Leaf Spring Contact Patents (Class 200/535)
  • Patent number: 11896873
    Abstract: A cardiovascular exercise device is provided. The cardiovascular exercise device is for use to administer an exercise program including shuttle runs. The cardiovascular exercise device includes: a tower placeable at a first location; a user input associated with the tower; a pacing bar arranged to display a target pace of a user for a shuttle run of a track distance from the first location; and a processor configured to operate an exercise program. The administration of the exercise program includes the steps of: receiving a signal from the user input; defining a repetition as the time between subsequent signals from the user input; and indicating pacing information to the user based upon this signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Williams
  • Patent number: 11800000
    Abstract: An electronic terminal includes a main body having a groove, and a main unit keyboard. A through hole is defined in a bottom of the groove. A main board is provided in the main body. A first connector is provided on a side of the main board facing away from the groove. The main unit keyboard includes a key part and a flexible circuit board connected to each other. An end of the flexible circuit board that faces away from the key part is provided with a second connector configured to match the first connector. The key part is received in the groove. The flexible circuit board passes through the through hole and extends into an inside of the main body. The second connector is fastened to the first connector. A mobile phone is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Jie Li
  • Patent number: 10712119
    Abstract: An interactive device for improving accuracy in archery and similar endeavors is provided. In some embodiments, a deformable device is provided that is operable to communicate with an archery bow and receive force during use of the bow. The deformable device is operable to deflect in a manner that produces an audible and tactile signal to a user. The signal may correspond to an appropriate amount of string tension or draw, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Clum, Alexander Marlon Droessler, Robert Gould
  • Patent number: 10283286
    Abstract: A switch element for use in a potentially explosive area is disclosed. The switch element has a base plate, a housing connected to the base plate and forming a cavity between the base plate and the housing, the cavity communicating with an area exterior of the switch element through an opening formed in either the base plate or the housing, and a plurality of contacts for closing and opening an electrical circuit disposed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Kroepfl
  • Patent number: 9824839
    Abstract: A circuit breaker neutral connector assembly is provided. Circuit breaker neutral connector assembly includes a neutral connector including a first side configured to make electrical connection with a neutral bar, a shield of an insulating material abutting a second side of the neutral connector opposite the first side, and a bias spring abutting the shield and configured to bias the neutral connector relative to a circuit breaker housing. Electronic circuit breakers including a circuit breaker neutral connector assembly and methods of making neutral connections are provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Russell Thomas Watford
  • Patent number: 9218926
    Abstract: A normally-closed switch comprises: a housing; a push button that is mounted for movement with respect to the housing; a stationary terminal; a moveable terminal that, when in contact with the stationary terminal, completes a circuit; and one or more positive stops that engage the stationary terminal. When a force is applied to the push button, the moveable terminal breaks contact with the stationary terminal, thus opening the circuit. The one or more positive stops apply pressure to and maintain a predetermined position of the stationary terminal, but do not interfere with or impede the moveable terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: E.M.B. Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony E. Pierce
  • Patent number: 9063705
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame forming a bay for receiving an electronic module having a blind mate connector for coupling with a chassis connector. An actuator is slidably secured to the frame and forms a push button, an intermediate actuation member, and a distal actuation member. A spring latch is biased to latch the module in place. An ejection lever is pivotally secured to one side of the bay, and has a first end aligned with the distal actuation member and a second end disposed to engage the module. Pushing the push button causes the intermediate actuation member to withdraw the spring latch from the bay and then causes the distal actuation member to pivot the ejection lever to unseat and eject the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven E. Howell, Joseph H. McKenzie, Camillo Sassano, Jared E. Schott
  • Patent number: 8895881
    Abstract: A power window switch has a case, a substrate disposed in the case, a window operation knob disposed on the case, a window lock button disposed on a front side of the window operation knob on the case, a window operation switch mechanism disposed in the case and activated in accordance with an operation of the window operation knob, a window lock switch mechanism disposed in the case and activated in accordance with an operation of the window lock button, and a connector having a terminal with a first terminal end protruding from the case and a second terminal end connected to the substrate. The window lock switch mechanism includes two conductive plate springs, and a pressing unit for pressing the plate springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nose, Manabu Sakai, Yasuhide Tanaka, Hidetoshi Yoshikawa, Akira Goto, Shiho Nakano, Takuya Nishioka, Tomohiro Takahashi, Yoshifumi Ohwa, Keiichi Shimizu, Daisuke Kitagawa, Kosuke Hirano, Masahiko Hara, Hiroaki Ohta
  • Patent number: 8766126
    Abstract: A push button switch 1 is so constructed as to disengage the movable contacts 55b, 56b from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a through operation of the push button 2 held in the switch case 3. A first leaf spring 550 is provided in the switch case 3 to act as an opening-biasing means to bias the movable contacts 55b, 56b away from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a. The movable contact 55b is disposed at an end of the first leaf spring 550 and adapted to engage with and disengage from the fixed contact 55a. The first leaf spring 550 is adapted to be at a position where the movable contact 55b is open relative to and disengaged from the fixed contact 55a at zero displacement of the first leaf spring 550.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawaguchi, Masazumi Taniguchi, Atsushi Matsumoto, Masashi Fujimoto, Yasuo Onishi
  • Publication number: 20140174901
    Abstract: A keyboard button structure includes a flexible board and a key cap. The flexible board includes an hollow-out body, a first support portion, a second support portion, and an extending arm including a conducting contact. The first supporting is connected to the hollow-out body. A first perpendicular distance is formed between the first support portion and the hollow-out body. The second support portion is connected to the first support portion. The extending arm is connected to the second support portion. A second perpendicular distance is formed between the extending arm and the hollow-out body. The key cap is fixed to the first and the second support portions, and is rotatably coupled to the hollow-out body. When the key cap is moved in a direction toward the hollow-out body by an external force, the extending arm is moved in the direction with the key cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Chih-An Lin
  • Publication number: 20140151213
    Abstract: Provided is a pushbutton switch that can be made thin without requiring that a notch be made into a mounting board. The pushbutton switch is provided with a first substrate having a housing recess part located on a surface of the first substrate, a center contact provided at roughly the center of the interior of the housing recess part, a pair of peripheral contacts provided on peripheral edge parts of the housing recess part, a movable contact spring that is installed on the pair of peripheral contacts and that touches the center contact upon being pressed, and a second substrate, which is provided with a pair of connection pads electrically connected to the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: CITIZEN ELECTRONCIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140042006
    Abstract: A microswitch comprises an accommodation room thereinside, a common terminal, an NC terminal and an NO terminal that are extended from the accommodation room, and a pressing element. The accommodation room further holds an operating element and an elastic element. The operating element has a pressed member located at one side of the common terminal and compressed by the pressing element, and a conduction member located at another side of the common terminal and interposed between the NC terminal and NO terminal. The elastic element is arranged between the common terminal and the conduction member, and has a first fixing portion coupled to the common terminal and a second fixing portion coupled to the conduction member. The operating element is normally supported by the elastic element to contact the NC terminal and pushed down by the pressing element to disconnect from the NC terminal and contact the NO terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Ching-Hsin Lin, King-Long Lee
  • Publication number: 20130008768
    Abstract: A switch has a first leaf spring having a first contact, the first contact being formed in a V shape and including two inclined surfaces, a second leaf spring having a second contact facing the first contact, the second contact being formed in a convex shape and including vertexes facing the inclined surfaces, respectively; and a pressing unit that presses the first leaf spring or the second leaf spring. When the pressing unit presses the first leaf spring or the second leaf spring, the inclined surface on a first side of the first contact and the vertex on a first side of the second contact come in contact with each other, and the vertex on the first side of the second contact slides on the inclined surface on the first side of the first contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nose, Manabu Sakai, Yasuhide Tanaka, Akira Goto, Hidetoshi Yoshikawa, Takuya Nishioka, Shiho Nakano
  • Patent number: 8315050
    Abstract: An ornament attachment mechanism includes a base, a cover, and a post. The base defines a cavity, a first through hole, and a second through hole. The first through hole is coaxial with the second through hole, and the cavity communicates with the first through hole and the second through hole. The cover defines a recessed portion. The post includes a body and a head. The body passes through the second through hole and the second through hole. The head is received in the recessed portion and is retained by the base and the cover. An electronic device using the ornament attachment mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bao-Shuai Liu, Wen-Yan Yang
  • Publication number: 20120228108
    Abstract: A push button switch 1 is so constructed as to disengage the movable contacts 55b, 56b from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a through operation of the push button 2 held in the switch case 3. A first leaf spring 550 is provided in the switch case 3 to act as an opening-biasing means to bias the movable contacts 55b, 56b away from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a. The movable contact 55b is disposed at an end of the first leaf spring 550 and adapted to engage with and disengage from the fixed contact 55a. The first leaf spring 550 is adapted to be at a position where the movable contact 55b is open relative to and disengaged from the fixed contact 55a at zero displacement of the first leaf spring 550.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawaguchi, Masazumi Taniguchi, Atsushi Matsumoto, Masashi Fujimoto, Yasuo Onishi
  • Patent number: 7538291
    Abstract: A micro switch includes a base, a common terminal, a normally open terminal, a normally close terminal, a top cover, a pressing element, a resilient piece and a cushioning pad. The cushioning pad is disposed on an inner surface of the top cover. By means of the cushioning pad, the noise generated during operation of the micro switch is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Chih Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080296141
    Abstract: An electrode is disposed on the upper surface of a printed circuit board, and a bowl-shaped metal dome is disposed so as to cover the electrode. An elastic, deformable push switch sheet is disposed on the metal dome. A convex section that protrudes downward is disposed in the push sheet in an area directly above the center portion of the metal dome. Formed in the area surrounding the convex section on the push switch sheet is a notch whereby the portion in which the convex section is formed is partitioned off in the form of a cantilever brace from the other portions of the push switch sheet. The notch is disposed outside of the portion that corresponds to the directly underlying area of the key top. The outside edge of the key top is thereby positioned inside the cantilever brace section in a plan view. In this manner, it is possible to reduce the required pressing force and obtain a good perception of key operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Toshinobu Ogatsu, Yoshihide Saida
  • Publication number: 20080217155
    Abstract: An electrical switch system may include a contact-bearing support configured to delimit a recess in a substantially horizontal bottom, wherein at least two fixed electrical contacts are positioned in the recess. Additionally, the electrical switch system may include at least one dome-shaped first triggering device configured to be elastically deformable from a top rest position to form an electrical link between the at least two fixed electrical contacts. The electrical switch system may also include an actuating push-button mounted to be displaced substantially vertically downward relative to the support. Further, the electrical switch system may include a mechanism configured to return the push-button to the rest position and an elastic element configured to exert an elastic force on the push-button, wherein the elastic force is directed upward when the push-button is displaced downward beyond a contact position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20080135394
    Abstract: A switch system for use with a printed circuit board is provided. The switch system includes: a switch base; an anti-overstress member or feature formed in the switch base; a plurality of retention legs formed in the base for retaining a printed circuit board, wherein a first via is in electrical communication with one of the plurality of retention legs; a spring-loaded contact formed in the base for contacting the anti-overstress feature, and wherein a second via is in electrical communication with the spring-loaded contact. A printed circuit board may be mounted in and attached to the plurality of retention legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Wayne Walker
  • Patent number: 7256362
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter switch for use in a medical or surgical device has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing with a perimeter and an opening in an axial direction. The housing has a pattern along the perimeter. A spring is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, and is pre-stressed for movement in a radial direction and pre-stressed for movement in the axial direction. The spring has a radial member protruding through the pattern of the housing. A plunger is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, abutting the spring for urging the spring in the axial direction and for moving the member in the pattern along the perimeter. After a pre-determined number of activations of the plunger in the axial direction, the member will come to a terminating position and will either contact a pin to establish electrical continuity or at the terminating position break electrical continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Aaron T. Fine, Joseph R. Layton
  • Patent number: 6846996
    Abstract: A mechanical limiter switch for use in a medical or surgical device has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing with a perimeter and an opening in an axial direction. The housing has a pattern along the perimeter. A spring is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, and is pre-stressed for movement in a radial direction and pre-stressed for movement in the axial direction. The spring has a radial member protruding through the pattern of the housing. A plunger is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, abutting the spring for urging the spring in the axial direction and for moving the member in the pattern along the perimeter. After a pre-determined number of activations of the plunger in the axial direction, the member will come to a terminating position and will either contact a pin to establish electrical continuity or at the terminating position break electrical continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Medconx, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Kent, James J. Levante, Aaron T. Fine, Joseph R. Layton
  • Patent number: 6657143
    Abstract: The size of the key switch apparatus, particularly its height, is reduced to allow its use even in keyboard-type electronic musical instruments. By virtue of a key-driven actuator, multiple terminal strips are allowed to contact bus bars installed in more than one stage so as to produce multiple tones simultaneously. In this key switch apparatus, the multiple bus bars are installed, being shifted in location in their respective stages, and multiple terminal strips are also installed in each stage so that they may contact the individual bus bars individually. In addition, the actuator has a terminal-strip engaging means for controlling the movements of the multiple terminal strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suzuki Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Minoru Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6495780
    Abstract: A sealed switch has two switch contacts arranged inside a cavity formed in a molded switch body and the terminal connection for each switch contact are also arranged in respective cavities in the switch body. The switch contacts are sealed by a rigid sheet material that is adhered to the bottom of the switch body and a flexible sheet material that is clamped to the top of the switch body by a spring-like metal element that includes an actuator arm arranged adjacent the moveable one of the two switch contacts. Upon depression of the actuator arm, the flexible sheet material is deformed and a moving force is applied to the moveable switch contact to make a switch connection. The cavities housing the terminal connections are covered by a pierceable insulating material, so that connection pins on a circuit board pass through the insulating material and engage with the terminal connections during mounting of the sealed switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Micro Contacts, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tucci, Curt Delanoy
  • Patent number: 6466118
    Abstract: A magnetically coupled pushbutton switch has a coupler magnet layer that normally holds an electrically conductive magnetic armature spaced from a substrate layer. An overlay having an overlay electrical conductor formed thereon covers the pushbutton switch. The overlay electrical conductor, which electrically contacts a crown on the armature, is part of a set of electrical conductors that is normally closed. When a user provided actuation force causes the armature to break away from the coupler magnet layer, the set of electrical conductors is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Duraswitch Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Van Zeeland, David VanZoest
  • Patent number: 6326568
    Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a first switch contact having a base and an integral first contact arm folded over the base. The contact arm has an upwardly facing contact surface. A second switch contact arm includes a base and an integral spring contact arm folded into cantilevered position over the base. The spring contact arm has a distal end folded thereunder to define a downwardly facing contact surface opposing the upwardly facing contact surface and spaced therefrom in a normally open condition of the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Roberto Martucci, Mario Previato, Gianni Zuin
  • Patent number: 6326572
    Abstract: A push-button switch assembly mainly comprises a push button, a switch casing, a positioning lever, and a resilient contact piece, wherein the push button is depressed for positioning a protruding portion of the positioning lever to interact with a, polygonal volute stairway mechanism disposed laterally in the push button, and the bottom end of the push button will prop or release the resilient contact piece directly to conductively actuate a power supply or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6107586
    Abstract: A push-on switch includes a casing made of insulating material and having an inner bottom surface. First fixed contacts are provided on the inner bottom surface of the casing. Second fixed contacts are provided on the inner bottom surface of the casing. Movable contacts have base portions and resilient contact arms. The base portions are placed on and electrically connected to the first fixed contacts respectively. The resilient contact arms extend from the base portions to regions above the second fixed contacts respectively. A dome-shaped spring member made of resilient insulating material has a top portion, a conical portion, and a lower end. The top portion and the lower end are connected by the conical portion. The lower end is placed on the base portions of the movable contacts. The top portion has a lower surface located above free ends of the resilient contact arms of the movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatsugu Takeuchi, Hisashi Watanabe, Hiroshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 6096990
    Abstract: A cheaply assemblable appliance switch has a housing with walls defining a cavity opening rearward and an aperture forward in which an actuator is captured. Mid portions of terminal pieces which are wider than inner portions are affixed in the housing in slots with retaining lips spaced apart by more than the width of inner portions of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Jorge Orlando Marin
  • Patent number: 6087606
    Abstract: A waterproof switch has a single contact arranged in a sealed housing, with an actuator arm protruding from one end and electrical terminals protruding from an opposite end. The single contact is arranged close to a metal portion that is moved by the actuator into mechanical and electrical contact with the single contact. The sealed housing is formed of two pieces that are attached by a heat activated adhesive. The switch can be assembled by forming the metal switch parts on a long strip and subsequently, following the assembly of the housing, the small metal portions joining the switch parts are sheared away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Micro Contacts Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Simpson
  • Patent number: 6064016
    Abstract: A switch is provided that includes a circuit board support (12) with a contact bump (24, 26) thereon, and a sheet metal terminal (16) having a deflectable blade (20,22) with an elongated H-shaped slot (70). The slot forms rear and front tines (72, 74) with adjacent free ends (84, 86) that lie over the bump, to contact the bump when the front end of the blade is allowed to move towards the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Zoltan Muzslay
  • Patent number: 5671841
    Abstract: A switching mechanism comprising a housing, a spring, first and second movable contacts mechanically attached to the spring, first and second substantially fixed contacts attached to the housing, and an actuator is provided. The spring comprises first and second edges substantially fixed to the housing. In a rest position the first and second movable contacts do not electrically contact the first and second substantially fixed contacts, respectively. The actuator centrally actuates the spring to cause the first and second movable contacts to move in the same direction as the central portion of the spring and to electrically contact the first and second substantially fixed contacts.The spring is preferably a snap spring shaped in the form of a cross comprising a column member and first and second protruding wings. The first and second movable contacts are preferably mechanically and electrically connected to the first and second protruding wings respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Calculagraph Co.
    Inventor: Richard Owen Glasson
  • Patent number: 5566819
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lustgarten, John A. Stuhlmacher, Jon Kretzmann, Elmer Martin
  • Patent number: 5545864
    Abstract: A push button switch (3) encounters, during a stroke of a push rod (6) thereof, a pressure point (D), a switching (contact-making) movement, and a return tension. A one-piece spring element (16) is provided for achieving this with an uncomplicated structure, with a short stroke, and with a reliable contact once the pressure point has been overcome. The one-piece spring element has, between a contact arm (26) and a return arm (21), hairpin-shaped bent guide legs (17, 18). A sloping step (24) formed on at least one of the guide legs creates the pressure point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Gerold Eckert, Edgar Maisch, Anton R uttiger
  • Patent number: 5488213
    Abstract: A key switch which is particularly suitable for low profile keyboards includes a plunger whose contacting movement is converted by means of trigger cams into a movement perpendicularly to the plunger movement for switching a contactor which is movable relative to a stationary contact element, the contactor being formed as annular sheet metal part which is elongate in a direction normal to the switching movement and due to its length can accommodate relatively high stress without material fatigue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Cherry Mikroschalter GmbH
    Inventor: Jorg Dittrich
  • Patent number: 5448032
    Abstract: A contact unit for a switch comprises: a wafer comprising a first terminal, a second terminal separated from the first terminal, and a fixed contact having the shape of a spring metal clip and electrically connected to the first terminal; an elastic movable contact electrically connected to the second terminal and capable of being brought into contact with the fixed contact; and an actuator for applying pressure to the elastic movable contact to bring the elastic movable contact into contact with the fixed contact. The second terminal is a portion of a spring metal frame, and the elastic movable contact is formed by bending a portion of the same spring metal frame. The first terminal, the second terminal, the fixed contact and the elastic movable contact are combined by insert molding to form the integral contact unit. Thus, the elastic movable contact is never disconnected from the second terminal, the contact unit is highly reliable and the contact unit can be readily applied to various kinds of switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Wagatuma
  • Patent number: 5061094
    Abstract: In a keyboard for typewriters, printers or the like, where a contact bearing film is disposed underneath the keys, there is provided for achieving a cost-efficient arrangement, while avoiding the use of separate restoring springs, that the contact bearing film (10) has U-shaped cut-outs (11) in the area of the keys (1), the film tongues (12) are bent by 180.degree. and are acted upon by the key tappet (3) of the keys (1), the contacts (14, 15) formed between the base of the film, the underside of the film tongue (12), and the film tongue (12) act at the same time as a restoring spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Ta Triumph-Alder AG
    Inventors: Gunter Buttner, Friedrich Forschner, Manfred Fuchtenkort, Rudolf Schmeykal, Alfred Wieland
  • Patent number: 5012495
    Abstract: An improved device for protecting an electrical load from a current overload combines an electrical switch and a re-settable circuit breaker in a single housing. The device avoids the use of gate plates, visually alerts an operator to the existence of a tripped conditions, and provides automatically self-aligning, evenly-wearing contacts for the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Eagle Electric Mfg. Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Munroe, Christopher J. Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 4987681
    Abstract: A hand-held cordless grass/weed trimmer having a plurality of detachable hub assemblies holding the cutting element by compression, and a rake-like guard member for the rotating cutting element which prevents large size obstacles from entering into the cutting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold L. Sepke