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US 5,555,972 AGranted
Self-stressing snap spring assembly for electrical contacts
OwnerPierre P. Schwabinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultra high production snap acting switch includes a blanked sheet metal tab for providing extremely consistent and repeatable operation. The switch simply includes a sheet metal M-blade automatically spot welded (or riveted) to a sheet metal spring arm. The spring arm has an integral tab pressed between two flexible legs of the M-blade. The stress imparted by the tab accurately distorts the M-blade so that it assumes a very predictable bistable operation.
Claims18
An auto-snap device, comprising:
- a sheet metal spring member having a double-loop end opposite a closed end, said spring member having a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a first inner leg, a second inner leg, and a cross member, said first outer leg coupled to said first inner leg by way of a first loop at said double-loop end, said second outer leg coupled to said second inner leg by way of a second loop at said double-loop end, said first outer leg coupled to said second outer leg by way of said cross member at said closed end, said first inner leg being spaced apart from said second inner leg to define a gap therebetween;
- a spring arm attached at an anchor point to at least one of said first inner leg and said second inner leg;
- and
- a tab extending from said spring arm and protruding through said gap at a stress point to force said first inner leg and said second inner leg further apart than they would otherwise be in an unstressed state, thereby predictably distorting said sheet metal spring member to provide a predetermined spring response, said anchor point being spaced apart from said stress point said tab and said spring arm being integrally formed as a one-piece unit.
1 more element
An auto-snap device, comprising:
- a sheet metal spring member having a double-loop end opposite a closed end, said spring member having a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a first inner leg, a second inner leg, and a cross member, said first outer leg coupled to said first inner leg by way of a first loop at said double-loop end, said second outer leg coupled to said second inner leg by way of a second loop at said double-loop end, said first outer leg coupled to said second outer leg by way of said cross member at said closed end, said first inner leg being spaced apart from said second inner leg to define a gap therebetween;
- a spring arm attached at an anchor point to at least one of said first inner leg and said second inner leg;
- a tab integrally joined to said spring arm and protruding through said gap at a stress point to force said first inner leg and said second inner leg further apart than they would otherwise be in an unstressed state, thereby predictably distorting said sheet metal spring member to provide a predetermined spring response, said cross member being closer to said stress point than said anchor point;
- an actuator engaging said sheet metal spring member;
- a first contact;
- and
- a second contact conductively bonded to said sheet metal spring member and selectively engaging said first contact in response to movement of said actuator.
4 more elements
An auto-snap device, comprising:
- a sheet metal spring member having a double-loop end opposite a closed end, said spring member having a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a first inner leg, a second inner leg, and a cross member, said first outer leg coupled to said first inner leg by way of a first loop at said double-loop end, said second outer leg coupled to said second inner leg by way of a second loop at said double-loop end, said first outer leg coupled to said second outer leg by way of said cross member at said closed end, said first inner leg being spaced apart from said second inner leg to define a gap therebetween;
- a spring arm made of sheet metal attached at an anchor point to at least one of said first inner leg and said second inner leg;
- a tab integrally joined to said spring arm and protruding through said gap at a stress point to force said first inner leg and said second inner leg further apart than they would otherwise be in an unstressed state, thereby predictably distorting said sheet metal spring member to provide a predetermined spring response, said cross member being closer to said stress point than said anchor point;
- an actuator engaging said sheet metal spring member;
- a first contact;
- and
- a second contact conductively bonded to said sheet metal spring member and selectively engaging said first contact in response to movement of said actuator.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.