US3643052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pull chain operator for rotary switch shaft
Assignee: MARSHALL DONALD MACRAE
•
Filing: 1971-01-21
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Granted: 1972-02-15
•
Expires: 1991-01-21
Abstract
Abstract An internally threaded tube forming a supporting hub for the device is mounted on the rotary switch shaft in a socket for a three-way light bulb in place of the conventional knob on the switch shaft. An eccentric drum is rotatably mounted on the tube and a ratchet gear in the drum is fixedly mounted on the tube. A pawl in the drum engages the ratchet gear. A pull chain on the drum rotates the switch shaft through fractional revolutions to switch the light circuit to low, medium, high and off in successive manipulations. A counterweight in the drum returns the drum and pull chain to starting position after each actuation of the switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Marshall Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D41/00; F16D41/12; H; H01; H01H; H01H17/00; H01H17/16; H01H17/18; H01H17/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A pull chain operator for a rotary switch shaft comprising a hub member adapted for mounting on said shaft, a ratchet gear fixedly mounted on said hub member, a drum rotatably mounted on said hub member, a pawl on said drum engageable with said ratchet gear, a pull chain on said drum arranged to rotate the drum a fraction of a turn in a direction to operate the switch, and a counterweight on said drum arranged to rotate said drum in the opposite direction after operation by said pull chain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A pull chain operator for a rotary switch shaft comprising a hub member adapted for mounting on said shaft, a ratchet gear fixedly mounted on said hub member, a drum rotatably mounted on said hub member, a pawl on said drum engageable with said ratchet gear, a pull chain on said drum arranged to rotate the drum a fraction of a turn in a direction to operate the switch, and a counterweight on said drum arranged to rotate said drum in the opposite direction after operation by said pull chain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said pawl being gravity actuated into engagement with said ratchet gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said pawl being spring actuated into engagement with said ratchet gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said drum being eccentric to said hub and shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said pull chain including a flexible band wrapped on said drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said ratchet gear, pawl and counterweight being contained in said drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said hub member comprising an internally threaded tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 7, one end of said tube being adapted for threaded connection with said switch shaft, and a screw in the opposite end of said tube having a screwdriver slot for turning said tube on said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A switch operator as defined in claim 1, said hub member comprising an internally threaded tube for threaded engagement with said switch shaft, said drum beiNg eccentric to said tube, and said ratchet gear, pawl and counterweight being contained in said drum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US984053A
Cited
US2595851A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |