Air-gap slide switch

Abstract

An improved air-gap slide switch is provided. The air-gap slide switch comprises a slide switch assembly having a slide body and a slide contact removably attached to the slide body for providing electrical conductivity between two printed circuit board contacts when the slide body is in a closed position. No conductivity is provided between the PCB contacts when the slide body is in an open position. The slide body also comprises a longitudinally extending channel wherein a compression spring may be mounted. The compression spring provides a biasing force between the slide body and the slide contact. The slide contact includes two contact arms that retain the slide contact within two contact arm channels located on the slide body. By slidably retaining the contact arms in the contact arm channels, the slide contact is provided a degree of longitudinal motion with respect to the spring channel and the compression spring. As the slide body is moved laterally back and forth from an open to a closed position, a near compressive force is maintained between the slide contact and the PCB contacts.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/173,741, filed Dec. 30, 1999, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention generally relates to the field of electrical switches and, more particularly, to the field of air-gap slide switches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Dimmer switches are commonly used in home and other lighting situations to provide a highly customized lighting environment. For instance, a dimmer switch may be utilized to vary the output of a lighting fixture from a completely off state to a maximum brightness state and virtually any level in between. However, some switches may permit current to be delivered to the contacts of an attached load even when the load appears to be in a completely off state. This is a serious drawback that makes these types of dimmer switches potentially dangerous for a user. A user of such a switch may turn the dimmer switch to its minimum setting in order to change a bulb or perform other work on the socket. Not realizing that the dimmer switch has not completely eliminated voltage at the socket, the user may begin to perform their work and be shocked.

[0004] Therefore, in light of the above problems, there is a need for an air-gap slide switch that can be utilized in connection with a dimmer switch to completely insulate a user from the possibility of electrical shock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention solves the above problems by providing an improved air-gap slide switch. The air-gap slide switch provided herein comprises a slide switch assembly having a slide body and a slide contact removably attached to the slide body for providing electrical conductivity between two printed circuit board contacts when the slide body is in a closed position. No conductivity is provided between the PCB contacts when the slide body is in an open position.

[0006] The slide body also comprises a longitudinally extending channel wherein a compression spring may be mounted. The compression spring provides a biasing force between the slide body and the slide contact. Additionally, the slide contact includes two contact arms that retain the slide contact within two contact arm channels located on the slide body. By slidably retaining the contact arms in the contact arm channels, the slide contact is provided a degree of longitudinal motion with respect to the spring channel and the compression spring. Moreover, as the slide body is moved laterally back and forth from an open to a closed position, a near compressive force is maintained between the slide contact and the PCB contacts.

[0007] The present invention also provides an electrical system in which the switch assembly is utilized in conjunction with another switch, such as a dimmer switch. In the configuration provided herein, the switch assembly may be utilized to ensure that a voltage differential does not exist at the contacts to an electrical load, thereby preventing the possibility of electrical shock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a perspective view of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-section of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an installation of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention in a closed position.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an installation of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention in an open position.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an exploded view of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an application of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention is directed to an improved air-gap switch. Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals represent like elements, an actual embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention will be described. The air gap switch provided by the present invention comprises a slide switch assembly 1. The slide switch assembly 1 comprises a slide body 2. According to the actual embodiment of the present invention described herein, the slide body 2 is manufactured from a plastic material. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the slide body 2 may be made from any similar non-conductive material.

[0017] The slide switch assembly 1 also comprises a slide contact 8 for providing electrical conductivity between printed circuit board (“PCB”) contacts 10A and 10B when the slide body 2 is in a closed position. To provide such conductivity, the slide contact 8 should be made from a conductive material, such as copper. No conductivity is provided between PCB contacts 10A and 10B when the slide body is in an open position.

[0018] The PCB contacts 10A and 10B are mounted on a printed circuit board according to an actual embodiment of the present invention. The PCB contacts 10A and 10B are also manufactured from a suitably conductive material. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the PCB contacts 10A and 10B are the same width as the slide contact 8.

[0019] The slide body 2 also comprises upper slide extensions 4A and 4B and lower slide extensions 6A and 6B. As will be described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 3, the upper slide extensions 4A and 4B, and the lower slide extensions 6A and 6B, operably retain the slide body 2 to a mount plate.

[0020] Turning now to FIG. 2, a cross-section of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention will be described. The slide body 2 further comprises a longitudinally extending channel 14 therethrough. A compression spring 16 is mounted within the channel 14. According to the actual embodiment of the present invention described herein, the channel 14 is cylindrical. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the bore of the channel 14 may take any shape so long as the channel 14 is capable of removably retaining the compression spring 16.

[0021] The compression spring 16 provides a biasing force between the slide body 2 and the slide contact 8. The slide contact 8 comprises two contact arms 20A and 20B that retain the slide contact 8 within the contact arm channels 26A and 26B (shown in FIG. 3) of the slide body 2. By slidably retaining the contact arms 20A and 20B in the contact arm channels 26A and 26B, the slide contact 8 is provided a degree of longitudinal motion with respect to the channel 14 and the compression spring 16.

[0022] As the slide body 2 is moved laterally back and forth from an open to a closed position, a near compressive force is maintained between the slide contact 8 and the PCB contacts 10A and 10B. This force is determined by the load value for the compression spring 16 and the vertical distance between the slide body 2 and the PCB contacts 10A and 10B. According to the actual embodiment of the present invention described herein, this vertical distance is such that the slide contact arms 20A and 20B touch neither a top or bottom portion of the contact arm channels 26A and 26B, respectively.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, an installation view of an air-gap switch provided in an actual embodiment of the present invention in a closed position will be described. The slide body 2 may be removably mounted within a mount plate 24. The mount plate 24 has an aperture for receiving the slide body 2. The aperture is constructed so that the slide body 2 may move only between an open and closed position. The assembly also includes a button capture plate 22 having a slot for receiving an end portion of the slide body 2. According to the embodiment of the present invention described herein, the end portion of the slide body 2 is flush with a top portion of the button capture plate 22. The upper slide extensions 4A and 4B insulate the slide body 2 from the mount plate 24. The lower slide extensions 6A and 6B further insulate the slide body 2 from the mount plate 24 and prevent the compression spring 16 from pressing the slide body 2 against the button capture plate 22.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3 the slide contact 8 provides electrical conductivity between the PCB contacts 10A and 10B when the slide body 2 is in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 4, when the slide body 2 is in an open position, the slide contact 8 does not provide electrical conductivity between the PCB contacts 10A and 10B. The PCB contacts 10A and 10B are mounted on a printed circuit board 12. According to the actual embodiment of the invention described herein, the printed circuit board 12 and the button capture plate 22 are removably attached to the mount plate 24.

[0025] Referring now FIG. 5, an exploded view of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the complete slide switch assembly 1 is formed by inserting the compression spring 16 into the spring channel 14 of the slide body 2. The slide contact 8 is then mounted to the slide body 2 by inserting the contact arms 20A and 20B into the contact arm channels 26A and 26B, thereby compressing the compression spring 16. The slide body 2, compression spring 16, and slide contact 8 are then inserted through the aperture in the mount plate 24. The printed circuit board 12 is removably attached to the metal mount plate 24. The button capture plate 22 is also removably attached to the metal mount plate 24. When the slide switch assembly 1 is completely assembled, the slide body 2 may be operably moved between an open and closed position in the aperture of the mount plate 24. In the closed position, the slide contact 8 provides electrical conductivity between the PCB contacts 10A and 10B. In the open no electrical conductivity is provided between the PCB contacts 10A and 10B.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 6, a circuit diagram showing an application of an air-gap switch provided according to an actual embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the switch assembly 1 may be interposed between a voltage source 10A and an electrical load 32. In this manner, the switch assembly 1 may be utilized to prevent a potential difference at the electrical load 32 when the slide body 2 is in an open position. Likewise, the switch assembly 1 may be utilized to provide continuity between the voltage source 10A and the electrical load 32 when the slide body 2 is in a closed position.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the switch assembly 1 may be used in conjunction with a second switch 28. The second switch 28 may comprise a dimmer switch or other type of switch that gradually varies current to the electrical load 32. In this manner, the switch assembly 1 may be utilized to ensure that no potential difference exists at the inputs to the electrical load 32.

[0028] In light of the above, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention provides an improved air-gap switch. While an actual embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An air-gap slide switch, comprising:

a slide body having a longitudinally extending channel therethrough;

a slide contact slidably retained by said slide body;

a spring mounted within said channel providing a biasing force between said slide body and said slide contact; and

two contacts, and wherein said slide contact provides electrical conductivity between said two contacts when said slide body is in a closed position.

2. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 1, wherein said slide contact does not provide electrical conductivity between said two contacts when said slide body is in an open position.

3. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 2, wherein said channel is cylindrical.

4. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 3, wherein said spring comprises a cylindrical compression spring.

5. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 4, wherein said slide contact comprises a contact surface and two contact arms, and wherein said slide body further comprises two contact arm channels disposed at opposite sides of said slide body.

6. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 5, wherein each one of said contact arms is slidably retained by one of said contact arm channels.

7. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 6, further comprising:

a mount plate having an aperture for receiving a portion of said slide body.

8. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 7, wherein said aperture permits said slide body to move only within said open position and said closed position.

9. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 8, wherein said slide body further comprises an upper slide extension and a lower slide extension.

10. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 9, wherein said mount plate is disposed between said upper slide extension and said lower slide extension.

11. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 10, further comprising:

a button capture plate removably attached to said mount plate and having a slot for receiving an end portion of said slide body.

12. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 11, wherein said slot permits said slide body to move only within said open position and said closed position.

13. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 12, wherein said end portion of said slide body is flush with a top portion of said capture plate.

14. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 13, wherein said two contacts are mounted on a printed circuit board.

15. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 14, wherein said printed circuit board is operably coupled to said mount plate.

16. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 15, wherein said two contacts are the same width as said slide contact.

17. An air-gap slide switch comprising:

a slide body having a longitudinally extending cylindrical channel therethrough and two contact arm channels disposed at opposite sides of said slide body;

a slide contact comprising a contact surface and two contact arms, each one of said contact arms slidably retained by one of said contact arm channels;

a cylindrical compression spring mounted within said channel providing a biasing force between said slide body and said slide contact; and

a printed circuit board comprising two contacts;

and wherein said contact surface provides electrical conductivity between said two contacts when said slide body is in a closed position.

18. The air-gap switch of

claim 17, wherein said contact surface does not provide electrical conductivity between said two contacts when said slide body is in an open position.

19. The air-gap switch of

claim 18, further comprising:

a mount plate having an aperture for receiving a portion of said slide body.

20. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 19, wherein said aperture permits said slide body to move only within said open position and said closed position.

21. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 20, wherein said slide body further comprises an upper slide extension and a lower slide extension.

22. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 21, wherein said mount plate is disposed between said upper slide extension and said lower slide extension.

23. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 22, further comprising:

a button capture plate removably attached to said mount plate and having a slot for receiving an end portion of said slide body.

24. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 23, wherein said slot permits said slide body to move only within said open position and said closed position.

25. The air-gap slide switch of

claim 24, wherein said end portion of said slide body is flush with a top portion of said capture plate.