Housing And Actuator Form Detent Patents (Class 200/556)
  • Patent number: 10418813
    Abstract: A power switch configured to apply power to a device is described. The power comprises a switching module having a switch for selectively applying power to a device based upon control signals; and a control module removably coupled to the switching module and in communication with the switching module when the control module is attached to the switching module; wherein the control module comprises a wireless communication circuit and provides the control signals to the switching module to enable a switching operation of the power switch. A method of implementing a power switch configured to apply power to a device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Smart Power Partners LLC
    Inventor: John Joseph King
  • Patent number: 9786452
    Abstract: A switching system may include a body and a set of key elements. The body may be electrically connectable to a first electrical device and a second electrical device, and may have a keypad with key element attachment features to which the key elements can be attached. The key elements may be attachable in various positions and/or combinations on the keypad. The key elements may include one or more buttons of various sizes and/or a rocker. The keypad may have multiple positions to which key elements can be attached, with larger key elements requiring multiple positions. The key element attachment features may be domes, which may be inserted into holes in tabs extending from the key elements to pivotably attach the key elements to the keypad. Each key element may be retained on the keypad independently of any other component aside from the keypad and the key element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Delbert Madsen, Scott Edward Stephenson
  • Patent number: 9510428
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lighting control system with a motion sensor unit that electrically couples to a load circuit through a latching relay or load controller for turning on and off lights. The motion sensor unit is configured to power down to draw zero power after a time delay, when motion is longer detected within the work space by the motion sensor unit. The lighting control system further includes a control circuit that reinitiates or turns the motion sensor back on through a switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mix, Tho Phan, Louia Weidman, Thomas Grey
  • Patent number: 9423413
    Abstract: A touch sensor is associated with a housing that is adapted for attachment to the outer perimeter of a fluid conduit. The housing can be attached to the fluid conduit such that the touch sensor can detect the presence of fluid within the fluid conduit. The output of the touch sensor can be used by an indicator or processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOUCHSENSOR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Deron Stambaugh, Mark Burleson, Anthony Russo
  • Patent number: 8976002
    Abstract: A universal remote control system is disclosed. The universal remote control includes a receiver that has a wireless signal receiver unit, an electric motor that drives a mechanical arm and a microprocessor. When the receiver receives a control signal from a wireless signal transmitter, the microprocessor will energize the motor which drives the mechanical arm toward a pushbutton switch of a controlled device, such as a garage door opener, and depresses the push button, therefore activating the garage door opener. A feedback signal, for example, from the mechanical arm or the motor, may be provided to the microprocessor to inform the microprocessor when the pushbutton switch is sufficiently depressed and is in an engaged state. When the switch is in the engaged state, the motor will reverse its direction, causing the mechanical arm to raise and move back to a standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Philip Yu Wing Tsui, Gallen Ka Leung Tsui
  • Patent number: 8875596
    Abstract: A steering wheel has at least one shift paddle which is coupled to the steering wheel in such a manner that the shift paddle is movable relative to the steering wheel in order in a contactless manner to trigger a shifting operation. In order to improve the ease of operation when actuating the shift paddle on the steering wheel, the steering wheel is distinguished by a slotted guide mechanism by which a shifting sensation is generated during movement of the shift paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Walters, Manfred Harrer, Georg Wahl
  • Publication number: 20140251779
    Abstract: A disconnecting switch includes a contact part that includes a stationary contact and a movable contact, a shaft that moves the movable contact relative to the stationary contact, an open/close mechanism part that moves the shaft back and forth freely between a closed contact position at which the movable contact contacts with the stationary contact and an open contact position at which the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact, and a housing that houses at least the contact part and the shaft. The open/close mechanism part includes an operation lever, an arm that rotates according to an operation of the operation lever to move the shaft between the open contact position and the closed contact position, and a wheel rotatably attached to the housing. The arm has a rotation slot in which the wheel is placed so that the wheel moves when the arm rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryousuke Koeda, Shingo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8754344
    Abstract: A seesaw switch includes a seesaw switch knob, two contacts which extend from the seesaw switch knob, and busbars which contact individually the two contacts. A surface of each of the busbars has a wave shape including end root portions, a middle root portion disposed between the end root portions. Each of the two contacts moves from one of the end root portions to the other of the end root portions by way of the middle root portion to stop in the other of the end root portions while contacting corresponding one of the busbars when one of end portions of the seesaw switch knob is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Publication number: 20140042007
    Abstract: A contact structure includes a busbar which is provided with a plurality of fixed contacts and a contact which includes a body part, conductive parts and a fixing part. The conductive parts are extended from the body part. The fixing part is extended from the body part so as to urge the conductive parts toward the fixed contacts. Each of the fixed contacts respectively includes a concave portion configured to come into contact with the conductive parts, and convex portions formed at both sides of the concave portion. The fixing part slides between a concave portion and convex portions which are formed in the supportive engaging part. The conductive parts come into contact with the concave portions of the fixed contacts in a state where the fixing part is positioned in the concave portion of the supportive engaging part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20130256110
    Abstract: A seesaw switch includes a seesaw switch knob, two contacts which extend from the seesaw switch knob, and busbars which contact individually the two contacts. A surface of each of the busbars has a wave shape including end root portions, a middle root portion disposed between the end root portions. Each of the two contacts moves from one of the end root portions to the other of the end root portions by way of the middle root portion to stop in the other of the end root portions while contacting corresponding one of the busbars when one of end portions of the seesaw switch knob is depressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Shingo CHIBA
  • Patent number: 7667155
    Abstract: An electrical rocker paddle switch assembly having a switch housing; a manually movable rocker paddle coupled to the housing; an actuator having a first end and a second end, the actuator being attached to the rocker paddle at the first end and the second end configured to activate a switch in response to a corresponding movement of the rocker paddle; a bored member having a first end that is attached to an underside of the rocker paddle near a pivot axis of the rocker paddle, and a second end that has an opening configured to retain a roller member and allow a portion of the roller member to extend beyond an end of the bored member, the bored member extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the rocker paddle. A spring and a ball are configured to be retained in the bored member, the spring configured in the bored member to urge the ball towards the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Zhejiang Yuelong Mechanical and Electrical Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lidong Ni, He Mian Xiao
  • Publication number: 20080245649
    Abstract: A trip actuator reset assembly for a circuit breaker includes a cradle assembly, a reset lever, a trip actuator, and a resilient element. The cradle assembly is pivotably coupled to the circuit breaker pole shaft. The reset lever includes first and second ends, and a pivot pivotably coupling the reset lever to the circuit breaker housing. The resilient element is pivotably coupled to the housing proximate the second end of the reset lever. In response to a trip condition, an actuating element of the trip actuator moves the first end of the reset lever. To reset the trip actuator, a guide member guides the cradle assembly into engagement with the resilient element which pivots the reset lever. The first end of the reset lever then resets the trip actuator. After reset, if the cradle assembly continues to move, then the resilient element bends to accommodate the additional motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Yuri C. Spitsberg, Nathan J. Weister
  • Publication number: 20080245648
    Abstract: A trip actuator assembly is provided for a circuit breaker including a housing having a mounting surface, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The trip actuator assembly includes a trip actuator cooperable with the operating mechanism, and a planar member having first and second ends, first and second edges, and an aperture. The trip actuator is at least partially disposed within the aperture and is further disposed between the planar member and the mounting surface of the housing. The first edge of the planar member is removably coupled to the mounting surface, thereby removably coupling the trip actuator to the housing. The circuit breaker may include an accessory tray which is insertable on and is removable from the mounting surface. When inserted, the accessory tray abuts the body of the trip actuator enclosure further securing the trip actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, Lance Gula
  • Patent number: 6914206
    Abstract: In order to facilitate fixing an operating button to the front panel of an electric device, the operation button includes a rectangular frame having at least one engagement piece integrally connected to and extending downwards from its bottom side. The operation button can be fixedly held on the lower side by press-fitting the engagement piece into an associated engagement slot made in the bottom plate of the cabinet. The front panel has at least one tapped boss fixed to its rear side, thereby allowing the frame to be screwed on the upper side to the tapped boss. Alternatively, the front panel has at least one apertured engagement piece fixed to its rear side, whereas the frame has at least one yieldingly bendable curved hook integrally connected to its upper side. The curved hook has a nail formed at its free end. The upper side of the operation button is fixed to the front panel by press-fitting the nail of the curved hook in the aperture of the engagement piece of the front panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidenobu Mukougawa
  • 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: 6756556
    Abstract: An oscillating switch includes: a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob so as to depress the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passing through the through holes of the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Kubota, Yasuyoshi Serizawa
  • Patent number: 6680444
    Abstract: A structure of an electronic switch is disclosed. The structure of the electronic switch comprises an adjustment groove in the neck portion of the button, a pressing element disposed in the adjustment groove, and an elastic plate area which is defined by a slit of the case of the switch. A plurality of pressing points in a form of grooves is disposed on the elastic plate area at a position where the adjustment groove is positioned, wherein the grooves correspond to every electrical signals generated by the switch, allowing to press and push the button to move the pressing element in right and left, or up and down directions through an external force, in doing so, the pressing element presses the corresponding pressing points generating the corresponding obvious synchronization contact stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Shin-Jiuh Corp.
    Inventor: King-Long Lee
  • Patent number: 6576855
    Abstract: A switch, especially for heavy duty vehicle applications, utilizes solid state circuitry and a low voltage, low current touch pad switch, where the switching occurs directly on a printed circuit board and bulky wire terminations are eliminated. The switch includes a rocker, which pivots at its center point fulcrum causing the switch lever, housed inside the switch and attached to the rocker, to move in a particular direction. The configuration of the lever is such that the extending ears on opposite sides press against the elastomer seal and move a carbon contact against the integrated circuit traces on a printed circuit board, completing an electrical circuit. This condition occurs for either directional movement of the rocker. Housed within the lever is a spring-loaded plunger fitted with a roller (wheel) at its end. The roller rests on a predesigned detented ramp located as an integral part of the switch insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Cole Hersee Co.
    Inventors: Marina Levendis, Dana Paul Scribner, Steven David Mayer, Henry Garratt Grilk
  • Patent number: 6388221
    Abstract: A toggle switch (1), notably a window regulator switch in a motor vehicle, comprises a switch housing (2) in which a spring-biased toggle lever (12) is arranged in at least one switching limit position and a dead-center position. The toggle lever (12) comprises at least one switch-operating lever portion (25) that actuates at least one switching assembly (20), the toggle lever (12) featuring a center projection in which a spring-loaded catch unit (18) is fitted which interacts with a cam curve (9) contingent on the position of the toggle lever (12). To reduce the overall volume of the switch housing (2) and compensate for construction-related tolerances, the switch housing comprises a receiving part (5) that is integral with it, in which the toggle lever (12) is fitted, and in which at the same time the cam curve (9) is integrated, with the receiving part (5) enclosing the at least one switching assembly (20) and the at least one switch-operating lever portion (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerd Rudolph, Josef Khoury
  • Patent number: 6300852
    Abstract: In a stalk switch, a control lever is rotatably supported on a housing, and a driving member is slidably held on the base end of the control lever via a first spring. A sectionally V-shaped cam surface is provided inside the housing, and an end of the driving member is pressed into contact with a cam surface, whereby the control lever can be rotated between the neutral position and the left and right operating positions. A stopper member is slidably supported on the housing, and the stopper member is urged by a second spring having an urging force smaller than that of the first spring so as to project from the valley of the cam surface. An attraction member is attached to a rotating member rotating operatively associated with the slide of the stopper member, and an electromagnet is attached to the housing so as to oppose the attraction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironori Kato
  • Patent number: 6130393
    Abstract: An electrical rocker switch includes a body having at least two switch terminals, an internal switching mechanism for momentarily making or breaking an electrical connection between the terminals, an actuating knob on the body for operating the switching mechanism, a rocker supported on the body for pivotal movement between a first position depressing the actuating knob relative to the body and a second position releasing the actuating knob, and a resiliently biassed member for maintaining the rocker in the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Defond Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Raymond Wai Hang Chu
  • Patent number: 5957273
    Abstract: A user-activated switch assembly includes a knob pivotally mounted in a housing. A plunger is selectably mountable in any one of a plurality of locations between the knob and a cam. The cam includes a plurality of cam surfaces, any one of which can be selected based upon the orientation of the cam and/or the location of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Karasik
  • Patent number: 5911318
    Abstract: A breaker device is provided in which a lever can be locked in specified positions with an improved reliability and unlocking can be easily effected. A slider (60) carried by a lever (30) and a panel (22) of a casing (20) define a locking mechanism of the device. When the lever (30) is in a specified rotation position, the slider (60) and the panel (22) are engaged with each other to lock the lever (30) in that position. An unlock portion (62) for unlocking the locking mechanism is provided in a position to be covered by a handle portion (32) of the lever (30). Since this unlock portion (62) is protected by the handle portion (32), a tool or the like cannot come into contact with or strike the unlock portion (62). On the other hand, if a finger is placed on the handle portion (32) to rotate the lever (30), the tip of this finger is located at the underside of the handle portion (32), so that the unlock portion (62) can be easily operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sho Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5803243
    Abstract: A switch combines the benefit of the audible sound produced by ball and spring and metallic contact switches, with the simple, inexpensive, easy to assemble nonmetallic collapsible dome switches. A keycap with an audible lock arm having a ridge thereof for engaging at least one nub formed on the housing is provided allowing the keycap to be moved to at least a first and second position and locked. As the keycap is moved, the ridge moves over the nub producing an audible sound. Inexpensive and easy to assemble collapsible dome structures with electrically conductive pellets carried on an underside are used to close circuits on an underlying substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James Michael Nestor, Samuel Edward Penn
  • Patent number: 5796057
    Abstract: A rocking member is swingably supported on one opening side of a cylindrical case, and a knob is attached to the rocking member. The rocking member is provided with a rocking arm extending therefrom in the longitudinal direction of the case. The rocking arm has a tip section for engaging projections of a contact holder. The contact holder is moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case by the swinging action of the rocking arm, thereby switching a plurality of circuits. As a result, the switch can be made compact and its structure can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakajima, Norio Sekine
  • Patent number: 5735392
    Abstract: A switching device which can be changed into a lock type switching device, or a non-lock type switching device with the least number of replacement components is disclosed. The switching device includes: first and second fixed contacts mounted in parallel on the bottom of a base; first and second contact pieces which are pivotally arranged on the first and second fixed contacts, and which can be in contact with the first and second fixed contacts, respectively; a lever pivotally supported by the base; two driving rods which are elastically held in the lever in a removable manner, and whose tips slide on the first and second movable contact pieces, respectively, while being in contact therewith; and a locking member which is replaceable with the first movable contact piece (or the second movable contact piece 21), and having a convex cam surface formed on the upper surface thereof with which one of the driving rods slidably comes into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 5685419
    Abstract: A lever switch includes an insulating substrate formed from a plastics material which has opposed substrate walls protruding from a surface thereof. An operating lever is positioned between and hingedly connected to the opposed substrate walls so as to be pivotally movable between at least first and second positions. A movable contact piece, which has a pair of contact regions, is positioned at a lower end of the operating lever so as to be movable therewith between said first and second positions. A pair of fixed contact piece supporting walls each extend from a respective one of the opposed substrate walls. First and second conductive fixed contact pieces are positioned on respective inner surfaces of one and another of the fixed contact piece supporting walls such that the movable contact piece is positioned therebetween and is capable of contact therewith when the lever is pivoted between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Daichi Denso Buhin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsunesuke Takano
  • Patent number: 5630502
    Abstract: A rocker-type electrical switch of the kind known as a "quiet switch" includes a manually depressible rocker having two opposed contact surfaces at a small angle to each other from which rocker depends a rocker arm terminating in a rocker cam. A slider positioned intermediately of the rocker and the rocker cam is moved back and forth by side-to-side movements of the rocker arm and opens and closes one or more pairs of contacts. Rocker movement is controlled by a rocker cam leaf spring engaging the rocker cam which spring has a cammed profile traversed by the rocker cam to slow the switch, lock the rocker and provide other desirable effects. The rocker cam spring is housed in a spring chamber longer than itself, allowing the rocker cam spring to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kurek, David Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5595289
    Abstract: A rocker-type electrical switch of the kind known as a "quiet switch" includes a manually depressible rocker having two opposed contact surfaces at a small angle to each other from which rocker depends a rocker arm terminating in a rocker cam. A slider positioned intermediately of the rocker and the rocker cam is moved back and forth by side-to-side movements of the rocker arm and opens and closes one or more pairs of contacts. Rocker movement is controlled by a rocker cam leaf spring engaging the rocker cam which spring has a cammed profile traversed by the rocker cam to slow the switch, lock the rocker and provide other desirable effects. The rocker cam spring is housed in a spring chamber longer than itself, allowing the rocker cam spring to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kurek, David Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5500498
    Abstract: A rocker-type electrical switch of the kind known as a "quiet switch" includes a manually depressible rocker having two opposed contact surfaces at a small angle to each other from rocker depends a rocker arm terminating in a rocker cam. A slider positioned intermediately of the rocker and the rocker cam is moved back and forth by side-to-side movements of the rocker arm and opens and closes one or more pairs of contacts. Rocker is controlled by a rocker cam leaf spring engaging the rocker cam which spring has a cammed profile traversed by the rocker cam to slow the switch, lock the rocker and provide other desirable effects. The rocker cam spring is housed in a spring chamber longer than itself, allowing the rocker cam spring to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Liviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kurek, David Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5498846
    Abstract: A switch including two contact plates spaced in a housing, a bimetallic strip and a stop plate respectively connected to one contact plate, a T-shaped switch handle, a control block mounted around the switch handle, a conductive connecting plate fastened to a neck portion on the switch handle, a cushion mounted around the switch handle a first spring retained between the conductive connecting plate and the cushion, and a second spring supported between the control block and the head of the switch handle, wherein when the switch handle is turned sideways against the stop plate spring, the conductive connecting plate is forced to contact the first and second contact plates, causing the switch switched on; the bimetallic strip is deformed to force the stop plate spring away from switch handle, when the switch is overloaded, causing the switch to trip off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Kun-San Chin
  • Patent number: 5486669
    Abstract: A lever type switching assembly having a pair of generally U-shaped spring blade contact members disposed in oppositely spaced-parallel arrangement for alternate actuation by a common paddle lever frictionally contacting the contact members for effecting switching upon user movement of the lever in a clockwise direction. Each contact blade member has one end pivoted on a center contact for rocking motion to cause the U-shaped region and the opposite end of the blade member to make and break contact with side-contacts on opposite sides of the center contact. Overtravel of the paddle in one direction after actuation causes the contact blade member to break from the side contact and make contact with an auxiliary contact. A spring biased plunger on the paddle lever engages a detent surface on the base to give a tactiley discernible indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Oshgan
  • Patent number: 5446253
    Abstract: A rocker type switch actuator for sequentially actuating plural switches upon rotation in either of opposite directions from a neutral position. The actuator has a springloaded plunger which engages a recess in the housing. The recess has a central depression for neutral position detention and steep ramps disposed spaced on either side of the neutral recess. The steep ramps provide first actuation position detent action against the plunger upon user movement of the rocker from the neutral position. The steep ramp requires a substantially/increased user applied actuation force to move the plunger beyond the initial actuation position; and, upon the plunger cresting the top of the steep ramp a sudden decrease in user applied force is tactilely discernible to provide an indication that the second switching position has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Oshgan
  • Patent number: 5397870
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a lever operating device for a switch in which the distance between a lever and an actuating element is reduced. According to the present invention, a lever is swung, a transmission member is swung, so that an actuating element is moved to operate a switch. In this connection, arms of the transmission member are made equal in length to each other, so that, as the lever swings, an engaging pin swings the same distance as the actuating element moves. Hence, by setting the distance between the shaft pin and the engaging pin of the lever to the movement distance of the actuating element, the latter can be moved a predetermined distance required for operating the switch, even when the arm of the transmission member is short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yoshimi Noro
  • Patent number: 5382768
    Abstract: A rocker-type electrical switch of the kind known as a "quiet switch" includes a manually depressible rocker having two opposed contact surfaces at a small angle to each other from which rocker depends a rocker arm terminating in a rocker cam. A slider positioned intermediately of the rocker and the rocker cam is moved back and forth by side-to-side movements of the rocker arm and opens and closes one or more pairs of contacts. Rocker movement is controlled by a rocker cam leaf spring engaging the rocker cam which spring has a cammed profile traversed by the rocker cam to slow the switch, lock the rocker and provide other desirable effects. The rocker cam spring is housed in a spring chamber longer than itself, allowing the rocker cam spring to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kurek, David Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5105059
    Abstract: A split switch case has a base and a mounting bracket fitted thereto. The top wall of the latter has a lateral rib defining sockets for receiving shoulder portions of the actuator. Plungers in the actuator can bottom out to break free the switch contacts should they fuse together. The rocker has a unique shape and is coupled to the actuator for positive pivotal movement on a lateral axis defined by surfaces in the rocker and in the mounting bracket's top wall rib. In the illuminated switch shown, the lamp circuit has at least one lead provided in a slot defined inside the mounting bracket. The lamp can be mounted in the mounting bracket either from above or from below, two depending legs will accommodate a conventional LED from either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Carlingswitch, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Sorenson, Milton Ives