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US 9,431,193 B2Granted
Low current switch
AssigneeCarling Technologies, Inc.
InventorWalter A. Sadowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low current switch has a flexible movable contact that can be deflected by an actuator. In some implementations the switch may permit a low current switch to be manufactured using elements of a high current switch without requiring large amounts of precious metal. The flexible movable contact may be arranged as one or more cantilevers that are deflected using a rocking actuator. The actuator interacts with the movable contact in such a way as to provide tactile feedback to an operator comparable to a high current switch having a rigid movable contact. Also described are a set of low and high current switches, components of a low current switch, and a method of manufacturing a low current switch.
Claims20
A switch comprising:
- a flexible element fixedly attached within a housing, which extends from a fixedly attached portion to an unattached end and is in electrical communication with a first terminal;
- said flexible element having an elongated opening formed therein, the opening defined by a first end and a second end;
- a contact in electrical communication with a second terminal;
- an actuator having a bearing surface which is configured to move between a first position and a second position and to bias the flexible element such that the unattached end flexes toward the contact when the actuator is moved from the second position to the first position;
- a switch handle having a handle bearing surface in contact with the actuator and configured to move the actuator between the second position and the first position;
- and
- a return assist formed in the elongated opening in said flexible element, said return assist having first and second ends defining a length, the first end of said return assist affixed to said flexible element, the return assist being configured to bias the unattached end of the flexible element away from the contact;
- said bearing surface contacting a lateral surface of said flexible element at a location between the first and second ends of said return assist.
5 more elements
A switch comprising:
- a flexible element rigidly attached within a housing, which extends from a rigidly attached portion to an unattached end and is in electrical communication with a first terminal;
- said flexible element having an elongated opening formed therein, the opening defined by a first end and a second end;
- a contact in electrical communication with a second terminal;
- an actuator having a bearing surface which is configured to move between a first position and a second position and to bias the flexible element such that the unattached end flexes toward the contact when the actuator is moved from the second position to the first position;
- a switch handle having a handle bearing surface in contact with the actuator and configured to move the actuator between the second position and the first position;
- and
- a return assist formed in the elongated opening in said flexible element, said return assist having first and second ends defining a length, the first end of said return assist affixed to said flexible element, the return assist being configured to bias the unattached end of the flexible element away from the contact;
- said bearing surface contacting a lateral surface of said flexible element at a location between the first and second ends of said return assist.
5 more elements
A switch comprising:
- a flexible element non-pivotally attached with respect to a housing, which extends from a non-pivotally attached portion to an unattached end and is in electrical communication with a first terminal;
- said flexible element having an elongated opening formed therein, the opening defined by a first end and a second end;
- a contact in electrical communication with a second terminal;
- an actuator having a bearing surface which is configured to move between a first position and a second position and to bias the flexible element such that the unattached end flexes toward the contact when the actuator is moved from the second position to the first position;
- a switch handle having a handle bearing surface in contact with the actuator and configured to move the actuator between the second position and the first position;
- and
- a return assist formed in the elongated opening in said flexible element, said return assist having first and second ends defining a length, the first end of said return assist affixed to said flexible element, the return assist being configured to bias the unattached end of the flexible element away from the contact;
- said bearing surface contacting a lateral surface of said flexible element at a location between the first and second ends of said return assist.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a switch comprising the steps of:
- providing a flexible element fixedly attached within a housing, which extends from a fixedly attached portion to an unattached end and is in electrical communication with a first terminal, the flexible element having an elongated opening formed therein, the opening defined by a first end and a second end with a longitudinal length therebetween;
- providing a contact in electrical communication with a second terminal;
- providing an actuator having a bearing surface which is configured to move between a first position and a second position and to bias the flexible element such that the unattached end flexes toward the contact when the actuator is moved from the second position to the first position;
- providing a switch handle having a handle bearing surface in contact with the actuator and configured to move the actuator between the second position and the first position;
- and
- providing a return assist formed in the elongated opening in said flexible element, the return assist having first and second ends defining a length, the first end of the return assist affixed to the flexible element, the return assist being configured to bias the unattached end of the flexible element away from the contact;
- wherein the bearing surface contacts a lateral surface of said flexible element at a location between the first and second ends of the return assist.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.