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US 9,431,183 B2Granted
Plunger switch assembly and method of operation
AssigneeDelta Systems, Inc.
InventorsPat J. Colonna, Michael P. Haessly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch assembly and method of operation comprises a housing for supporting a plunger arrangement for moveable positioning of a plunger relative to the housing and plunger arrangement. The plunger arrangement comprises a retainer support for fixedly holding at least one terminal member within a retainer groove having a transverse channel passing from a first end to a second end of the retainer support.
Claims21
A switch assembly comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis for supporting a plunger for back and forth moveable positioning of the plunger relative to said housing along said longitudinal axis;
- first and second elongated electrically conductive terminals supported within said housing wherein each of the first and second conductive terminals comprises a wiper portion positioned inside said housing, an external portion that extends outside said housing for coupling to an external circuit, and a locking portion located between the wiper portion and the external portion;
- and
- a terminal support for fixedly holding the first and second elongated electrically conductive terminals with respect to the housing, said terminal support comprising first and second terminal retainer grooves passing from a first end to a second end of the retainer support that position the terminals along a length of said grooves and further comprising first and second channels transverse to the grooves to position the locking portion of the conductive terminals while maintaining a gap between the wiper portion of said conductive terminals;
- wherein the plunger includes exposed first and second surfaces which bridge the gap between said terminals wherein a first surface comprises a conductive material that electrically connects the terminals in a first plunger position and a second surface comprises an electrically insulating material that electrically isolates said terminals in a second plunger position.
2 more elements
A switch assembly comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis for supporting a plunger for moveable positioning of a plunger relative to said housing along said longitudinal axis within a housing interior;
- first and second elongated electrically conductive terminals supported within said housing wherein each of the first and second conductive terminals comprises a wiper portion positioned inside said housing interior, an external portion that extends outside said housing for coupling to an external circuit, and a locking arm located between the wiper portion and the external portion;
- and
- a two-piece terminal retainer support positioned within the housing interior having first and second terminal retainer support portions for fixedly holding the locking arms of said first and second elongated conductive terminals within a nesting pocket collectively formed by said retainer support portions.
1 more element
A switch assembly comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis for supporting a plunger arrangement for moveable positioning of a plunger relative to said housing and plunger arrangement along said longitudinal axis;
- the plunger arrangement comprising a two-piece retainer support having an upper retainer support and lower retainer support, the upper and lower retainer support for fixedly holding at least one terminal member within a nesting pocket collectively formed by said upper and lower retainer supports;
- wherein at least one of said upper retainer support and lower retainer support further comprises a lock arm member being received by an opening in the other of said upper retainer support and said lower retainer support, the opening comprising a ledge engaged by said lock arm member to form a locking connection between said upper retainer support and said lower retainer support;
- and
- an annular support channel is formed by semi-arcuate collars extending from said upper retainer support and said lower retainer support, the annular support channel for supporting at least a portion of said plunger arrangement.
2 more elements
A switch assembly comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis for supporting a plunger for back and forth moveable positioning of the plunger relative to said housing along said longitudinal axis;
- first and second elongated electrically conductive terminals supported within said housing wherein each of the first and second conductive terminals comprises a wiper portion positioned inside said housing, an external portion that extends outside said housing for coupling to an external circuit, and a locking tang that extends outward from a generally planar intermediate portion of the terminals located between the wiper portion and the external portion;
- a terminal support for fixedly holding the first and second elongated electrically conductive terminals with respect to the housing, said terminal support comprising first and second terminal retainer grooves passing from a first end to a second end of the retainer support that position the terminals along a length of said grooves and further comprising shelves that engage the locking tangs to position the locking tangs of the conductive terminals while maintaining a gap between the wiper portion of said conductive terminals;
- wherein the plunger includes exposed first and second surfaces which bridge the gap between said terminals wherein a first surface comprises a conductive material that electrically connects the terminals in a first plunger position and a second surface comprises an electrically insulating material that electrically isolates said terminals in a second plunger position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.