Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for preventing arcing within a snap action switch, particularly by removing a portion of a contact carrier attached to a stationary contact. A method of forming a contact for use in a snap action switch may comprise welding a contact onto a contact carrier; trimming at least one edge of the contact carrier proximate to the contact; and installing the contact carrier into a snap action switch housing. Trimming the at least one edge of the contact carrier may also comprise removing flash formed during the welding of the contact to the contact carrier.

Abstract: The relay has a movable first contact, a second contact, and an actuating element operatively connected with an armature of the relay. The first contact is movable toward the second contact by the actuating element and dependent on a supply of current to the relay. A snap action spring connects the second contact to a housing of the relay. The second contact is positioned between two arrangements by the snap action spring.

Abstract: The present invention is a microswitch where the movable contact that is attached to a movable member is adjacent a fixed end of said movable member and not adjacent a free end of said movable member.

Abstract: A switch device includes (a) a switch arranged on a bottom of a recess, and (b) a waterproof sheet adhered at its outer edge to a wall defining the recess, at a certain height to entirely cover the recess therewith. The waterproof sheet has a first area greater than a cross-sectional area of the recess when the waterproof sheet is in its original planar form. A difference between the first area of the waterproof sheet and the cross-sectional area of the recess allows the switch to be actuated through the waterproof sheet, and disallows moisture to enter the recess through the waterproof sheet. The waterproof sheet is composed of transparent or semi-transparent resin, for instance. The waterproof sheet may be adhered at its outer edge to a summit or a bottom of the wall.

Abstract: A switching element of a sheet of resilient metal having high and low heat-expansive sides, the switching element having a middle leg carrying an electric contact for making and breaking a circuit with a stationary contact on a substrate below, first and second outer legs each having one end connected to the same end of the middle leg, and an arm of width smaller than ⅓ of the width of said switching arm extended outwards from the connecting area between the middle leg and the outer legs in longitudinal alignment with the middle leg for pulling upwards/pushing downwards by an external force to reverse the middle leg.

Abstract: A temperature responsive switch includes a housing, an actuator arm for movement in response to temperature conditions, a movable contact, and an adjustable contact connected to a defrost terminal for completing a defrost circuit on demand without requiring a separate switch. The movable contact engages and disengages the defrost contact to cycle a defroster on and off in response to temperature changes in an evaporator tube, and also engages a stationary contact to complete a compressor circuit and cycle a compressor on and off in response to changes in an evaporator tube.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electromechanical protective relay comprising deformable bimetal switches in the event of overload in power lines. A triggering mechanism acts on a flexible blistering segment (20) which can pivot by means of a support (30) on a fixed rest (17) and whereof the stem (21) has an extension (27) formed along the length of the segment and folded back in U- or V-shape to press elastically against a bearing surface (36) of the box so as to cause the segment to exert pressure on the pivot.

Abstract: A condition-responsive electric switch mechanism for use in controlling a compressor of a refrigeration appliance. The switch mechanism includes first, second and third terminals, an actuator movable as a function of a detected condition and a bistable spring switch element electrically connected to the first terminal. The spring switch element includes a movable contact and is adapted for snap-acting movement between an open and a closed position. In the open position, the movable contact of the spring switch element is spaced apart from a fixed contact mounted on the second terminal. In the closed position, the movable contact engages the fixed contact to electrically connect the first and second terminals. The spring switch element also includes a toggle blade operable by engagement with the actuator for motion through a first switch point. At the first switch point, the spring switch element snaps between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A switching element (40, 40′) for use in a snap-acting electrical switch (10) has a pair of outer legs (40a, 40b; 40a′, 40b′) and a center leg (40c) extending in substantially the same direction from a junction portion. The outer legs have a semi-annular band portion which blend together at the junction portion and a center leg at one end of the band portion. A mounting portion extends from the other end of the semi-annular band portion and is provided with mounting apertures (40k, 40l) for placement on mounting posts (18, 20) in a warped, stressed condition. A strengthening portion (40n, 40r) is formed in each semi-annular band portion, preferably along the outer portion thereof, i.e., the outer portion being away from the junction portion. An electrical contact (32) is mounted on the distal free end of the center leg for snap-movement between a pair of stationary electrical contacts (28b, 30b).

Abstract: An electrical switch has a snap action blade with a contact pad. The snap action blade toggles between a first configuration at which the contact pad abuts a stationary contact and a second configuration at which the contact pad is remote from the stationary contact. An actuator moves the snap action blade between the first and second configurations. A reset spring has a first position which biases the movable contact into one of the first and second configurations, and has a second position at which that biasing does not occur. A reset selector acts to determine whether the reset spring is in the first or second position. A manual reset actuator is provided to move the snap action blade into the one of the first and second configurations when the reset spring is in the second position. Operation of the reset selector selects whether the switch is in an automatic reset mode or a manual reset mode.

Abstract: In a push button switch, a movable contact plate has an upwardly arcuated movable contact, a pair of side plates at both sides of the movable contact, each side plate has a plurality of downwardly projected permanent contacts, and each of the permanent contacts has a most lower point, a fixed contact plate comprises a pair of first fixed contacts contacted with the most lower points of the permanent contacts, and a second fixed contact disposed between the first fixed contacts, so as to be contacted with the movable contact.

Abstract: An electrical switch incorporating a snap-acting M-blade is actuated by a lever requiring a low actuation force and is actuated by a bridge engaging a critical region of the M-blade's double-loop end to provide an extremely low differential. Together, the means for actuating cover a broad range of applications. Additional features include a snap-acting M-blade actuated by a second snap-acting device, and the lever comprising an integral tab that serves as a pivot point.

Abstract: A push-button switch includes a base, a cover and a button subassembly. The button subassembly attaches to the underside of and extends through an opening of the cover. The cover includes tabs that extend from each side with a locking element further extending from an inner surface of each tab that engages slots in the base to hold the base and cover together. The switch can include different length fixed contacts and rivets in place of contact pads. The contacts can include the fixed contacts extending in parallel horizontal planes and the same or spaced transverse planes. The switch can also employ a pivot arm and an adjustable member to control the gap between the fixed contacts and moveable contacts.

Abstract: A condition-responsive electric switch mechanism having a snap-acting bistable spring switch element carrying a movable contact, and an actuator movable in response to a detected condition to operate the bistable spring switch element. The spring switch element is capable of snapping between a circuit open position in which the movable contact is spaced from a fixed contact and a circuit closed position in which the movable contact engages the fixed contact. The spring switch element has a head mounting the movable contact thereon, and a pair of arms extending outwardly from the head being formed free of connection to one another at their distal ends opposite the head. The arms are fixed to a first terminal blade at their distal ends in a configuration deflected from the relaxed position so as to stress the switch element making it capable of snapping between the circuit open and circuit closed positions for a wide variety of preset contact gaps.

Abstract: A resilient bridge of a snap-action switch is normally held in an unactuated position by virtue of one end portion of the bridge bearing against a lobe formed integrally with a manually actuatable and linearly movable plunger. When the plunger is manually depressed toward an actuated position against the bias of a return spring, the lobe moves away from the end portion of the bridge. As an incident thereto, the bridge changes the state of the switch by automatically snapping over center along a path extending transversely of the path followed by the plunger.

Abstract: An ultra high production snap acting switch includes a blanked sheet metal tab for providing extremely consistent and repeatable operation. The switch simply includes a sheet metal M-blade automatically spot welded (or riveted) to a sheet metal spring arm. The spring arm has an integral tab pressed between two flexible legs of the M-blade. The stress imparted by the tab accurately distorts the M-blade so that it assumes a very predictable bistable operation.

Abstract: A one-piece resilient switchblade includes contacts on its opposite end portions. A mounting arm extends transversely of the switchblade and is attached to a switchcase under bending stress for biasing the switchblade against a fulcrum. The mounting arm twists and the switchblade bows under influence of the force acting on the switchblade through the fulcrum. A movable bumper changes the fulcrum point to reverse the twist in the mounting arm and the bow in the switchblade.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch includes a movable contact which effects an inverting motion in a case to get in and out of contact with a stationary contact to establish conduction and non-conduction of the switch. Grooves are provided along an inner bottom surface of the case so that free ends of the movable contact never scrape the inner bottom surface of the case upon an inverting motion of the movable contact.

Abstract: The switching unit of a snap action electric switch employs a contact of the type called mainplate and having a circumferentially complete frame with a substantially diametrically extending blade. The frame has two lugs which flank the median portion of the blade and can be affixed to or simply abut the bottom wall of a cupped mounting member which further receives a pusher capable of moving the median portion of the mainplate from a first end position, at a distance from the bottom wall of the mounting member, toward and through a dead-center position whereupon the median portion snaps to a second end position in which it engages a contact at the bottom wall of the mounting member. The end portions of the blade merge tangentially into the adjacent concavoconvex sections of the frame. The useful life of the mainplate is longer than that of a conventional mainplate wherein four corner portions of the frame are affixed to the bottom wall of the mounting member.

Abstract: A manually actuatable electric pushbutton switch that automatically returns to the starting position after actuation, especially such a switch for the keyboard of an electronic device, for example a typewriter, is provided. The switch has a plastic housing in which is disposed a plate spring that is in engagement with an actuating button. The plate spring has a region that during shifting of the actuating button and flexing of the plate spring abruptly jumps to a different position when the electrical contact position is achieved, so that the triggering function is indicated both physically as well as audibly to the user. The region of the plate spring that abruptly reverses is preferably formed by slots, between which the abruptly reversing plate spring strip is defined.

Abstract: An inversion spring unit for a thermal overload relay and method for making the same, comprising a support member, a spring plate having a first end, a second end, an elongated central axis, and first and second side portions disposed on opposite sides of the central axis, the side protions being bent towards each other at the first end and attached at the first end to the support member for causing the second end of the spring plate to curve in a first direction away from the central axis, and a lug disposed intermediate the first and second ends for selective engagement with a drive portion to cause the second end of the spring plate to curve in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: An inversion spring unit for a thermal overload relay and method for making the same, comprising a support member, a spring plate having a first end, a second end, an elongated central axis, and first and second side portions disposed on opposite sides of the central axis, the side portions being bent towards each other at the first end and attached at the first end to the support member for causing the second end of the spring plate to curve in a first direction away from the central axis, and a lug disposed intermediate the first and second ends for selective engagement with a drive portion to cause the second end of the spring plate to curve in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A snap switch is enclosed in a cup shaped housing with an open end. The open end is closed by a diaphragm. The snap action of the switch is provided through a member which has a reactor member and two reaction members which are formed by providing parallel slots in a contact blade. The switch is actuated by a switch actuator which is mounted on the cup shaped housing to provide circular lever pivoting of the actuator.