetically attractive surface portion is moved rotationally away from said first magnetically attractive surface portion.

A magnetic switch comprising:

• a. a switch mounting structure.
• b. a first driver member mounted to said structure for linear travel back and forth between a first position of said switch and a second position of said switch, said first driver member comprising:
• 1. first and second magnetically attractive surface portions,
• 2. first and second bearing portions spaced from one another,
• c. a second slave member mounted to said structure for rotational movement about a first pivot location, said second slave member comprising a third magnetically attractive surface portion and a third bearing portion,
• d. a third slave member mounted to said structure for rotational movement about a second pivot location, said third slave member comprising a fourth magnetically attractive surface portion and a fourth bearing portion,
• e. said switch being arranged so that in said first position, said second member is located so that said first and third magnetically attractive surface portions ar located adjacent to one another and said second and fourth magnetically attractive surface portions are located adjacent one another, whereby said second and third members are magnetically held to said first member in said first position, said switch being further arranged so that movement of seid first member by an applied force to said second position causes said first bearing portion to engage said third bearing portion to rotate said second member to said second position whereby said third magnetically attractive surface portion is caused to be spaced from said first magnetically attractive surface portion, and said second bearing member portion engages said fourth bearing member portion to move said third member to the second position, with the whereby said fourth and second magnetically attractive surface portions being are caused to become spaced from one another.

A magnetic switch comprising:

• a. a switch mounting structure,
• b. a first drive member mounted to said structure for rotation about a first center of rotation for movement between a first position and second position of said switch, said driver member comprising:
• 1. a first magnetically attractive surface portion positioned in a curve having a center of curvature generally coinciding with said center of rotation,
• 2. a first bearing portion,
• c. a second slave member mounted to said structure for movement between said first and second positions, said second slave member comprising:
• 1. a second magnetically attractive surface portion being contoured in a curve generally coinciding with said first magnetically attractive surface portion,
• 2. a second bearing portion,
• d. said first and second members being arranged so that movement of said first member by an applied force from said first to said second position causes said first bearing portion to engage said second bearing portion to move said second member to the second position, with said first and second magnetically attractive surface portions being moved from a position adjacent one another in said first position to a location further away from one another in said second position.

A magnetic switch comprising:

• a. a switch mounting structure,
• b. a first driver member mounted to said structure for movement between a first position of said switch and a second position of said switch, said first driver member comprising:
• 1. first and second magnetically attractive surface portions spaced from one another,
• 2. first bearing means mounted to said first driver member,
• c. a second slave member mounted to said structure for movement between said first and second positions, said second slave member comprising:
• 1. third and fourth magnetically attractive surface portions spaced from one another,
• 2. second bearing means adapted to engage said first bearing means,
• 3. Third bearing means adapted to engage said first bearing means,
• d. said first and second members being arranged relative to one another, so that in said first position, said first and third magnetically attractive surface portions are positioned adjacent one another to hold said first and second members in said first position, with said second and fourth magnetically attractive surface portions being spaced from one another, and in said second position, said second and fourth magnetically attractive surface portions are positioned adjacent one another, with said first and third magnetically attractive surface portions being spaced from one another,
• e. said first and second members being further arranged relative to one another, in a manner that movement of said first member by an applied force from said first position to said second position, causes said first bearing means to engage said second bearing means to move said third magnetically attractive surface portion angularly away from said first magnetically attractive surface portions, and movement of said first member from said second position to said first position, causes said first bearing means to engage said third bearing means to move said fourth magnetically attractive surface portion angularly away from said second magnetically attractive surface portion,
• whereby said first and second members are magnetically held to one another in either of said first or second positions.