US 4,506,124 A · Push-push switch

Abstract

A push-push switch comprises a dielectric housing in which electrical contact members are secured; contact sections of the contact members are in normal electrical engagement and terminal sections of the contact members are to be electrically connected to conductive members. An actuating member is mounted in the housing for reciprocal and rotational movement therein; a spring biases the actuating member to a normal rest position. Cam members on the actuating member engage the contact members in one position to disengage them and are out of engagement with the contact members in another position causing them to be normally engaged. First and second rows of cam segments are on the actuating member; the cam segments in each of the rows are spaced from one another and the cam segments in the first row are offset with respect to the cam segments in the second row so that cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row face the cam segments in the second row and cam surfaces of the cam segments of the second row face the cam segments in the first row. Projections extend outwardly from the housing and are normally positioned between adjacent cam segments in the first row whereby, upon movement of the actuating-member from its normal rest position against the spring, the projections engage respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the second row causing the actuating member to rotate so that the projections are in alignment with respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row; and, upon movement of the actuating member back to the normal rest position, the projections engage the respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row causing the actuating member to rotate further so that the projections are disposed between adjacent cam segments of the first row and the cam members move into engagement with the contact members to disengage the contact sections or move out of engagement with the contact members so that the contact sections are engaged.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A push-push switch, comprising:

a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured therein, contact sections of the contact members are in normal electrical engagement and terminal sections of the contact members are electrically connectable with conductive members;
an actuating member mounted in the housing for reciprocal and rotational movement therein;
a spring biases the actuating member to a normal rest position;
cam members on the actuating member engage the contact members in one position to disengage them and are out of engagement with the contact members in another position causing them to be normally engaged whereby the cam members during the reciprocal and rotational movement of the actuating member always remain in operative alignment with the contact members;
first and second rows of cam segments on the actuating member, the cam segments in each of the rows are spaced from one another and the cam segments in the first row are offset with respect to the cam segments in the second row so that cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row face the cam segments of the second row and cam surfaces of the cam segments of the second row face cam segments of the first row;
and
projections extend outwardly from the housing and are normally positioned between adjacent cam segments in the first row whereby upon movement of the actuating member from its normal rest position against the spring, the projections engage respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the second row causing the actuating member to rotate so that the projections are in alignment with respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row, and, upon movement of the actuating member back to normal rest position, the projections engage the respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row causing the actuating member to rotate further so that the projections are disposed between adjacent cam segments of the first row and the cam members move into engagement with the contact members to disengage the contact sections or move out of engagement with the contact members so that the contact sections are engaged.

4 more elements

An electrical switch of the type comprising a dielectric housing in which electrical contact members are secured, the electrical contact members having contact sections for electrical engagement with each other, and a spring-biased actuating member for engagement with the contact sections, the improvement comprising:

cam members on the actuating member for engagement or disengagement with the contact sections during movement of said actuating member so that said cam members always remain in operative alignment with the contact sections;
first and second rows of cam segments on the actuating member, the first row of cam segments having cam surfaces facing the cam segments of the second row and the second row of cam segments having cam surfaces facing the cam segments of the first row;
projections on the housing that are normally disposed between adjacent cam segments of the first row, whereby upon movement of the actuating member from a normal position of rest, the projections engage respective cam surfaces of the second row of cam segments causing the actuating member to rotate so that the projections are in alignment with respective cam surfaces of the first row of cam segments and the cam members are in engagement with or out of engagement with the contact sections, and, upon movement of the actuating member back to its position of rest, the projections engage respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row causing the actuating member to rotate further so that the projections are disposed between adjacent cam segments of the first row and the cam members move into engagement or out of engagement with the contact sections so that the contact sections are out of or in electrical engagement.

An indexing device comprising:

a housing member in which operating members are mounted;
an actuating member mounted in said housing member for reciprocal and rotational movement therein;
spring means biasing the actuating member to a normal rest position;
cam-operating means on said actuating member for engaging the operating members in one position and in another position the cam-operating means are out of engagement with the operating members whereby the cam-operating means during the reciprocal and rotational movement of said actuating member always remains in operating alignment with the operating members;
first and second rows of spaced cam segments on the actuating member, the first row of cam segments having cam surfaces facing the cam segments of the second row and the second row of cam segments having cam surfaces facing the cam segments of the first row;
projection means on the housing member disposed between adjacent cam segments of the first row whereby upon movement of the actuating member from the normal rest position against the bias of said spring means, the projection means engage respective cam surfaces of the second row of cam segments causing the actuating member to rotate so that the projection means are in alignment with respective cam surfaces on the first row of cam segments and the cam-operating means are in engagement with or out of engagement with the operating members, and upon movement of the actuating member back to its rest position under the influence of said spring means, the projection means engage respective cam surfaces of the cam segments of the first row causing the actuating member to rotate further so that the projection means are disposed between adjacent cam segments of the first row and the cam-operating means move into or out of engagement with the operating members.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Push-push switch

Life of this patent

Push-push switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13