Switch actuation device
OwnerIan Blakemaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch actuation device for use in connection with electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure. The device includes an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure for use in urging the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism from a first position to a second position. An actuatable electrical switch arrangement is also disclosed.
Claims18
A switch actuation device for use in connection with an electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure, comprising an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure and configured to urge the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism between a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
- a housing having a portion movable by an urging force in a first direction, such that the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position;
- a drive spring that compresses or winds when the movable portion is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the drive spring decompresses or unwinds and urges the movable portion in a second, opposing direction, such that the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the second position;
- a track having teeth and rigidly attached to a surface of a base portion of the housing;
- and
- a drive cog having teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the track, wherein the drive cog is rotatably attached to the movable portion and movable by an urging force along the track in the first direction when the portion is urged in the first direction, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position.
A switch actuation device for use in connection with an electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure, comprising an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure and configured to urge the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism from a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
- a housing having:
- (i) a base portion with an opening extending therethrough, the base portion configured for rigid attachment to the electrical switch mechanism, and the opening configured to receive the actuatable structure therethrough;
- and (ii) an enclosure portion moveably attached to the base portion, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure portion is configured to contact at least a portion of the actuatable structure;
- a track having teeth and rigidly attached to a surface of the base portion of the housing;
- and
- a drive cog having teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the track, wherein the drive cog is rotatably attached to the movable enclosure portion and movable by an urging force along the track in a first direction when the enclosure portion is urged in the first direction, such that at least a portion of the enclosure portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position;
- wherein the drive cog is rotatably attached to the enclosure portion via a drive pin, wherein a drive spring is attached at a first end to the drive pin and at a second end to the enclosure portion, such that as the drive cog is moved by an urging force in the first direction, the drive spring compresses by winding tighter around the drive pin, and when the urging force is removed, the drive spring decompresses by unwinding and urging the drive cog and enclosure portion to move in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of the enclosure portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the second position.
An actuatable electrical switch arrangement, comprising:
- an electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure;
- and
- an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure and configured to urge the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism between a first position to a second position, wherein the actuation mechanism includes:
- (a) a housing having a portion movable by an urging force in a first direction, such that the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position;
- (b) a drive spring that compresses or winds when the movable portion is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the drive spring decompresses or unwinds and urges the movable portion in a second, opposing direction, such that the movable portion at least partially contacts at least a portion of the actuatable structure, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the second position;
- (c) a track having teeth and rigidly attached to a surface of a base portion of the housing;
- and
- (d) a drive cog having teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the track, wherein the drive cog is rotatably attached to the movable portion and movable by an urging force along the track in the first direction when the portion is urged in the first direction, thereby causing the actuatable structure to move to the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.