US 6,633,013 B2Granted

Lever switch

AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

InventorsKenji Nishimura, Masaki Nakase, Yasuchika Kudo, Yusho Nakase, Yoshiharu Abe

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A lever switch includes a case having a common contact and fixed contacts provided on inner wall opposite to each other. A movable contact made from elastic metal and shaped like the letter “M” has an intermediate section that comes into contact with the common contact. A first arm extends from each one of both ends of the intermediate section. Each one of the ends of the first arms forms a folding-back section, and a second arm is formed at the end of the folding-back section. A contact formed at the end of the second arm comes into contact with the inner wall of the case. Rotation of the lever slides a slider on the bottom plate of the case, and a pushing section provided at each one of both ends of the slider brings the contact into contact with the fixed contact or leaves the contact from the fixed contact.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A lever switch comprising:

(a) a case, whose upper face has an opening, having a common contact and fixed contacts that are provided on inner wall of the case opposite to each other;
(b) a movable contact shaped like a letter “M” made from elastic metal plate and including:
(b-1) an intermediate section coming into contact with the common contact;
(b-2) a first arm extending from both ends of the intermediate section;
(b-3) a folding-back section formed at an end of the first arm;
(b-4) a second arm extending from the folding-back section;
(b-5) a contact formed at an end of the second arm and coming into contact with at least one of the inner wall of the case and one of the fixed contacts;
(c) a slider including:
(c-1) an engaging section formed on upper face of the slider;
(c-2) a pushing section brought into contact with a vicinity of the folding-back section;
and
(d) a lever including:
(d-1) an operating section extending upward from the opening of the case;
(d-2) a shaft receptacle for being rotatably mounted to the case;
(d-3) a contacting section formed at an lower end of the lever and brought into contact with the engaging section,
wherein a rotation of the lever slides the slider on inner bottom plate of the case, so that the contact and the fixed contact are brought into contact with each other or separated from each other.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/279,494Filed 24 Oct 2002
Priority: JP 2001-33045029 Oct 2001
Published: US 2003/0094360 A122 May 2003
Granted: 14 Oct 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H01H 19/62
Angularly-movable actuating part carrying no contacts: contacts actuated by radial cams
H01H 1/40
By sliding: contact mounted so that its contact-making surface is flush with adjoining insulation
H01H 3/40
Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts: using friction, toothed, or screw-and-nut gearing
H01H
Electric switches