M-blade actuated switch assembly

A switch assembly, comprising:

• an M-blade snap spring including a closed end, a double-loop end, a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a first inner leg, a second inner leg, and a cross member, the double-loop end disposed opposite the closed end and including a first loop and a second loop, the first outer leg coupled to the first inner leg to form the first loop of the double-loop end, the second outer leg coupled to the second inner leg to form the second loop of the double-loop end, the cross member coupled to the first outer leg and to the second outer leg to define the closed end, the first inner leg spaced apart from the second inner leg;
• an actuation arm coupled to, and including a portion that extends between, the first and second inner legs, the portion dimensioned to distort the M-blade snap spring such that the first and second inner legs are out of coplanar alignment with the first and second outer legs and the cross member, whereby the M-blade snap spring exhibits snap-action movement between a first actuator position and a second actuator position;
• an actuator disposed adjacent the actuation arm and configured to selectively supply an actuation force to, and remove an actuation force from, the actuation arm;
• an actuation member coupled to the cross member and moveable therewith;
• and
• a leaf spring extending through the actuation member and configured, in response to movement of the actuation member, to move between a first switch position and a second switch position,
• wherein:
• the actuation arm is configured to selectively move the first and second inner legs between a first inner leg position and a second inner leg position, to thereby cause the M-blade snap spring to move, via snap-action, between the first actuator position and the second actuator position, respectively, whereby the actuation member moves and causes the leaf spring to move between the first switch position and the second switch position, respectively.

A switch assembly, comprising:

• an actuator housing;
• a switch housing coupled to the actuator housing;
• an M-blade snap spring coupled to and disposed within the actuator housing and including a closed end, a double-loop end, a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a first inner leg, a second inner leg, and a cross member, the double-loop end disposed opposite the closed end and including a first loop and a second loop, the first outer leg coupled to the first inner leg to form the first loop of the double-loop end, the second outer leg coupled to the second inner leg to form the second loop of the double-loop end, the cross member coupled to the first outer leg and to the second outer leg to define the closed end, the first inner leg spaced apart from the second inner leg;
• an actuation arm coupled to and disposed within the actuator housing, the actuation arm coupled to, and including a portion that extends between, the first and second inner legs, the portion dimensioned to distort the M-blade snap spring such that the first and second inner legs are out of coplanar alignment with the first and second outer legs and the cross member, whereby the M-blade snap spring exhibits snap-action movement between a first actuator position and a second actuator position;
• a plurality of normally-closed contacts coupled to and disposed within the switch housing;
• a plurality of normally-open contacts coupled to and disposed within the switch housing and spaced apart from the normally-closed contacts;
• an actuation member disposed partially within the actuator housing and the switch housing and coupled to the cross member;
• and
• a plurality of leaf springs disposed within the switch housing and extending through a portion of the actuation member, each leaf spring configured to move between a first switch position and a second switch position, each leaf spring having a first end and a second end, the first end of each leaf spring fixedly coupled to the switch housing, the second end of each leaf spring electrically coupled to a different one of the normally-closed contacts when the M-blade snap spring is in the first actuator position, the second end of each leaf spring electrically coupled to a different one of the normally-open contacts when the M-blade snap spring is in the second actuator position,
• wherein:
• the actuation arm is configured to selectively move the first and second inner legs between a first inner leg position and a second inner leg position, to thereby cause the M-blade snap spring to move, via snap-action, between the first actuator position and the second actuator position, respectively, whereby the actuation member moves and causes each of the leaf springs to move between the first switch position and the second switch position, respectively.