Rocking Actuator (e.g., Rocker, Lever) Patents (Class 200/553)
  • Patent number: 7518078
    Abstract: Electrical devices are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Rohit Dodal, Gunter Gallas
  • Publication number: 20090078556
    Abstract: An over current cut-off switch has an electric insulating housing, a first conductive foot, a second conductive foot, a reed, an electric wire and a switch button. The housing received upper portions of the first and second conductive feet, the reed and the electric wire. The button is configured on a top of the electric insulating housing. One end of the reed uses a connecting conductor to rivet to the first conductive foot. The other free end of the reed is separately connected to a top of the second conductive foot. The electric wire is mounted between the reed and the first conductive foot to be used as current branch. The switch button is configured on a top of the electric insulating housing. One side of a bottom of the switch button has a bump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 7479613
    Abstract: Control device for activating/deactivating functions, comprising a supporting plate comprising a contact surface providing electrical contacts, a control member for selecting a function with the actuation of a switching means, the control member mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation and pivotably about a pivot axis separate from the axis of rotation, rotation and pivoting of the control member facilitating selection of a function and confirmation of the selected function. The control member may be associated with an actuating lever, of which one end comprises the axis of rotation, and of which the other end is mounted pivotably about the pivot axis, the lever being displaceable between a rest position and at least one active position in which at least one electrical switching means on the supporting plate is actuated for purposes of confirming a function, the axis of rotation and the pivot axis extending in separate extension planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Olivier Zann, Dominique Bidard, Cedric Ritondo
  • Publication number: 20080311820
    Abstract: An inflatable noisemaker comprising a tubular envelope having first and second ends and constructed to enclose a gas under pressure. A sealable opening is disposed proximate the first end for inflating the envelope. An active light emitting module is enclosed within a transparent chamber disposed within the envelope and configured with an activation device. The active light emitting module may comprise first and second cells stacked in series polarity, a removable insulating strip disposed between the first and second cells, and a light emitting device (LED) having first and second leads coupled to respective negative and positive terminals of the stacked cells. A housing including a spring for biasing the LED, the cells, and the insulating strip together may be provided. In an alternate embodiment, a single cell and a switch may be used in the active light emitting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Craig Murdock
  • Patent number: 7397006
    Abstract: The operation mechanism for electric apparatus is provided. An operation mechanism includes a switch element mounted on a circuit board, an upper housing formed with an opening and covering the circuit board, and an operation grip that has an operation shaft hanging therefrom and which is rotatably supported by the upper housing. When the operation grip is oscillatingly operated, the operation shaft drives actuators of the switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masao Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 7371983
    Abstract: A structure of a flexible element has a force-receiving portion and a fixing portion, wherein the force-receiving portion is extended to have two arms for connecting with the fixing portion, so as to form two bending portions therebetween, characterized in that an inner end point is defined inside the fixing portion and the inner edges of the fixing portion are extended from the inner edges of the bending portion and intersected at the inner end point, so that a force-distributing section is defined between the bending portion and the inner end point, for distributing the torque applied on the bending portion, so as to eliminate the problem of too much concentrated stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsin Lin, Wen-Hung Wu
  • Patent number: 7365283
    Abstract: A switch is provided, which is stable in operating characteristics and can be operated with a small operating force, and which is long in life and easy to manufacture. The switch includes a base, a moving contact piece having one end thereof supported pivotally on the base, an operating lever supported pivotally on the base and having a drive part pushing a coil portion of the moving contact piece, and a cover having a planar shape capable of covering the base and fixed to the base to compress the coil portion. The operating lever pushes the coil portion of the moving contact piece whereby the moving contact piece turns about an end thereof, the coil portion slides on a stationary contact exposed from a bottom surface of the base, and the other end of the moving contact piece slides on a common stationary contact exposed from an inner surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kiyono, Toshihiro Naruo, Yasuhiro Sakashita
  • Patent number: 7339129
    Abstract: A plastic actuator for a toggle switch has a metal rod embedded therein, with the metal surface partially exposed. This surface of the metal rod functions as a bearing surface for a positioning spring as the actuator is flipped back and forth to turn the switch on and off. The use of the metal rod to provide a bearing surface in the toggle actuator substantially reduces wear on the actuator, and thus permits the actuator to be made out of a thermoplastic material rather than a thermoset material, thereby effecting a cost savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: George Timothy Shatley
  • Patent number: 7297881
    Abstract: A composite switch having a configuration in which: on the upper part of movable contacts of a first switch to a fourth switch disposed in a case, two driving bodies made of an inelastic insulating material such as polyamide are mounted in parallel to a swing center shaft; an upper surface of the case is covered with a cover having two long holes from which upper parts of the two driving bodies protrude; and the two driving bodies are pressed by an operation body, made of an inelastic insulating resin, which is swingably supported. With a composite switch having this configuration, an operation stroke is short and the generation of noise can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7291798
    Abstract: A switch device for vehicle use is provided with a switch case fixed to a handle bar of a vehicle. A unit case attached to the switch case is capable of rotating with respect to the switch case. An operation lever arranged in the unit case is capable of rotating together with the unit case. The operation lever is capable of operating a predetermined electrical component. The unit case can be freely rotated over a plurality of positions of use at which the operation lever can operate a predetermined electrical component. An object to be operated by the operation lever is made to be different according to a stopping position of the unit case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Asahi Denso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Yagi
  • Patent number: 7285740
    Abstract: A button, having two end portions along a particular direction that can be selectively depressed, is supported by a support member. Pins are formed on the support member at locations corresponding to the respective two end portions of the button, the axes of the pins being perpendicular to the direction of depressing of the button. Elongate apertures are formed on the button in locations corresponding to the respective pins, the elongate apertures configured to have the pins slidably fitted therein and having their lengthwise directions generally parallel to the direction of depressing. A biasing unit is further provided to bias the button in a direction opposite to the direction of depressing. When the button is in a neutral condition, the button is biased by the biasing unit so that the pins are located respectively on one side of the elongate apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7265308
    Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes semi-rigid spiral wound driver means having a conical end coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, the paddle urges the semi-rigid driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clock wise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and determines its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by a spring to pivot back to its initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Endres, Stephen R. Kurek, Anthony Tufano, Dennis A. Oddsen
  • Patent number: 7259343
    Abstract: A safety switch has a casing, a first circuit prong, a second circuit prong, a switch contact, a rocker, an arm and a latch. The first and second circuit prongs are mounted in and extend through the casing. The switch contact bends upward when temperature of the switch contact increases, is mounted on the first circuit prong and has a distal end selectively contacting the second circuit prong. The rocker is pivotally mounted on the casing and has a deactivating end and an activating end. The arm is formed on and protrudes down from the activating end and connects to the distal end of the switch contact. The latch is mounted in the cavity and selectively locks the arm to prevent the distal end of the switch contact from contacting the second circuit prong as the temperature drops. The safety switch may be used in severely cold environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 7223931
    Abstract: A switch is provided, which is stable in operating characteristics and can be operated with a small operating force, and which is long in life and easy to manufacture. The switch comprises a base, a moving contact piece having one end thereof, which is supported pivotally on the base, coming into pressure contact with a common stationary contact, an operating lever having one end thereof supported pivotally on the base and having a drive part, which extends from the one end, pushing a coil portion of the moving contact piece, and a cover fixed to the base to compress the coil portion. The operating lever pushes the coil portion of the moving contact piece whereby the moving contact piece turns about an end thereof, the coil portion slides on a bottom surface of the base, and the other end of the moving contact piece slides on a stationary contact exposed from an inner surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kiyono, Toshihiro Naruo
  • Patent number: 7208693
    Abstract: A switch includes a body with a switch member and two springs are connected to an underside of the switch member. Two identical circuit assemblies are isolated from each other and received in the body. Each circuit assembly has two terminals and a bimetallic plate has a first end connected to the first terminal and the bi-metallic plate can be deformed when the switch is overloaded to separate two contact points to cut off the circuit. A carry member is connected to the two respective bi-metallic plates of the two circuit assemblies so that when either one of the two bi-metallic plates is deformed, the carry member is moved to separate the two contact points of the other circuit assembly and cut off the two circuit assemblies simultaneously when the switch is overloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventor: Tsung Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7176400
    Abstract: An outdoor lamp with a hidden switch has a housing, a lamp, a switch and a control lever. The housing has a circumferential wall having a lever slot and a lever bracket formed inside the housing. The lamp is mounted inside the housing. The switch is mounted inside the housing, is connected electrically to the lamp and has a control member. The control lever is mounted pivotally on the lever bracket and has a proximal end extending to and abutting the control member of the switch and a distal end extending out of the lever slot to be wiggled by a user to switch on/off the lamp. The switch is hidden inside the housing to be protected from being wetted by rainwater and to avoid rust or a short circuit problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Yeh
  • Patent number: 7141749
    Abstract: A socket switch for a light bulb comprises a shell, a main body, a grounding unit, a switch unit, an electric conduction unit, wherein a holding chamber is formed inside the shell. The shell has two coupling holes formed thereon. The grounding unit, the switch unit, and the electric conduction unit are connected a surface of the main body, and this surface of the main body is screwed onto the shell via the coupling holes and located inside the holding chamber. The switch unit is designed for electrically connecting an electrode of a power supply, which is connected to the electric conduction unit, with an electrode of the light bulb for lighting up this light bulb. As a result, the purpose of saving energy can be achieved by controlling electric conduction between the power supply and the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Shan Chaing Lin
  • Patent number: 7132616
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system including a power source for providing power to a load, including a compact switch assembly. The compact switch assembly includes a rocker assembly, a fixed contact assembly and a moveable contact assembly. By design and interaction between surfaces of the rocker assembly and the moveable contact assembly, permanent switch contact closure due to contact arc welding is avoided. A pivot member including a (moveable) contact is opened to a first contact separation distance within a given time and then to a second contact separation distance via user supplied force to a user accessible surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Dejan Radosavljevic, Richard Weeks
  • Patent number: 7122755
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switch housing having an operation member receiving part and an operation member which is mounted on the operation member receiving part of the switch housing as the main components. The switch housing has a regulation wall between an engaged region and a predetermined region X where a front end of the operation member is brought into contact with the switch housing by a seesaw operation of the operation member. The regulation wall is positioned such that the regulation wall facingly contacts an extension part of the operation member in a state in which the extension part of the operation member is in contact with the top surface (predetermined region X) of the switch housing, and the regulation wall does not facingly contact the extension part of the operation member when the operation member is mounted on the switch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieko Ito
  • Patent number: 7115826
    Abstract: A tubular part of an upper case has an opened upper end and pivotably supports a segment operating body. The tubular part has a pair of first walls opposite to each other and a pair of second walls that are connected to the first walls and are opposite to each other. Upper ends in substantially the middles of the first walls are positioned higher than upper ends of the second walls and are provided with holes pivotably supporting the segment operating body. The main body of the operating body has protruding parts that extend toward the second walls. The protruding parts each has a substantially circular arc shape with the rotation center as the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electrics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7102091
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever switch capable of reliably preventing intrusion of water or the like into a casing and maintaining smooth operation of a switch mechanism for a long period of time. A lever switch provided with a switch mechanism whereby an operation lever rotates from a neutral position on a base against a spring force of a coil spring to change the position of the switch, a gap between the operation lever and base is filled with a casing, the switch mechanism is accommodated in the casing and a waterproof/dustproof mechanism is provided to seal a sliding surface between the operation lever and casing and a contact surface between the base and casing with an upper lip packing and lower lip packing respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: MIK Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Muneyoshi Miyata, Satoshi Myoujin, Shinichi Tadano
  • Patent number: 7078641
    Abstract: A switch cell for use in opening and closing electrical connections, a multiple cell switch having multiple switch cells, and a method of assembling the same. The switch cell preferably includes one or more contactors in a base and an actuator slidable engaged to the base for controlling electrical connectivity by controlling movement of the contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: John Stack, Leonard Pagano, Jim Wright
  • Patent number: 7071435
    Abstract: A toggle switch has a switching rocker having at least one arm and one guide plate that has at least one receptacle, in which at least one activation push rod is movably guided in a linear fashion. The arm of the switching rocker can exert a force on the activation push rod. A switching unit is provided, on which the activation push rod can act so as to close an electrical contact. The guide plate and the activation push rod each have a break line, along which, before the assembly of the toggle switch, they were joined to each other in an integral fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Altmann
  • Patent number: 7067751
    Abstract: A switch including an insulative plastic case having a cavity formed therein, a metal cover joined to the case to cover over the cavity, and a switching contact section contained in the cavity. In this switch, a surface of the cover opposed to the case has an insulative film formed on at least a region of the surface facing to the cavity. The switch can prevent externally-originated static electricity from adversely affecting the switching contact section to protect a circuit section of a device connected to the switching contact section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishimura, Tamotsu Yamamoto, Tatsuya Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7041919
    Abstract: A switch includes a housing, an operating member placed in the housing, and contacting sections accommodated in the housing. The operating member has an operating section made of elastic material to be bowed in every direction and an operating unit coupled to the operating section. When greater force than necessary for changing a state of the contacting sections is applied to the operating section along an operating direction, or when force directed in a direction other than the operating direction is applied to the operating section, the operating section itself bows to absorb extra force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishimura, Tamotsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7034236
    Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes semi-rigid spiral wound driver means having a conical end coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, the paddle urges the semi-rigid driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clock wise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and determines its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by a spring to pivot back to its initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Endres, Stephen R. Kurek, Anthony Tufano, Dennis A. Oddsen
  • Patent number: 7026565
    Abstract: An actuator subassembly is for a rocker switch. The actuator subassembly forms a self-contained unit removably inserted within the rocker switch to define the operating characteristics thereof. The actuator subassembly includes an operating member operable between a plurality of positions, an extension and a spring-biased plunger. A shaped member which is pivotally coupled to the operating member includes a plurality of shaped sections each corresponding to one of the positions of the operating member. Each shaped section has a profile which is designed to provide the desired rocker switch operating characteristics, such as the type of action of the operating member and the operating force for the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Davin R. Lee
  • Patent number: 7019241
    Abstract: An energy-autonomous electromechanical wireless switch which has at least one transducer element for converting mechanical to electrical energy, and has at least one actuating panel for introducing the mechanical energy, and has at least one sensor for each actuating panel for detecting the switching command. At least one electronic system generates and emits a wireless signal. At least one mechanism deflects the forces introduced by the actuating panel onto the transducer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Enocean GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Grassl, Frank Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7019243
    Abstract: A lever switch includes a common contact and a fixed contact both prepared on at least an inner bottom face, or any one of inner faces of walls surrounding the inner bottom face, and a movable contact which touches or leaves at least one of the common contact or the fixed contact when a lever rotates. Terminal sections of the common contact and the fixed contact extend through walls of the housing. This structure allows the lever switch to fix those terminal sections to a wired board, thereby preventing the lever switch from coming off from the wired board. As a result, the lever switch can work with reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tsuda, Eiji Kodo, Yoshiharu Abe
  • Patent number: 7009128
    Abstract: An electrical switch assembly is provided for use as a single-pole, double-throw switch. The assembly includes a housing having an interior cavity. First and second stationary contacts are positioned on one side of the interior cavity, and third and fourth stationary contacts are positioned on the other side of the interior cavity. A conductive member is interconnected between the first and third stationary contacts. A movable contact member is configured in one operative position to complete an electrical path between the first and the second stationary contacts, configured in a second operative position to complete an electrical path between the third and the fourth stationary contacts, and configured in an inoperative or OFF position to be electrically disconnected from all four stationary contacts. The improved switch assembly eliminates a center contact disposed in the housing, such that the switch assembly is less cumbersome and costly to manufacture and assemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Neil A. Czarnecki, David D. Flegel
  • Patent number: 6974918
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes spaced contacts (40). A rocking contact (50) has first and second arms (52 and 54) in electrical contact with each other and is supported for rocking movement in opposite first and second directions. The first arm (52) is movable into engagement with a first one of the contacts (40) when the rocking contact (50) rocks in the first direction. The second arm (54) is movable into engagement with the second one of the contacts (40) when the rocking contact (50) rocks in the second direction. An actuator (32) is pivotable to effectuate rocking movement of the rocking contact (50) in the first and second directions. The first and second contacts (40) include respective terminals (70 and 76) for helping to mount the apparatus. The terminals (70 and 76) each comprise compliant pin connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Mike Blossfeld
  • Patent number: 6963041
    Abstract: A switch assembly includes a switch having an actuator extending from a base that is movable between first and second switch positions. A housing defines an opening in which the switch is seated. A pivot member extends from the control member and is received by a socket defined in the housing such that the control member is movable on the pivot member between first and second controller positions. A contact member extends from the control member so that movement of the control member between the first and second controller positions moves the actuator between the first and second switch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Stuart V. Holsten
  • Patent number: 6933455
    Abstract: A pushbutton switch has a pushbutton having a connection rod to be received in a connection hole defined in a distal end of the linkage which has a path in communication with the connection hole such that when the heat sensitive plate is reacted in response to heat caused by an electrical overload, the connection rod is able to move freely in the path in the linkage and thus the linkage is able to move without limitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6930269
    Abstract: A rocker switch for a rocker switch assembly, where the rocker switch assembly has a housing with terminals and defines an enclosed space. The rocker switch includes a handle member and a contactor assembly. The handle member is structured to be pivotally coupled to the housing at a pivot point. The handle member has first and second extensions extending radially from the pivot point, and a plunger extending generally perpendicular to the first and second extensions and radially from the pivot point. The contactor assembly has an elongated conductor and a generally arcuate segment. The contactor assembly is coupled to a terminal within the enclosed space and the plunger engages the arcuate segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Davin Robert Lee, David Mark Nelson
  • Patent number: 6919523
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a casing having a central and two side chambers that are separated from the central chamber by respective partitions. A switching mechanism in each second chamber has fixed and moving contacts and an actuator. A rocker in the central chamber is used to cause the actuators to move the moving contacts into contact with and out of contact from the fixed contacts. There is also included engaging means engaging each actuator to the rocker for movement thereby, which has a circular part that extends across the first and second chambers rotatably snugly through a circular hole in the partition such that partitioning between the central and side chambers is substantially splash, jet or dust proof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Defond Components Limited
    Inventor: Ka Fai Lai
  • Patent number: 6917008
    Abstract: A microswtich that is easy to assemble and manufacture is provided. The microswitch constantly keeps the first conductive section of a resilient component for opening/closing an electrical switch in contact with the first conductive terminal in the main body of the microswitch, and houses a plate-shaped second conductive section with a contact surface inside the main body of the microswtich, so that the second conductive section of the resilient component is driven by a press button on the contact surface of the second conductive terminal to preset the signal from an initial connection state to a final connection state in order to increase the distance required for controlling the signal connection and allow the resilient component to have an effective deformation and provide the best resilience of the press button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Ting Ni
  • Patent number: 6911612
    Abstract: To provide a switch that can hold a switch knob at neutral and prevent play while reducing a number of parts. In the switch, an operating lever portion of a switch knob is inserted from an opening of a knob attaching portion provided at a switch case and the switching knob is axially supported by the knob attaching portion to be capable of operating to pivot, wherein an elastic pin portion is integrally provided to the switch knob, an engaging hole for engaging the elastic pin portion is provided to a side of the switch case, and when the switch knob is operated to pivot, the switch knob is urged to a neutral portion relative to the knob attaching portion by elastic force by deforming the elastic pin portion to the engaging hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Seki
  • Patent number: 6903290
    Abstract: A safety switch includes an activation key housed in a casing, a pair of contact-holding elements, and a triad of electric terminals. The contact-holding elements oscillate between a passive position and an active position, the positions being imposed by a corresponding position of the activation key. The contact-holding elements are mutually electrically connected through conductive elements that, when operation of the switch takes place in a condition of failure, can move with respect to one another for relative displacement of mating surfaces to determine a loss of contact between the contact-holding elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Signal Lux MDS S.r.l
    Inventor: Antonio Coppola
  • Patent number: 6903636
    Abstract: An improved shock resistant auxiliary switch mechanism for a circuit breaker includes a common conductor having a conduction plate that is slidably translatable between electrically conductive contact with first and second conductors. The conduction plate is biased by a spring in a direction toward contact with the first conductor. An improved shock resistant circuit breaker including the improved auxiliary switch mechanism includes a crossbar that is operatively engageable with the conduction plate to releasably retain the conduction plate in a position in contact with the second conductor. When the circuit breaker is in an ON position, the conduction plate is operatively interposed between the crossbar and the bias of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Fischer
  • Patent number: 6903293
    Abstract: A switch unit contains a case; a fixed contact members disposed on a bottom wall of the case; conductor plates rockably disposed on the bottom wall; driving bodies disposed on the conductor plates in a rotatable state in which the elevating movement thereof is allowed; a plate spring member for resiliently biasing the driving bodies; and a cover member for covering an upper opening of the case. The driving bodies are provided with pressed parts that protrude above the cover member. When the pressed part is driven to rotate laterally by the rocking operation of the operating knob, the driving body rotates, which causes the conductor plate to slide on the bottom wall. As a result, the switch unit is switched to its ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6897392
    Abstract: A rolling press member for power switch includes a metal roller capable of free rolling movements and disposed at an end portion of the press member, with the roller pressing against an internal contact plate. When turning on and off the switch, the roller displaces at the contact plate using rolling movements thereof, thereby enabling smoother operations of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Atom Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Chyong-Yen Huang
  • Patent number: 6894241
    Abstract: A resilient switching device includes a casing, at least two electrically conductive pieces, and a resilient contact piece. An elastic strip having a turning zone is always deflected to a predetermined side normally. One end of the resilient contact piece is fixed at the top end of an electrically conductive piece while the other end is a free end having a conductive contact at a position corresponding to a conductive contact of another electrically conductive piece. When a user pushes either end of a depression key to move the resilient contact piece clamped at the gap upwards or downwards, the upper or the lower end face of the gap would depress down or prop up the turning zone of the resilient contact piece to result in a connection or disconnection between a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact to thereby effect an electric “ON” or “OFF” state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6891117
    Abstract: An improved rocker-type switch has a toggle member pivotably mounted on a central pivot member in a frame of a top housing part joined to a bottom housing part holding switch contacts in a modular block subassembly. A pair of movable contact arms is actuated by spring-biased actuator members held in the central pivot member. The modular block subassembly has an insulative top block member, a top switch contact plate with switch contacts on upright tabs inserted through slots in the top block member, an insulative bottom block member sandwiching the top switch contact plate, and a bottom switch contact plate having switch contacts on upright tabs inserted through slots in the bottom and top block members, forming a pair of opposing switch contact positions for the movable contact arms. The switch contact plates have clip portions for inserting the tabs of respective switch contact terminal plates therein. For different switch configurations, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Cooper Wiring Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Gouhl, Gunter A. Gallas, Jay J. Mendelson, Yuliy Rushansky
  • Patent number: 6888080
    Abstract: At a position which is overlapped to a space defined between a plane of projection of a first manipulating member with respect to a PCB and a plane of projection of a second manipulating member with respect to the PCB, first and second switches are arranged. First and second portions to be manipulated of the first switch are projected from a switch casing such that the first and second portions to be manipulated of the first switch are pushed and manipulated by projections at back sides of pushing surfaces of the first and second manipulating members, and first and second portions to be manipulated of the second switch are projected from the switch casing such that the first and second portions to be manipulated of the second switch are pushed and manipulated by other projections at back sides of other pushing surfaces of the first and second manipulating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6884955
    Abstract: A pushbutton switch has a pushbutton having a slot receive therein a free end of the linkage and a receiving space in communication with the slot so as to allow the free end of the linkage to move toward the receiving space when an electrical overload occurs in the pushbutton switch. The linkage has a cutout defined in the second distal end to have a portion of the heat sensitive plate to be received in the cutout and an extension formed with the linkage and extending out into the slot. Therefore, when the heat sensitive plate reacts to heat and curves to cause the first contact to separate from the second contact, a free end of the linkage received inside the slot is able to move toward the receiving space to allow a free movement of the heat sensitive plate without any limitation to hinder the curvature movement of the heat sensitive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6870117
    Abstract: A pushbutton switch includes a hollow housing with a pushbutton pivotally mounted on a top face of the hollow housing and an open end and a seat received in the hollow housing from the open end of the hollow housing. The seat has two first receiving spaces and two second receiving spaces. Two first terminals each have a first terminal plate extending from a bottom face of the seat and a first engaging plate orthogonally extending from a distal end of the first terminal plate and received in a corresponding one of the first receiving spaces laterally. Two second terminals each have a second terminal plate extending from the bottom face of the seat and a second engaging plate orthogonally extending from a distal end of the second terminal plate and received in a corresponding one of the second receiving spaces laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 6864453
    Abstract: A protection mechanism for a switch device includes a disk rotatably connected to an inside of the case and two ends of a pull member are pivotably connected between the disk and the switch member pivotably connected to an open top of the case. One of the two ends of the pull member lifts the bimetallic plate to set the “OFF” status when pivoting the switch member. A push member has one end movably engagged with an upward groove in an inside of the case so as to push the bimetallic plate to contact one of two terminals, and the other end of the push member is pivotably connected to the disk. The push member is pivoted an angle to produce a space between the push member and the bimetallic plate when the switch member is pivoted to “ON” position and the space allows the bimetallic plate to be completely deformed when overload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6861607
    Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a housing, at least one fixed contact and a moving contact assembly provided in the housing, and an actuator. The actuator is supported for movement to move the contact assembly into contact with and out of contact from the fixed contact. The contact assembly comprises at least one pair of pivotable levers, with a first lever arranged to make or break contact with the fixed contact and a second lever pivotable by the actuator to in turn pivot the first lever into contact with the fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Defond Components Limited
    Inventor: Yee Tak Kwong
  • Patent number: 6861606
    Abstract: A switch actuator mechanism, for example for use with a circuit breaker, includes a rocker which has first and second rocker members which are hinged together. The rocker members have flat front faces which are movable between a condition in which they lie flat in the same plane, and a second position in which the faces are inclined relative to one another, with one rocker member standing proud of the housing of the switch or circuit breaker. Fingers on one of the rocker members engage a link of the circuit breaker mechanism to open or close its contacts. A spring loaded latching mechanism locks the rocker members alternately in their first and second conditions with successive operations of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Circuit Breaker Industries LTD
    Inventors: Manuel Fernando Vidal Ribeiro, Carlos Alberto Ferreira
  • Patent number: 6841750
    Abstract: A switch device that includes a case having a bottom wall and sidewalls; a fixed contact member; a movable contact member; a driving member mounted on the sidewalls; and restoring means for restoring the driving member to the original position. The driving member includes an actuating portion for moving the movable contact member and an operating portion for rotating the actuating portion, wherein the actuating portion moves the movable contact member and brings the movable contact member into contact with the fixed contact member when the operating portion is driven. The driving member is restored to the original state in which the movable contact member and the fixed contact member are brought out of contact by restoring means when the driven state of the operating portion is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaki