Abstract: A control button which includes a button head having an upper end acting as a pressing surface for initiating an action, and a lower end having at least one electrical connector; an internal button body into which the button head can be inserted; an external button body comprising an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being open for the insertion of the internal button body such that it comes into abutment and the pressing surface of the button head protrudes, and such that the at least one electrical connector emerges from the lower end of the external button body, the flanks of the external button body between the upper end and the lower end not being solid and having material openings, the open structure of the external button body allowing compression of the external body along the axis of the button, the control button being wherein the lower base of the external body of the button has housings for accommodating different contacts of the internal body of the button when the latter is inserted.

Abstract: A lockable trigger mechanism for an electrical device, comprising: a housing; a trigger for biased movement relative to the housing; an actuator movably mounted to the housing such that in response to operation of the trigger, the actuator is movable along a movement axis from an OFF position inwardly of the housing towards an ON position, and movable along the movement axis from the ON position in a direction outwardly of the housing towards the OFF position; an electrical switch unit mounted to the housing for activation in response to movement of the actuator along the movement axis between its ON and OFF positions to close and open an electrical circuit of the electrical device respectively; and a locking mechanism comprising a first locking member, a second locking member and a biasing member configured for biasing movement of the first locking member relative to the second locking member.

Abstract: A flashlight has a lock out feature that prevents it from being turned on which is activated or deactivated by pointing the flashlight in a first direction (e.g., upward) prior to turning it on, depressing a switch to turn it on, tilting the flashlight in a second direction (e.g., downward) while continuously depressing the switch, and releasing the switch.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method of operating the same are disclosed, where the electronic device includes a main system, a battery, and a battery device power protection and reset circuit. The battery device power protection and reset circuit includes a charging circuit and a switch device. The switch device connects the battery and the main system. The charging circuit turns off the switch device when operating under a first trigger mode, so that the switch device can electrically isolate the main system from the battery.

Abstract: A push & lock unit includes cam sections mounted on an outer wall of a rotary body that is disposed on an underside of an operating body, and each one of the cam sections contacts a saw-tooth section disposed on a lower end of a rib on an inner wall of a cover and a projection disposed at a bottom center of a housing in response to an up and down movement of the operating body, whereby the rotary body is rotated. When the operating body is pushed, a push face thereof is locked at a position almost flush with an outer face of a panel. When the operating body is pushed once more, it is released from the lock, and restores to a state where the operating body projects from the outer face of the panel.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch comprises a body including a barrel, a plunger longitudinally movable in the barrel, a ratchet coaxial with the plunger including a plurality of longitudinally extending camming teeth, and at least one longitudinally extending camming tooth on the plunger for engagement with the camming teeth on the ratchet, wherein the body and cover comprise a synthetic polymer material. The cover and body can comprise a glass-filled material. Further the ratchet and the plunger can comprise a polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic material.

Abstract: A button switch includes a main body. The main body includes a switch member therein. The switch member has a start portion and a stop portion to connect with a start button and a stop button, respectively. The stop button has a first position and a second position. In a normal state, the stop button is located at the first position and doesn't drive the stop portion. When the stop button is at the second position, the stop button will drive the stop portion. Thus, the operator is enforced to press the stop button again and the stop button is returned to the first position to start the switch member, preventing the operator to press the start button unexpectedly to start the switch member.

Abstract: An actuator device including a holder element provided to be fixed against a device operated on by the actuator device. An actuator body is displaceable in a longitudinal direction along the holder element. A guide member is provided so as to guide the actuator body along the holder element. The actuator body includes a first part that is operable from outside the actuator device, and a second part that is movable in the longitudinal direction in relation to the first part. The actuator body is displaceable to a first, non-actuated position, in which the first part and the second part of the body are movable in the longitudinal direction and a second, actuated position, in which the second part is rotationally displaced in relation to the first part and abuts an abutment surface on the holder element such that motion of the second part in the longitudinal direction towards the first position is inhibited.

Abstract: A multi-position switch includes a base and a cover. The base and the cover form a receiving space having a lateral surface. The cover defines a through hole and includes a bottom surface and a number of ratchet teeth protruding from the bottom surface and arranged around the through hole. A number of positive contacts and a negative contact are arranged on the lateral surface. The button includes a button body having a side surface and a number of protrusions protruding from the side surface. The button body passes through the through hole and is external to the cover. Each protrusion is located between two neighboring ratchet teeth and has a sloping end. A conductive member is arranged under the button body and includes a conductive rod having two ends configured for respectively contacting one of the positive contacts and the negative contact.

Abstract: A push switch includes a housing, a button slidably connected to the housing including a protrusion protruding therefrom, a first elastic member, and a securing member. The securing member includes a rotating block rotatably connected to the housing defining a recess and a second elastic member. The protrusion drives the rotating block to rotate when the button is pushed. After the external force has ceased, the button and the rotating block move back by the rebounding force of elastic members, respectively. The button stays in the predetermined position when the protrusion is retained in the recess. The protrusion disengages from the rotating block when the button is driven again. After the external force has ceased, the rotating block moves to an initial state by the rebounding force of the second elastic member. The button moves to its initial state by the rebounding force of the first elastic member.

Abstract: A transfer switch configured particularly for use with traffic signal controllers, to enable a traffic signal controller to be powered by a portable electrical generator, when utility line power is unavailable. A housing, configured to be mounted either on the surface of a traffic signal controller cabinet, or recessed into an opening of the cabinet, so as to be flush to the surface thereof, is provided. The housing is configured to be substantially weatherproof without requiring the use of gaskets.

Abstract: An accessory device for a firearm, a preferred embodiment comprising a housing, a light emitter assembly and a battery carried by the housing in circuit for energizing the light emitter assembly when switch actuated, and a tail cap switch device secured to the housing and including a switch actuator having an actuator arm rotatably urgeable by either hand of an operator clockwise or counterclockwise about the housing's longitudinal direction for placing the switch in a CONSTANT ON position from an OFF position, the actuator arm reverse rotatably urgeable by the operator for returning the switch to the OFF position, and the actuator arm having opposed ends longitudinally urgeable by the operator from the OFF position for placing the switch in a MOMENTARY ON position.

Abstract: A transfer switch configured particularly for use with traffic signal controllers, to enable a traffic signal controller to be powered by a portable electrical generator, when utility line power is unavailable. A housing, configured to be mounted either on the surface of a traffic signal controller cabinet, or recessed into an opening of the cabinet, so as to be flush to the surface thereof, is provided. The housing is configured to be substantially weatherproof without requiring the use of gaskets.

Abstract: When a dial is operated to rotate forward to a DEF position with a knob 52 staying in a depressed state, a cam portion 12 operates a key operating portion 56 to move in an approaching direction in which the key operating portion 56 approaches a reset key 39, so as to operate the reset key 39 as a result of the key operating portion 56 moving in the approaching direction. Then, a push button 31 returns from a depressed position to a normal position, and interlocking with the push button 31, the knob 52 returns from the depressed state to a normal state. Due to this, since the driver only has to operate the dial 4 to rotate forward to the DEF position so that the knob 52 can be forced to return from the depressed state to the normal state, the operability is increased.

Abstract: A pushbutton assembly includes a housing and a button slidable with respect to the housing. A passage is adapted to be formed in the housing and provided with a projection formed in the passage and a slanted face on top of the projection. A positioning disk is pivotally connected to the projection and has a positioning hole. A positioning rod is adapted to be pivotally connected to the button and has a bent received in the positioning hole of the positioning disk such that movement of the button drives the bent to reciprocally move from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A switch (1) comprising an outer housing (3) and an inner component (5); switch means (13) operable to provide a signal upon depression of said outer housing (3) resilient biasing means (29) located between the inner component and the outer housing to provide a force which bias the outer housing from the inner component; and means (9, 17) for varying the spacing between the inner component and the outer housing and hence the biasing force provided by said resilient biasing means.

Abstract: A rotary push switch has upper and lower housings locked together by protuberances along one housing in locking grooves along the other. A return spring and an actuator are in a carrier within the upper housing together with a push button and a movable terminal. A plurality of fixed terminals are integrally formed with the lower housing and soldering holes are formed through a bottom of the lower housing at positions corresponding to the fixed terminals so that a power line can be connected to the fixed terminals.

Abstract: A switch destined in particular for usage as a general cutout switch for batteries in low-voltage vehicle electrical systems and the like includes a supporting body carrying at least one pair of fixed electrical contacts,—a mobile element carrying at least one mobile electrical contact, cooperating with the fixed contacts and movable in a rectilinear direction between an open-contacts position and a closed-contacts position and vice versa, a rotary control member suitable for controlling the movement of the mobile element, an elastic structure that tends to push the mobile element towards the open-contacts position, mutually cooperative contact surfaces provided on the control member and on the mobile element and mutually cooperative stop mechanisms provided on the supporting body and on the rotary control member.

Abstract: A pushbutton has a body including a barrel and a plunger longitudinally movable in the barrel. A plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on the plunger engage a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on a rotatable ratchet coaxial with the plunger. The ratchet is spring loaded against the plunger. A rotatable electrical contact cup connected to the ratchet makes or breaks contact with a fixed electrical terminal in the body. The plunger teeth each include a driving face which causes rotation of the ratchet. The driving face has an angle from a normal to the longitudinal direction of the plunger wherein the angle is at least the arctangent of the coefficient of friction between the ratchet teeth and the plunger tooth plus the arctangent of the effective coefficient of friction between electrical contacts in the switch, plus a margin of safety greater than the arctangent of the effective coefficient of friction between other parts of the switch. The angle is up to about 30 degrees.

Abstract: A pushbutton, momentary ON switch has a body including a barrel with longitudinally extending internal splines and ways between the splines. A plunger has radially extending lugs in the ways and is longitudinally movable in the barrel. A plurality of longitudinally extending camming teeth on the plunger engage a plurality of longitudinally extending camming teeth on a rotatable ratchet coaxial with the plunger. The ratchet is spring loaded against the plunger. The ratchet has radially extending dogs which fit into the ways when the plunger is retracted and come out of the ends of the ways when the plunger is advanced. A rotatable electrical contact cup connected to the ratchet and electrically connected to an external lead makes or breaks contact with a fixed electrical terminal in the body. The plunger teeth include a leading ramp face and a trailing ramp face wherein the leading ramp face extends a greater distance in the circumferential direction than the trailing ramp face.

Abstract: A contactless switch (20) for actuating a system between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position is disclosed. The switch includes a housing (22) and a linear actuator (34) disposed within the housing. The switch also includes a linear-to-rotary motion assembly (30) disposed within the housing. The linear-to-rotary motion assembly is coupled to the linear actuator for producing a rotary motion of the linear-to-rotary motion assembly in response to a linear displacement of the linear-to-rotary motion assembly by the linear actuator. The switch also includes a plurality of Hall effect sensors (106) and magnets (80). The sensors are disposed within the housing and the magnets are disposed on the linear-to-rotary motion assembly.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a set of electrodes mounted on one side of a carrier. The opposite side of the carrier mounts an actuator having a plunger mounted for reciprocating motion. The plunger carries a coupler in the form of magnets. A conductive armature of magnetic material is disposed on the electrode side of the carrier. When the plunger withdraws the coupler magnets from the carrier, the armature is free to fall out of contact with the electrodes. A retention cover maintains the armature in the vicinity of the carrier such that subsequent movement of the coupler proximate the carrier will draw the armature back into contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: A radio keyboard supports a potentiometer on its rear surface and a popout control in the front surface. The control includes a housing between the keyboard and the radio trim plate, inner and outer stationary cams, and a rotatable cam follower on a shaft which controls the potentiometer. The cams index the cam follower each time a knob on the shaft outer end is depressed. The cams alternately hold the follower and the shaft in retracted and extended position.

Abstract: A flashlight includes a cylindrical tube with front and rear ends, and a switch mechanism. The switch mechanism has an end cap, a contact member, a plunger cylinder, a driving assembly, a depressing assembly, and a retainer. The end cap is threadedly engaged in the rear end of the cylindrical tube. The contact member has an annular portion disposed between the plunger cylinder and the retainer, and a number of leg portions which are connected electrically with the end cap. The plunger cylinder has a front threaded portion which engages a front threaded portion of the end cap. The driving assembly is connected with the depressing assembly and is received slidably in the plunger cylinder. The retainer is connected to the front threaded portion of the end cap. A spring member is retained in the retainer and has a front section which extends out of the retainer and a rear section which engages the contact member and the driving assembly.

Abstract: A control device suitable for use in a sing-along or karaoke apparatus has a rotary encoder coupled to a selector knob through a transfer mechanism, such as gears. When the selector knob rotates, the rotary encoder generates pulse signals for each rotation of the selector knob. The number of pulses may depend upon a gear ratio of the transfer mechanism. The control device is used, for example, to scan and select music titles stored in a ROM cartridge or other suitable storage medium. The control device may be integrated with an apparatus for controlling the start or stop function. The control device provides a design flexibility due to its compact design.

Abstract: A switch has a casing and a switching member displaceably positioned in the casing and having switching contacts. An actuating element, connected to the switching member, for actuating the switch is provided. A holding member is provided. A printed circuit board with a printed circuit, connected to the switching contacts, and with electronic components is provided. The printed circuit board is mounted inside the holding member. A light source is electrically connected to the printed circuit board for illuminating the actuating element. The light source is mounted on an outer side of the holding member. The holding member together with the printed circuit board and the light source form a pre-assembled unit inserted into the switching member such that the light source faces the actuating element.

Abstract: An actuator converts an input movement to a control movement with a bistable action. The actuator is operable to provide a first control movement in response to a first input movement and a second control movement immediately upon the second input movement. The actuator is embodied in a foot switch and in an air switch.

Abstract: An electric iron has a printed circuit board mounted to a rear wall in the iron's housing. An operating switch is mounted on the circuit board. The operating switch connects the iron to a source of electrical power when moved by a first manual force and disconnects the iron from the source of electrical power when moved by a second manual force or moved responsive to energization of a solenoid winding.

Abstract: A quiet smooth acting push button switch, which permits partial actuation without a change of state, including a body, a cover and a contact cup having one or more tabs, the cup rotatibly mounted on the cover. A plunger, actuator and a ratchet with radially expanding helical camming ramps are mounted in the body, which incrementally rotate the contact cup and tabs upon successive actuations of the switch. Two terminals mounted on the cover are interruptably in contact with the tabs as the tabs are rotated during switch operation. The actuator may be a pawl, bail or a resilient portion of the plunger and has at least one hook for engaging a helical camming surface of the ratchet and rotatibly driving the rachet in response to a depression and release of the plunger.

Abstract: An electric iron has a printed circuit board mounted to a rear wall in the iron's housing. An operating switch is mounted on the circuit board. The operating switch connects the iron to a source of electrical power when moved by a first manual force and disconnects the iron from the source of electrical power when moved by a second manual force or moved responsive to energization of a solenoid winding.

Abstract: A miniature ratchet type push button activated electrical switch having a mainspring and an auxiliary spring wherein spring rates, spring lengths and spring orientations are selected such that a substantial depression of the push button is required before electrical continuity is broken in a closed circuit. This configuration additionally serves to reduce the amount of audible noise generated by the switch during the ratcheting operation.

Abstract: A mechanical switch wherein a pushbutton is installed at the front end of an elongated housing for movement through a predetermined distance between extended and depressed positions. The pushbutton is rigid with a reflector for a light source which can be inserted into the housing by the pushbutton. The light source has electric contacts which are removably received in sockets of the housing to engage complementary electric contacts which, in turn, are connectable with an energy source. The pushbutton carries prongs which are integral with the reflector and have guide surfaces for a follower of the light source. The guide surfaces are longer than the predetermined distance so that, once the light source is installed in the housing, the pushbutton and the reflector are free to move relative to the light source between extended and depressed positions.

Abstract: A switch for a portable light source such as a flashlight which has a housing for carrying one or more batteries and for supporting a lamp bulb. The switch includes a switch body securable to the housing and an actuator that is axially moveable relative to the switch body for electrically coupling and uncoupling an electrode of the batteries to one of the terminals of the lamp bulb to switch the lamp bulb on and off. The actuator is also rotatably moveable relative to the switch body to prevent axial movement of the actuator and thereby lock the flashlight in the on state.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An electrical switch for hazardous environments includes a non-metallic terminal base supporting a plurality of stationary contacts. A non-metallic operator body has a radial wall and tubular outer wall extending from the radial wall. The outer wall has a free end coupled to the terminal base and defines a contact chamber inside of the operator body. The radial wall has a central passageway and a tubular inner wall extending from the radial wall toward the terminal base substantially concentrically to the outer wall and the passageway. A non-metallic operator member has an annular portion slidably received in the passageway between first and second positions, and has a radial portion extending from the axial portion with a tubular flange extending from it substantially concentrically to the axial portion. The operator member tubular flange is slidably received between and overlaps the inner and outer walls of the operator body in both of the first and second positions of the operator body.

Abstract: A switch includes a casing in which a contact holder is movably provided allowing the holder to move from an original position into a pressed in position in response to the pressing of a button. The contact holder is biased toward the original position by a spring. A rotor is provided on either the fixed casing or the movable contact holder such that the rotor is rotatable about an axis parallel with the direction of movement of the contact holder. The outside circumferential surface of the rotor has a cam groove which has oblique parts and locking halfway parts. A locking projection is provided on either the contact holder or the casing, and the locking projection is fitted in the cam groove so that the projection slides relating to the groove as the holder is moved, thereby rotating the rotor. A contact on the contact holder selectively engages a contact on the casing, depending on whether the holder is in the original or the pressed in position.

Abstract: A push-button switch comprises a housing having a substantially cylindrical interior portion. It also includes a movable switching member, disposed substantially within the interior of the housing and having a reciprocally movable plunger with successive released, latched and depressed positions relative to the housing interior portion. Functional surfaces of substantially cylindrical form are disposed adjacent and in a substantially fixed position relative to the interior portion of the housing and include guiding surfaces aligned in the direction of movement of the plunger. The plunger has members, interengaging with the guiding surfaces, for preventing rotation of the plunger during reciprocal movement of the plunger. The movable switching member also includes a rotatable latch ring, preferably C-shaped, disposed on the plunger and having a radially extending lug. The plunger also has members for holding the rotatable ring in a fixed latitudinal position about a portion of the plunger.

Abstract: An electrical switch including a housing having a planar electrically insulating interior surface on which is seated a printed circuit terminal board that has at least a pair of electrolytically deposited electrical terminals, and a rotatable contact plate having contacts for electrically connecting and disconnecting said terminals in a predetermined sequence, and a push-button stepping means operatively connected to the contact plate for selective rotation of said contact plate.

Abstract: An electromechanical spring-loaded switch having a plunger employed for actuating a ratchet mechanism against a biasing spring for rotatively driving a contact cup, the combination utilized for providing electrical contact with a common terminal and a plurality of output load terminals, each component of the switch having a miniaturized low-profile construction for minimizing the size of the switch which includes a plurality of slots fashioned into a top body portion and a bottom cover portion for receiving a plurality of corresponding mounting clips permitting convenient mounting of the switch directly to a mounting enclosure significantly improving the utility of the switch in electrical circuits.

Abstract: A miniature push-button switching apparatus having a housing for enclosing a plunger and a rotating ratchet mechanism for engaging and disengaging the switching contacts, the switching apparatus having a "momentary-on" position for temporarily engaging an electrical load in addition to a "stable-on" switch position with the ratchet mechanism employing a helical contact spring as a switching contact, the contact spring increasing the active length of the switching contact for significantly reducing possible spring yielding problems and further exhibiting improved resiliency properties which enhance the ratchet switching mechanism and reduce the possibility of spring distortion.

Abstract: A miniature ratchet type electrical switch exhibiting a reduced audible noise level operation having a damping spring incorporated in a ratchet mechanism switch construction for reducing the forces otherwise exerted on the ratcheting mechanism by a main spring during the camming and seating operation of the components with the force exerted by the damping spring opposing the force exerted by the main spring, thereby reducing the noise associated with this function, and including a reprofiled tooth and cam configuration for preventing the jamming of the moving parts. Incorporation of these features in a ratchet mechanism type electrical switch in which the main spring completes the switch circuitry yields a reliable and aesthetically improved switch function with a high current carrying capacity. Switch constructions in both single-pole, double-throw and single-pole, single-throw versions are disclosed.

Abstract: A push-button switch including a switch base which is formed into two divisions each for mounting a switch mechanism thereon, the terminals of one circuit provided within the switch mechanism being molded in insertion in the respective division switch base, whereby the switch base is made smaller in size and simplified in assembly of the push-button switch.

Abstract: The push-button switch according to the present invention comprises a switch base, a plunger movable along a sliding portion thereof, an alternate cam pivotally provided with said plunger and guides for said alternate cam integrally formed with said sliding portion of said plunger. Therefore, the guides for the alternate cam are positioned with high accuracy with respect to the sliding portion achieving secured movement of the alternate cam.

Abstract: A switch in which a switch unit is constituted by situating the free end of a first movable member disposed with a contact between stationary contacts opposing to each other along the vertical direction, while engaging the other end of the movable member to a fixed portion, pivoting one end of a second movable member to the free end of the first movable member while engaging a spring to the other end of the s econd movable member, thereby biasing the contact of the first movable member to one of the stationary contacts, and setting the other end of the second movable member to a switch operation portion, as well as a switch wherein a housing, which enhouses a push button unit containing an illumination unit, a socket unit to be connected to the illumination unit and a plunger to be connected to the push button switch, contains to secure the switch mechanism at the lower opening thereof and the lower end of the plunger is disposed to the switch operation portion.

Abstract: A push-button switch having a lamp portion and a switch portion. The lamp portion includes a lamp, a lamp holder, a lamp casing, and a housing. The lamp holder is fixed within the housing and the lamp casing moves up or down to turn off or turn on the switch. The switch portion of the push-button switch includes a switch base, a plunger, and a cam. The plunger moves in conjunction with the lamp casing and has a cam formed on one end. The cam is guided along guides that are formed on the switch base, and holds the lamp casing and plunger in a raised position in which the switch is turned off and a lowered position in which the switch is turned off.

Abstract: A push-button switch operates by depression of a push-button to move a movable contact into engagement with respective fixed contacts. The push-button when depressed rotates a roller through a predetermined angle by means of interengaging ratchet-type teeth on the push-button and roller respectively. A two-arm lever engages an indented outer surface of the roller, so that forward or reverse pivotal movements of the lever are effected whenever the push-button is depressed. The lever operates the movable contact. The roller also carries a segmented colored disc so that alternating colors are associated with the push-button to represent the respective movable contact positions.