# US 4,392,034 A · Electrical switch construction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,034 A - Document ID: US4392034A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/241,004 - Filed: 1981-03-06 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1980-09-15 - Assignees: Robertshaw Controls Company - Inventors: Frank Payne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392034A ## CPC - H01H 37/60: Means for producing snap action (inherent in bimetallic element H01H37/54; caused by a magnet H01H37/66) - 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 An electrical switch construction having a one-piece substantially U-shaped flexible member having a cross member and a pair of legs extending from the cross member and defining pivot points that pivotally mount pivot members to the construction. The legs respectively have cam followers intermediate the pivot points thereof and the cross member thereof. A plunger is axially movable between the legs and has a cam that serially engages the cam followers to serially flex the legs and thereby move the pivot points thereof to cause the pivot members to serially pivot as the plunger is axially moved in one direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In an electrical switch construction having electrical contact means operated by an axially movable plunger means of a device carried by said construction, said contact means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating contacts arranged to have each cooperating pair thereof operated by said plunger means as said device axially moves said plunger means in one direction, each said pair of cooperating contacts comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, each movable contact being snap-acting, each movable contact having a pivot member pivotally mounted to said construction, a one-piece substantially U-shaped flexible member having a cross member and a pair of legs extending from said cross member and defining pivot means that pivotally mount said pivot members to said construction, the improvement wherein said legs respectively have cam follower means intermediate said pivot means thereof and said cross member, said plunger means being axially movable between said legs and having cam means serially engageable with said follower means to serially flex said legs and thereby move said pivot means thereof to cause said pivot members to serially pivot as said plunger means is axially moved by said device in said one direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein each movable contact has a tension spring provided with opposed ends, one of said ends of each tension spring being interconnected to its respective pivot member and the other of said ends thereof being interconnected to said construction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said springs has an adjustable member interconnecting said other end thereof to said construction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plunger means causes said springs to serially be overcenter and operate said pivot members to serially operate said pairs of contacts when said plunger means serially flexes said legs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said legs respectively have free ends, said pivot means for each leg being substantially at said free end thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said legs are of different length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger means has a peripheral side surface, said cam means of said plunger means forming part of said peripheral side surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said device has a flexible diaphragm means carried by said construction, said plunger means being interconnected to said diaphragm means to move in unison therewith. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said construction has guide means operatively associated with said plunger means to guide the movement of said plunger means relative to said construction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein said guide means comprises a rod carried by said construction, said plunger means having an opening therein telescopically receiving said rod to be guided thereby. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said device is vacuum operated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 11 and including a compression spring carried by said construction and acting on said diaphragm means to tend to move said plunger means in one direction.