Sliding Contact Patents (Class 200/531)
  • Patent number: 10199185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric switch including a hollow cylindrical casing delimiting a cavity, and an actuator that can slide inside the cavity along an axial direction defined by the casing, and including at least one upper part positioned at least partially outside the casing and at least one lower part positioned inside the cavity. The electric switch also includes a contact block movable under the action of the actuator along the axial direction between two specific positions, namely upstream and downstream contact positions, with the contact block having at least two conductive areas, namely upstream and downstream conductive areas respectively positioned at the two ends of an oblong opening formed inside the contact block, and with the ends positioned in an offset manner along the axial direction. The electric switch further includes a pair of electrical contacts, namely upstream and downstream electrical contacts respectively projecting into the oblong opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microprecision Electronics Holding SA
    Inventor: Vito Carrea
  • Patent number: 10196009
    Abstract: A cover for a switch includes a body having a thru-hole for receiving the switch. Retainers supported by the body each have a groove facing the thru-hole and guide surfaces extending upward from an edge of a bottom surface of the retainers to a lower edge of the groove. The outer surface may be contoured and the contoured outer surface may be oblong. The cover may be used in a switch assembly for a vehicle. The switch has a base extending from a surface of the vehicle and first and second flexible members extending outwardly from the base in a normal position. The guide surfaces deflect the flexible members from a normal position during installation of the cover. The flexible member returns to the normal position when the cover is placed such that an upper portion of the flexible member is retained within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Daniel Mejia Caballero, Omar Antonio Ramirez Pavon, JoséRafael Reyes Guerra, José Luis Hernández Guzmán
  • Patent number: 9406452
    Abstract: A movable contact point for an inhibiter switch includes a movable contact point that makes pressure contact with a fixed contact point is slid to cause the movable contact point and the fixed contact point to be connected and disconnected. The movable contact point comprises parallel side wall portions and a sliding portion that slides on the fixed contact point and that connects end portions of the side wall portions. Projecting portions that project in the sliding direction are provided in notch portions in the side walls, wherein the projecting portions abut against each other between the side wall portions in the sliding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Inotsuka
  • Patent number: 9230752
    Abstract: A seat switch assembly can maintain a reliable switching operation due to enhanced durability. A pressing plate has guides which are fastened to guide holes of a base. A seat switch housing is fastened to an assembly hole of the base. An actuation rod is received inside a through-hole of the seat switch housing, and moves in the top-bottom direction in response to a pressure from the pressing plate. A V-shaped contact pin is fixed to a fixing guide of the actuation rod. One portion of a terminal pin is buried inside the seat switch housing, and the other portion of the terminal pin is exposed to the outside. A return spring is received in the lower portion of the actuation rod. A cover closes the lower portion of the through-hole. The inner surfaces of the through-hole and the terminal pin are coplanar without a stepped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: CONTROL & MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hyo-Moon Lee
  • Publication number: 20130134027
    Abstract: There is provided a push switch including an insulating case, a conductive member, a movable electrode and an operating member. The insulating case has a wall portion defining a recess. The conductive member has a first portion embedded into the wall portion and a second portion disposed in the recess as a fixed electrode. The movable electrode is disposed in the recess and is displaced between a first position and a second position. The operating member is moved to displace the movable electrode from the second position to the first position. An anchor member protrudes from the conductive member in a direction not parallel to the direction in which the operating member is moved, and embedded into the wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Seigo Ohtaka, Shigemi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8247720
    Abstract: A sealed pushbutton switch includes an insulative housing defining a cavity, an actuator moveably retained in the insulative housing, a base conglutinated to the insulative housing by glue, a number of fixed contacts assembled to the base, a spring mounted below the actuator, and a moveable contact mounted on the actuator and provided with a number of contact portions in contact with corresponding fixed contacts. The moveable contact is moveable with the actuator from a first position to a second position relative to the insulative housing along a top-to-bottom direction to disengage the fixed contacts. The base defines a first slot formed along an edge of a inner face of said base and a second slot formed on a position of the inner face except the edge, the second slot have a connection with the first slot so as to retain glue therein when said base and said housing are fastened together by said glue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xin-Yun Peng
  • Patent number: 7579568
    Abstract: In the switch, a terminal section and a contact section of a fixed contact are separately formed and the two sections are connected via a coil made of a conductive metal wire. After electrical connection is established between a movable contact and fixed contacts, a weak current with no arc discharge flows between the movable and the fixed contacts. This prevents build-up of oxide or carbide on the contact surface, allowing the switch to have stable contact operation and accordingly reliable electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nakade
  • Patent number: 7485825
    Abstract: The push-type vehicle switch has a case, an actuator, a movable contact, and a cap made of elastic material. The case has an opening and a fixed contact implanted inside thereof. The actuator is contained in the case reciprocably. The movable contact is provided facing the fixed contact and connects to and disconnects from the fixed contact according to reciprocable movement of the actuator. The cap covers the opening of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishikawa, Masaru Shimizu, Hiroyuki Kosaka, Yoshiyuki Nakade, Toru Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7442895
    Abstract: An electrical switch has a common contact body and a first selective contact body and a second selective contact body. A contactor is connected mechanically and in an electrically conducting manner to the common contact body. The contactor comprises an elastic, electrically conducting material. It is formed originating from the basic form of a leaf spring into a multifunctional part having a clamping area, a deformation area and a stiffened actuating area. The pre-tension of the contactor causes the contact fingers to be positioned against the contact surfaces of the first selective contact body. Pressure on the actuating area elastically deforms the contactor, and the actuating area pivots with the contact fingers so that the contact fingers switchingly enclose the contact surfaces of the second selective contact body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Cherry GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Bauer, Eduard Ruff
  • Patent number: 7329821
    Abstract: A sealed pushbutton switch (1) includes an insulative housing (2), a number of fixed contacts (7), an actuator (3) moveably retained in the insulative housing, a moveable contact (6) fastened to the actuator and including a pair of elastic beams (62) each provided with a contact portion (621) contactable to corresponding fixed contacts to establish a reliable electrical connection between the fixed contacts, and a spring (5) mounted below the actuator. When the actuator is pushed, the moveable contact has an agile movement to break the electrical connection between the moveable contact and the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Ming Tan
  • Publication number: 20070284238
    Abstract: A switch for a vehicle used to control the on-off operation of a stop lamp for an automobile ensures electrical contact and separation with a simple structure. The switch includes an input terminal and an output terminal each protruded outside the case at one end and is disposed in the case at the other end. Between the input terminal and the output terminal is disposed a switching unit having an input part, an output part, and a signal input part. The input part and the output part are connected to the input terminal and the output terminal, respectively. Between the signal input part of the switching unit and the input terminal is disposed a switch contact, which slides to perform electrical contact and separation in response to the vertical motion of the operating body accommodated in the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nakade
  • Publication number: 20070278084
    Abstract: A case is defining a chamber. A slider is disposed in the chamber and being movable between a first position and a second position. A first contact member is disposed in the chamber and being movable in conjunction with the slider. A second contact member is disposed in the chamber. An urging member is disposed in the chamber. A projection portion is adapted to be fitted with a first recess portion. When the slider is located in the first position, the first contact member comes in contact with the second contact member and the projection portion is not fitted with the first recess portion. When the slider is in the second position, the first contact member is separated from the second contact member, the projection portion is fitted with the first recess portion, and the urging member urges the slider toward the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Takashi KAWAMURA, Takahiro Sasaki, Hidetake Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6998556
    Abstract: A switching device includes a casing having two opposite lateral walls, two spaced-apart terminal plates secured in a bottom wall of the casing, and a slide unit. The lateral walls respectively have opposite guide faces that extend downwardly and inclinedly toward each other, and opposite limiting faces that extend downwardly and respectively from the guide faces toward the bottom wall. The slide unit includes a slide piece mounted movably within the casing, and a conductive piece connected to the slide piece and disposed between the limiting faces. The slide piece is slidable along the guide faces to move the conductive piece between first and second positions, where the conductive piece contacts conductively and moves away from the terminal plates, respectively. A biasing unit is provided for biasing the conductive piece to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Excel Cell Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shu-Wei Ho
  • Patent number: 6924449
    Abstract: A contact pole interrupting device in an electrical switching apparatus composed of a moving contact holder including a cylindrical contact pressure spring, a slide that moves along a longitudinal axis, and a mobile bridge supporting two mobile contacts. The mobile bridge has a central opening in which are inserted two protuberances belonging to the slide and equipped with an outer pin enabling the slide to be clamp-mounted on the mobile bridge. An end of the spring, which rests on the mobile bridge, is kept in a place by a flange on side ends of the slide and is centered by the protuberances of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Duchemin, Bruno Jacquet, Gilles Baurand
  • Patent number: 6919520
    Abstract: With the stoplight switch and method for its mounting in accordance with the present invention, by configuring the stoplight switch in a manner such that a contact section of a spacer projecting out from a through-hole on the side surface of a case is made to come into contact with an end portion of a U-shaped engagement spring that is supported by a sliding body thereby to press the pressing section so as to move the spacer and secure the action rod and the sliding body, mounting work and adjustment of the action rod are made easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kasakawa, Masahiro Hirobe, Toshio Osawa
  • Patent number: 6861605
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes an operating member carrying moving contacts which face, in opposite directions, two rows of fixed contacts. The operating member moves the moving contacts into and out of contact with the fixed contacts. Each moving contact may have opposite ends for contacting two adjacent fixed contacts on a corresponding side of the operating member. Springs provided between the moving contacts and corresponding side of the operating member bias the contact ends into contact with the corresponding rows of fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Defond Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: Kin Yu Wong
  • Patent number: 6525285
    Abstract: A lever switch includes a case, and a stationary contact, common contact, movable contact and lever which are disposed in the case. The movable contact is made up of elastic metal and includes a stationary portion, contact portion, and a curved portion located between the stationary portion and the contact portion. The stationary portion is connected to the common contact. The movable contact is disposed in a state of bending so that the contact portion may come in contact with or apart from the stationary contact. An operating portion is protruded from an opening, and a driving portion is located inside the case and abuts on the curved portion of the movable contact. When the operating portion is manipulated, the driving portion pushes the curved portion, and then the contact portion comes in contact with or apart from the stationary contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuchika Kudo, Kenji Yasufuku, Yusho Nakase
  • Patent number: 6512191
    Abstract: Disclosed is a push-switch that comprises a tubular case, a fixed electrical contact in the tubular case, an operation shaft in the tubular case, a contact piece held by a holding part to the operation shaft, a resilient member for urging the operation shaft, and a cover for closing the tubular case. The holding part defines grooves and a recess between the grooves, and the contact piece has a fixing part positioned within the grooves and a protrusion positioned within the recess. The contact piece also includes an arm having an electrical contact thereon for sliding engagement with the fixed electrical contact upon depression of the operation shaft, and the cover includes an opening. The cover also includes a rib projecting downwardly from a lower side thereof, with an inner side of the rib being flush with a contact surface of the fixed electrical contact. To assemble the push-switch the contact piece is attached to the operation shaft via the holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Makino, Yoshihiko Kamimura
  • Patent number: 6483061
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to three pole plunger switch assembly. The assembly includes a three pole plunger switch and a mating connector. The plunger switch includes a switch housing for supporting components of the plunger switch and a plunger extending into an interior region of the switch housing and being actuatable from outside the switch housing wherein the plunger adapted to move between a normal position and an actuated position. The plunger switch further includes first, second and third electrically conductive wiper contacts mounted to the plunger for movement with the plunger and first, second and third sets of terminals extending into the switch housing interior region. Respective terminals of the first and second terminal sets are substantially aligned. The terminals of the third terminal set are perpendicular to the terminals of the first and second terminal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Michael Eric Liedtke, Jay Dean Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6326570
    Abstract: A pair of stationary contacts is held on the inner wall of a cylindrical case. The case is closed by a cover having a through-hole, and a bearing is fixed on the cover, such that an operation shaft extends through the bearing such as to be vertically displaceable with respect to the case. The operation shaft is biased upwards by a coil spring provided between its lower end and the bottom surface of the case. A contact piece having a plurality of movable contacts is inserted between the lower end of the operation shaft and the spring, such that it makes contact with the stationary contacts and separates therefrom along with the axial movements of the operation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujii, Shoichi Ishihara, Teruhisa Matsushita, Yusaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5836442
    Abstract: A door switch for vehicles which is small in depth, capable of being connected by a coupler, and easy to assemble. The door switch has a male connector recessed portion 3 for being fitted with a female connector. The male connector recessed portion 3 is provided at a location adjacent laterally to a cylindrically formed switch slide chamber 2 of a switch case 1. A switch slider 10 having a push rod 12 projecting from the switch slide chamber 2 is slidably mounted in the switch slide chamber 2 with elastic urging by a coiled spring. A switch is provided wherein a movable electrode 22 provided on the switch slider 10 is movable in a direction of sliding so as to be connected to and disconnected from a fixed electrode 21 provided along an inner wall of the switch slide chamber 2. The fixed electrode 21 is an electrically conductive plate having a first end exposed to an inner wall surface of the switch slide chamber 2 and a second end projected into the male connector recessed portion 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mineo Hirano
  • Patent number: 5828024
    Abstract: A switch includes a resilient contact plate that slides by operating an operating lever such as a pushing lever protruding from a housing. Terminal plates over which the resilient contact plate slides are attached so that the ends protrude into recesses formed in the bottom of the housing. Contact and, contact terminals fit into the recesses of the housing have resilient clamps that resiliently clamp the ends of the terminal plates extending into the recesses and blade terminals of bus bars rising from an insulated base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T an T
    Inventors: Tsunesuke Takano, Kouichi Sinzawa, Yoji Yabata
  • Patent number: 5821490
    Abstract: A switch module for connection to an electrical circuit comprises a manually actuated ON/OFF switch mechanism mounted on a molded plastic case and two or more bus bars built integrally into the structure of the case, as by an insert molding process. The bus bars project out of the case at their ends, the exposed ends serving as terminals for electrical connection with the circuit and as spring contacts within the switch mechanism. The push button switch mechanism is an improvement over prior switches, having a single spring controlling both the push button and the shorting bar, and having positive alignment of the shorting bar and bus bar ends achieved by the pre-positioning of the bus bar ends in direct lateral sliding contact with the push button sidewall and sidewall-mounted shorting bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Blossfeld
  • Patent number: 5727675
    Abstract: A push-push latching switch assembly having a switching member with a pushbutton which is received for sliding movement in a switch housing. The housing has spring tabs for snap locking insertion into a hole in a mounting panel. The switching member has lamps disposed in a receptacle portion beneath the button which has translucent lens portions for illumination by the lamps. The switching member has conductive strips formed by plating over two-shot integrally molded plastic strips, with the conductive strips interconnecting the lamps and wiper contacts attached to the switching member. A conductive wiper member with plural wiper fingers is also attached to the switching member. A base member formed of two-shot molded plastic has conductive switching contact strips formed by plating the second shot molded plastic and which are inserted in the housing, with the base releasably attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Denis J. Leveque, Michael R. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5539169
    Abstract: A switch case 10 is provided with a heart-shaped cam groove member 15 having a cam groove 16 and there is inserted a return spring between the switch case 10 and a contact holder 30. The contact holder 30 is provided with a lock pin 60 having the top end 64 thereof engaged with the cam groove 16. The lock pin 60 has a curved portion 61 adapted to be pressed by a portion of a contact plate 50, wherein the top end 64 of the curved portion 61 is held into engagement with the cam groove 16. As a result, an extra space for the cam groove, 16 is not needed any more on the side of the contact holder 30, contributing to miniaturization of the whole switch assembly. Further since the lock pin 60 is pressed by means of the contact plate 50, it is unnecessary to have an exclusive return spring provided therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Youichi Sekita
  • Patent number: 5528007
    Abstract: A switch comprises a plunger, a retainer, a pair of terminals and an electrically-conducting wiper contact having a curved or bent middle portion defining two oppositely directed legs on either side of the middle portion. The retainer cooperates with the plunger to carry the wiper contact as the plunger moves between a normal and an actuated position. The terminals have facing contact surfaces for biased engagement with the portions of the legs exposed by the plunger and retainer to form an electrical path between the terminals when the plunger is in the actuated position. The plunger and the retainer are coupled together by arms which project from either the plunger or the retainer. The wiper contact is secured between the plunger and retainer without the need for forming a central loop in the wiper contact for engagement by the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Williams, Arthur J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5512723
    Abstract: A switch compartment 20R is formed in a switch body 20 of electrically insulating material and opens at the top surface of the body. First and second fixed contact members 23C, 24C are secured to the opposed inner walls of the compartment. The open top of the compartment is closed by a cover having a through-bore 32 facing the compartment. An actuator 10 is accommodated in the compartment and outwardly biased by a coil spring 26. The actuator 10 comprises a stem portion 13 protruding through the through-bore and a contact holder block 12 joined to the lower end of the stem portion. The holder block has a housing slot 11 extending therethrough from its front end face to its rear end face. The undersurface of the holder block is formed with a guide slit 18 extending therethrough from the front end face to the rear end face in communication with the housing slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Masaharu Joshi
  • Patent number: 5463198
    Abstract: There is provided a switching device in which the interval between a normal-close contact and a normal-open contact and the positions thereof can be arbitrarily set without any constraint of a common contact, and which can perform circuit switching at a desired timing. In the switching device, mounted on an inner bottom plane of a wafer is a common contact on which a good conductive return spring electrically connected to a movable contact for urging a slider in the direction reverse to the depressing direction is laid. A normal-close contact and a normal-open contact are arranged side by side on an inner wall of the wafer, and a resilient piece of the movable contact is in slidable contact with the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Shimaoka
  • Patent number: 5412170
    Abstract: In an electric switch a good gliding behavior between a bridging contact and metal conductors punched out from a sheet metal blank is achieved. For this purpose the metal conductors have at least one projection extending at least over the entire range of motion of the bridging contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Hofmann, Hubert Spazierer, Adam Weber
  • Patent number: 5389758
    Abstract: A miniature pushbutton switch of modular construction is provided. The switch can be readily assembled in an inexpensive manner without need for skilled personnel and without need for any special assembly tooling. In a preferred embodiment, the switch includes respective assemblies each of plastic molded construction which are configured to be snap fitted together for final assembly of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Augat Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Agnatovech
  • Patent number: 5382767
    Abstract: Push-button switches include a housing which defines an interior space and an opposed pair of longitudinally oriented recessed channels. At least upper regions of the recessed channels are open to said defined interior space. A pair of elongate fixed contact strips are each positioned within a respective one of the defined recessed channels, the fixed contact strips being of a sufficient length so that a terminal end portion thereof is disposed in the open upper region of the recessed channel to thereby be exposed to the interior space of the housing. In this regard, the housing preferably includes interior cover walls covering a major extent of the recessed channels so that the terminal end portions of the fixed contact strips positioned therewithin are exposed to the defined housing interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Daiichi Denso Buhin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunesuke Takano, Kouichi Sinzawa
  • Patent number: 5369238
    Abstract: A spring-return switch comprises: a case; a common contact embedded in the inner surface of one of the opposite side walls of the case; a transfer contact embedded in the inner surface of the other side wall opposite to the common contact; a slider supported for vertical movement within the case and integrally provided with an operating rod; a movable contact held by the slider and having a base portion held by the slider, a first contact arm in continuous contact with the common contact and a second contact arm to be brought into contact with or to be separated from the transfer contact; and a return spring biasing the slider upward so that the slider is pressed resiliently against the inner surface of the upper wall of the case. The operating rod is dislocated from the center of the slider toward the transfer contact so that most part of pressure applied to the operating rod to depress the slider is exerted on the second contact arm of the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Hirata
  • Patent number: 5326952
    Abstract: This is an electric switch having an actuator with a transversely located movable contact moving within a housing having two parallel fixed contacts, the actuator includes projections from the exterior walls thereof, which ride in cutaways formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: C & K Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Ipcinski
  • Patent number: 5262606
    Abstract: A push-button switch is provided which includes a base plate having terminals extending therethrough and solderable in a p.c. board. A housing is subsequently snap-assembled with the base plate and carries a push-button member which is reciprocable when manually pushed. Cam tracks are provided in the housing and a cam follower lever is pivotally mounted on the push-button member. The lever is accessible through an aperture in the housing for engagement with either of the cam tracks. One of the cam tracks produces momentary action, while the other produces alternate action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Tony R. Benson, Bruce L. Graham, John C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5241146
    Abstract: A contact-type switch is provided that includes a housing and, disposed in the housing, a plunger having a long-stroke configuration. Essentially immediately after a shifting out of an outer end position and in a direction that is essentially in the direction of a central axis of the housing, the plunger breaks at least one switch contact that is disposed in the housing. A specific displacement path or dead travel is carried out by the plunger between its outer end position and the position where the switch contact is broken. Both the plunger and a region of the housing where the plunger enters the same have an essentially at least five-sided cross-sectional configuration, with this entry region forming a first guide for the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventor: Wolfgang Priesemuth
  • Patent number: 5221816
    Abstract: A switch comprises a plunger, a retainer, a pair of terminals and an electrically-conducting wiper contact having a curved or bent middle portion defining two oppositely directed legs on either side of the middle portion. The retainer cooperates with the plunger to carry the wiper contact as the plunger moves between a normal and an actuated position. The terminals have facing contact surfaces for biased engagement with the portions of the legs exposed by the plunger and retainer to form an electrical path between the terminals when the plunger is in the actuated position. The plunger and the retainer are coupled together by arms which project from either the plunger or the retainer. The wiper contact is secured between the plunger and retainer without the need for forming a central loop in the wiper contact for engagement by the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5220274
    Abstract: An electrical switch usable in an electrical test probe has electrical contact pads formed on a substrate acting as fixed electrical switch contacts. A frame member is laterally disposed from the fixed electrical switch contacts. An actuator is disposed within the frame member having a movable switch pole contact extending from the actuator past the frame member for wipingly engaging the fixed electrical contacts on the substrate as the actuator is moved between first and second switch positions. For use in a switchable passive voltage probe, the electrical switch is formed on a circuit board that is disposed in an electrically conductive tubular body. Insulating material surrounds the fixed switch contacts on the circuit board to electrically isolate the contacts from the tubular body. The switch pole contact reaches into the electrically isolated region to perform the switching function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Nightingale, Jonathan E. Myers
  • Patent number: 5201410
    Abstract: Push-button switches are provided with a housing having opposed pairs of side walls defining an interior space, and an opposed pair of fixed contact members. A push-button assembly is received within the interior space of the housing for reciprocal movements between extended and retracted positions. The push-button assembly including a pair of opposed side windows having lower extents established by a bridge wall. A spring exerts a bias force to move the push-button assembly into its extended position. A generally inverted V-shaped slide contact member is movable with the push-button assembly between its extended and retracted positions, and includes a pair of resilient legs each having an outwardly curved contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Daichi Denso Buhin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunesuke Takano, Kouichi Sinzawa
  • Patent number: 5199558
    Abstract: The invention is based on an electric push button switch, especially a hazard-warning-signal switch for motor vehicles. This switch comprises a socket with stationary contacts, a cap-like linearly actuable push button and a slide which is at least partly located inside the push button and is movable in the direction of motion of the push button together with the push button. In order to obtain a compact construction of the electric push button switch, the slide is held on the push button at a distance from a first side wall of the push button and the socket projects into the push button and is substantially located there between the slide and the first side wall of the push button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Neubauer
  • Patent number: 5153401
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a base, a sliding block, two short circuit metal pieces, contact metal pieces, and a cover. The base is provided at a central portion of the top surface thereof a rectangular slot including therein a sliding block. Located at both sides of the sliding block are short circuit metal pieces. Located at both sides of the rectangular slot are several depressions arranged in a side-by-side manner and connected with the rectangular slot. The depressions include therein the contact metal pieces of triangular construction. The short circuit metal pieces make contact with the contact metal pieces adjacent to each other. The top of the base is provided with a cover. The sliding block is capable of moving in the rectangular slot so as to trigger the short circuit metal pieces to make contact with the contact metal pieces located at different positions in order to carry out the function of circuit switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventor: Tien-Fu Tseng
  • Patent number: 5118301
    Abstract: An electrical connector device has first and second male terminal sets adapted to couple with matched female connector devices. The electrical connector device has particular utility in coupling an auxiliary generator with female power take off receptacles to a conventional receptacle in a wiring circuit. The device includes a switch mechanism associated with each terminal set to avoid exposure of energized terminals. The switch mechanism preferably takes the form of a plunger which is reciprocable between a retracted position and an extended position. In moving the plunger between its retracted and extended positions the plunger "makes" and "brakes" contact respectively for its associated terminal set with internal conductors in the connector device. The electrical connector device is adapted for all types of electrical power connections, including conventional 110 volt and 220 volt circuit receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Valentino Bentivolio
  • Patent number: 5111011
    Abstract: The disclosed slide action selector switch, which is adapted to switch the connections of four push button switches between left and right mirror motors, comprises an insulating plate with an elongated guide flange projecting therefrom and having a T-shaped cross section. First and second sets of electrical contacts are mounted along the plate on opposite sides of the flange for sliding engagement by first and second contactors on an insulating carriage having a T-shaped channel slidably receiving and interlocking with the flange. Springs are provided on the carriage for biasing the contactors against the contacts while biasing the carriage away from the plate. A detent ball is disposed in a seat formed in a leaf spring on the carriage and is biased by the leaf spring against the flange for reception in successive detent recesses therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Indak Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Wesley D. Roswold
  • Patent number: 5107085
    Abstract: Clustered push button switches are provided in a casing having an insulating mounting plate with openings therein for guiding push button shafts which carry U-shaped spring contactors having respective first and second contactor arms. Front and rear sheet metal conductors are mounted on front and rear sides of the plate and are formed with front and rear contact tabs extending into the openings and successively engageable by the first contactor arms. The front contact tabs are bent rearwardly from the front sheet metal conductors. The rear contact tabs are bent forwardly from the rear sheet metal conductors. Additional sheet metal conductors are mounted on one side of the plate and are formed with elongated additional contact tabs extending into the openings for constant sliding engagement by the second conductor arms. The additional contact tabs are bent from the additional conductors in a substantially rectangular relation thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Indak Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Wesley D. Roswold
  • Patent number: 5068506
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Akira Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5047603
    Abstract: An electrical contact mechanism for low power circuits includes a pair of movable contacts which can be pressed against fixed contacts. The movable contacts are mounted on a conductive bridge which is movable by a slider. The motion of the movable contacts is imparted in two directions, of which one is parallel to a motion direction of the slider carrying the conductive bridge, and another direction is approximately perpendicular with respect to the first direction due to a wedging action between the movable and fixed contacts which are positioned obliquely to the direction of movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: CGE Compagnia Generale Elettromeccanica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco P. Pardini
  • Patent number: 5008505
    Abstract: A self-resetting push switch includes a closed-end insulating housing having first and second pairs of opposing inner wall surfaces. First grooves are formed on the first pair of surfaces, while a second groove having a projection is formed on at least one of the second pair of surfaces. First and second movable contact pieces project outwardly from a sliding sleeve being integral with an operation rod and having at least one engagement piece engageable with the projection of the second groove. The movable contact pieces are capable of coming into sliding contact with a first stationary contact piece inserted in one of the first grooves, and a second stationary contact piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Daiichi Denso Buhin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunesuke Takano, Kouichi Shinzawa
  • Patent number: 4996400
    Abstract: A switch plunger is covered at its exposed end with a serrated cap which is ratchetable over the end of the plunger. The plunger is axially slidable within a housing upon which is mounted a selectively operable locking pin. The locking pin may be actuated during installation of the switch so as to fix the relative position of the plunger within the housing during installation. This initial setting of the plunger within the housing also aligns a pair of electrical contacts mounted on the plunger with cooperating circuitry mounted within the housing. The switch is initially installed and calibrated simply by engaging the lock pin with the plunger and inserting the switch within an aperature formed in a cover or housing and abutting the cap with a switch actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Ricci, Wallace E. Gebhardt
  • Patent number: 4916276
    Abstract: A push lock mechanism including a heart-shaped cam groove, a driving pin adapted to trace in the heart-shaped cam groove, and an axially reciprocatable operation shaft adapted to be locked in a depressed position thereof by cooperation of the heart-shaped cam groove and the driving pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co.,
    Inventor: Shiniji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4874912
    Abstract: A hook switch has a box-shaped body an an open end. Within the box-shaped body there is fixed at least one contact piece, and extending from the box-shaped body is an arm on which an actuator is rotatably mounted. A slider is received within the box-shaped body. This slider has a spring biased protrusion with a spherical top which extends through a hole in a cover of the box-shaped body and is engaged by the actuator and displaced against the spring bias. In the process, a movable contact piece mounted on the slider engages a corresponding fixed contact piece mounted within the box-shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kakuta, Hiroyuki Nagano
  • Patent number: 4795863
    Abstract: An electrical switch which includes a casing, a pair of fixed contacts each formed by cutting a rod member into a predetermined length, and disposed in the casing to confront each other, a plunger slidably accommodated in the casing for movement in an axial direction, bearing members slidably supporting the plunger, a movable contact formed by cutting a rod member into a predetermined length and mounted to an intermediate portion of the plunger in a direction intersecting with the fixed contacts, and a return spring directed around the outer periphery of the plunger. The movable contact is restored together with the plunger to close the pair of fixed contacts in a free state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tomizu, Kunio Nagata