Abstract: Some automobiles have mechanisms for adjusting the height of accelerator and brake pedals, and any clutch pedal, so that drivers large and small can adjust the pedals to the best height. All pedals are adjusted by a single reversible electric motor having a shaft connected directly or by a flexible shaft to the adjusting mechanisms. If any fault develops in any mechanism, the pedals may not be adjusted to the same height, which is hazardous to the driver. A safety switching system detects any serious misalignment of the pedals and de-energizes the motor. The system comprises separate switches which are operable by adjustment of the pedals, and are electrically connected in series with the power supply circuit for the motor. When the pedals are aligned, the bridging contactors of the switches are aligned and are effective to maintain the electrical continuity of the motor circuit. Each contactor has three contact sliders which successively engage staggered tabs on contact strips for the respective pedals.

Abstract: A layered electrical resistor having flat components stacked as follows: a first metal outer plate, a first thin outer electrical insulator, a first thin sheet metal resistor element, a first thin inner insulator, a metal midplate, a second thin inner insulator, a second thin sheet metal resistor element, a second thin outer insulator and a second metal outer plate. The stacked components are compressed together by rivets or otherwise. Each sheet metal resistor element is stamped, punched or otherwise cut with at least first and second terminals and interconnected ribbons forming a resistive path therebetween. A thermal fuse or other circuit breaker is thermally engaged with a seat on the midplate and is connected in a series circuit with the resistor elements to open the circuit to prevent overheating thereof. Structural tie bars are formed integrally with ribbons and terminals of the resistor elements and are severable therefrom before assembly of the components.

Abstract: The apparatus, which controls the operation and speed of an electrical blower motor and the operation of a vacuum operated recirculation control device, comprises a vacuum switch combined with an electrical switch having a rotary shaft and fixed and movable contacts whereby rotation of the shaft controls the operation and speed of the blower motor. The shaft is pushable rearwardly and is spring-biased forwardly for operating the vacuum switch whereby vacuum is selectively supplied to the recirculation control device for switching between outside air and recirculation of air. A push-push latching mechanism is provided for alternately latching the vacuum switch in one position and releasing the vacuum switch for return movement to its other position.

Abstract: The resistor unit comprises resistors connected to electrical terminals secured to an insulating plate to which first and second legs of a spring sheet metal mounting clip are secured for insertion through an opening in a supporting wall. The legs are bent forwardly from a rear member and are formed with first and second spring latching members including ramp portions bent laterally from the legs, shoulder portions bent inwardly from the ramp portions for wedging engagement with edge portions of the wall, and front end portions bent forwardly from the inner ends of the shoulder portions. A soft resilient expanded rubber gasket is mounted on the plate for sealing engagement with a rib projecting forwardly from the wall around the opening. The spring force produced by compression of the gasket is counterbalanced by the wedging action of the shoulder portions, so that rattling is prevented. The legs are inserted with an interference fit into opposite end portions of the opening.

Abstract: The switch comprises a hollow, generally rectangular casing, a generally rectangular pushbutton slidable rearwardly in such casing, and a terminal supporting block closing the rear end of such casing. All of such components are made of moldable resinous plastic materials. The block carries forwardly projecting contact points which connect with external electrical terminals. The pushbutton carries a cup-shaped contactor, slidably and rotatably mounted on a retaining pin which is pressed into a hollow post projecting rearwardly from the pushbutton. A compression coil spring is mounted around the pin and the post, between the contactor and the pushbutton. The contactor is fitted with an axial eyelet on which the contactor is freely rotatable. The contactor is movable into wiping engagement with the contact points, when the pushbutton is pushed rearwardly against the biasing force of a coil spring, compressed between the pushbutton and the terminal supporting block.

Abstract: Compressible metal spring washers are mounted around the shank portions of terminal rivets and are clamped against thin conductor laminae of a flexible printed circuit having a resilient resinous plastic base lamina, clamped by the rivets against a relatively rigid plastic terminal supporting member. Each washer has a central dished portion, a reversely dished peripheral portion, and a smoothly rounded annular bulging portion therebetween for engaging one of the thin conductor laminae, without cutting into the laminae. The spring washers obviate any looseness of the terminal rivets due to dimensional variations, shrinkage with age, and temperature variations.

Abstract: The switch has at least one contact plate, mounted on the inner side of an insulating wall forming one side of a casing. The contact plate has a contact rail or some other contact element which is engageable by a contactor on a movable carriage within the casing. The contact plate has a mounting hole surrounded by a circular flange extruded from or otherwise formed in one piece with the contact plate. A terminal bar is mounted against the outer side of the insulating wall and is connected to the contact plate by a terminal rivet, extending through the circular flange with an interference fit to establish good electrical contact therewith. The rivet also extends through an opening in the insulating wall and a mounting hole in the terminal bar.

Abstract: A combination blower and air conditioner switch is disclosed, comprising a blower switch and an air conditioner switch having respective first and second casings secured together, a blower control member movable along a path between an OFF position remote from the air conditioner switch and at least one ON position closer thereto, an air conditioner control member movable in the second casing between circuit opening and closing positions, a return spring for biasing the air conditioner control member toward its circuit opening position, a latching assembly including a latching element for latching the air conditioner control member in its circuit closing position, and an interlock mechanism movable between enabling and disabling positions and including a disabling member for engaging and disabling the latching element with the interlock assembly in its disabling position, the interlock mechanism including a link connected to the disabling member and operable by the blower control member for moving the disabli

Abstract: A vacuum control valve comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through the body from such surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along the valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with the valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting the valve member, and means for moving the carriage along a path substantially parallel with the valve surface, the soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with such valve member on the opposite side thereof from the control surface, the valve member being confined between the carriage and the valve surface with such soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between the control surface of the valve member and the valve surface of the body, the soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins alternating with rec

Abstract: A push button switch comprising a noncircular push button, a casing having a noncircular guide opening for the push button, a push button return spring, a carriage member projecting in one lateral direction from the push button and carrying a contactor facing in a transverse lateral direction and selectively engageable with contact means, a contactor spring acting in the transverse lateral direction between the carriage and the contactor and tending to cause twisting rotation of the push button, the noncircular push button and its noncircular opening tending to stabilize the push button against such twisting rotation, and an additional stabilizing member slidably backing up the carriage for taking up the force of the contactor spring and preventing such twisting rotation of the push button. The additional stabilizer member may be a slide rail on the casing or a flange on a second parallel push button, which may have a second carriage slidably backed up by a slide rail on the casing.

Abstract: A switch is disclosed having improved contact structure to avoid any detent action between the movable and fixed contact elements, and to afford an enhanced break-before-make action. The switch includes a contactor having a cylindrically curved rider which is slidable across a gap between first and second coplanar contact plates. One plate has a projection or finger, extending across the gap for smoothly carrying the rider across the gap while avoiding any detent action. The other plate has a notch therein opposite the projection for maintaining spacing between the projection and the other plate. The projection and the notch are generally centered relative to the width of the rider. In another aspect, the contactor is movable alternatively into bridging relationship between a second contact plate and first and third contact plates, and the contactor has a pair of cylindrically rounded riders which are slidable along the plates.

Abstract: A push button switch is disclosed comprising first and second spring returned push buttons movable in a resinous plastic casing along parallel paths, switching contacts in the casing and operable by the first push button, a flexible resilient latching spring arm molded in one piece with the casing and extending between the push buttons, cooperative latching elements on the first push button and the latching spring arm for causing deflection of the spring arm followed by latching of the first push button in its depressed position, and cooperative unlatching elements on the second push button and the spring arm for deflecting the arm and thereby causing disengagement of the latching elements in response to depression of the second push button.

Abstract: The electrical switch comprises a resinous plastic casing, a carriage slidable in the casing, at least one contactor mounted on the carriage and movable therewith, contact means in the casing and selectably engageable by the contactor, a resinous plastic rocker plate rockably mounted on the front of the casing and having a lever arm swingable with the rocker plate for causing sliding movement of the carriage in response to rocking movement of the rocker plate, the carriage having a slot for receiving the lever arm, a pair of spaced parallel side walls on the casing and having pivot receiving openings, a pair of flexible resilient generally parallel pivot support tabs projecting rearwardly from the rocker plate and having pivot elements pivotally received in the openings for rockably supporting the rocker plate, the pivot elements being insertable into said openings by flexure of the pivot support tabs, a pair of oppositely inclined stop surfaces on the casing and engageable by the rocker plate at the opposite

Abstract: The disclosed safety system is particularly applicable to walk-behind lawn mowers of the type having a drive including a control, movable between drive and neutral positions. The safety system includes a drive switch, movable between drive and neutral positions. The safety system also includes a deadman control, biased toward an off position and manually movable to an on position. The deadman control operates a deadman switch between off and on positions. The lawn mower includes a drive motor having a safety circuit for disabling the motor. The drive switch and the deadman switch are connected into the safety circuit and are provided with contacts for disabling the motor when the drive switch is in its drive position and the deadman switch is in its off position. Such contacts are also operative to disable the motor when the drive switch is in its neutral position and the deadman switch is in its on position.