Pendulum actuated switch
OwnerRichard A. Stentainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tilt responsive switch supported on a hinged structure such as a trunk lid, door or the like includes an oscillating mass or pendulum rotatingly held by a bearing structure located within the switch housing and a pair or electrical terminals electrically connected by a movable contact mechanism. The pendulum effectively controls the motion of the movable contact mechanism. When the electrical terminals are connected by the movable contact mechanism, the pendulum abuts against a first internal switch housing limit bumper. When the pendulum abuts against a second switch housing limit bumper, the movable contact mechanism is disconnected from the electrical terminals.
Claims5
Apparatus including
- a pendulum with an axle,
- a hinged structure supported by a hinge, said hinge having a hinge axis oriented to have a horizontal projection, said hinged structure rotating on said hinge over a range extending from a first limit position to a second limit position,
- said hinged structure including
- bearing structure holding said axle while permitting rotation of said pendulum,
- a first stop bumper limiting rotation of said pendulum on said axle in a first direction and a second stop bumper limiting rotation of said pendulum on said axle in a second direction opposite to said first direction,
- a first terminal affixed to said hinged structure with a portion thereof connectable to electrical circuitry,
- a second terminal affixed to said hinged structure with a portion thereof connectable to electrical circuitry,
- mechanism connected to said pendulum and said hinged structure which electrically connects said first terminal to said second terminal when said pendulum is rotated against said first stop bumper and disconnects said first terminal from said second terminal when said pendulum is rotated against said second stop bumper,
- said hinge axis, said first stop bumper, and said second stop bumper being positioned and oriented so that said first bumper is below said second bumper when said hinged structure is at said first limit position and said first bumper is above said second bumper when said hinged structure is at said second limit position.
A switch for affixing to a hinged structure, said hinged structure being supported on a hinge with a horizontal axis, said switch including
- a housing,
- a first electrical terminal affixed to said housing and providing a region external to said housing connectable to electrical circuitry,
- a second electrical terminal affixed to said housing and providing a region external to said housing connectable to electrical circuitry, and
- a pendulum with an axle, said housing providing
- bearing structure for holding said pendulum axle while permitting said pendulum to rotate on said axle,
- a first stop bumper limiting rotation of said pendulum on said axle in a first direction and a second stop bumper limiting rotation of said pendulum on said axle in a second direction opposite to said first direction,
- said switch further including mechanism connected to said pendulum which electrically connects said first terminal to said second terminal when said pendulum is rotated against said first stop bumper and disconnects said first terminal from said second terminal when said pendulum is rotated against said second stop bumper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.