Control apparatus
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorRoy L. Hart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control apparatus includes outer housing which encloses a switch assembly and a connector terminal mounting block. The switch assembly includes stationary and movable switch contacts. A push button and actuator link are connected with the movable switch contacts. Light sources are disposed on a light module housing. Conductors extend through openings in the actuator link and are connected with the light sources. The push button is illuminated by light from the light sources. An alternate action mechanism is connected with the push button and is disposed in an opening in the connector terminal mounting block. The switch assembly may be mounted on a printed circuit board with the alternate action mechanism extending through an opening in the printed circuit board.
Claims80
An apparatus comprising an outer housing, a switch assembly which is at least partially disposed in said outer housing, said switch assembly includes a switch housing having a switch housing locating surface which engages a first locating surface on said outer housing to position said switch assembly relative to said outer housing, said switch assembly includes a plurality of switch terminals which extend from said switch housing, a connector terminal mounting block which is at least partially disposed in said outer housing, said connector terminal mounting block having a connector terminal mounting block locating surface which engages a second locating surface on said outer housing to position said connector terminal block relative to said outer housing, and a plurality of connector terminals which are at least partially disposed in said connector terminal mounting block, each of said connector terminals having a first end portion which engages one of said switch terminals and a second end portion which is connectable with an electrical conductor.
An apparatus comprising a switch housing, a base which is at least partially enclosed by and is connected with said switch housing, a plurality of switch terminals which are connected with said base, a plurality of stationary and movable switch contacts connected with said switch terminals, a light module housing which is at least partially enclosed by said switch housing, said light module housing having a first portion in which said movable switch contacts are at least partially disposed, said light module housing having a second portion, a plurality of light sources are disposed in said second portion of said light module housing, and a push button which is at least partially enclosed by said switch housing and is disposed adjacent to said second portion of said light module housing, said push button being connected with said movable switch contacts, said push button being at least partially illuminated by light from said light sources upon energization of said light sources.
An apparatus comprising a switch housing, a base which is at least partially endosed by and is connected with said switch housing, a plurality of switch terminals which are connected with said base, a plurality of movable and stationary switch contacts connected with said switch terminals and at least partially enclosed by said switch housing, said plurality of movable and stationary switch contacts includes first and second stationary switch contacts which are spaced apart and a first movable switch contact which is movable between said first stationary switch contact and said second stationary switch contact, a conductor connected with said first stationary switch contact and a first switch terminal of said plurality of switch terminals, and a body of insulating material disposed in engagement with said second stationary switch contact and with at least one of said conductor and first switch terminal to enable said second stationary switch contact to be disposed dose to said one of said conductor and first switch terminal.
An apparatus comprising a switch housing, a base which is at least partially enclosed by and is connected with said switch housing, a plurality of terminals which are connected with said base, a plurality of stationary and movable switch contacts connected with said terminals, a push button which is at least partially enclosed by said switch housing, an actuator link connected with said push button and said movable switch contacts, a plurality of light sources disposed in said switch housing, and a plurality of conductors which extend through said actuator link and are connected with said light sources, said actuator link being movable relative to said conductors to move said movable switch contacts relative to said stationary switch contacts upon movement of said push button relative to said switch housing, said push button being at least partially illuminated by light from said light sources upon energization of said light sources.
An apparatus comprising an outer housing, a switch assembly which is at least partially disposed in said outer housing, a connector terminal mounting block which is at least partially disposed in said outer housing, and a plurality of connector terminals which are at least partially disposed in said connector terminal block, said switch assembly includes a switch housing, a base which is at least partially enclosed by said switch housing, a plurality of switch terminals which are at least partially disposed in said base and are connected with said connector terminals, a plurality of movable and stationary switch contacts which are connected with said switch terminals, a push button, an actuator link connected with said push button and said movable switch contacts, said actuator link being enclosed by said switch housing, a panel which is at least partially enclosed by said switch housing, a plurality of light sources disposed adjacent to a side of said panel which faces toward said push button, and a plurality of conductors which are connected with said switch terminals and extend through openings in said actuator link, said conductors being connected with said light sources, said actuator link being movable relative to said conductors to move said movable switch contacts relative to said stationary switch contacts, said push button being at least partially illuminated by light from said light sources upon energization of said light sources.
An apparatus comprising a switch housing, a base which has a first side and a second side opposite from said first side, said base being at least partially enclosed by and connected with said switch housing, a plurality of terminals which extend from said second side of said base, a plurality of stationary and movable switch contacts connected with said first side of said base and connected with said terminals, a push button which is at least partially enclosed by said switch housing, an actuator link connected with said movable switch contacts, said actuator link being disposed between said first side of said base and said push button, a force transmitting member which is connected with said push button and with said actuator link, and an alternate action mechanism which is at least partially disposed adjacent to said second side of said base, said alternate action mechanism is operable to maintain said movable switch contacts in an actuated condition in response to a first manual actuation of said push button and to release said movable switch contacts in response to a second manual actuation of said push button, said alternate action mechanism being connected with said force transmitting member to enable force applied to said push button to be transmitted through said base to said alternate action mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.