Flexible, Self-biasing Patents (Class 200/16D)
  • Patent number: 4306131
    Abstract: A switch, typically one used as a wall switch for the control of lighting in residences and commercial establishments, has a handle which is operable between a full off position in which the switching circuit is completely disconnected from a source of electrical power, and a use position in which the handle, while remaining stationary, becomes a touch-type control for operating the switch circuit between its "on" and "off" modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Michael St. John
  • Patent number: 4296283
    Abstract: A sealable wafer switch which is normally closed in relaxed position but which opens when squeezed. A lower stiff plate. A first curved conductive member mounted on the lower plate with the curvature extending in the upward direction. An insulating plate mounted on the lower curved plate the insulating plate having a central aperture. A second curved contact member mounted on the insulating plate and having its curvature extending in the downward direction with axis perpendicular to the other curved member. The first and second conductive members being in contact through the aperture when they are in relaxed position. An upper stiff plate mounted on the second curved contact member whereby when the upper and lower stiff plates are squeezed together the contact is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Tapeswitch Corporation of America
    Inventors: Robert H. Koenig, Victor D'Angelo
  • Patent number: 4288787
    Abstract: A keyboard wherein each key is provided with a biasing means for urging the same back to a rest position and is operatively coupled to at least one single-pole switch, the switches being electrically connected to a system of conductors arranged in matrix configuration with m rows and n columns. Each row and each column consists of a conductor whereby a switch of i, j co-ordinates is connected between the row i and the column j of the system. The switches have normally closed contacts and a diode is connected in series with each switch and each series connection of a diode with a switch of i, j co-ordinates is connected between the row i conductor and the column j conductor of the system, the connecting direction of the diodes being the same between rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Inventor: Edouard Serras-Paulet
  • Patent number: 4278853
    Abstract: A battery case has a main switch device in a lid which is capable of being coupled to a battery chamber body. The main switch device is operable, when coupled to said body, so as to interrupt the connection between the two electrodes of a battery. The lid includes a frame member engageable with the battery chamber body and having an inner wall and an outer wall, a pair of electrode contacts extending through the inner wall, and switch operating means having a switch member and an operating member. The main switch device may be reliably closed and opened. With the main switch device, the dust-proof and moisture-proof properties of the battery case are not impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wakabayashi, Takeshi Okuyama
  • Patent number: 4268728
    Abstract: A nine position circuit board mounted switch is disclosed for encoding the frequency output of a remote transmitter. Each switch position includes a manual selector set to provide a voltage output selected from two available voltage levels. The nine positions thereby provide an encoded output selected from three to the ninth power possibilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: William H. Rose
  • Patent number: 4233482
    Abstract: An enclosed multipole fuse disconnect switch is constructed of a single molded base, a single contact carrier, and an overcenter spring powered toggle mechanism constructed solely of a coiled compression spring and a stamped sheet metal tongue which extends through an aperture in the contact carrier. The tongue is formed integrally with a pivot shaft through which operating forces are applied to the toggle mechanism. Each pole includes a U-shaped bridging contact constructed of spring metal and floatingly mounted in an aperture of the contact carrier.One end of the pivot shaft extends into a slot in the enlarged end of a bearing rivet that extends through the sidewall of the switch enclosure and is keyed to a manual operating member at one end thereof. The latter extends through a guide slot in an arcuate bracket outside the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Gould Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard DiMarco, Ralph C. Clement, Charles W. Parmenter
  • Patent number: 4229634
    Abstract: A hygienic device has a pump for propelling liquid in a flow of pulses, a motor for driving the pump, a switch for supplying power to the motor and means for delivering the propelled liquid to a point of use. A control enables adjustment of the pressure of the delivered liquid. The switch is formed as part of the motor winding assembly and therewith is effectively encapsulated. The pump includes a piston in one end of which is a recess defining a resilient spherical seat and which cooperates with a spherical bearing formed on one end of a piston rod. The control has a valved bypass arrangement wherein various stops and abutments cooperate to permit accurate determination of high and low pressure adjustment during assembly. A rotor within the motor has a cylindrical bore with longitudinal lugs that interfit with ribs on a bearing member that is pressed into the bore. Other features, such as a tilt-out nozzle storage shelf, are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence J. Hickman, Donald W. Ruehmann, Christopher W. Elkins
  • Patent number: 4211900
    Abstract: Two parallel rows of three fixed electric contacts are mounted on an insulating base. An insulating slider movable lengthwise of the rows carries a pair of bridging contacts from a position in which each bridging contact bridges the adjoining middle fixed contact and either of the end contacts in the same row to a position bridging the same middle contact and the other end contact in that row. When the bridging contacts are moved into engagement with a pair of end contacts, the slider also moves a metal shorting contact into engagement with the other pair of end contacts, whereby those two contacts are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: Stackpole Components Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Quigley
  • Patent number: 4210791
    Abstract: A shielded contact slide switch is disclosed having two plastic dielectric parts, one of which parts houses the fixed electrical contacts, and the other of which parts moves relative to it and houses the bridging contact. Mating surfaces of the two parts are designed to seal off the contacts from environmental effects, and the actuator is defined on the movable part and has projecting portions to overlie a cavity or recess in the fixed part housing the fixed contacts regardless of switch position. The movable part also has projecting ears extending laterally into the side walls of the fixed part to restrict the sliding part to movement as dictated by the relative locations for the fixed and movable bridging contact. A spring return single pole double throw switch is disclosed but in place of the return spring another pole might be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Carlingswitch, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 4204104
    Abstract: A row of three stationary electric contacts is mounted on an insulating base for a metal housing in which a bridging contact carried by an insulating slider is movable lengthwise of the row from a position bridging the middle stationary contact and either of the end contacts to a position bridging the metal contact and the other end contact. When the bridging contact is moved into engagement with an end contact the slider also moves a metal grounding contact into engagement with the end contact that is not engaged by the bridging contact at that time, whereby the end contact engaged by the grounding contact is electrically connected by it to the metal housing which the grounding contact always engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Stackpole Components Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Quigley
  • Patent number: 4186288
    Abstract: A switch housing covering an elongated base has a top wall spaced from a plurality of fixed contacts mounted along the base for engagement by a bridging contact carried by a slider inside the housing. The top wall of the housing is provided with a slot extending inwardly from one end and having a pair of side walls formed from downturned areas of the top wall, each of which is provided with an upwardly extending notch. A lever disposed in the slot normally extends above the housing, with the lower end of the lever provided with laterally projecting trunnions extending through the side wall notches. The lower end of the lever outwardly beyond the trunnions extends downwardly into engagement with the end of the slider for pushing the slider toward the opposite end of the base when the upper end of the lever is swung outwardly away from the underlying end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Stackpole Components Company
    Inventors: Arthur W. Overton, Allan J. Sykora
  • Patent number: 4185176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a slide-type change-over switch for use in switching high-frequency electric circuits between TV and selected one of antenna or video tape recorder (or TV game appliance). The switch has a frame, a slider carrying a plurality of movable contacts, an insulating substrate plate carrying a plurality of fixed contacts including input, output, relaying and grounding contacts, and a shielding spring plate secured to the slider. The shielding spring plate has a pair of spring legs adapted to be positioned between the operating fixed output contact and the opened input fixed terminal not in use, so as to electromagnetically isolate these terminals from each other and prevent inductive coupling therebetween. In one embodiment, the shielding spring plate is further provided with a plurality of spring arms which form a shortened grounding path for the shielding spring leg, so as to lower the impedance of the path through which the shielding spring leg is grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshitaka Matsuo
  • Patent number: 4180712
    Abstract: An improved electrical slide switch having a housing portion, a slidable actuator within the housing, and a resiliently engageable and removable cap which may itself be the actuator, the actuator having a pair of precisely spaced integral leaflike elements which form a trackway of predetermined length which slide over an integral centrally disposed fixed pin carried by the base, with the pin being adapted to repose at opposite ends of the trackway when terminals within the housing are properly engaged with selected slider elements carried by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Switchcraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Lutzenberger, James R. Bailey, James M. Hybl
  • Patent number: 4178487
    Abstract: Disclosed is a switch selector and actuator for use with a telephone repertory dialer and the like where a plurality of contacts are arranged in a row. A rail member is mounted in close proximity to the row of switch contacts and is yieldably biased away from the contacts. A selector member is slidably mounted on the rail member and movable to select a switch contact to be engaged. By depressing the selector member and rail member the contact is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Don W. Lake, Nagaraja Subramanian
  • Patent number: 4172972
    Abstract: A low cost miniature caseless slide action electric switch comprised by a relatively flat insulator base member of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length and breadth and fabricated from a molded thermoplastic material. A plurality of electric terminals extend through the lower one of the flat surfaces and are engagable from the opposite upper flat surface of the insulator base member. The insulator base member further includes at least two sets of opposed, resilient, slide contact housing side retaining members integrally formed on the respective side edges near the ends of the flat insulator base member. The side retaining members extend outwardly in a direction normal to the flat surfaces on the same side of the insulator base member as the upper flat surface. The insulator base member further includes integrally formed stiffening channel portions extending between corresponding side retaining members of the respective opposite sets formed on the same side edge of the insulator base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Assignee: Stackpole Components Company
    Inventors: Allan J. Sykora, Dudley H. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4168404
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of miniature switches and impedances selectively pluggable into a DIP allowing impedance programming directly on a printed circuit board to which the DIP is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph L. Lockard
  • Patent number: 4139746
    Abstract: A slide switch construction including at least two spaced apart contacts positioned on a base with a slider and bridging contactor assembly attached to the base in a manner such that the assembly is movable over the base for changing switch positions. The bridging contactor comprises a strip of resilient material defining an elongated bridging portion with at least one spring arm extending outwardly from the bridging portion. An engaging surface is defined by the slider for engagement with the spring arm to bend the spring arm relative to the bridging portion when the assembly is attached to the base thereby achieving pressing of the bridging portion against the contacts. Hanger means are defined by the contactor and by the slider to serve as means for holding the slider and contactor together when the assembly is separated from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Assignee: Chicago Switch, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy M. Farrell, Martin Gaber, Joseph J. Spedale
  • Patent number: 4139749
    Abstract: A switch actuated by a control lever associated with a steering column for operating direction-indicating lamps, switching the headlights to low and high beam, operating the screen wiper and actuating similar functions includes a housing in which an end portion of a flexible band-type cable is fixed. The control lever is mounted in the housing for rocking about a pair of mutually perpendicular axes and actuating a pair of sliders each guided within the housing for movement along one of the axes. The band-type cable includes a plurality of printed conductors covered by an insulation. At the end portion of the cable, the conductors have exposed portions not covered by the insulation, which exposed portions form fixed contacts cooperating with movable contacts carried by the sliders. The remaining portion of the cable extends outwardly of the housing for connecting the fixed contacts to a power supply and the respective electrical devices operated by the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Assignee: Preh, Elektrofeinmechanische Werke, Jakob Preh Nachf
    Inventors: Wolfgang Scherzer, Ekkehard Woesthoff, Oswald Reuss
  • Patent number: 4121062
    Abstract: A miniature change-over switch is disclosed which comprises a grounding spring member attached to a metal frame and having two arms engaging a camming projection formed on a slider. The camming projection is adapted to move one of the arms by a camming action so as to disconnect it from one of the stationary terminals while at the same time the projection is released from the other of the arms so as to connect the arm to the other of the stationary terminals when the slider is moved to cause a movable contact element to connect a common terminal to the one stationary terminal and to disconnect it from the other stationary terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hitoshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 4114000
    Abstract: A three position switch which selectively interconnects isolated conductors on a printed circuit board is disclosed. In one embodiment, pressure sensitive conductive elastomer pads, disposed in the switch, are brought into contact with isolated conductors on a substrate. A sliding switch actuator, having a cam surface with indentations, is then used to selectively apply pressure to the conductive elastomer pads and thereby selectively connect the isolated printed circuit board conductors. In another embodiment, a three position switch is shown including a plurality of conductive pads, flexibly attached to a switch casing, which are positioned above printed circuit board isolated conductors and then selectively flexed downward into contact with the printed circuit board conductors by moving a sliding actuator arm having a cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Alvin Feder
  • Patent number: 4095060
    Abstract: An improved switch assembly incorporating a plurality of sliding switch subassemblies which each move between two switching positions by means of a contact slider. Each switch subassembly is provided with a pair of contact elements which are each provided with spaced extensions that are arranged to permit such contact elements to be coplanar interiorly of the housing of the switch assembly and to be extensible from the housing exteriorly thereof so as to be engagable with a carrier plate and solderable thereto. The individual switch subassemblies are adjustable without difficulty with the switch assembly engaged with such carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jaroslav Keprda
  • Patent number: 4092504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a slide switch having one or more manually actuated switches of miniature size adapted for use on a printed circuit board or the like. More particularly, the invention includes a channel-containing base, two face to face strip form contacts in the channel with legs thereon depending from opposite edges of the base. A cover contains a slidable spring carrier which in turn carries a spring having a conductive limb thereon for removable engagement with the two face to face contacts thereby completing a circuit from one contact to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Yasumasa Kotaka
  • Patent number: 4075442
    Abstract: A miniature slide switch assembly in which a fixed base member, has a pair of opposite longitudinal side surface, molded out of any suitable insulating material. Each of the side surface is provided with a pair of recesses. At least two adjacent molded fixed contacts are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the base member. A movable casing member slidably rides on the base member in such a manner that it can slide in the direction of the array of the fixed contacts, each of opposite side surfaces of the movable casing member having a resilient detent bar. The resilient detent bar is provided with, at the top end thereof, a finger capable of being alternately snap fitted into the recesses, and an electrically conductive inversed U-shaped strip is accommodated in the cavity of the movable casing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Matsu Kyu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukuda, Tooze Kuzuo
  • Patent number: 4075441
    Abstract: A slide switch having S-shaped movable contact springs which are movably connected to the contact slide, the free legs of the contact springs being provided with contact areas twisted through an angle of at least 1.degree., so that the switch is substantially crackle-free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Franciscus Rath, Johannes Martinus Augustinus Henricus VAN DER Donk
  • Patent number: 4072833
    Abstract: A selector for a keyboard of a calculating machine comprises a series of sliders for indicating information relevant to operations to be performed and a plurality of switches driven by the sliders for the entering of this information in the machine. The sliders are slidably mounted on a common support, in front of which there is mounted the support of a printed circuit. A series of movable contacts, carried by the sliders, are actuatable by the sliders to contact the fixed contacts for the input of the said information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ugo Carena
  • Patent number: 4069404
    Abstract: A battery-powered lamp, such as a traffic hazard warning lamp has:A. a casing formed with ledges for location thereon of the bottom edges of the batteries to retain the batteries in the casing, a fixing bolt, extending through the casing, serving to prevent disengagement of the batteries from the ledges;B. said casing having apertures in two opposite sidewalls, each said apertures accommodating a respective lens which is a tight friction fit therein and may have ratchet-like teeth engaging with the material of the casing to retain the lens in position; andC. a switch in the form of a terminal strip engaged by terminals of the batteries, said strip being longitudinally slidable and having a bridging portion which is in or out of register with a stationary contact according to the position of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: Dorman Smith Traffic Products Limited
    Inventors: William Edward Minoprio, Arthur Kenneth Horsfield
  • Patent number: 4068202
    Abstract: Discloses a switch for use with a circuit board for simultaneously closing one or more circuits. A switch cover mounts therein a reciprocable member whose permanent strip magnet carries one or more contact elements for circuit completion. The circuit board carries another permanent strip magnet. The strip magnets have consecutive, alternating polarities such that, in the closed position of the switch, the strip magnets have opposite attracting polarities, and such that, in the open position of the switch, the strip magnets have the same and repelling polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Walter F. Wessendorf, Jr.
    Inventor: Michael J. Lyons, III
  • Patent number: 4057520
    Abstract: One embodiment of the herein disclosed switching arrangement comprises a printed circuit board having two parallel slots formed therein with a plurality of contact points disposed between the slots; and a housing mounted so as to allow its movement along the slots and including at least one electrically conductive member mounted within a cavity in the housing such that for different positions of the housing along the slots in the printed circuit board different ones of said contact points are shorted together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Rite Autotronics Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4052573
    Abstract: An electric switch assembly having at least one movable contact element and a plurality of fixed contact elements. The movable contact element can electrically connect at least one of the fixed contact elements to any one of the remaining fixed contacts. The electric switch assembly herein disclosed utilizes intermediate contact pieces each adapted to connect one of the fixed contact elements to the movable contact element therethrough and also to connect the movable contact element to any one of the fixed contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Kojima, Yoshio Kawai
  • Patent number: 4051702
    Abstract: The following specification describes a magnetically operated lock for a coaxial switch in which slide member is operated in opposite directions by a slide magnet in a key to connect an incoming coax line to either another coax line or to ground through a characteristic impedance termination.The key has a configuration corresponding to the lock housing and when associated with the lock housing, automatically positions a plurality of spaced magnets in the key to operate a plurality of pins in opposite directions to unlock the slide. Removal or disengagement of the key from the lock housing enables the pins in the lock to engage the slide and lock the switch in either position to which it is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corporation
    Inventor: John Phillip Treschitta
  • Patent number: 4042795
    Abstract: In an electric switch a slide containing a shorting contact is movable back and forth along a row of at least three fixed electric contacts. The shorting contact is formed from a spring metal strip having an elongated central body between a pair of end portions, the body having contact surface for sliding engagement with the fixed contacts and being long enough to bridge three of them simultaneously. The end portions of the shorting contact extend toward the back wall of the contact-receiving recess in the slide and toward each other to form inclined legs having free ends pressing against the slide to press the contact surface against the fixed contacts. The central body of the shorting contact is provided with at least one slot extending lengthwise of it and into its legs to separate the body into laterally spaced contact bands integrally connected at the free ends of the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Stackpole Components Company
    Inventor: Allan J. Sykora
  • Patent number: 4035594
    Abstract: A slide switch is formed by a housing which slidably receives a carrier with a resilient spring contact which bridges between selected pairs of a plurality of contact poles disposed in a longitudinal row along one wall of the housing. The spring contact member is received within the carrier and is biased therein against a fulcrum abutment to provide a resilient rocking action in making and breaking electrical contact. The spring contact member also resiliently biases the detent of the switch which includes a plurality of transverse slots disposed along an opposite wall of the housing with cooperative rib members on the engaging surface of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Richard W. McKinney, Allen L. Teichert
  • Patent number: 4029914
    Abstract: A multiple switch device is connectable on-line between a multiple conductor electrical cable termination assembly or the like and a receptacle or the like to which the assembly would otherwise be connected. The multiple switch device includes a plurality of slide switches that are selectively actuable to open or to close respective circuits between such assembly and such receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: A P Products Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary M. Schmidt, Robert J. Gabor, John T. Venaleck
  • Patent number: 4029917
    Abstract: A multiple switch device is connectable on-line between a multiple conductor electrical cable termination assembly or the like and a receptacle or the like to which the assembly would otherwise be connected. The multiple switch device includes a plurality of slide switches that are selectively actuable to slide directly on contacts integrally molded in a common body part of the device to open or to close respective circuits. A plastic bridge molded in the common body part between respective pairs of contacts over which a common slide switch glides provides a generally continuous planar surface to facilitate such motion without unnecessary wear to the contacts or the slide switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: A P Products Incorporated
    Inventor: John L. Webster
  • Patent number: 4016401
    Abstract: A grooved contact roller is movable in a housing between two switching poions determined by an elastic positioning element which defines an intermediate position in which the contact roller is in a state of unstable equilibrium. The positioning element is engaged in the groove of the roller and the latter is disposed flat against the bottom of the housing. A slidable cover for the housing constitutes an actuating member for the switch and has a journal which extends toward the bottom of the housing and is engaged with clearance in a central aperture of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Societe d'Etudes et de Construction de Materiel Electronique S.E.C.M.E.
    Inventor: Jacques Jean Delaage
  • Patent number: 4016378
    Abstract: A simple inexpensive slide switch is disclosed having a unitary plastic slide member serving the dual function as a switch housing and actuator. The plastic member is slidably mounted to the insulator base member by flexible side skirts having barbs extending inwardly and disposed in sliding engagement with the base member undersurface. The flexible side skirts and base member have complementary boss means and boss receiving means to provide detent type operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald H. Arthur
  • Patent number: 4016377
    Abstract: Two integrally formed fixed contacts each have a lead portion with terminals at the opposite ends extending external of the switch housing and a contact portion connected to the lead portion by a connecting portion. A holder slidable in the housing retains a U-shaped movable contact which is movable to and from a position in which the opposed internal faces of the movable contact engage with the opposed external faces of the fixed contacts respectively to establish ohmic connection between the lead portions of the two fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadayoshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 4013855
    Abstract: A modular pushbutton switch is removably mounted on a dielectric mounting member which has stationary contacts thereon. Contacts are removably mounted in a housing member and an actuating member moves the movable contacts and housing member into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts. Latching means is provided to maintain the movable contacts in one of two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1977
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John Erwin Reichen, Richard Neff Meyer, Gary William Reed
  • Patent number: 4012608
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manually actuated switch of miniature size wherein a circuit path is completed between poles of the switch by a contact having independent cantilever beams contacting a respective switch pole. The contact is carried by a manually displaceable sliding element in the form of a carriage. Movement of the carriage causes wiping of the cantilever beams over a substantial length of the switch poles. To interrupt the circuit the sliding element is moved to an extreme position whereby one of the beams is slidably traversed off a corresponding switch pole and into abutment against a dielectric projection which prevents chatter of the disengaged beam. Detenting action for precise positioning of the slider element is accomplished by sliding at least one of the cantilever beams over an irregular surface of one of the switch poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1977
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph LaRue Lockard
  • Patent number: 4001526
    Abstract: An alternate action switch includes a housing defining a cavity within which an actuator is mounted for reciprocal movement between alternate positions wherein slider contacts on the actuator selectively engage fixed contacts supported by the housing within the cavity. Indexing of the actuator for movement between positions is accomplished by a cam block mounted on the housing and a cam follower mounted on the actuator. The cam block and follower are integrally connected respectively to the housing and actuator by means of flexible integral webs serving both to resiliently bias the follower and cam block toward one another and to constrain their movement to a single direction. Within the housing cavity the actuator is provided with recesses supporting loop contact portions of the slider contacts. Retention recesses within the actuator and latch arms on the contacts hold the slider contacts in position on the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1977
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Harry W. Olson
  • Patent number: 4001532
    Abstract: A buckle for safety belt comprising means for releasably locking in locked position a tongue plate inserted into the buckle body through an insertion opening, a slider disposed in the buckle body to be moved against the force of a spring by being urged by the inserted tongue plate, a contact pin extending through the slider to protrude from the opposite side faces thereof, and a pair of stationary contact strips disposed on opposite sides of the slider in the buckle body to be simultaneously engaged by or disengaged from the contact pin with the sliding movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1977
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tatsushi Kubota, Akinori Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 4000383
    Abstract: A rocker action switch is disclosed of dip configuration to be pluggably mounted in a printed circuit board or mounted to a panel with clips. A carriage having bridging contacts is slidably displaced within the housing to selectively engage the bridging contacts with selected switch poles. A pivotable control knob has a projecting lever that engages and slidably actuates the carriage. The switch may be constructed with interchangeable parts to perform various switching functions such as momentary, double-pole single-throw or double-pole double-throw with positive detent action. Assembly of the switch is simplified by vertically stacking the component parts within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1976
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph LaRue Lockard
  • Patent number: 3987263
    Abstract: The invention discloses a switching device for switching signals of very high and ultrahigh frequencies comprising an insulating base, a plurality of stationary contacts, a sliding contact, and shielding means for isolating between the adjacent stationary contacts. The shielding means is electrically connected to a metal housing so that signal leakage due to the electrostatic and electromagnetic coupling may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1976
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 3983341
    Abstract: Slide switch in which sliding member which retains sliding contact has side skirts with barbs at bottom edge. Barbs engage and slide on bottom surface of insulator strip on which stationary contacts are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald J. Stanish
  • Patent number: 3974347
    Abstract: A manually actuated switch includes a pair of terminals forming switch poles and a knob which is manually actuated to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit across the poles. A pair of spaced contacts are embedded in the knob and resiliently grip therebetween a diode which controls current direction of the completed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph Larue Lockard
  • Patent number: 3974346
    Abstract: A plurality of miniature slide switches are arranged in parallel in a tub shaped common housing, the switches each have a raised actuator projecting toward the top of the housing which is contactable by a raised wedged surface portion on the underside of a closable housing lid to assure that the switches are fully thrown and will be locked in the desired operating state upon closure of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jaroslav Keprda
  • Patent number: 3963884
    Abstract: A miniature multipole double-throw switch designed for plug-in connection with printed circuit boards comprises a shallow, insulated housing containing a plurality of separate switches in an in-line arrangement. Each switch comprises three terminal pins having fixed in-line contacts, and a slidable switch pole shiftable linearly between the two pairs of terminal-pin contacts. The switch pole has a central bridge portion provided integrally at each end with a pair of spring blades in a V-arrangement for slidably embracing the selected pairs of fixed contacts. A slidable, insulated holder for the switch pole has a detent arm which coacts with a side wall of the housing to detent the switch in its respective positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Robert William Pollock
  • Patent number: 3947391
    Abstract: An improved electrical slide switch is provided having electrically conducting terminals embedded in a molded supporting structure thereby eliminating the conventional terminal board in which the terminals have to be mounted in openings provided for that purpose, and further characterized by slidable contacting elements which reduce to a minimum frictional contact during position changes thereby reducing wear and increasing the durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Switchcraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt Lutzenberger
  • Patent number: 3934101
    Abstract: An electrical switch having a push button type actuator and a plurality of circuit-making type contact members, some of which are adapted to be momentarily moved by the actuator into contact with stationary electrical terminal members while other contact members are simultaneously initially slidably moved by the actuator into contact with yet another set of electrical terminal members and then adapted for independent slidable movement through a multitude of positions into contact with still other electrical terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Assignee: Cherry Electrical Products Corporation
    Inventor: Wesley C. Jones