US 6,207,910 B1Granted

Low profile, double pole safety switch and connector assembly

AssigneeDelta Systems, Inc.

InventorsArthur James Harvey, Mark R. Albrecht, Jan L. Michaud, Michael Eric Liedtke

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Abstract

A low profile, two pole, plunger-type safety switch and connector assembly includes a switch housing and switch components are supported within the housing interior region. An actuator extends exteriorly though the housing opening and is moveable along a linear path of travel between two positions, one position of the actuator corresponding to an undepressed position and a second position of the actuator corresponding to a depressed position. Terminals of the switch assembly terminate in conductive male contacts extending through a side wall of the switch housing substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the actuator. The connector assembly includes a connector housing supporting four female terminals sized to snugly receive respective different ones of the four male contacts when the connector housing engages the switch housing. Extending arms of a flexible, electrically conductive shorting member contact a center two of the female terminals. When the connector is engaged with the switch housing a pair of beveled triangular shaped nubs extending from the switch housing contacts the shorting member arms and deflects them away from contact with the female terminals. When the connector is not engaged with the switch housing, the shorting member arms contact the two center female terminals creating a closed circuit condition in a circuit that the female terminals are electrically coupled to.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A switch and connector assembly comprising:

a) a switch assembly including a switch housing defining an interior region and supporting switch components therein and an actuator extending through an opening in a wall of the switch housing and being moveable with respect to the switch housing between a first position and a second position, the switch housing having an exteriorly extending extension member;
b) the switch components including a first conductor supported within the switch housing interior region and moveable with the actuator along a path of travel to selectively bridge first and second terminals of a first set of terminals supported by the housing in a spaced apart relationship, the first and second terminals in the first set of the terminals each having an extending portion extending externally through the switch housing transverse to a direction of movement of the actuator, the first conductor electrically coupling the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals in one of the first and second positions of the actuator;
c) a connector assembly including a connector housing releasably engaging the switch housing, the connector assembly including first and second terminals of a first set of terminals supported by the connector housing in a spaced apart relationship and oriented to electrically contact the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the switch assembly when the connector housing and switch housing are engaged;
and
d) a conductive shorting member supported in the connector housing and biased to contact and electrically couple the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the connector assembly upon disengagement of the connector housing and the switch housing, the switch housing extension member contacting and deflecting a contacting portion of the shorting member away from contact with at least one of the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the connector assembly thereby breaking the electrical coupling between the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the connector assembly upon engagement of the connector housing and the switch housing.

2 more elements

A connector assembly configured for releasable engagement with a switch housing having first and second terminals including portions extending outwardly through a wall of the switch housing, the connector assembly comprising:

a) a connector housing;
b) first and second terminals of a first set of terminals supported by the connector housing in a spaced apart relationship and oriented to electrically contact the first and second terminals of the switch assembly when the connector housing and switch housing are engaged;
and
c) a conductive shorting member supported in the connector housing biased to contact and electrically couple the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the connector assembly upon disengagement of the connector housing and the switch housing, the conductive shorting member including a terminal contacting portion configured to contact and be deflected by the switch housing away from contact with at least one of the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the connector assembly thereby breaking the electrical coupling between the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals of the connector assembly upon engagement of the connector housing and the switch housing.

1 more element

A switch assembly comprising:

a) a switch housing defining an interior region and supporting switch components therein and an actuator extending through an opening in a wall of the switch housing and being moveable with respect to the switch housing between a first position and a second position, the switch housing having an exteriorly extending extension member;
b) the switch components including first and second conductors supported within the switch housing interior region and moveable with the actuator along a path of travel to selectively bridge first and second sets of terminals supported by the housing in a spaced apart relationship, the first set of terminals including first and second terminals and the second set of terminals including first and second terminals, the first and second terminals in the first set of terminals and the first and second terminals in the second set of terminals each having an extending portion extending externally through the switch housing transverse to a direction of movement of the actuator, the first conductor electrically coupling the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals in one of the first and second positions of the actuator and the second conductor electrically coupling the first and second terminals of the second set of terminals in one of the first and second positions of the actuator;
c) the first and second conductors are V-shaped and are supported at opposite ends of a boss extending from a bottom portion of the actuator;
d) the first and second terminals of the first set of terminals are located between and substantially parallel to the first and second terminals of the second set of terminals;
and
e) vertically oriented guides of the actuator boss slide within vertical channels formed in a pair of vertical supports which extend inwardly from opposite side walls of the switch housing.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.