US 4,727,573 AGranted

Switch with plural rotors

AssigneeHosiden Electronics Co., Ltd.

InventorsToshio Kakuta, Tatsuo Kamitani

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Abstract

The invention relates to a compact, mechanically operated switch which is especially suitable for use in a telephone set having a loudspeaker receiving function. The switch includes a housing and, disposed therein, a first and a second rotor for opening and closing cooperable contacts and a third rotor for restricting the rotation of the second rotor under a certain condition. All the rotors are disposed in axial alignment with each other. The first and second rotors are urged to rotate in one direction while the third rotor is urged to rotate in the other direction by the action of a force greater than that urging the second rotor to rotate in the one direction. A pushbutton is disposed between the first and second rotors and acts, when depressed, to forcedly rotate them in the other direction so as to establish a loudspeaker receiving circuit. A lock pin cooperates with the pushbutton to lock it in a depressed position. The third rotor includes a lever operatively associated with a handset and having a cam portion which acts to move the lock pin in a manner to unlock the pushbutton when the handset is lifted.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A switch for selectively controlling one or more of a plurality of different switching functions, comprising a housing, a first and a second rotor disposed within the housing and operable to open and close cooperable contacts, the first and second rotors being urged to rotate in one direction, a third rotor disposed within the housing and urged to rotate in the other direction by a force greater than that urging the second rotor to rotate in the one direction, the first, second and third rotors being disposed in axial alignment with each other, the second and third rotors including latch means for effecting latching engagement therebetween to forcedly rotate the second rotor with the third rotor upon rotation thereof in the other direction, a first lever attached to the third rotor to rotate it in the one direction, a first pushbutton disposed between the first and second rotors and operable to rotate them in the other direction upon depression of the pushbutton, and a lock pin operatively associated with the first pushbutton to lock it when the pushbutton is depressed, the first lever including a cam portion cooperating with the lock pin and operable to move it away from the first pushbutton to release it from the locked position during rotation of the first lever.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.