US3614346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rectilinearly movable switch assembly with particular pivotal actuator and flange means
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1970-01-12
•
Granted: 1971-10-19
•
Expires: 1990-01-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an electrical actuator of the toggle switch variety having contained therein electrical contacts which are reciprocably movable and adapted to slidingly engage the surface of a printed circuit board having circuitry thereon. The circuit board is clamped to the base of the housing, and upon movement of the actuator, the contacts will slidingly engage various circuitry on the printed circuit board surface. The actuator has two pairs of shoulder portions engaging the casing, which restrain the actuator from undesired movement while pivotally mounting it.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Vincent Gudaitis
- 👤 Winfield Warren Loose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H19/00; H01H19/54; H01H19/60; H01H19/635; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/12; H01H23/16; H01H23/164; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An electrical actuator adapted to connect electrical circuits, said actuator comprising a generally rectangular housing of electrically nonconductive material, said housing having one wall formed with an opening therein, said opening being of generally rectangular configuration and having pivotally located therein a mechanical actuator including an elongated portion extending inwardly of said wall, said actuator having a pair of parallel flat faces thereon in respective engagement with a first two opposed surfaces of said opening, and a first and second pair of shoulder portions, said first pair of shoulder portions being cylindrical and in respective engagement with cylindrically relieved inner end portions of a second two opposed surfaces of said opening, said second pair of shoulder portions being in engagement with inner end flange portions of said first two opposed surfaces, said elongated portion being in engagement with a carriage member, said carriage member being elongated and adapted for reciprocal movement, and in engagement with an electrically conductive bus bar having a plurality of electrical contact portions carried thereon, and flanges extending interiorly from two opposite walls of said rectangular housing, said flanges engaging opposite parallel edges of a first face of said bus bar to allow sliding movement of said bar and said carriage member and to retain said bar within said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An electrical actuator adapted to connect electrical circuits, said actuator comprising a generally rectangular housing of electrically nonconductive material, said housing having one wall formed with an opening therein, said opening being of generally rectangular configuration and having pivotally located therein a mechanical actuator including an elongated portion extending inwardly of said wall, said actuator having a pair of parallel flat faces thereon in respective engagement with a first two opposed surfaces of said opening, and a first and second pair of shoulder portions, said first pair of shoulder portions being cylindrical and in respective engagement with cylindrically relieved inner end portions of a second two opposed surfaces of said opening, said second pair of shoulder portions being in engagement with inner end flange portions of said first two opposed surfaces, said elongated portion being in engagement with a carriage member, said carriage member being elongated and adapted for reciprocal movement, and in engagement with an electrically conductive bus bar having a plurality of electrical contact portions carried thereon, and flanges extending interiorly from two opposite walls of said rectangular housing, said flanges engaging opposite parallel edges of a first face of said bus bar to allow sliding movement of said bar and said carriage member and to retain said bar within said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer end portions of said second two opposed surfaces extend therefrom at an angle, and act as stops, and wherein an outward extension of each of said parallel flat faces will be engaged by a respective one of said stops upon respective pivotal movement of said actuator away from a position normal to said wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in cLaim 2 wherein said bus bar has detent means located on a second face thereof parallel to said first face, said faces being on opposite sides of said bus bar and generally parallel with said wall, ball means engaging said second face of said bus bar, and spring means between and in engagement with said wall and ball means to urge said ball means against said second face and said bus bar against said flanges, whereby, upon appropriate sliding movement of said bus bar, said ball means will engage said detent means to accurately locate said bus bar in a desired position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said contact portions comprise elongated fingers cantilevered to said bus bar and having curved end portions adapted to slidingly engage electrical circuit means located on the surface of a circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in claim 4 wherein two opposite walls of said rectangular housing have slots located therein outwardly of said bus bar, said slots adapted to receive therein mating projecting edge portions of a circuit board whereby said elongated fingers will engage the facing surface of said circuit board upon connection therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said carriage member has spring means in engagement therewith, said spring means biasing said carriage to a position centrally of said housing whereby said actuator is normal to said one wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said carriage member has abutment means located at one elongated end thereof and laterally from said actuator, said abutment means prohibiting movement of said carriage member in one direction thereby limiting movement of said actuator to only one direction out of a normal position to said one wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electrical actuator as set forth in claim 4 wherein a printed circuit board having electrical circuits on a first surface thereof is in locking engagement with said rectangular housing and generally parallel to and spaced from said bus bar, said contact portions being in engagement with said first surface of said board and being adapted to make sliding engagement with said electrical circuits whereby the combination of said electrical actuator and said circuit board comprises an electrical switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1853358A
Cited
US2508692A
Cited
US2742548A
Cited
US3146330A
Cited
DE1259436B
Cited
US3299227A
Cited
DE1287185B
Cited
US3500003A
Cited
US3525828A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |