Housing And Actuator Form Detent Patents (Class 200/548)
  • Patent number: 9108308
    Abstract: A switch operation device is for switching between two or more speed change modes of a speed change mechanism by switching a position of a component for use in speed change included in the speed change mechanism, and includes: a main member that is movable between two positions in the switch operation device in an operating direction; a click spring for stopping the main member at one of the two positions; a switch spring that switches the position of the component in conjunction with movement of the main member; a first holding member provided in the main member, and holds the click spring; and a second holding member provided in the main member, and holds the switch spring, wherein when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction, the first holding and second holding members at least partially overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Patent number: 9048033
    Abstract: An electrical switch is disclosed, including a switch housing and a busbar routed through a housing opening in the switch housing. In at least one embodiment, a contact element is present for making electrical contact with the busbar, the contact element being clamped in between the busbar and the switch housing in the housing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Andre Borgwardt, Alexander Kupsch
  • Patent number: 8987623
    Abstract: A slide switch capable of enhancing the accuracy of detecting a slide operation position of a slide lever and the operability of the slide lever without increasing the number of components and an installation space for the slide switch. An elastically-deformable click portion is disposed on a line passing through the center of a slide shaft of the slide lever and extending in a sliding direction in which the slide lever slides, moves integrally with the slide lever, and gets over a convex portion formed in a base member to generate a click force. In an accommodation space which accommodates the click portion and a plurality of armature portions, the click portion and one armature portion of the plurality of armature portions are separated from each other by a first partition, and the click portion and the other armature portion are separated from each other by a second partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Koiwai
  • Patent number: 8964352
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a housing having housing sidewalls. A plate may be connected between a pair of the sidewalls. An audio jack may be mounted to the plate. A microphone may be mounted within the device between the audio jack and a given one of the sidewalls. A vibrator may be mounted between one of the sidewalls and the audio jack using a bracket. The vibrator may have a weight that is tapered along its length. A button may be formed in an opening in one of the housing sidewalls. The button may have a button member with a protrusion that extends through a button opening in the sidewall. A support structure may be interposed between a switch and the button member. The switch may have a portion that extends through an opening in the support structure and that is actuated by the button member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Trent Weber, Michael B. Wittenberg, Michelle A. Yu
  • Patent number: 8872053
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing with an opening. A button may be formed within the electronic device. The button may have a button member that is actuated by a user. The button member may translate within an opening in the electronic device housing when actuated by a user. The button may have a shaft that is coupled to the button member by a coupling mechanism. When the button member is laterally translated within the opening, the coupling mechanism may rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis. The button may be provided with detents using a detent biasing mechanism. The detent biasing mechanism may be based on a spring having grooves that interact with a protrusion on the shaft or a spring-loaded pin that engages recesses in the shaft. A switch mechanism for the button may be formed using traces on the shaft, spring-type switch contacts, and other structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael B. Wittenberg
  • Publication number: 20140291135
    Abstract: A slide switch includes a case forming an accommodation space, a first contact disposed in the accommodation space, a second contact disposed in the accommodation space, a third contact disposed in the accommodation space, and a slider fixed to the third contact. The slider is movable between a first position in which the first contact and the second contact are electrically insulated from each other and a second position in which the first contact and the second contact are electrically connected to each other via the third contact. The case includes a projection supporting the third contact in a normal direction of a plane which includes a moving path of the slider in the accommodation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8624139
    Abstract: A key button mechanism includes a retaining board, a sliding board, a key button and a stopping member. The sliding board is slidably mounted to the retaining board. The sliding board is capable of sliding between a first configuration and a second configuration. The key button is fixed to the sliding board so the key button can be slid relative to the retaining board. The stopping member is located between the retaining board and the sliding board. The stopping member, which can be overcome with fingernail pressure, holds the sliding board in either the first configuration or the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Guo-Zhao Huang
  • Publication number: 20130248341
    Abstract: A switch includes a fixed contact fixed in a container in which an insulating gas is filled and a movable contact provided to be reciprocatingly movable with respect to the fixed contact and configured to come into contact with and separate from the fixed contact. The switch further comprises a pin provided in the container and configured to move along an arcuate track. A groove in which the pin is fit and is movable is formed in the movable contact. The groove includes a linear groove linearly extending substantially perpendicularly to a moving direction of the movable contact and substantially in parallel to a plane including the moving track of the pin and an arcuate groove that communicates with the linear groove and overlaps the moving track of the pin. The pin moves in the linear groove, whereby the movable contact reciprocatingly moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Harada, Masato Kawahigashi
  • Publication number: 20130213786
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a first positioning component, a second positioning component, a key switch and a key mechanism. The first and second positioning components are arranged in the housing. The key mechanism is movably secured to the housing and includes an actuating component slidably arranged on an inner surface of the housing and capable of triggering the key switch when sliding relative to the inner surface. The first and second positioning components abut opposite sides of the actuating component for preventing the actuating component from shimmying when the actuating component slides relative to the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: JIAN-YONG YANG
  • Publication number: 20130118882
    Abstract: A switch operation device is for switching between two or more speed change modes of a speed change mechanism by switching a position of a component for use in speed change included in the speed change mechanism, and includes: a main member that is movable between two positions in the switch operation device in an operating direction; a click spring for stopping the main member at one of the two positions; a switch spring that switches the position of the component in conjunction with movement of the main member; a first holding member provided in the main member, and holds the click spring; and a second holding member provided in the main member, and holds the switch spring, wherein when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction, the first holding and second holding members at least partially overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: PANASONIC CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8436266
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a circuit board with a changeover switch and a housing having two surfaces extending in parallel and a side surface connecting edges of the two surfaces, holding the circuit board with a space between the circuit board and the housing and having an opening for operation at a portion which faces the changeover switch. A housed part at a position between one side of the circuit board and the side surface of the housing, prevents the changeover switch from being visually recognized through the opening. An operation member includes an operation piece placed outside the side surface of the housing to receive a slide operation, and an operation arm extends inside the housing from the operation piece through the opening, bypassing the housed part to come in contact with the changeover switch. The changeover switch is switchable when the operation piece receives the slide operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Iijima, Yuta Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20130026025
    Abstract: A slide switch capable of enhancing the accuracy of detecting a slide operation position of a slide lever and the operability of the slide lever without increasing the number of components and an installation space for the slide switch. An elastically-deformable click portion is disposed on a line passing through the center of a slide shaft of the slide lever and extending in a sliding direction in which the slide lever slides, moves integrally with the slide lever, and gets over a convex portion formed in a base member to generate a click force. In an accommodation space which accommodates the click portion and a plurality of armature portions, the click portion and one armature portion of the plurality of armature portions are separated from each other by a first partition, and the click portion and the other armature portion are separated from each other by a second partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Koiwai
  • Publication number: 20120261241
    Abstract: Rotational switch assemblies having a thin operational profile are provided for use in electronic devices. Rotational switch assemblies in accordance with embodiments of the invention can include a button, an engagement member, and switch housing. The switch housing includes a radial spring, a post, and at least two contact spring arms. The engagement member includes at least two contact pads and at least two position notches and is mounted to and operable to rotate about the post to one of at least two positions. When the button is moved from one position to another, this movement is translated to the engagement member, which rotates from one position to another, and as the engagement member rotates, the radial spring engages the position notch corresponding to the position of the engagement member, and one of the contact pads engages a corresponding one of the contact spring members for that position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Andriy Pletenetskyy
  • Patent number: 8247713
    Abstract: A power seat switch includes a structure main body; switches provided in the structure main body; sliders slidably provided in the structure main body and changing over contacts of the switches; and moderation units each including a moderation adjuster fitted into the structure main body and an elastic portion provided on the slider. Each slider includes a shaft and a pair of legs provided on one end of the shaft. The elastic portion is provided to elastically protrude from the one end of the shaft in an axial direction of the shaft. The moderation adjuster includes a moderation groove arranged to be sandwiched between the legs, in contact with the elastic portion, and applying a moderation according to sliding of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ui, Toshihide Azuma, Tomonori Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8080757
    Abstract: A sliding button mechanism includes a housing defining an aperture, a button slidably mounted on the housing and closing the aperture; a conductive and elastic connector member secured on the button; and a circuit board secured in the housing and including a plurality of contact areas. The connector member is positioned between the button and the circuit board. When the button is slid in the aperture, the connector member is driven to selectively contacts with the contact areas to generate different electronic connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zhou-Quan Zuo
  • Publication number: 20110290630
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing with an opening. A button may be formed within the electronic device. The button may have a button member that is actuated by a user. The button member may translate within an opening in the electronic device housing when actuated by a user. The button may have a shaft that is coupled to the button member by a coupling mechanism. When the button member is laterally translated within the opening, the coupling mechanism may rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis. The button may be provided with detents using a detent biasing mechanism. The detent biasing mechanism may be based on a spring having grooves that interact with a protrusion on the shaft or a spring-loaded pin that engages recesses in the shaft. A switch mechanism for the button may be formed using traces on the shaft, spring-type switch contacts, and other structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Michael B. Wittenberg
  • Patent number: 7507926
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kawamura, Takahiro Sasaki, Hidetake Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7382695
    Abstract: To provide a jog switch type composite switch which has a waterproofness and in which a letter scroll is easy. Three button axles corresponding to three individual switches are attached to through-holes of an armoring cover while being made possible to perform a reciprocal movement in an axial direction and through waterproof packings. A button head can be pushed in its intermediate position and is attached to the armoring cover while being made possible to slide in a disposition direction of the button axles. If the button head is pushed in its intermediate position, the center button axle makes only the center individual switch ON. If the button head is slid to an underside, the underside button axle makes only the underside individual switch ON and, if it is slid to an upside, the upside button axle makes only the upside individual switch ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7339131
    Abstract: In a slide switch apparatus of the present invention, a click spring movable along a side surface portion of a housing includes an engagement portion that is engaged with a switch lever and can be switched in accordance with the movement along the side surface portion of the housing, a protrusion that generates a click feeling when moving along the side surface portion of the housing, a positioning rib, and a plate spring portion in which the engagement portion, the protrusion, and the positioning rib are placed and which can be deformed elastically. The positioning rib is placed between the engagement portion and the protrusion in the movement direction of the click spring. Because of this, a slide switch apparatus whose housing can be miniaturized is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shusaku Yamamoto, Takahiro Honbu
  • Patent number: 7208692
    Abstract: An operating switch mechanism in an IC recorder having an operating switch button for slide operation includes an IC recorder main body and an operating unit. The operating unit is attached to the main body by fixing a frame member on the operating unit side with a screw hole of a groove portion. The operating unit includes an operating switch button, a slide plate which switches-on/off switches, and a click spring member which holds a rubber roller. The rubber roller is abutted against a projected portion, a cam surface and an inclined can surface of an inner cam surface portion arranged on the main body side, and the operating switch button is held at the click determining position. The operating switch mechanism is used for an electronic device with high maintenance performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6998546
    Abstract: A switch assembly for providing control signals to an electrical motor in a vehicle includes a printed circuit board having traces for communicating the control signals to a the electrical motor. A contactor module includes a set of depressible plungers and a set of contactor members. The contactor module is slideable with respect to the printed circuit board between an actuated position where the set of contactor members contact the traces and a deactivated position where the set of contactor members do not contact the traces. A housing for encasing the printed circuit board and the contactor module. The housing includes a set of detents for variably depressing the set of depressible plungers as the contactor module slides with respect to the printed circuit board. A tactile feedback is generated in response to the detents depressing the depressible plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Schmidt, Jim Wright
  • Patent number: 6791049
    Abstract: An electric part with a click feeling comprises a click member, which includes sliding plate portions composed of a metal plate and a supporting plate portion for supporting the sliding plate portions. Each of the sliding plate portions has a sliding portion, on which a front end portion of an engaging and disengaging member slides, and a pair of bending portions which are provided at both ends of the sliding portion and are positioned on the sliding locus of the engaging and disengaging member. The bending portions of neighboring sliding plate portions of the plurality of sliding plate portions are opposite to each other at predetermined intervals and are held in one surface of the supporting plate portion, and the engaging and disengaging member fits into concave portions formed between the bending portions. Thus, since the engaging and disengaging member can move smoothly without getting caught in the bending portions, thereby lengthening it's life span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6737598
    Abstract: An electrical switch is provided that includes a housing having at least one contact retention chamber formed therein. The housing includes an opening in one wall of the contact retention chamber through which an actuator is extended. A contact assembly is movably mounted within the contact retention chamber of the housing. The contact assembly has at least one contact that is movable along an arcuate path aligned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The actuator includes an insulated over-molded portion that retains a conductive member therein. The conductive member is configured to engage the contact. The housing slidably retains the actuator to permit movement of the actuator and the conductive member along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The actuator drives the contacts along the arcuate path between engaged and disengaged positions with the conductive member as the actuator moves along the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: David G. Allen, Mehmet U. Sayman, Liviu N. Dan
  • Patent number: 6384357
    Abstract: A switch (10) comprises a printed circuit board (12). The printed circuit board (12) has a plurality of electrical contacts. The switch (10) further comprises a carrier (18) having an electrical conductor (102) for connecting at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts. The carrier (18) is movable relative to the printed circuit board (12). The carrier (18) further has a surface (92) having a plurality of undulations (96). The switch (10) further comprises at least one flexible plastic cantilever portion (56, 58) of a plastic member housing the carrier. The cantilever portion contacts the plurality of undulations (96). The undulations (96) and the cantilever portion (56, 58) comprise a detent mechanism to restrain the carrier (18) in a position to which the carrier (18) is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 6380502
    Abstract: A switch mechanism for an electrical slide switch that has a detenting or clicking action is disclosed. The switch mechanism provides such detenting action in a mechanism that has a switch lever that moves through an arcuate path of movement and provides a uniform resistance to movement through the entire range of movement of the switch lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hirschburger, Allen Oles, Edward T. Prell, Edward Ennis
  • Patent number: 5862714
    Abstract: In a lamp body to which a switch knob is attached, an opening corresponding to the switch knob is formed. Opening has opposing sidewalls, and on each of the sidewalls, three grooves are provided. On one surface of a knob body of the switch knob, a pair of projecting pieces are provided spaced from each other by such a distance that allows the projecting pieces to be in contact with the sidewalls of the opening, and at each of the projecting pieces, a beam portion is formed. On each of the beam portions, a projection is provided on the outer surface, and stable engagement with the vertical groove is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Cateye Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 5813522
    Abstract: A sliding switch includes a housing, a sliding seat slidably received in the housing, a fixing member securely mounted in the sliding seat to move therewith, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the fixing member. A face plate is securely mounted in the housing and located above the sliding seat. The face plate includes a number of pairs of slots, and a number of pairs of prongs respectively extend through the slots. The face plate further includes at least two V-shape operative grooves defined in the underside thereof. The wheel is movable from one of the operative groove to other operative groove to provide selective electrical connection between the prongs. Each operative groove includes two inclined surfaces which meet at a common upper end thereof. The wheel contacts with the two inclined surfaces of the associated operative groove to provide reliable electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Chao-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 5598917
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical contact assembly wherein a conductive contact member for electrically coupling two conductive surfaces also serves as part of a detent assembly. The electrical contact assembly has a contact member resiliently supported by a carrier, wherein the carrier controllably guides the contact member along a path. A feature of the electrical contact assembly is a detent bump disposed at a location along the contact member's path, wherein upon contact between the contact member and the detent bump, the detent bump provides resistance to relative movement between the carrier and the conductive surfaces, thereby producing "detent feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5557081
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly switch includes a housing having a floor and electrical conductors mounted to the floor and defining a pair of spaced apart electrical switch contacts. The contacts define a guide track for receiving a movable contact element which in the preferred embodiment comprises a spherical conductive member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing floor further includes detent structure which cooperates with a control member for providing a plurality of detented switch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Marc C. Clevenger, Mathias R. Fox
  • Patent number: 5322983
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a base, a sliding block, two short circuit metal pieces, contact metal pieces, and a cover. The base has a rectangular top slot, which receives the sliding block, and an elongate guide groove in the middle of the rectangular top slot along the length, which guides a bottom rail on the sliding block. Each short circuit metal piece has a protruded portion on a contact surface thereof engaged into a locating groove on a stop wall at either long side of the base for positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Tien-Fu Tseng
  • Patent number: 5315079
    Abstract: A PCB mounted 6 PDT slide switch is formed of a specially-designed cover/actuator sub-assembly and a base assembly which remain in assembly independent of each other. The slide switch includes a base member, a slide actuator member, a plurality of movable contact shoes, a separate spacer bar member, and a cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Gierut
  • Patent number: 5272297
    Abstract: An air conditioning disconnect switch utilizes a ramped movable contact arrangement for slidably opening and closing the switch contacts without the requirement of a removable type pull-out handle. A plastic face plate covering the switch terminals allows the use of a metallic case of reduced depth. The slidable contact arrangement eliminates the bumped cover projection otherwise required with the pull-out handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matt Reichow, Randall M. Olson
  • Patent number: 5191971
    Abstract: A multiple position wall mountable linear slide switch has a wheel disposed between a linearly moveable actuator and a stationary bearing surface for rolling the actuator in a linear path over the bearing surface upon application of an external sliding force to the actuator. The wheel carries a conductive axle for establishing an electrical connection between switch contacts defining each switch setting. The bearing surface has a plurality of detents, one associated with each switch setting, so that, as the actuator is moved from one position to another, the wheel rolls out of one detent then into another. This motion of the wheel automatically raises the axle away from the contacts at one setting then lowers the axle onto the contacts at an immediately subsequent setting as the actuator is moved between corresponding positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Susan S. Hakkarainen, Robert S. Hanna, Elliot G. Jacoby, Robert F. Taylor, III
  • Patent number: 5147990
    Abstract: A slide switch (10) comprises a housing (12) having at least one cantilever beam (22 and 23) integrally formed in the housing (12). A keypad (24 and 25) is arranged and constructed below at least one of the cantilever beams (22 and 23). A horizontal slide actuator (30) is arranged and constructed to slide over the cantilever beam (22 and 23) for substantially biasing the cantilever beam (22 and 23) toward the keypad (24 and 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Vito Dionisio, Jr., William M. Bradford, David H. Karl, Peter B. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5122627
    Abstract: An actutator for a multiple-position electrical switch includes an actuator member having a cam surface formed on its undersurface along each edge. Two pairs of cam followers formed at the end of respective resilient beams slide along the cam surface. The cam surface is formed with a series of ridges and indentations corresponding to the actuator switch positions. Thus, the actuator member can be moved between adjacent switch positions only by exerting sufficient force to lift each of the cam followers over a ridge from one indentation to the adjacent indentation. An additional cam follower is resiliently biased against an additional cam surface formed on the underside of the actuator member when the actuator member is moved to one switch position. As a result, the forces required to move the actuator member to one switch position is greater than the force required to move the actuator member between other switch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Roger M. Trana
  • Patent number: 5120922
    Abstract: A momentary pushbutton multiposition slide switch is provided which can be readily manufactured in miniature size from substantially fewer components than switches of conventional construction while providing the same electrical functionality. The switch includes a slider assembly that provides three switch positions: a normally open position, a position providing switch closure between first fixed contacts and a switch position providing switch closure between second fixed contacts. The slider assembly includes a slider contact that is carried by an assembly body, the slide contact selectively bridges fixed contacts to be interconnected at each slide position. The slider assembly also includes a pushbutton that incorporates a detent portion. In one embodiment, the detent portion is cooperative with a complenentary detent portion of a resilient contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Augat Inc.
    Inventor: Peter F. Brouillette