US1695121A

US1695121A - Vehicle-operated switch

Info

Publication number: US1695121A
Application number: US177820A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew O Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-03-23
Filing date: 1927-03-23
Publication date: 1928-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1945-12-11

Description

De.; 11, 192s. 1,695,121

A. O. PETERSON VEHICLE OPERATED SWITCH Filed March 23, V192'? 6 1 1 .mais

Patented Dec. 11,1928.

PATENT oFFicE.

ANDREW O. PETERSON, Ollk SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

` y VEHICLE-opnamen SWITCH.

Appncatmnnlea Maren 23, 1927. 'serial No. 117,820.

This invention relates to electrical apparatus, and more particularlyto a single operated switch for use in garages and the like. f

garage it is often necessary for him to turn the lights on when he locates the switch, drive his car from the garage and lthen return to the gara e to turn the switch offk before yhe closes t e doors. Similarly, on returning to the garage he must stop the car, enter the garage and turn the lights on, re turn to his car and drive the car within the garage, thenturn the lights off before leaving. This is quite troublesome operation, especially if the switch is located on the Wall of the garage where he must feel for the same in the dark. Then, in order to overcome this inconvenience, I 'have developed this particular invention. f

It is an object therefore, of this invention to provide a switch that will enable the lights in the garage to be turned on and oii" as the car leaves or enters the garage without requiring the driver'to leave his position at the steering-wheel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a switch located on the ground, so that the driver mayL merely pass over the switch with the vehicle and operate the same either to turn the lights on or turn the lights off.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a switch which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is strong and durable, which will not get out of order due to heavy ressures exerted upon the same, which is e cient in its operation and well adapted to perform the services required of it. n

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure lis a diagrammatic view showing the position of my improved switch with respectto the path of the vehicle and the garage in which the vehicle is housed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of my switch assembly, showing( the operative parts thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2. l i

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections which co-operate to, make up my invention.

In the above drawings, like characters of reference designate like elements throughout. The reference numeral 1 designates a garage or building in which avehicle may be stored. The reference numeral 2 designates the driveway or path in which a vehicle must travel in order to enter th garage l.

My invention is designated as an entirety ati-3, and comprises certain mechanical elements which are adapted to` be embedded beneath the surface of the drive-'way so that the actual operating means` rests substant-ially on the surface of the ground.` My.,

invention includes a substantially cup-shaped container 4 .sunk within a recess in the ground. The upper end of the container 4 extends a slight distance above the ground, and on either side of the same are stationary supports 5 and 6. Securely fastened to these supports 5 and G by means of bolts, rivets or the like, are a pair of spring-arms `7 and 8, which arms are the actual operating elements of my device. Their operation will be described in detail at a point later in this siiecification. v

fr plate 9, bolted to the upper end of the container as at l0, completely covers the same and extends partially over the supports 5 and G, and is bolted at' itsfouter marginal edges to thesesupports by the same means whereby the sp1-ing arms Li and 8 are bolted' thereto. n Fastened to each of the spring arms are the plungers 11 and 12 respectively, which extend through the plate 9 into a container, and at their lower ends make contactr tothe outside of this container is a shieldshaped plate having cam surfaces 2l and 22 thereon. A slot is provid-ed in the casingl 17 and lugs 24 and 25 entend outwardly hrough this slot and contact with the cani surfaces on the shield-like plate. A bracket is pivoted to the casingat 2G and is connected to the lower end ot the shield as at 27 by means ot a spring 28, which springin eiiiect. a compression spring.

In actual operation, downward pressure on the arm 8 will cause the shield to swing on its pivot point. to a symmetrial position with respect to the casing,r on the opposite side ot the container 4t. The plunger ll will depress the push-button i3 while the pushbutton 1+'. will be elevated and the arm T will assume ythe same position as the arm S orig'- inally assumed. IThe driver ot the. vehicle, on entering his gare causes the wheel ot his vehicle to depress the arin 8 so that the lights wfll he turned on and it will not he necessary tor him to leave his vehicle to search for a switch-button placed on the wall. @n leaving` his garage, in order to turn the lights Gili, he may run his vehicle over the arm 7, thereby depressing the same and operating the switch. It he leavingr the on toot, it is merely necessary tor him to step on the arm 7 to turn ott' the lights, or on entering the garage on toot he may step on the arm 8 to turn on the licjhts. In either event. whether the lights are to be turned on or otl, the desired change may be effected by depressing whichever arm is in its elevated position. This t'eature ohviates the necessity ot marking;r the arms or of remembering' which one must be actuated to complete the circuit, and which to break it. The coil-spring 28 should be constructed so as to have sutiiciem strength so that stray animals or children will not accidentally turn on the lights. Then the plate Q0 has its symmetrical axis vertical, the plate is unstable. and vill noty remain in such a position. r1She platel at all times will rest al'` an inclination to the lett or to the rigijht ot the container, as its center oi buoyancy is located at. a point beneath its center ot inertia.

I do notI desire to limit. myself to the exact. arrangement ot parts shown or described in 'this speciiication and its accompanying; drawings. Other modes of applying` the principle of this invention may be employed instead ot the one explained. Various changes may be made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed. providing the means covered by any one of the foilowing claims hev employed.

That I claim and desire to secure by lietters Patent is:

l. A switch coi'nprising in combination a container adapted to be embedded in the ground in the path oit travel ot a vehicle. a tubular casing` within said container, a` switch upon which said casing supported,

having reciprocal push-buttons for making and breaking an electrical circuit respectively, a pair ot rods extending downwardly through said casing. contacting with said push-buttons. a pair of horizontal arras above said container contacting with said rods whereby a` vehicle may selectively bc pressed by virtuev ot its weight, said rods to operate said switch.

2. A switch compris-incr in combination a container', means 'in said container tor male ing and breaking an el ctrical circuit comprisinpr a pair oi reciprocal push-buttons, a pair rods extending upwardly troni said push-buttons to a point outside ot said container, a plattl pivoted within said container, projections on said rods cngragrinpr cani surfaces on said plate. and a coilspring attach-ed to said plate to impart to the same a. decree of instability whereby said reciprocal push-buttons will he either elevated or depressed. and means whereby the wei ght ot a vehicle may he imparted to either ot said rods to operate said switch.

il.. A. switch coniprisinfr a container adapted to be positioned in the path ot' travel ot a vehicle, a switch positioned within said container, said switch comprising a pair oi push buttons adapted to be selectively operated to in ke or break an electrical circuit, :i rod associated with each ot said buttons and slidably mounted within the container, and an arm operatively connected to each rod, said arms being positioned closely ad- `jacent the surface over which the vehicle travels.

4. il switch conn'irisine a container adapted to be positioned in the path ot' travel of a vehicle, a c tch positioned within said container. said switch comprisingr a pair of push buttons adapted to he selectivelyv operated to make or break an electrical circuit, a rod associated with each of said buttons and slidably mounted within the container, and an arin operatively connecteiil to cach rod.. said arms being positioned iiflosely adithe surtace over which the vehicle vele',` and extending' from oiiposite sides el' tie container.

5. A switch comprising:r a container adapted to he positioned in the path ot travel oi a vehicle. a switch positioned within said container, said switch comprising a pair of push buttons adapted to be selectively operated to make. or break an electrical circuit. a rod associated with each of said buttons and slidably mounted within the container. means for automatically extending' one rofl when the other retracted. and an arm opeatively connected to each rod, said arms being positioned closely adjacent the surface over which the vehicle travels.

(l. A switch con'iprisine' a container adapted to he. positioned in the path ot travel ot .1 vehicle, a switch positioned within .said

ent

container, said switch comprising a pair of between said rods and at the other end t0 said push buttons adapted to be selectively operplate, and an arm operatively connected to 10 ated to make or break an electrical circuit, a each rod, said arms being positioned closely rod associated with each of said buttons and adjacent the surface over which the vehicle slidably mounted Within the container, 4a travels.

shoulder on each rod, a rocker plate pivoted In testimony whereof I have signed my between said rods and in engagement with name to this s ecification.

both shoulders, a spring pivoted at one end i Il)\IDREW O. PETERSON.