GB1233400A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,233,400. Linkwork; plastics springs. PAINTON & CO. Ltd. 16 July, 1969 [6 Aug., 1968], No. 37487/68. Headings F2K and F2S. [Also in Division H1] An actuating assembly, suitable for operation of push-button switches, for example, includes a resilient structure formed by a single plastics material moulding having at least a pair of arms resiliently movable towards one another, at least one of the arms being engageable by an actuating member and part of the structure being adapted to engage the device to be actuated, initial movement of the actuating member causing deformation of the resilient structure by relative movement between the arms thereof; whereafter further movement of the actuating member causes the structure to move as a whole in a device-actuating direction. Several embodiments applied to the actuation of microswitches are described. As shown in Fig. 2 the resilient structure 16 is U-shaped and, upon depression of button 12, its arms 17 ride into a frusto-conical bore 14 until the bias of a switch actuator 15 is overcome, whereupon the whole member 16 moves to operate microswitch 3. More than one microswitch may be ganged for conjoint operation (Fig. 3, not shown). In another embodiment (Figs. 4 and 5, not shown), the member 16 has three arms (27) forming a cup-shape to receive a frusto-conical projection on a plunger, such that depression of button 12 deforms the arms outwards until switch 3 is actuated. In two other embodiments the member 16 is merely a two-armed U-shape with the button 12 acting on one arm while the other arm subsequently actuates the switch; in one case (Fig. 6, not shown) the member 16 is pivoted on a fixed pin at its bight portion, while in the other case (Fig. 7, not shown) the member 16 is carried by the actuating member, having one arm secured thereto or integral therewith.