US1995700A - Combination socket and switch - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1935. 'M'. J. BUTLER COMBINATION SOCKET AND SWITCH Filed Sept. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l I wage/$325M March 26, 1935. M, J, BUTLER COMBINATION SOCKET AND SWITCH Filed Sept. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR. Buf/er I ATTORNEY.

A l/chae/ %wil Patented Mar. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcs The invention is a combination socket and switch which is adapted to operate a cluster of lamps so that with'one movement, one lamp will be lighted, another movement, a part of the lamps will be lighted, another movement, all

of the lamps will be lighted, and another movement, all the lamps will be extinguished.

The object of the invention is to provide means for fighting one or any number of lamps in a cluster by a common operating member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination switch which may be operated by a pull cord so that by pulling the cord a difierent number of times different numbers of lamps may be lighted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination switch in which difierent movements thereof may connect different circuits having different numbers of lamps, in which the switch may be positioned in a socket of one of the lamps or at a remote point.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a combination switch for lighting one or any number of lamps in a cluster which may be incorporated in the socket of an electric lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination socket for lighting one or any number of lamps in a cluster which may readily be adjusted to light any of the lamps desired.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a combination switch for lighting one or any number of lamps in a cluster which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a socket switch having a rotating spring bar, a plurality of contacts adapted to be engaged by the ends of the bar, said contacts completing different circuits, and means for rotating the said bar thru continuous steps.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a light fixture having a cluster of lamps in which the device may be used.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the lamps and circuits thereto.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the switch with the cover in section. I

Figure 4 is a cross section thru the switch on line 44 of Figure 3 showing the operating segment.

Figure 5 is a similar section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view showing an alternate arrangement in which the switch may be operated by a push button.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a switch of an alternate design in which the contact bar may be operated by turning a button.

Figure 8 is an exploded view showing the disc in which the contact members are mounted in perspective, and the ratchet and operating arm in elevation.

In the drawings the device is shown as it may be made wherein numeral 1 indicates the contact bar, numeral 2 the operating segment, and numeral 3 an insulated member holding the switch contacts.

The contact bar is made of a springy material and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 4 and on the back of the bar is a notched disc 5 adapted to be engaged by teeth 6 on a disc 7 which is attached to the segment 2. The segment 2 is preferably made of fibre or may be made of any other insulating material and is rotatably mounted on the shaft 4. The segment is resiliently held upward by a spring 8 and may be pulled downward by a cord 9 mounted and held in a groove 10, and it will be, noted that each time the cord 9 is pulled downward the tooth 6 will engage one of the notches of the disc 5 and rotate the disc and bar 1, which is attached to it, thru an angle of degrees, however, it will be understood that this distance may be varied depending upon the number of circuits to be completed by the switch.

As the spring bar 1 advances it will engage contact points in the member 3 and complete circuits therethru and these circuits are arranged so that the first time the segment is moved from the neutral position in which it is shown in Figure 4, or when it is moved to the first position it will light one lamp, which is indicated by the numeral 11, the next movement moves it the second position in which it will light two lamps 12 and 13 in addition to lamp 11, and in the third position it will light the lamps 14, 15 and is in addition to the lamps 11, 12 and 13, so that in this position all of the lamps will be lighted.

The lamps are therefore connected in three circuits supplied by two wires 1'? and 18 that may be connected to any suitable source of electric current. lhe Wire 17 is directly connected to of the lamps thru a wire 19 and short connecting wires to the individual lamps, and the wire 18 is connected to the lamps thru the switch. The wire 18 is connected to a contact point 20 and also by a wire 21 to the shaft 4 in the center of the switch and as the bar 1 is mounted upon the shaft it will be supplied with current from the wire 18 in all positions. On one side of the switch is an elongated contact bar 22 that is connected by a wire 23 to the wire 17 thru the lamp 11. It will be noted that as the bar 1 passes from the neutral position, as shown in Figure 4, in which any of the lamps are not lighted, in a counter clock-wise direction, as indicated by the arrow, to the first position in which oneend of the bar engages the contact 20 and the other-the first step of the contact 22, a circuit will be completed from the wire 18, thru the contact 20, thru the bar 1, and the contact 22 to the lamp 11 thru the wire 23, and from the opposite terminal of the lamp thru a wire 24 to the wire 17. With the' bar in this position only one lamp, 11, will be lighted. As the bar moves to the next position so that one end will engage a contact 25, as shown in Figure 5, a circuit will be completed from the wire 18, thru the wire 21, the shaft 4, the bar 1, the contact 25, and a wire'26 thru connecting wires 27 and 28 to the lamps 12 and 13 and from the lamps to the wire 17 thru the wire 19. At the same time the opposite end of the bar 1 will remain in engagement with the contact 22 so thatthe circuit will also be completed thru the lamp 11.

As the bar 1 is advanced another step to the third position it will engage a contact 29 and also remain in engagement with the contact 25 thru an extension 30 which extends almost to the contact 29 and is arranged so that the end thereof will engage the side of the bar 1 with the bar on the contact 29 to complete a. circuit thru the contact 25 sothat the lamps 12 and 13 will remain lighted. At the same time a circuit will be completed from the wire 18, thru the wire 21, the shaft 4, the bar 1, to the contact 29, and from this contact thru a wire 31 and connecting wires 32, 33- and 34 to lamps 14, 15 and 16, and the opposite terminal of these lamps will also be connected to the wire 17 thru the wire 19. At the same time the opposite end of the bar 1 will remain in engagement with the contact 22 and complete the circuit thru the lamp 11, so that in this position all the lamps will be lighted. It will then be notedthat as the bar 1 is advanced to the next position it will be in the neutral position, as shown in Figure 4, in which any of the circuits are not completed, and all of the lamps will be extinguished.

It will be noted that the contact points in the member 3 may be of any type or design, may be arranged in any manner, and may be connected to the wires in the different circuits by any means. In the design shown thecontacts are arranged in recesses 35 in the member 3 and these recesses are inclined representing teeth or notches in a ratchet, so that the member 1 will snap from one position to the other and as it snaps into the tnotches'it will be located and positioned to "positively engage the contacts so that the contacts will be positively completed in each step. The lamps may also be arranged and connected in the circuits so that any number of lamps may be lighted with each step and as many lamps as desired may be provided in the whole fixture and also in each circuit. It will also be understood that the connection of the wires to the contact points may be made as shown in Figure 3 or in any other manner.

In the design shown in Figure 6, the disc 8 is replaced by a disc 36 having teeth 37 in the other surface and these teeth may be engaged by a dog 38 pivotally mounted on the lower side of a button 39. The button 39 is slidably mounted in a tubular member 40 and resiliently held outward maa'zoo by a spring 41 and it will be noted that as the button 39 is pressed inward the dog 38 will engage one .of the teeth 37 and move the disc 36 and contact bar 1 thru the distance of one step or from one contact point to another. The lower side of the member 40 may be provided with a lug 42 which will engage the dog-38 and limit the outward movement of the button 39.

In the design shown in Figure '7 the switch is provided with a button 43 which maybe mounted on the shaft 4 and turned by hand to operate the contact bar 1.

It will be noted that as the segment 2 is pulled downward by a chain or cord 44 one of the teeth 6 will engage one of the notches in the disc 5 and move the disc and bar 1 thru the distance of one tooth or any distance desired depending upon the number'of circuits or contacts in the socket. It will be noted that the switch may be positioned so that the segment 2 may be pulled downward in order to operate the contact bar or the position thereof may be inverted so that the segment may be pulled upward, as in the design-shown in Figure 1 it is preferred to pull the segment upward with a cord 44 which extends upward thru a housing 45, and thru a plate 46 at the top of the fixture. In this design a flexible Itwill be understood that other changes be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of the device in a lamp, cluster of lamps, or in a lamp circuit of any other type or description, another may be in the use of other means for making and breaking the circuits, another may be in the use of other means for operating the circuit breaking means, and still another may be in the arrangement of the lamp circuits or in the means for connecting the lamps to the diiferent contact points.

The construction willbe readily understood from the foregoing description. In use the device may be provided and installed as shown and it will be noted that it may be so arranged that it may be mounted in the socket of one of the lamps of the cluster as shown. The lamps may be mounted in the housing 45 and the sockets held therein in any manner or by any means. It will be noted that with the lamps arranged and mounted in this-manner it will be possible to light one or any number of lamps by pulling the cord or turning the switch a difierent number of times. It will also be understood that the arrangement of the contact points may be used in a switch of any other type or description and may be operated by any other means. It is also not necessary that the switch be located in one of the lamp sockets, or in the cluster oflamps, as it may be located at a remote point and connected to the lamps by wires. The switch may also be used for any other purpose.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by" Letters Patent, is:

As an article of manufacture, a socket switch of the type constructed separate and independent from a lamp bulb, but adapted to be used in combination therewith, an insulating member having a plurality of contact points radially positioned therein, with positive points on one side thereoi and with a continuous negative point on the opposite side and extending thru an arc of suflicient length to provide contact of a cross member with any part thereof when contacting any of the positive points one of said positive contact, points having an extension extending toward but not engaging an adjoining p0int,-afid adapted to engage a cross member contacting said adjoining point, a segment having a pull chain adapted to move said segment thru a predetermined distance with a positive movement, a

spring adapted to return said segment, a plurality of ratchet teeth on one side 01' said segment, and

an arm operated by said segment thru said ratchet teeth, and adapted to be moved step by step, said arm positioned to engage said positive and negative contact points and also positioned to be moved to a neutral position out of engagement with all 0! said points.

MICHAEL J. BUTLER.

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