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.
Claims21
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 at least a portion of 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;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion, of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of 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;
- at least one contact arrangement comprising at least one first contact element having at least one surface and at least one second contact element having at least one surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in the first direction and/or the second direction;
- and
- at least one friction element attachable to or integrated with at least a portion of at least one of the at least one first contact element and the at least one second contact element.
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 at least a portion of 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;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of 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;
- at least one contact arrangement comprising at least one first contact element having at least one surface and at least one second contact element having at least one surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in the first direction and/or the second direction;
- and
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent at least a portion of the electrical switch mechanism, the base plate comprising at least one rail having a slot configured to at least partially receive at least one projection extending from a surface of at least a portion of the movable portion of the housing.
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 at least a portion of 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;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of 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;
- at least one contact arrangement comprising at least one first contact element having at least one surface and at least one second contact element having at least one surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in the first direction and/or the second direction;
- wherein the at least one second contact element is configured to remain substantially stationary when the movable portion of the housing moves in the first direction and/or the second direction;
- further wherein the at least one second contact element comprises a shaped contact surface;
- and
- further wherein the shaped contact surface comprises a substantially linear contact surface and a substantially slanted contact surface, wherein, when the at least one first contact element is contacting and sliding along the shaped contact surface in the second direction, a rate of movement in the second direction is greater along the slanted contact surface as compared to the liner contact surface.
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 at least a portion of 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;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing, wherein the at least one spring element is configured to build potential energy when the movable portion of the housing is urged in the first direction, and when the urging force is removed, the at least one spring element urges the movable portion of the housing in a second, opposing direction, such that at least a portion of 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;
- at least one contact arrangement comprising at least one first contact element having at least one surface and at least one second contact element having at least one surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in the first direction and/or the second direction;
- at least one tightening element configured to urge at least a portion of at least one of the at least one first contact element and the at least one second contact element in a contact direction with respect to the other contact element;
- and
- wherein the at least one tightening element comprises at least one screw or bolt engaged with a threaded bore extending through at least a portion of the movable portion of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.