Back to results
US 4,673,778 AGranted
Snap action switch
AssigneeCherry GmbH
InventorsRaymond F. Lewandowski, Jacek P. Doros, William H. Redfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sub-miniature snap-action switch which can be manufactured efficiently and reliably with minimal reliance on tedious hand assembly. The switch includes a novel pivot bracket assembly comprising a pivot bracket, a blade and a spring coupling the bracket to the blade.
Claims11
A snap action switch comprising:
- a first contact member having a horizontal member and a vertical member forming a central angle therebetween, said vertical member having at least one protruding portion extending transversely therefrom;
- a pivot bracket assembly including a moveable contact member adapted to be alternately engaged and disengaged with said first contact member upon operation of the switch, said assembly having a horizontal member and a vertical member forming a central angle therebetween, said vertical member having at least one protruding portion extending transversely therefrom;
- a cover having means for slidingly receiving the protruding portion of the first contact member and the protruding portion of the pivot bracket assembly, said cover also including means for engaging the horizontal members of said first contact member and said pivot bracket assembly;
- and
- a base having means for engaging the protruding portion of said first contact member and the protruding portion of said pivot bracket assembly and, upon insertion of the base into the cover, pressing said contact member and pivot bracket assembly against the engaging means of the cover, causing said contact member and said assembly to be deformed about said central angles into predetermined operational positions.
2 more elements
A snap action switch comprising:
- a plurality of electrically conductive, substantially L-shaped contact elements having vertical and horizontal members, each of said contact elements having at least one protruding portion extending transversely from said vertical member, each of said protruding portions defining a shoulder on the underside thereof;
- a substantially L-shaped electrically conductive bracket assembly having a pivotal electrically conductive portion for alternately pivotally engaging said contact elements upon operation of said switch, said bracket assembly having vertical and horizontal members, said vertical member having at least one protruding portion extending transversely therefrom and defining a shoulder on the underside thereof;
- a cover having grooves for slidingly receiving and retaining the protruding portion of each of said contact elements and the protruding portion of said bracket assembly to secure said contact elements and said bracket assembly during assembly of said switch, said cover also including means for engaging the horizontal member of each of said contact elements and said pivot bracket assembly;
- and
- a base having mating surfaces for engaging the shoulders of said contact elements and bracket assembly and, upon insertion of the base into the cover, pressing said contact elements and said bracket assembly against the engaging means of said cover to deform said contact members and bracket assembly to predetermined operational positions within said switch.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.