US2119888A - Foot switch - Google Patents

Description

J n 7, 1938. I. E. won 2,119,888

FOOT SWITCH Filed July 30, 1936 3 SheetS-Sheet l INVENTOR. //rmv EARL 'N/xo/v.

ATTORNEY.

June 7, 1938 g, N xo 2,119,888

FOOT SWITCH Filed July 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. #3:? 549. Mxa v.

ATTORNEY.

Jung 7, was. E N 2,119,888

FOOT SWITCH Filed July so, 1956 s Shets-Sheet s ATTORNEY.

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES FOOT SWITCH Irvin Earl Nixon, Houston, Tex., assignor to M. 0.

Scobee and himself,

Application July 30,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to switches especially the type operated by the foot, said switches being used in connection with telephone, telegraph, signal systems or the like for various switching purposes.

The object of this invention is to provide a foot switch that will operate efiiciently with a minimum of effort on the part of the user; also to lift up the circuit controlling or switching means a suitable distance above the flooring in the vicinity of the foot pedal of said switch, thereby clearing said switching means from exposure to dust, dirt and moisture which invariably collects upon the flooring or other surfaces where such aparatus is located.

The novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a partial sideway elevation of a foot switch, the circuit switching means enclosed in switch box i.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1 on a line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial detail view of the switching lever arrangement on a line 33 of Fig. 2. The aforementioned detail illustrates the operation of the lever 2 in connection with the'push button switch 3.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the switch box I showing the internal wiring of the same; also showing external connections with the telephone mouth piece 5; and also with the battery B. The position of the push button switch 3 as shown in Fig. 4 disconnects the battery B from the wired circuit.

Fig. 5 is a further detail of the switch box showing the manner of the operation of the push button switch 3 in connection with the multiple jack 4. The position of the switch 3 cuts the battery B into the circuit.

Fig. 6 is a modification of a foot switch mechanism, the connecting rod operating in a ball socket 6.

Fig. '7 is a further modification of a foot switch 45 mechanism involving the operation of the connecting rod operable by the kicking of or by a sidewise rotatable movement of the foot pedal.

Fig. 8 is a further modification of a foot switch mechanism involving the operation of the connecting rod by means of the transverse bar 9.

Referring to the drawings, the foot switch proper is mounted upon an upright frame [2. The numeral I designates the switch box or container in which the circuit wiring and switch jack is contained. Said switch box is mounted both of Houston, Tex.

1936, Serial No. 93,501 (01. 200-159) on said frame 12 which is made of wood or the like. The upright frame I2 is slotted at the location designated as 12 and the floor pedal 9 is fitted into said slot. 'Said pedal is pivotally mounted on the bearing 9 The retractile spring H restores the pedal 9 to normal position when said pedal is released by the users foot. Mounted upon said pedal is the connecting rod 1 which is connected to the arm 2 of the bell crank l0; said bell crank is movable on the bearing IN. The bell crank I0 is secured to the upright frame I2 by means of the screws 2 The lever arm 2 of the bell crank I0 rests upon or is closely contiguous to the push button 3 the pin of which projects through a. bushing in said switch box as shown;

When the foot pedal 9 is pressed by the foot the connecting rod 1 moves the arm 2 and with it the bell crank Iii causing the lever, arm 2 to push the button 3 inward. The above action causes the push button 3 to be forced inward by the lever arm 2.

The circuit arrangement in connection with the foot switch shown in Fig. 4 is a typical cut out key arrangement for telephones generally used in train dispatching. The cut out key normally keeps the battery disconnected from the circuit. When it is desired to talk into the telephone transmitter 5, the user will press the foot pedal 9 which will cause the nose 3 of the push button 3 to press against the joined contact springs or fingers l3 and l3 causing said fingers to move to the left and contacting with the springs l4, l5 and I6. The contacting of the springs of the multiple jack 4 as just described is shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 4 the push button 3 is released from the contact spring or finger l3 resulting in the disconnection of the battery B from the telephone circuit.

An insulated rod l3 joins the contact springs l3 and i3 together so that they may contact with the respective contact spring simultaneously.

The circuit connections in the switch box I are of the usual type that are incorporated in many telephone systems and are well known to the art and do not require detailed description.

Connected in the aforesaid circuit is the eondenser I5, the function of which is well known to the art.

Referring to Fig. 6. The connecting rod 7 rests in a ball bearing base 6. Mounted on the connecting rod and secured thereto is the foot pedal 9. The conecting rod 1 is secured at its upper end to bearing l6 which is secured in turn to the switch box I by means of a pair of screws. The rod I is provided with an extension lever H which contacts with the push button 3. When the pedal 9 is pushed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the lever I1 is caused to contact with and move the push button switch 3 inward into the switch box I causing the contacting of the multiple jack 4 in the manner as described with reference to the operation of the foot switch shown in Fig. 1.

The connecting rod 1 is retracted by the spring II in the usual manner.

Referring to Fig. '7, the foot pedal 9 is connected to the connecting rod 1 which is pivoted at the arbor l8 and said rod swings thereon. Mounted upon the switch box I is the bell crank III. The upper end extension 'I of the rod I rests outwardly upon the lever Ill of the bell crank Ill When the users foot strikes the pedal 9 and thus moving it in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the upper end extension I of the rod 1 will move the lever III of the bell crank lo This movement will cause the lever Ill to move the push button switch 3 performing the function as already described. The retractile spring II will restore the foot pedal 9 to normal when released by the users foot.

Referring to Fig. 8, the lift rod 1 is secured at its lower end to transverse rod I9 by means of the jointing member I9, said transverse rod is secured to a U-shaped pedal rail 8, said pedal rail or bar being pivoted in bearings 8 The upper extension of the connecting rod 1 is secured to the lever Ill of the bell crank IIJ The lever 10 of said bell crank contacts with the push button switch 3.

When the pedal rail or bar is depressed by the users foot in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 8, the lever I0 will move downward which will cause the lever I U to press against the push button switch 3 resulting in contacting of the multiple jack 4 in the manner already described. The retractile spring II will restore the pedal rail 8 to its normal position when released by the users foot.

Referring to Fig. 4 the push button switch 3 is retracted to the position shown in said figure when released by the lever arm 2 of the bell crank I0.

It is obvious that the foot switch arrangement as shown has uses other than that particularly described and I therefore do not wish to confine myself to said particular usage.

Now having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the class described including a switch, said switch having a series of vertically disposed contact members, a housing for completely enclosing said switch, a bushing in said housing, a plunger rod movable through said bushing, said plunger rod causing the contacting of said vertically disposed contacting members, a bell crank lever having an arm in operable contact with said plunger rod, a connecting rod operably connected to said bell crank, and a foot pedal operably connected to said connecting rod, said switch and housing therefor elevated above the connecting rod aforesaid.

2. In a foot switch of the class described including a foot pedal, an upright rod connected thereto, a bell crank having an arm connected to said rod, a switch comprising a series of contact springs, a housing enclosing said switch, a plunger member projecting inwardly into said housing and being moved in a horizontal plane by said bell crank, said projected movement of said plunger member causing the contacting of said contact springs in one direction, and the retracting movement of said plunger member causing the contacting of said contacting springs in an opposite direction, said housing being elevated

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