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US 9,865,406 B2Granted
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.
Claims25
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;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, 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;
- and
- at least one frictional contact arrangement comprising a first contact element on the housing and a second contact element on the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction, wherein the first contact element maintains contact with the second contact element when the movable portion is moved between the first position and the second position.
2 more elements
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 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;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, 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;
- and
- at least one frictional contact arrangement comprising a first contact element on the housing and a second contact element on the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the first contact element maintains contact with the second contact element when the movable portion is moved between the first position and the second position.
6 more elements
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 moved one of the first position and the second position;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, 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;
- and
- at least one frictional contact arrangement comprising a first contact element on the housing and a second contact element extending from the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the first contact element is configured to drag across at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the first contact element maintains contact with the second contact element when the movable portion is moved between the first position and the second position.
3 more elements
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;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, 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;
- and
- at least one frictional contact arrangement comprising a first contact element on the housing and a second contact element on the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the second contact element is at least partially disposed in a recess formed in the base plate.
3 more elements
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;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, 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;
- and
- at least one frictional contact arrangement comprising a first contact element on the housing and a second contact element on the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein the base plate comprises a pair of rails extending thereon.
3 more elements
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;
- a base plate attachable to or adjacent the electrical switch mechanism, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the base plate;
- at least one spring element engaged with at least a portion of the housing at a first end and at least a portion of the base plate at a second end, 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;
- and
- at least one frictional contact arrangement comprising a first contact element directly on the housing and a second contact element directly on the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the first contact element is configured to contact and slide along at least a portion of the second contact element when the movable portion of the housing moves in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.