One End Of Spring Is Carried By Actuator Patents (Class 200/458)
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Patent number: 9793066Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a low travel switch mechanism. The low travel switch mechanism may include a substrate, a dome coupled to the substrate, a keycap, and an integrated pivot component disposed between the keycap and the dome. The integrated pivot component may include a hinge assembly coupled to a light guide structure. The hinge assembly may secure to the substrate, via one or more hinge interconnects, joints, or interlock features to form a pivot point. When the keycap receives a keystroke, the integrated pivot component may be operative to pivot about the pivot point and contact the dome to cause a switching event or operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: John M. Brock, Patrick Kessler, Craig C. Leong, Keith J. Hendren, James J. Niu
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Patent number: 6104306Abstract: A closure-sensitive signalling device with a cantilever switch responsive to the opening of a folded article such as a business card holder, greeting card, folder, or other article having panels foldable with respect to each other along a fold line. The cantilever switch has a stationary electrical contact and a conductive cantilever arm engageable therewith, and is mounted along with a battery-powered signal generator IC on a low-profile printed circuit board adapted for mounting on one panel of the folded article with the cantilever switch adjacent to the fold line. The cantilever arm's free end is engageable with another panel of the folded article such that the switch is held open when the article is closed and is closed when the article is open. The signalling device generates an audible or visible signal in response to a signal from the signal generator IC.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1998Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Buztronics, Inc.Inventors: Timothy D. Hogue, Edward D. Lewis, Raymond W. Leung
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Patent number: 5950812Abstract: A rocker-type switch having components which can be assembled by automatic assembly machines and do not require the intervention of a human operator. A star shaped spring provides the necessary forces to hold the rocker in a selected position and hold the rocker to a switch spacer and couple the rocker to a movable contact arm. The movable contact arm is inserted in the switch spacer. The star spring is assembled to the rocker and the rocker is assembled to the movable contact arm when the rocker is assembled to the switch spacer.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: Mehmet K. Tanacan, Gregory Lawren, Ralph Giannuzzi, Michael D. Williams, Clifford G. Martin
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Patent number: 5471024Abstract: A flexible movable contact having fulcrums for pivoting the contact within notches of a terminal has a tab between the fulcrums offset downwardly and projecting outwardly that extends through an aperture in a flat U-shaped insulating contact carrier to attach one end of the contact to the carrier. A right-angle flat transition surface between the offset tab and primary plane of the contact abuts a convex surface forming an edge of the aperture to permit the contact to pivot relative to the carrier for self-alignment of the fulcrums in the notches. A beam of the contact extends obliquely away from the carrier and has lateral arms terminating in hook portions engaging an opposite side of the carrier. Ears bent over on the free end of the contact beam arrest overtravel movement of the carrier, which movement can be closely controlled by tolerances between the ears and hook portions during manufacture of the movable contact.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1994Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Michael E. Ross, Robert A. Borsos, Lawrence G. Corey
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Patent number: 5239151Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf switch having a scroll spring (6) which can be hooked between a switching are elongate windows which extend in the transverse direction and into which centrally projecting tongues (3a, 2a) of the switching tongue (3) and of the spring lever (2) engage. In order to avoid an unintentional unhooking of the scroll spring (6), there is a deformation projecting beyond the tongue surface at the front section of at least one of the two tongues (3a, 2a). The said deformation can be constructed as an embossed hollow projection or as laterally bent-over tongue legs.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1991Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Marquardt GmbHInventors: Albert King, Guenther Marquardt
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Patent number: 5207317Abstract: A switch actuator having a bezel, paddle and spring-biased lever. The bezel has a pivot defining a first pivot axis and an outer surface defining a plane. The paddle has an outer surface and an inner surface facing in a direction opposite the outer surface. The inner surface has structure for actuating a switch in response to actuation of the paddle, which is pivotably supported in the bezel for limited pivoting movement about the first pivot axis between first and second positions. A lever is pivotably mounted on the bezel and disposed at an acute angle to said plane. The lever is pivotable with respect to the bezel and the paddle about a second pivot axis as the paddle is pivoted about the first pivot axis. The second pivot axis is spaced from and substantially parallel to the first pivot axis. A spring is disposed at an acute angle to the plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1992Date of Patent: May 4, 1993Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Gary W. Bryde, James E. Swain, III, John R. Woodman
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Patent number: 5122626Abstract: In a push-button switch in which a switch mechanism switched over on the basis of push-button depression is supported between a pair of split-type switch bases so as to be switchably operated, a falling-off prevention engage portion is formed at an end of a lever pivotal axle of a inclination lever provided for the switch mechanism, so as to be engageable with a pivotal hole formed in an opposing side wall of the switch base for prevention of falling-off of the inclination lever from the switch base.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1991Date of Patent: June 16, 1992Assignee: Omron Tateishi Electronics Co.Inventors: Kenji Shinohara, Takashi Niwa, Norio Iwakiri
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Patent number: 5089678Abstract: A switch wherein an elongated at least substantially tubular housing contains a bearing member pivotably mounting a two-armed lever. One arm of the lever is directly coupled to a motion transmitting device which is rigid with a depressible pushbutton and carries a reflector for a light source behind the pushbutton. The other arm of the lever can move the front end of a stressed leaf spring which bears against a pivotable contact to urge the latter against an electric terminal in depressed position of the pushbutton or against an insulating stop in extended position of the pushbutton. A coil spring reacts against the bearing member and biases the lever to an end position in which the contact engages the stop; the lever then maintains the pushbutton in the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1990Date of Patent: February 18, 1992Assignee: Elektro-Apparatebau Olten AGInventors: Othmar Zemp, Albrecht Meier
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Patent number: 4853505Abstract: A generally cylindrical lamp of diameter D is provided in a miniature double pole switch case of internal height only 2.times.D. The movable contact levers are shorter than the length of the switch case cavity and an internal divider wall cooperates with skirt portions of the rocker to support these levers during pivotal movement on the upper ends of the center fixed contacts. The levers are spaced apart at least approximately by the dimension D.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1988Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: Carlingswitch, Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Sorenson