US2139586A

US2139586A - Switch

Info

Publication number: US2139586A
Application number: US194467A
Authority: US
Inventors: Christian F Husemoller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-03-07
Filing date: 1938-03-07
Publication date: 1938-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1955-12-06

Description

Dec. 6, 1938. c. F. HusEMoLLER 2,139,586

SWITCH Filed Maron 7, 1958 mslm y q.. j

10H16, 340335)? IIJQ INVENTOR e' @mfg/mw@ 76' ATToRN EYs Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to switches and has for an object to provide an electric switch adapted to control signal circuits more particularly direction signal circuits for automobiles.

* An object of the invention is to provide a switch having a movable switch contact provided with a ball and a current supply terminal plate provided with a socket receiving the ball and eiiecting good electrical contact when the switch is selectively moved to any of its circuit closing positions.

A further object is to provide a switch including two plates of insulation between which the ball and the conductor terminal are conned by pressure of springs acting against one of the plates to force the other plate against the closure of the switch housing so that good electrical con tact between the ball and the terminal will be maintained because wear upon the parts will be automatically taken up by the springs.

A further object is to provide a switch of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a top plan view oi a switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the switch taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch taken from corner to corner of the switch on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the current supply terminal and showing the socket thereof.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the switch with the bottom of the housing removed and showing circuit connections between the switch and direction indicating signal lamps on the iront and back of a motor vehicle.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l0 designates a housing which is closed at the top by a cover plate II secured in place by screws I2. The cover plate is provided with a central circular opening I3 to are confined against each other and against the 5 cover plate by a pair of helical springs I5, best shown in Figure 3, which are mounted in seats I6 on the bottom ci the housing and bear with their upper ends against the lower face of the lowermost insulating plate I4.

The upper plate is provided in the top face with an axially disposed cruciform slot I'I, best shown in Figure 1, and the iowermost plate I4 is provided with a similar cruciform slot I8, best shown in Figure 2, the branches of the slot I8 being in the same plane as the `branches of the slot I'I. Both cruciform slots merge with respective senilspherical openings IQ and 2G formed in the opposed faces of the plates I3 and I4 to receive a ball 2I formed integral with a movable contact 22 which depends below the ball, there being a stem 23 disposed in alignment with the contact and extending from the top face of the ball, this stem terminating in a knob 24.

A current supply terminal 25, best shown in Figure 4, is countersunk in the lower plate I4 and is provided near one end with an integral socket 26 of substantially hemispherical contour to snugly receive the ball 2 I. The pressure of the springs I5 hold the socket and bali in good electrical contact and the springs take up wear upon the ball and socket so that good electrical contact will be maintained throughout the life of the device. The current supply terminal 25 is provided at one end with a binding post 2l, best shown in Figures 2 and 5 to receive a conductor wire 28 through which current is supplied from the battery 23 or other source oi current. The binding post projects through the lowermost insulating plate I4.

A plurality of stationary switch contacts 3D, best shown in Figures l and 5 are arranged radially on the bottom face of the lo-wermost inand i4 are yieldably mounted in the housing. Consequently both plates may be pressed downward as a unit against the tension of the springs i5 and this movement is made use of to ground one side or the horn circuit on the casing I6 for blowing the horn as will now be described.

A U-shaped conductor 33 is provided with legs 34 which are secured to the plates i3 and I4 by bolts 35 passing through both plates, and as best shown in Figures 3 and 5 a conductor wire 36 from the battery 29 is led through the horn 31 and connected by a wire 38 to one of the bolts 35. When the knob E4 is grasped and depressed to push down both plates i3 and M against the tension of the springs l5 the grounding contact 33 will engage the bottom of the housing l0 and close the circuit through the horn.

As best shown diagrammatically in Figure 5 a signal lamp casing 39 may be disposed on the rear of the mot r vehicle and signal lamp casing 4i? may be disposed on the front of the vehicle in associated relationship with the headlights. The stationary switch contacts 3l of the switch, corresponding to stop, left, back and right movements of the vehicle, may be connected electrically by suitable circuit wires to respective signal circuit lamps lll in the signal casing 39 which lamps may be connected in series with respective signal lamps l2 in the signal lamps on the front of the vehicle. Thus when the movable switch Contact is thrown to indicate any desired intention of the driver the corresponding signal circuits will be closed to simultaneously illuminate respective signal lamps on the front and on the back of the vehicle.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, a pair of superposed plates of insulating material slidably mounted as a unit in the casing, springs conned under tension between the bottom of the casing and one of the plates, a ciu'- rent supply terminal plate interposed between the plates of insulation and having a socket, said insulating plates being provided with superposed aligned cruciiorin slots communicating with said soc ret, a ball confined in said socket between the plates of insulation, a. switch contact carried by the ball and extending toward the bottom of the casing, a stern carried by the bail and extending toward the tcp of the casing, a knob on the end of said stein, said stein and Contact being receivable in said cruciiorm slots in the circuit closing positions of said contact, and a plurality of stationary switch contacts arranged radially on the bottom face of the low'ermost insulating plate and selectively engageable by said movable switch contact.

2. A switch comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, a pair of superposed plates of insulating material slidably mounted as a unit in the casing, springs conned under tension between the bottom of the casing and one of the plates, a current supply terminal plate interposed between the plates of insulation and having a socket, said insulating plates being provided with superposed aligned cruciform slots communicating with said socket, a ball confined in said socket between the plates of insulation, a switch contact carried by the ball and extending toward the bottom of the casing, a stern carried by the ball and extending toward the top of the casing, a knob on the end of said stern, said stem and Contact being receivable in said cruciform slots in the circuit closing positions of said contact, a plurality of stationary switch contacts arranged radially on the bottom face of the lowermost insulating plate and selectively engageable by said movable switch contact, a U-shaped switch contact disposed on the bottom face of the lowermost plate, and an electrical conductor terminal engaged through said insulating plates and connected to the last named U-shaped switch contact, pressure upon the knob moving said insulating plates against the tension of said springs to effect contact of said U-shaped switch contact with the bottom of the casing and complete a circuit through said terminal.

3. A switch comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, a pair of superposed plates of insulating material slidably mounted as a unit in the casing, springs coniined under tension between the bottoni of the casing and one of the plates, a current supply terminal plate interposed between the plates of insulation and having a socket, said insulating plates being provided with superposed aligned cruciforrn slots communicating with said socket, a ball confined in said socket between the plates of insulation, a switch Contact carried by the ball and extending toward the bottom of the casing, a stem carried by the ball and extending toward the top of the casing, a knob on the end of said stem, said stern and contact being receivable in said cruciform slots in the circuit closing positions of said contact, a plurality of stationary switch contacts .arranged radially on the bottom face of the lowermost insulating plate, said sta.- tionary switch contacts having the ree ends directed downwardly toward the bottom oi the casing and adapted to be engaged by said movable switch contacts when the latter is in circuit closing position in selected portions of the cruciform slot in the bottom insulating plate.

CHRISTIAN F. HUSEMOLLER.