Abstract: This invention relates to an improved dual action switch assembly in which each of two pairs of electrical contacts is alternatively locked in open position by a tensioned locking element upon the interaction of a driving mechanism partially positioned within a frame on a slider unit. The switch assembly in a preferred form includes a base, two movable contact arms and two corresponding fixed contact brackets mounted on the base. The contact arms are mounted for pivotal rotation about mounting terminals. A biasing member, as for example a coil spring, is attached to each of the contact arms to provide a resilient force against pivoting opening movement of the contact arms. A tensioned locking element, preferably formed of two bent, over-center, leaf springs, is mounted between the slider unit and the base.

Abstract: A plastic switch actuator is fitted with a spring so as to impart sliding and rocking motion to a movable contact by virtue of direct engagement between spring and element. The actuator has a depending integral portion received in an opening of the element but it is the spring which keeps the element in contact with the fixed switch contacts. Other embodiments provide for a switch actuator having a movable contact element capable of retention in a "center-off" position wherein the movable contact is held in a stable "off" position in contact with only the center contact. The movable element is readily moved by the depending actuator portion through joint action by the actuator and the spring provided on said actuator.

Abstract: A moisture proof switch in which an elastomeric O-ring is interposed between a push button and a switch housing. The O-ring is normally held in partial compression to prevent entrance of moisture, etc. into the housing and to normally hold a switch contact member out of engagement with contacts carried by the housing. Depression of the push button further compresses the O-ring to close the switch.

Abstract: An electric contact arrangement has a plurality of movable contact elements which are biased oppositely with respect to a like plurality of associated stationary contact elements by spring elements comprised of elastic plastic. The plastic spring elements may be formed on a contact carrier for use of the contacts as bridge contacts having a high degree of voltage stability.

Abstract: A contact block for an electrical switch includes an insulating housing for a pair of spaced stationary contacts. A movable contact support carrier or stroker carries a bridging member including contacts for engagement with the stationary contacts. Biasing means positioned between the stroker and the housing normally biases the carrier in the direction of a projection carried by the stroker, the stroker being actuated by a linear or rotary operator. Both normally open and normally closec contact blocks are described.

Abstract: The circuit breaker comprises a case, a rocking lever pivotally mounted in the case, said rocking lever having at least one sharp pin at its end with the bottom of the case supporting at least two terminals, a two-arm blade substantially shaped as a hair-pin cooperating by means of the first arm thereof with the lever to move by swivelling and sliding and to bring the second arm of the blade in contact either with two terminals or, on the contrary, with only one terminal.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including first and second spaced-apart stationary contacts and a movable contact operable between open and closed positions with respect to the stationary contact wherein the movable contact, when in the closed position, conducts electricity between the stationary contacts and wherein the movable contact, when in the open position, is spaced apart from one of the stationary contacts. The movable contact has a longitudinal slot extending from one end thereof, and the movable contact is pivotally engaged to one of the stationary contacts at the movable contact end wherein the slot is located. The first stationary contact has an end portion thereof which is disposed within the movable contact slot. Also included is a mechanism for effecting movement of the movable contact between the open and closed positions and magnetic repulsion members for increasing the contact pressure between the stationary and movable contacts.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including first and second spaced-apart stationary contacts and a movable contact operable between open and closed positions with respect to the stationary contact wherein the movable contact, when in the closed position, conducts electricity between the stationary contacts and wherein the movable contact, when in the open position, is spaced apart from one of the stationary contacts. The movable contact has a longitudinal slot extending from one end thereof, and the movable contact is pivotally engaged to one of the stationary contacts at the movable contact end wherein the slot is located. The first stationary contact has an end portion thereof which is disposed within the movable contact slot. Also included is a mechanism for effecting movement of the movable contact between the open and closed positions and magnetic repulsion and magnetic attraction elements for increasing the contact pressure between the stationary and movable contacts.

Abstract: A high-voltage switch is operated by a reciprocable link. The link is reciprocated by a rotatable driven member. A rotatable drive member is rotated by a switch operator. It is desired to lock the members together for conjoint rotation after each is placed in a predetermined position, for example, when the switch is closed and the operator is in the switch-closed position. The members are intended to be locked together by a fastener which passes through a hole in each member, but normal tolerances often lead to the holes being misaligned in an unpredictable member. Accordingly, an elongated slot is formed through one member. A hole is formed through the other member. The hole is so formed as to generally overlie and encompass the slot when the members are in their predetermined positions. A disk having an off-center aperture is put in the hole and rotated until the aperture overlies and is aligned with the slot.

Abstract: A safety switch mechanism mounted on the handle of a power driven appliance such as a snow-thrower, lawn mower, garden tiller and the like having a motor or engine mounted thereon, the operator walking behind the appliance for holding a backwardly extending handle, the switch mechanism being adapted to short out or ground the electrical circuit of the motor or engine, or alternatively to open the contacts of a solenoid connected in series with the energizing circuit of an electric motor so as to stop the operation of the same upon the operator discontinuing to grasp the switch mechanism on the handle. This is an abstract only of the specific illustration of the invention given by way of example and is not to be used in the interpretation of the claims nor as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

Abstract: A high-quality pressure switch comprising a member moving according to pressure applied and a moving contact piece to act as a switch. The member has an end portion contained in a switch case to engage with said moving contact piece and remain in touch with a spring bearing and further a flanged portion contacting a stopper built in said switch case when a spring incorporated in said spring bearing is compressed by the end portion actuated by the travel of the member moving in a direction of a switch chamber when subjected to pressure. The moving contact is fitted with a moving contact on one end thereof and has the other end secured to a terminal elastically and in a freely movable condition to swing and move the moving contact piece pivoting on the end against the resilient force of spring according to the travel of said member, whereby said moving contact is separated from a fixed contact to switch off.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus is responsive to the relative velocity of a vehicle and an impacted object in a crash environment to provide an output when a predetermined pressure is developed in a sensing chamber resulting in deployment of an air bag within the vehicle compartment. The purpose of the air bag is to restrain movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle in the event of a "high speed" crash. The sensing apparatus utilizes in operation the characteristics of flow of a fluid through an orifice. The sensing apparatus includes a sealed chamber formed by a cylinder and an expandable reservoir for receiving the fluid and absorbing surges as the fluid flows through the orifice. A piston movable in the cylinder against a biasing force imparts movement to the fluid thereby to attain some velocity of flow.

Abstract: An electric power switch or contactor of the 3-pole AC type or the like is provided with means making it capable of withstanding higher fault currents such as short circuit currents. This is done by providing the insulating contact carrier with integrally molded stops that will allow the spring-biased bridging contacts to be blown slightly open by the high electro-dynamic forces occurring during high fault currents but will limit such opening of the contacts to gaps small enough to inhibit the arc from moving from between the contacts. Instead of attempting to keep the contacts closed under such conditions which would require a large magnetic force, allowing the contacts to open this small amount eliminates the need for a larger magnet, reduces the blow-open force and, more importantly, the small gaps will retain the arcs between the contacts and will inhibit them from flashing out to other parts of the contactor with consequent burning and destructive effect.

Abstract: A double throw electrical switch construction having a housing carrying a movable actuator unit for moving a snap switch blade of the housing over center to snap a contact portion of the blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by the housing, the actuator unit comprising an actuator plunger and an actuator spring. The actuator spring is movable relative to the housing and has one of the opposed ends thereof operatively interconnected to the blade to move the blade as the spring is moved. The plunger has a lost motion arrangement for acting against an intermediate portion of the actuator spring to cause movement thereof as the actuator plunger is moved whereby the actuator spring can move relative to the actuator plunger through the lost motion arrangement thereof.

Abstract: The rear pillars of an automobile body carry power and ground contact assemblies which engage contact plates of the electric rear window defogger when the lift gate is closed. The power and ground contact assemblies each consist of a plastic housing and a flat conductor strip which is stamped and bent to shape. The housings for both assemblies are identical. Both conductor strips comprise two elongated legs providing a depressible contact. The conductor strip for the power contact assembly has a terminal portion for connection to a power lead. The conductor strip for the ground contact assembly has a ground strap portion for connection to the pillar.

Abstract: A change-over switch for a printed circuit board comprises an electrically conductive, resilient wire which is disposed in the manner of a torsion spring, on an electrically conductive support stud which in turn, is secured on an insulating substrate so as to be in electrical contact with a patterned electrical circuit printed thereon. The wire has a pair of limbs which are formed as movable electrical contacts and which are biased by the resilience of the wire material to move in opposite directions along a path on which are disposed a pair of stationary contacts in the form of studs secured to the substrate in electrical contact with other portions of the patterned electrical circuit. An operating member either constrains or permits a movement of the resilient wire under its bias, thus operating the movable contacts into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts.

Abstract: The electric switch has an angular movable contact element formed by a pair of angled legs interconnected at a bend, with the outer surface of the bend bearing on a support. A movable contact at the end of one leg of the contact element is engageable with a fixed contact. A spring-loaded swivel member bears against that side of the leg, carrying the movable contact, opposite to the side facing the fixed contact, at a point spaced from the bend, and is operable by a slidable switch actuator movable in a contact element displacement direction. A loading spring has one end engaged in the swivel member and its opposite end engaged in the actuator. The swivel member carries a movable contact or is formed with a contact surface which, responsive to movement of the actuator in a switch closing direction, is engageable with an additional fixed contact of the switch.

Abstract: A rotary switch includes a contact bar movable between a switch-open and a switch-closed position and a rotatable circular cam member controlling the movement of said contact bar. Spring means urges the contact bar into operative engagement with the surface of said cam member. The cam member is rotatably contained within a cavity in the switch housing, the cavity having a wall surface guiding the cam member during rotation of the latter. Biasing action of the spring means upon said contact bar urges the cam member against the wall surface of said cavity, with said wall surface serving as the only bearing surface for said cam member during rotation of the latter. A pin and slot coupling is also provided as an integral portion of the cam member and housing to limit rotary movement of said cam member between precise switch-open and switch-closed positions.

Abstract: A snap action type of electric switch in which a contact plate is provided with a movable contact facing a stationary contact located in a housing. The movable contact is free to move back and forth, and the contact plate is connected through an intermediate snap spring to a switching rod which extends at the back of the spring and is also free to move back and forth. The contact plate has a play space in forward and rearward directions in relation to the snap spring, and is urged in forward direction by an auxiliary spring. The snap spring is formed of an elastic metal strip which is bent into a channel form. A pair of levers bridge a neck portion of an enlarged head portion of the switching rod. When moving back and forth, the rod 5 may apply a predetermined movement to the snap spring. A holding member extends rearwards from the contact plate and has an opening into which a transverse portion of the snap spring is loosely inserted so as to form the play space.

Abstract: In a circuit breaker, the movable contact carrying contact arm is pivotally connected to the contact carrier which pivots on the circuit breaker frame; the contact arm is stamped copper; the contact arm carrier pivot connection includes a pin passing through the walls of the carrier and with respect to which the contact arm pivots; also, improved means for establishing pressure of movable contacts.

Abstract: A circuit breaker line terminal characterized by an insulating housing having an opening, a plug-in type terminal structure having a terminal and being positioned near the opening and resiliently engageable with a stab on a panel board, a single integral flange on the terminal, a spring clip on the flange for holding a stab in good electrical contact against the flange, the stationary contact being mounted on the terminal, the flange being aligned with the opening, and the spring clip comprising resilient legs on opposite sides of the flange with the ends of the legs facing the opening.

Abstract: An electric switch of the sort capable of carrying high amperage currents, especially under short circuit conditions is provided with a ferromagnetic U-shaped yoke piece around the contacts and an armature mounted on the movable contact carrier in position to be attracted by the magnetic force created in the yoke when current flows through the contacts. The fixed and movable contact members act like a one-turn electromagnetic coil especially under severe short circuit conditions to hold the contacts together against electromagnetic forces which otherwise would cause contact separation under such conditions. Rocking of the movable contact on the fixed contact is prevented by a leaf spring which acts in closed circuit position of the contacts and in cooperation with the holding means on short circuit conditions.

Abstract: A chord button assembly for use in electronical organs is formed as a unitary assembly. A plastic hinge strip extending the length of the chord selector button area is provided and a plurality of keys or arms extend from the strip and have selector buttons formed at or near terminating ends of the arms in a staggered pattern to extend through openings formed in the chord selector plate. The arms are provided with return spring and electrical contact element receiving recesses which are strategically located to allow selection of multiple chord operation by actuation of a single chord button.