Flexible, Self-biasing Patents (Class 200/16D)
  • Patent number: 6156981
    Abstract: A switch for a data connector jack adaptable to receive a plug operating in a high frequency range or a plug operating in a low frequency range therein. The data connector jack is coupled to a cable having a plurality of wires contained therein. The switch has a primary state, an intermediate state, and a secondary state, and includes a printed circuit board having a surface. A plurality of row contacts are mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and a plurality of bifurcated contacts are spaced apart from the plurality of row contacts and mounted on the surface the printed circuit board. A grounding pad is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and a jumper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence S. Ward, Bernie Hammond
  • Patent number: 6046413
    Abstract: The invention describes a switch, preferably a steering column switch, provided with an actuating member moved across the contact sections rigidly connected to the housing in a substantially pushing way. It is the object of the invention to provide a steering column switch which, being of a small-sized design, permanently provides for good contact making between the contacts to be interconnected. This problem, in the practice of the invention, is solved by ramps raising the contact bridge in the transitory area. Advantageous embodiments refer to the design of the ramp of the conductor bank and of the contact bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Simonis, Walter Hecht, Rudolf Klein
  • Patent number: 6031194
    Abstract: A slide switch that can remove foreign particles, such as metallic dust, from its ground terminals. When the movable contact slides toward a stroke end, the power source contact first passes through an end section of the power source terminal before disengaging the terminal. At that instant, arcs are generated between the contact and the terminal. Arcs produce metallic dust, carbide particles, etc. that adhere to the insulator and terminals creating buildup and obstructing the sliding path of the contacts. The switch is provided with a discharge hole and arc gaps along the sliding path of the contacts to eliminate the arc buildup. The contacts carry the metallic dust and carbide particles while sliding so that the dust and particles drop into the discharge hole or arc gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6011224
    Abstract: A dual in line switch apparatus selects between several switch positions. Specifically there is a housing that contains slides. The slides have a slide groove on each end and a slide grip portion. A wire contact is attached to each slide. A first and second row of terminals is molded in the housing. The first and second row of terminals rest above the bottom of the housing and are spaced apart to define a slot between the rows of terminals. The wire contacts are located between the terminals and the slide. The wire contacts operate, as the slide is moved, to make and break electrical connections between the terminals. The wire contact has an integrally formed pair of upright portions and a wire detent. The terminal has a detent cavity. The upright portion fits into and is retained by the slide groove. The wire detent, the detent cavity and the slot provide a positive mechanical stop for each of the switch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: John Zdanys, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5977499
    Abstract: A linear slide selector switch for multiple channels for selecting between several switch positions. Specifically, there is a housing having a hinged door with a latch lock, the door rotates to a closed position and is held in a closed position by the latch lock. The housing also contains a slide and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has rows of contacts. A contactor is mounted to the slide. As the slide is moved linearly, electrical connections are made and broken on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Black, Kevin D. Kurtz, John Zdanys
  • Patent number: 5967302
    Abstract: An improvement for dual inline package (DIP) switch includes a cover, a base and a plural number of actuators moveably housed in separated spaces formed between the cover and the base. Each actuator has a contact integrally formed thereunder by means of injection molding process. Each contact has two contact fingers extending at one side for making contact with two terminals located in the base to form an ON or OFF connection. The width and length of the actuator may be reduced up to 36% and 37% respectively vs. conventional DIP switch. The contact material may save up to 50% vs. a conventional DIP switch contact which extends to both sides of the switch. The foot of the actuator is integrally formed and therefore is more reliable and may function more smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Hsi-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 5844184
    Abstract: A switch includes an upper insulative body, left and right terminals mounted to the upper insulative body such that connecting end portions of the terminals extend outwardly from the upper insulative body, a lower insulative body attached to the upper insulative body, and a sliding actuator disposed between the upper and lower insulative bodies. The upper insulative body has an upper sliding slot to permit extension of the sliding actuator. The left and right terminals further have two contact end portions which extend inwardly of the upper insulative body and which are spaced in a longitudinal direction. The sliding actuator is provided with a spring electric contact member which has left and right contact fingers to contact the contact end portions of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Pen-Chu Liau
  • Patent number: 5824977
    Abstract: A slide switch includes a moving contact contained within a slider that moves between a plurality of desired stationary contacts. A clicking thruster provided with resiliency by a resilient member such as a spring produces a clicking sensation during switching by engaging with clicking thruster recesses. A through hole is provided in the slider, and the moving contact is positioned within the through hole in opposition to the stationary contacts. The clicking thruster is positioned in opposition to the clicking thruster recesses, and the resilient member is fit in between the moving contact and the clicking thruster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T an T
    Inventors: Tsunesuke Takano, Kouichi Sinzawa, Yoji Yabata
  • Patent number: 5796058
    Abstract: A casing 1 has an inside bottom and an open top. Fixed terminals 2 and 3, having stationary contacts 2a and 3a, are provided on the inside bottom of casing 1. An operational lever 5 is swingably supported at the upper part of casing 1. A contact piece 4, made of a resilient thin plate formed into a U-shaped configuration, has a base end engageable with the pivot portion of operational lever 5 and a movable portion 4f brought into contact with the lower surface of operational lever 5. The distal end of contact piece 4 is provided with movable contacts 4b and 4c which are slidably brought into contact with stationary contacts 2a and 3a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Aimi, Masayoshi Nishida
  • Patent number: 5783785
    Abstract: A two-step operation switch device, in which intervals between a common fixed contact and other fixed contacts juxtaposed to the common fixed contact are kept as wide as possible so that insulating properties between the contacts are maintained in a normal state. The common fixed contact 11, first fixed contacts 12, 13, and second fixed contacts 14, 15 are disposed on an insulating plate 1. A movable contacting piece 2 has a first contacting piece 21 slid in a first region, in which the common fixed contact 11 and the first fixed contacts 12 and 13 are juxtaposed, and a second contacting piece 22 slid in a second region, in which the common fixed contact 11 and the second fixed contacts 14 and 15 are juxtaposed. Intervals W2 between the common fixed contact 11 and the second fixed contacts 14 and 15 in the second region Z2 are wider than intervals between the common fixed contact 11 and the first fixed contacts 12 and 13 in the first region Z1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5760352
    Abstract: A push switch is disclosed which includes: an insulation substrate (11) having a circular hollow portion (14) therein, first and second adhesive layers (15A, 15B) on the hollow portion and a top surface respectively and a fixing portion (12A) having a first C-shape and a hollow portion (18), having a second C-shape, arranged inside the first C-shape. The hollow portion is arranged in the circular hollow portion and fixed by the first adhesive layer and the fixing portion fixed on the top surface of the insulation substrate by the second adhesive layer. The hollow portion has at least three protruding portions (19) thereon. A center contact (21) is arranged at inside the second C-shape. There is an arm portion (22) extending from the center contact toward the outside of the second C-shape through an opening of the second C-shape. There is a movable contact (24) having a dome shape on the protruding portions and a cover sheet (26), fixed on the fixing portion so as to cover the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ishihara, Hiroshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 5731558
    Abstract: A switching device is provided which comprises a casing, a printed wiring board disposed inside the casing, a plurality of fixed contacts formed on the casing, and a plurality of moving contacts for making an electrical connection or disconnection between said plurality of fixed contacts. Since many fixed contacts are not only disposed on the printed wiring board but also on the casing, the printed wiring board can be designed compact. Also the plurality of fixed contacts disposed on the casing has such a form of a terminal as to be electrically connectable to motors and a power source as well as to a connector extended to the switching device. Therefore, the number of places to be soldered for electrical connection between many fixed contacts, motors and power source can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Kyoden
  • Patent number: 5726400
    Abstract: A compact, thin switch of a simple contact structure to be operated for switching operations by an external pressure comprises a base, four stationary contacts arranged on the base and isolated from each other, a curved, self-resetting first movable contact plate formed of a conductive spring material, and mounted on the base, and a curved, second movable contact plate formed of a conductive spring material, and put on top of the first movable contact plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Electronics Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masazi Masuda
  • Patent number: 5721404
    Abstract: A frame component for a notebook computer wherein the frame component has tapered (e.g., conical) depressions that receive protrusions from printed circuit boards mounted adjacent the frame component. The tapered depressions are formed during plastic injection molding of the frame component by a tapered (e.g., conical) protrusion in the interior cavity of the mold. The tapered protrusion in the mold facilitates flow of molten plastic through a region between the apex of the protrusion and an inner surface of the mold which allows for smaller tolerances between the apex of the tapered depression and the bottom surface of the frame component. This results in an overall reduction in the thickness of the frame component from on the order of 3-4 mm to on the order of 1.5 mm. The tolerance between the bottom of the depression configured to receive the protrusion from the printed circuit board is on the order of 0.3-0.4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: AST Research Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Toedtman
  • Patent number: 5696363
    Abstract: The electronic card of the invention comprises inside a card body, a printed circuit including two spaced-apart electrodes on the bottom of a cavity formed in the card body and having two parallel side faces. A switch actuator is displaceable inside the cavity parallel to the side faces thereof between an active position in which it electrically interconnects the two electrodes and an inactive position in which it leaves the two electrodes electrically isolated from each other. The face of the switch actuator which faces the electrodes has a conductive coating thereon. Complementary stop means are provided by the cavity and the switch actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Solaic
    Inventor: Alain Larchevesque
  • Patent number: 5670762
    Abstract: A push lock switch includes a switch body having walls and a plurality of the terminals each of which has a fixed contact. The switch body has a cam groove formed on one of the walls. A part of wall defining the cam groove serves as a hooking recess. The switch body has a lock pin and a slider movable between a projecting position and a retracted position. An end of the lock pin is inserted in the cam groove. The slider is held at the retracted position by engaging the end of the lock pin to the hooking recess. The switch body also has a leaf spring mounted on the slider. The leaf spring has a pressing portion to press the end of the lock pin against the bottom of the cam groove, and movable contacts for contacting to and being separated from the associated fixed contacts of the terminals in accordance with the movement of the slider. The fixed contacts are electrically connected to one another via the movable contacts touching the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Tatsuya Futamura
  • Patent number: 5612520
    Abstract: A suspend (sleep) switch for a portable electronic device, such as a notebook computer, is mounted on a printed circuit board. The suspend switch includes a first contact which is positioned in juxtaposed relationship with a second contact. The contacts are formed from an electrically conductive metal or other electrically conductive material which is sufficiently resilient to support an actuator and to hold the two contacts apart in normal operation. In addition, the resiliency of the two contacts allows the two contacts to adjust to different distances between the printed circuit boards on which the contacts are mounted and the cover of the electronic device which constrains the actuator. When the cover of the electronic device is closed, the actuator pushes the two contacts into electrical contact, preferably with a wiping motion, to provide an electrical connection which can be sensed by circuitry on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: AST Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Toedtman, Robert D. Tusan
  • Patent number: 5587568
    Abstract: An interlock switch for electrically coupling opposing surfaces of a circuit card assembly, wherein each of the surfaces includes a contact pattern defining circuit and switch functions. The interlock switch comprises a pair of contacts which engage the contact patterns on the circuit card assembly to electrically couple the circuits located on the oppositely facing surfaces thereof and a switch body for housing the contacts. The switch body includes a slot for solder-free coupling the switch to an edge of the circuit card assembly. The slot enables the switch to selectively reciprocate among three switch positions on the edge of the circuit card assembly to provide either an open circuit or a closed circuit on the circuit card assembly in any one of three switch positions for each contact. A spring is housed within the switch body for biasing the switch from one of the three positions making it a momentary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Lothamer, Carl A. Pontecorvo, Thomas L. Schattke, Richard A. Osterhout
  • Patent number: 5528007
    Abstract: A switch comprises a plunger, a retainer, a pair of terminals and an electrically-conducting wiper contact having a curved or bent middle portion defining two oppositely directed legs on either side of the middle portion. The retainer cooperates with the plunger to carry the wiper contact as the plunger moves between a normal and an actuated position. The terminals have facing contact surfaces for biased engagement with the portions of the legs exposed by the plunger and retainer to form an electrical path between the terminals when the plunger is in the actuated position. The plunger and the retainer are coupled together by arms which project from either the plunger or the retainer. The wiper contact is secured between the plunger and retainer without the need for forming a central loop in the wiper contact for engagement by the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Williams, Arthur J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5459292
    Abstract: The control switch according to the present invention provides different electric conduction states and may be used for setting a point indicated by a cursor on a monitor in a navigation system. The control switch comprises (i) two terminal members each having four terminals, and (ii) common terminals respectively corresponding to the two terminal members. One terminal member is different in phase from the other terminal member. When one common terminal and its terminal member are short-circuited by a movable contact-piece member, the other common terminal and its terminal member are in a non-conduction state. When the common terminal and its terminal member are short-circuited by a movable contact-piece member, the one common terminal and its terminal member are in a state of non-conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagano, Yasuji Shibano
  • Patent number: 5414231
    Abstract: A switch device is proposed which includes a plurality of stationary contacts fixedly formed on an insulating substrate, a plurality of movable contacts capable of sliding on the insulating substrate for independently contacting with and separating from the stationary contacts, a common holder case fixed to the insulating substrate, and positioning member provided between the insulating substrate and the holder case for positioning the insulating substrate and the holder case relative to each other. The movable contacts are supported slidably so as to be brought into and out of contact with the stationary contact in a switching manner. Thus, the positioning of the movable contacts relative to the stationary contact is extremely easy, thereby providing an improved assembling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Tokyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Nobuaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 5378863
    Abstract: An electric switch for multiple circuits includes a slider with a movable contact. The slider is linearly slidable in forward and backward directions along the longitudinal axis of a switch casing. A holder carrying a fixed contact thereon is arranged within the casing so as to guide the forward and backward movement of the slider. A swingable manipulator is pivotally mounted on an end of the casing and linked with the slider to operate the same upon pivotal movement thereof in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The slider is baised by a single coiled spring to its initial neutral position. With this arrangement, the switch accomplishes compact construction, reliable operation and easy assembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Youichi Sekita
  • Patent number: 5365027
    Abstract: Switch assembly (100) includes a housing (112) having a pair of spring finger contacts (114and 116) and a circuit board (144). A spring loaded actuator (134) is slideably located within housing (112) between first and second switching positions. Actuator (134) includes a pair of conductive wipers (136 and 138) which move relative to metalized traces (146, 148 and 150) located on the top surface of circuit board (144). Switch assembly (100) provides for a compact surface mountable switch which is capable of switching RF signals between a radio antenna (618) and an external accessory connector while minimizing electrical signal path lengths and moving parts in the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Marvet, Scott T. Ma, Son Q. Le, Douglas D. Peebles, David Karl, William C. Phelps, III
  • Patent number: 5315079
    Abstract: A PCB mounted 6 PDT slide switch is formed of a specially-designed cover/actuator sub-assembly and a base assembly which remain in assembly independent of each other. The slide switch includes a base member, a slide actuator member, a plurality of movable contact shoes, a separate spacer bar member, and a cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Gierut
  • Patent number: 5298698
    Abstract: An encoder for generating a position signal in accordance with a position of a conductive slider comprises a non-conductive substrate, a first conductive pattern formed on the substrate, and at least three second conductive patterns formed on the substrate. The second patterns are independent from the first pattern. Each of the second patterns has a lead wire extending to an edge of the substrate. The slider is slidable on the substrate, and produces a conductive state signal when it abuts against the first pattern and produces a non-conductive state signal when it abuts against the second pattern or the substrate. The position signal is generated in accordance with the conductive state signal and the non-conductive state signal. One of the second patterns is surrounded by the first pattern, and the lead wire extending therefrom passes between the other two second patterns and extends to the exterior of the first pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Iida, Toru Kosaka, Hiroyuki Tsuru, Masashi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5221816
    Abstract: A switch comprises a plunger, a retainer, a pair of terminals and an electrically-conducting wiper contact having a curved or bent middle portion defining two oppositely directed legs on either side of the middle portion. The retainer cooperates with the plunger to carry the wiper contact as the plunger moves between a normal and an actuated position. The terminals have facing contact surfaces for biased engagement with the portions of the legs exposed by the plunger and retainer to form an electrical path between the terminals when the plunger is in the actuated position. The plunger and the retainer are coupled together by arms which project from either the plunger or the retainer. The wiper contact is secured between the plunger and retainer without the need for forming a central loop in the wiper contact for engagement by the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5191971
    Abstract: A multiple position wall mountable linear slide switch has a wheel disposed between a linearly moveable actuator and a stationary bearing surface for rolling the actuator in a linear path over the bearing surface upon application of an external sliding force to the actuator. The wheel carries a conductive axle for establishing an electrical connection between switch contacts defining each switch setting. The bearing surface has a plurality of detents, one associated with each switch setting, so that, as the actuator is moved from one position to another, the wheel rolls out of one detent then into another. This motion of the wheel automatically raises the axle away from the contacts at one setting then lowers the axle onto the contacts at an immediately subsequent setting as the actuator is moved between corresponding positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Susan S. Hakkarainen, Robert S. Hanna, Elliot G. Jacoby, Robert F. Taylor, III
  • Patent number: 5156931
    Abstract: A battery strength indicating and switch means on a battery which is coupled across the terminals of the battery and which is provided with an indicating means to indicate the strength of the battery and in addition, the battery strength indicating means is also provided with an in-line switch which can easily be depressed to complete the circuit so as to place the indicator means across the terminals of the cell and display the charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Strategic Energy Ltd.
    Inventors: James R. Burroughs, Alan N. O'Kain
  • Patent number: 5065276
    Abstract: The tri-state dual-in-line package (DIP) switch includes a base with a plurality of transverse grooves, a plurality of conducting pins attached to the transverse grooves; a plurality of slide members, each having a top protrusion and one conducting element attached to the rear surface; and a cover having a plurality of openings for the top protrusions of the slide members. The base is tightly sealed to the cover by means of high frequency welding, wherein energy directors provided for in at least one of the base or said cover are melted by allowing high frequency current to pass through the cover to the base. The width of the base is wider than that of prior art and the conducting pins are folded twice to maintain a standard distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Been-Chiu Liaw
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 5051549
    Abstract: Slide switches have an electrically insulated slide body which is slidably disposed within an interior cavity defined in an electrically insulated support housing. The slide body has a knob which projects through a opening defined in an upper wall of the support housing so as to allow manual movement of the slide body between the first and second positions. At least one pair of elongated conductors is provided with the opposed ends being fixed to an opposed pair of side walls of the housing so that the fixed conductors extend parallel to one another, but are positioned in spaced relationship transversely relative to the reciprocal movement of the slide body within the support housing. The slide body carries a movable conductor which is sized and configured so as to be in contact with the pair of elongate fixed conductors when the slide body is in its first position so as to make an electrical circuit therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T AN T
    Inventor: Tsunesuke Takano
  • Patent number: 5049707
    Abstract: A switching device for super high frequency ranges comprising a common fixed contact and a pair of selectable fixed contacts, and moveble contacts which are slidable over them so as to selectively and electrically connect the common fixed contact to one of the selectable fixed contacts. A pair of buffer electrodes are placed between the common fixed contact and the selectable fixed contacts to reduce the electrostatic capacitance between the fixed contacts and reduce signal attenuation in super high frequency ranges. The buffer electrodes are electrically isolated without being connected to any external circuit and thereby reduce electrical capacitance produced between the common fixed contact and the selectable fixed contacts without creating excessive gaps therebetween. Such gaps would prevent smooth sliding movement of the moveable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Elmec Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Kameya
  • Patent number: 5046142
    Abstract: This is a slide switch which is formed by insert molding the base of the switch around a metal stamping which has a central portion arced to move the terminal elements closer together prior to molding. The movable contact assemblies comprise an actuator associated with a movable contact. The movable contact includes a first and second arm which are in spaced apposed relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: C&K Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Ipcinski
  • Patent number: 5043540
    Abstract: A slide switch includes a slide body having a movable electrical contact. An insulating housing for the sliding body is formed in a substantially inverted U-shape and is provided with a slot to allow a knob to project therethrough and thus permit the sliding body to be manually manipulated. The housing also includes a number of projecting pins which are received within respective holes formed in a bottom insulating plate to provide connection between the housing and the plate. At least one pair of elongate conductive contact plates extend transversely relative to movements of the slide body (and hence relative to movements of the movable contact). Each of the conductive contact plates defines an aperture at one end thereof through which a respective one of the projecting pins of the housing passes before entering a respective one of the holes defined in the insulating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T and T
    Inventor: T. Takano
  • Patent number: 5038004
    Abstract: A miniature switch comprises a switch body and at least one switching member mounted on the switch body. The switch body is provided at longitudinally central portion thereof with a groove. Pairs of fixed contacts are disposed in juxtaposition on the bottom of the groove along thereof. The switching member has one or two contacts disposed therein in desired positions or directions. The switching member is mounted in the switch body so that the contact(s) of the switching member bridge over the desired contacts of the switch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Nihon Kaiheiki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Ohashi
  • Patent number: 5015544
    Abstract: A battery strength indicating and switch means on a battery which is coupled across the terminals of the battery and which is provided with an indicating means to indicate the strength of the battery and in addition, the battery strength indicating means is also provided with an in-line switch which can easily be depressed to complete the circuit so as to place the indicator means across the terminals of the cell and display the charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Strategic Energy Ltd.
    Inventors: James R. Burroughs, Alan N. O'Kain
  • Patent number: 4950847
    Abstract: A printed circuit board slide switch in which switch actuation occurs by movement of a slide actuator perpendicular to the printed circuit board on which the switch is mounted is disclosed. Terminals having leads in a zig-zag configuration are inserted molded into an insulative body which has a plurality of individual compartments in which side-by-side contact portions of adjacent terminals comprising switched terminal pairs are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Roger L. Thrush
  • Patent number: 4926012
    Abstract: An electric switch having a body (1) of insulating material which contains at least one recess (2) into which enter the ends (3a, 4a) of at least two terminals (3,4) the opposite ends of which (3b,4b) project outside the body, and a switch mechanism comprising an electrically-conducting element (5) fitted so as to slide in the recess (2) between first and second stable positions. The switch is characterized in that the electrically-conducting element (5) comprises a stirrup having an elastic middle part (6), contact points (8) and upwardly extending arms (9) that extend towards the opening (10) of the recess (2), appearing in windows (15) defined in the opening (10) on either side of an insulating element (14) that retains the stirrup (5) in the recess (2), the arms (9) constituting structure for moving the stirrup (5) between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Societe d'Etude et de Construction de Materiel Electronique
    Inventor: Hugues Pellerin de Beauvais
  • Patent number: 4922063
    Abstract: An electric data switch, e.g., a rotary switch, that selects data by moving contact portion along tracks of electrodes, in which a contact portion touches two or more electrodes simultaneously, and in which leads between terminals of the electrodes are arranged to avoid touching with the contact portion. This simplifies the switch, allowing it to be smaller and more durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Shimizu, Tuyoshi Nagae
  • Patent number: 4874912
    Abstract: A hook switch has a box-shaped body an an open end. Within the box-shaped body there is fixed at least one contact piece, and extending from the box-shaped body is an arm on which an actuator is rotatably mounted. A slider is received within the box-shaped body. This slider has a spring biased protrusion with a spherical top which extends through a hole in a cover of the box-shaped body and is engaged by the actuator and displaced against the spring bias. In the process, a movable contact piece mounted on the slider engages a corresponding fixed contact piece mounted within the box-shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kakuta, Hiroyuki Nagano
  • Patent number: 4866221
    Abstract: A switch assembly for remote selection and two-way operation of individual motors for vehicle rearview mirror adjustment. A quadulateral touch frame is gimballed by means of a nested yoke on a housing for movement about two orthogonal axes and is superposed for contacting an actuator frame having four spaced pins extending commonly therefrom through the housing, each for actuation of an individual switch mounted on a circuit board. User movement of any one of the four sides of the touch bar actuates a pair of the switches, only one of which is snap-acting. A separate selector nested in the touch frame operates sliding wipers for selected switching between pairs of contacts on the circuit board for selection of operational mode for the four main switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: George Obermann, Marek Brzozowski
  • Patent number: 4857678
    Abstract: A housing has flat terminals, such as traces on a circuit board, along a flat side. A contact carrier having first and second contacts mounted on it is slidable in the housing so that the contacts may slide along the traces in a first direction. First spring blades bias the first contacts against the traces while a second spring blade biases a pivotable member holding the second contacts away from the traces. A plunger mounted on and slidable with the carrier includes a ramp which forces the pivotable member towards the traces when the plunger is depressed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to cause the second contacts to contact the traces. The carrier comprises two body portions which are held together with a tongue in groove, snap-in latch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ellis P. Lipp
  • Patent number: 4841105
    Abstract: A printed circuit board mountable switch includes a insulative body having a plurality of leads extending out of the body, the leads being formed into two parallel and opposed rows with fixed ends of the leads being spaced apart and facing each other on the floor of the body. A slide switch element includes a bow shaped element having first and second contact elements adjacent to respective first and second fixed ends of the leads. The switch element is moveable between a first position where the switch element bridges between the associated first and second lead fixed ends, to a position where the second contact portion only, is in contact with the second fixed end of the lead. The housing body including integrally molded ramps or cams which flank the width of the first and second fixed ends and at least partially extend therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph R. Goodman, Roger L. Thrush
  • Patent number: 4833280
    Abstract: This slide switch includes: a casing formed in a hollow box shape with an open top; several fixed contacts on the bottom surface of the casing and several terminals connected to them extending to the outside of the casing; a cover mounted to close the open top of the casing, formed with a hole opposed to the fixed contacts; and a slide member disposed inside the casing, which has a control portion protruding out through the hole in the cover and a movable contact portion made of a resilient electrically conducting material which bears against the internal bottom surface of the casing and thereby produces a biasing force on the slide member to impel it in the direction towards the cover. The movable contact portion of the slide member, according as the control portion of the slide member is moved from outside the casing, selectively connects together a combination of the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Bingo, Takashi Yoshimura, Masatsugu Yamashita, Shinichi Hashizume, Norio Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 4825020
    Abstract: An electrical slide switch includes a housing, first, second and third spaced, substantially aligned fixed contacts in the housing, a movable contact in the housing and a slide member which is operative for moving the movable contact between a first position wherein it is in engagement with the first and second fixed contacts and a second position wherein it is in engagement with the second and third fixed contacts. The movable contact is made from a resilient sheet metal, and it includes an elongated contacting portion having a central bump thereon and a pair of resileient biasing portions which are operative for biasing the contacting portion toward the fixed contacts. The biasing portions include inwardly extending portion which extend integrally inwardly from the ends of the contacting portion to spaced bends and outwardly extending portions which extend outwardly from the bends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corportion
    Inventors: Chepur P. Rao, Juan J. Barrena
  • Patent number: 4822961
    Abstract: A soft break switch for forming a short circuit between two conductors while the switch is in a closed position, for forming an increasingly resistive circuit between the conductors while the switch is being moved to an open position, and for forming an open circuit between the conductors when the switch is in an open position. The resistive circuit enhances arc suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventors: Peter E. Hugin, Ted N. Tilman
  • Patent number: 4816625
    Abstract: This invention relates to a combination multi-contact synchronous slide switch and in particular to one which may be accurately operated and easily assembled. The switch mainly includes a PC board, a sliding plate, a turning axis and two clipping rods. The sliding plate is pressed firmly against the PC board by the clipping rods. The sliding plate slides by way of a cog and a turning axle. The sliding plate can slide on the PC board assembly by way of a spring, a steel ball and several slipping holes on the PC board. A number of contact plates are clipped in concave channels formed at the back of the sliding plate. When the sliding plates slide, they are able to contact the corresponding points on the PC board to operate the switch. Further, the sliding plate is formed with convex and concave edges thereby enabling it to be easily interconnected with other sliding plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Sun C. Chen
  • Patent number: 4814565
    Abstract: This slide switch includes: a casing formed in a hollow box shape with an open top; several fixed contacts on the bottom surface of the casing and several terminals connected to them extending to the outside of the casing; a cover mounted to close the open top of the casing, formed with a hole opposed to the fixed contacts; a slide member disposed inside the casing, which has a control portion protruding out through the hole in the cover and a movable contact portion made of a resilient electrically conducting material which bears against the internal bottom surface of the casing and thereby produces a biasing force on the slide member to impel it in the direction towards the cover; and a seal member interposed between the inside of the cover and the side of the slide member facing it, the seal member being squeezed between the slide member and the cover, a seal between the inside of the casing and the outside thereby being produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Bingo, Takashi Yoshimura, Masatsugu Yamashita, Shinichi Hashizume, Norio Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 4792650
    Abstract: A module mounting system for an electronic device capable of mounting a pair of electronic components each including a locking groove. The mounting system includes an operation switch having an engaging member to be engaged with the locking groove in each of the electronic components mounted on the electronic device. The operation switch provides a locking position to make the engaging member fit in the locking grooves simultaneously and a plurality of unlocking positions for unlocking one of the components selectively. The operation switch shuts off power supply to the electronic device when set at any of the unlocking positions, or supplies power to the electronic device when set at the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaishi
    Inventor: Masahiro Iwai
  • Patent number: 4764745
    Abstract: In this construction there are provided: a case; several contact members exposed within the case; several lead terminals electrically connected to some of the contact members, and a support member, all insert molded in the case and protruding outwards; and a circuit breaker provided outside the case, one of its ends supported by a lead terminal and its other end supported by the support member. Thereby compact and efficient unitary construction are attained, and space within a device to which this construction is to be fitted, can be economized. The contact members may be five in number, and may be arranged within the case for contact in a linear relationship, alternatingly serving as input side and output side contact members, with the end ones and the middle one serving for being switched between while the other two serve as common contact members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Aoi, Yasuhiro Kiyono, Sueaki Honda, Hauro Atsumi
  • Patent number: 4764645
    Abstract: A process for selectively manufacturing vertical or horizontal type switch devices using a common form for substantially all parts or components, and products manufactured by the same process. The process comprises subjecting a metallic strip to stamping-out to leave predetermined patterns, each pattern consisting of a set of fixed contact elements, and two groups of terminals extending from the fixed contact elements and perpendicular to each other, and passageways between adjacent terminals in part; cutting some selected sites from the passageways so that one desired group of terminals in accordance with horizontal or vertical type may remain connected to the fixed contact elements before or after the molding with an insulating synthetic resin so that each resulting pattern may be inserted in the mold formed thereby; and making assembly of the thus-obtained mold-with-terminal-pattern and other parts and components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Takasawa