Foot operated variable resistance electrical control with switch

A set of operating components for use in a foot operated control of the type having a housing including a base and a treadle-type cover that cooperate to define an enclosed chamber for protectively housing the operating components, with the treadle-type cover being pivotally connected to the base by means of a mounting shaft that extends through the enclosed chamber, with the cover being pivotally movable relative to the base about an imaginary center axis of the mounting shaft between a "non-operated" position and a range of "operated" positions, comprising:

• a) first elongate arm means and second elongate arm means for being connected to the mounting shaft for relative pivotal movement about the imaginary center axis of the mounting shaft between an "off" position and a range of "operating" positions;
• b) first spring means for being interposed between the first arm means and the treadle-type cover for biasing the first arm means toward a position of engagement with the base, and for biasing the treadle-type cover relative to the base toward the "non-operated" position;
• c) second spring means for being interposed between the first arm means and the second arm means for biasing the second arm means relative to the first arm means toward the "off" position;
• and,
• d) with the operating components also including:
• a switch having an actuator that is movable between a "switch non-operated" position and a "switch operated" position, with the actuator being biased toward the "switch non-operated" position;
• a variable resistance potentiometer having a control shaft for adjusting the resistance of the potentiometer;
• and a toothed gear rack and a pinion for rotating the control shaft of the potentiometer to adjust the electrical resistance of the potentiometer;
• wherein:
• i) the potentiometer is connected to and positioned by the first arm means, with the pinion being mounted on the control shaft of the potentiometer for rotating the control shaft to vary the resistance of the potentiometer in response to rotation of the pinion by the rack;
• ii) the toothed gear rack is connected to the second arm means and is positioned by the second arm means to drivingly engage the pinion and to rotate the pinion during pivotal movement of the second arm means about the imaginary center axis of the mounting shaft relative to the first arm means;
• and,
• iii) the electrical switch is connected to the second arm means for movement therewith, with the actuator of the switch being configured and positioned by the second arm means 1) to be disengaged by the treadle-type cover when the treadle-type cover is in the "non-operated" position, and 2) to be engaged by the treadle-type cover and to be moved as the result of such engagement to the "switch operated" position during movement of the treadle-type cover from the "non-operated" position to a position within the range of "operated" positions, with said movement of the switch actuator to the "switch operated" position taking place before the treadle-type cover moves the second operating arm from its "off" position, whereby operation of the switch takes place before the control shaft of the potentiometer is caused to be rotated during said movement of the treadle-type cover.

A foot operated control, comprising a housing including a base and a treadle-type cover that cooperate to define an enclosed chamber for protectively housing operating components of the control, and a mounting shaft that extends through the chamber and that mounts the treadle-type cover for pivotal movement relative to the base about an imaginary center axis of the mounting shaft between a "non-operated" position and a range of "operated" positions;

• and a set of operating components that include:
• a) first elongate arm means and second elongate arm means for being connected to the mounting shaft for relative pivotal movement about the imaginary center axis of the mounting shaft between an "off" position and a range of "operating" positions;
• b) first spring means for being interposed between the first arm means and the treadle-type cover for biasing the first arm means toward a position of engagement with the base, and for biasing the treadle-type cover relative to the base toward the "non-operated" position;
• c) second spring means for being interposed between the first arm means and the second arm means for biasing the second arm means relative to the first arm means toward the "off" position;
• and,
• d) with the operating components also including:
• a switch having an actuator that is movable between a "switch non-operated" position and a "switch operated" position, with the actuator being biased toward the "switch non-operated" position;
• a variable resistance potentiometer having a control shaft for adjusting the resistance of the potentiometer;
• and a toothed gear rack and a pinion for rotating the control shaft of the potentiometer to adjust the electrical resistance of the potentiometer;
• wherein:
• i) the potentiometer is connected to and positioned by the first arm means, with the pinion being mounted on the control shaft of the potentiometer for rotating the control shaft to vary the resistance of the potentiometer in response to rotation of the pinion by the rack;
• ii) the toothed gear rack is connected to the second arm means and is positioned by the second arm means to drivingly engage the pinion and to rotate the pinion during pivotal movement of the second arm means about the imaginary center axis of the mounting shaft relative to the first arm means;
• and,
• iii) the electrical switch is connected to the second arm means for movement therewith, with the actuator of the switch being configured and positioned by the second arm means 1) to be disengaged by the treadle-type cover when the treadle-type cover is in the "non-operated" position, and 2) to be engaged by the treadle-type cover and to be moved as the result of such engagement to the "switch operated" position during movement of the treadle-type cover from the "non-operated" position to a position within the range of "operated" positions, with said movement of the switch actuator to the "switch operated" position taking place before the treadle-type cover moves the second operating arm from its "off" position, whereby operation of the switch takes place before the control shaft of the potentiometer is caused to be rotated during said movement of the treadle-type cover.