Thermostatic switch

Claim 2

A thermostatic switch for one-time operation comprising: a thermostatic snap-acting substantially flat bimetallic element having a snap-action-causing dish-shaped portion thereon; means supporting said element a latch affixed to the free end of said element; and an electrically conductive resilient spring arm spaced in its unstrained position from said latch, one end of said latch constraining, and making electrical contact, one end of said spring arm.

Claim 3

The switch of claim 1 wherein said spring arm is released by said latch when said element snaps open.

Claim 4

The switch of claim 2 wherein said latch is substantially U-shaped and one leg of said latch is affixed to said element and the other leg constrains, and makes electrical contact with, one end of said spring arm.

Claim 5

The switch of claim 6 wherein said element is designed to open at a predetermined temperature, thereby breaking the electrical contact between said latch and said spring arm, and said electrical contact remains broken when said element snaps back to its previous position.

Claim 6

The switch of claim 1 in combination with an electrical apparatus wherein the snap temperature of said element is several degrees Centigrade above tHe normal operating temperature of said apparatus.

Claim 7

A thermostatic switch comprising: a thermostatic snap-acting substantially flat bimetallic element having a snap-action-causing dish-shaped portion thereon; means supporting said bimetallic element; latch means on the free end of said bimetallic element; an electrically conductive resilient spring arm; support means spacing said spring arm from said bimetallic element such that the free end of said spring arm is offset from said latch when said spring arm is in its unconstrained position; said latch means in the circuit-closed position constraining and making electrical contact with, the free end of said spring arm at one end of said latch means.

Claim 8

A thermostatic switch comprising: a thermostatic snap-acting substantially flat bimetallic element having a snap-action-causing dish-shaped portion thereon; means supporting said bimetallic element; latch means on the free end of said bimetallic element; an electrically conductive resilient spring arm; support means spacing said spring arm from said bimetallic element such that the free end of said spring arm is offset from said latch when said spring arm is in its unconstrained position; said latch means in the circuit-closed position constraining and making electrical contact with, the free end of said spring arm at one end of said latch means.

Claim 9

The switch of claim 6 wherein said latch means is substantially U-shaped.

Claim 10

The switch of claim 7 wherein one leg of said latch means constrains and is in electrical contact with, one end of said spring arm.

Claim 11

A thermostatic switch for one time operation comprising: two substantially parallel spaced-apart lead-in wires; insulative support means for said wires; a thermostatic snap-acting substantially flat metallic element one end of which is mounted on one of said lead-in wires, said metallic element having a snap-action causing, dish-shaped portion thereon; a latch mounted on the opposite end of said metallic element; and an electrically conductive resilient spring arm mounted on the other of said lead-in wires and offset from said latch when in its unconstrained position, said offset distance therebetween being less than about three times the snap deflection of said metallic element, said spring arm being normally held in constrained position by said latch.

Claim 12

A thermostatic switch for one time operation comprising: two substantially parallel spaced-apart lead-in wires; insulative support means for said wires; a thermostatic snap-acting substantially flat metallic element one end of which is mounted on one of said lead-in wires, said metallic element having a snap-action causing, dish-shaped portion thereon; a latch mounted on the opposite end of said metallic element; and an electrically conductive resilient spring arm mounted on the other of said lead-in wires and offset from said latch when in its unconstrained position, said offset distance therebetween being less than about three times the snap deflection of said metallic element, said spring arm being normally held in constrained position by said latch.