US2279065A

US2279065A - Switch construction

Info

Publication number: US2279065A
Application number: US372085A
Authority: US
Inventors: Newton C Schellenger
Original assignee: CHICAGO TELEPHONE SUPPLY CO
Current assignee: CHICAGO TELEPHONE SUPPLY Co
Priority date: 1939-04-27
Filing date: 1940-12-28
Publication date: 1942-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1959-04-07

Description

April 7, 194v2- N. c. scHELLENGER C 2,279,065-

i SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l .I E Ik.. I ,.2 um A Mln. 8

April 7, 1942'. N. c. scHELLENGER SWITCH CONSTRUCTION original Filed April 2'7, 19:59

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5MM Npwim D. ima/Img@ Patented Apr. 7, 1942 stares .PATE

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Original application April Z7, 1939, Serial No.

Divided and .this application Decembei' 28, 1940, Serial N0. 372,085

9 Claims.

Inasmuch as switches already have been compacted as much as practical, further space saving entails reduction in size of the volume control; but in switches 'heretofore in use wherein the switch mechanism is enclosed in a housing having metal side walls with depending ears for attachment to the end wall of a volume control housing, it has been necessary to have the volume control housing larger in 'diameter than the switch housing to enable the attaching ears to pass through the end wall of the latter.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means whereby a, switch unit may be attached to a volume control housing no larger in diameter than itself.

More specically, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved switch housing so designed and constructed that its attaching ears by which the switch is secured to the end Wall of a' volume control housing, are located inwardly of the housing periphery to enable the attachment of the switch to a volume control no larger in diameter than itself.

With a view toward simplifying assembly of the switch, it is a further object of the present invention to provide common means for locating the attaching ears inwardly of the periphery o the switch housing and also supporting the switch base against movement into the switch housing.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying f drawings illustrate oney complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention, constructed in accordance with the best mode so far devised for plication of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking into a switch constructed in accordance with this invention, said View showing the switch in its closed or on condition;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but with the parts in the positions they occupy when the switch is open or in its "o condition;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure -4 on the plane of the line 3-3;

Figure 4 isa cross sectional view through the housing of a volume control -and taken in the direction facing the switch to illustrate the manner in which the switch housing is secured thereto, said view being taken on the plane of the line -t in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an end View of the switch.

Referring now more particularlyto the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates the housing of a switch of the type to which this invention refers. The switch is mounted on the end wall 6 of a volume control housing designated generally by the numeral l.

Inasmuch as the volume 4control forms no part of this invention, it has not been illustrated, but attention is directed to the fact that the housing of the volume control has the same outside diameter as or at least is no larger than the switch housing 5.

The switch' housing 5 is substantially cupshaped and comprises a cylindrical metal shell 8 and a flat circular end wall 9 of insulating material. This-end wall provides the base upon which the switch mechanism is mounted. The edge of the metal sidewall at which the end wall or base 9 is located is turned in to provide a flange I0 which supports the base against outward displacement. Inward displacement of the base is prevented primarily by a plurality of shoulders Il which engage over the inner edge portion of the base and which are formed by indenting the side wall 8 as best shown in Figure 3.

These' indented side wall portions l2-l2' which form the shoulders ll extend to the open edge of the side wall and at their radially innermost portions have attaching ears or tangs i3 projected therefrom. These attaching ears pass through apertures I4 in the end wall 6 of the volume control housing to be bent over as shown in Figure 3 and thereby secure switch housing to the volume control. n

Being located at the bottom or innermost porthe practical aptions of the indentations, the attaching ears or tangs arelocated inwardly of the periphery of the switch housing and consequently inwardly of the 'eriphery of the side wall of the volume control ousing which, as stated, is substantially of the same diameter as the switch housing. Consequently, it is possible through this expediside wall of the volume control housing for a suitable tool to engage the outer surfaces of the ears to bend them over and clamp the switch housing to the volume control housing. 1f the attaching ears when projected through the holes would be too close to the side wall of the volume control housing they could not be satisfactorily bent over by high speed production assembly methods.

The indentations as pointed out hereinbefore, also perform the additional function of clamping the insulating base 9 against the flange I0 at circumferentially'spaced points. The dual function of locating the attaching ears inwardly of the side wall of the switch housing and securing the insulating base in position is, thus, achieved in an exceedingly simple manner. g

Inasmuch as the switch mechanism per se forms the subject vmatter of the-aforesaid copending application of which this application is a division, it need not be described in detail. It is sufficient to point out generally the construction and operation of the switch. To this end it is observed that the switch comprises pairs of stationary contacts mounted on the insulating base to be electricallybridged in the on condition of the switch" Each pair of stationary contacts consists of aixed-"part I5 ush with the inner face of the base and having a terminal portion I 6 passing through the base to project from the outer face thereof, and a spring arm I1 secured to the inner face of the base with its free end portion overlying but spaced above the contact part I5. The spring arms are secured to the base by rivets I8 and each has a terminal I9 extending from the outer face of the base.

A switch arm is pivotally mounted on a post 2| to oscillate across the inner face of the base between it and the spring contacts I1. This switch arm is formed of insulating material and carries bridging contacts 22, which may be rivets 1 passing through the switch arm. These bridging contacts are so located that at the closed position of the switch arm they align with the stationary contacts I5 and the overlying spring fingers to engage and electrically bridge the same.

At the opposite or open position'of the switch arm, raised portions 23 on the arm engage under the spring fingers to prevent looseness of the parts in this position.

The pivot post 2I is set in aligned holes in the base and an inwardly directed portion of the flange III, and has a shoulder or ange 24 engaging the inner face of the base. The outer end of the post is /upset or swedged so that the base and the portion 25 are clamped between the shoulder and the swedged end of the post. By having the post pass through the portion 25 which is extended from the flange I0 a more solid surface is provided for upsetting the end of the post.

This manner of mounting the post also aids in securing the base in position and serves to electrically ground the post to the metal side wall of the switch housing.

Switch opening and closing motion is imparted to the/switch arm by a cam indicated generally by the numeral 26. This cam is pivotally mounted on the post 2| over the switch arm and has a driving connection with the switch arm consisting of a downturned ear or lug on the cam operating in a notch 21 in the edge portion of the switch arm adjacent to the pivot post.

A portion 28 of the cam opposite its switch arm engaging lug has one end of a pitman 2l pivotally connected thereto. The opposite end thereof passes through an opening 3l in the directly opposite indented portion I2 which is somewhat deeper than the others for a. purpose described in the aforesaid co-pending application.

A coil spring 3I encircling the pitman and conned between the indented portion I2 and ,a shoulder 32 on the pitman yieldingly holdsfthe cam and consequently the switch arm in one position or the other.

Being under tension at all times it is apparent that the pitman and its spring also ground the cam to the side wall. 'Ihe termini of the switch arm motion are preferably defined by the engagement of stop portions 33 thereon with the inner wall of the switch housing.

Inasmuch as the switch is intended to be operated jointly with the volume control, a part 3l of the cam passes through a hole 35 in the end wall of the volume control housing to be accessible to an actuator 36 which travels in an arc with the movable parts of the volume control. This actuator 36 is engageable with one side 3l or the other of a notch in the cam part 34 to snap the cam from one position to the other in a manner well known in switch-volume control combinations of this type.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides an exceptionally simple but effective manner of assembling a switch and volume control, the housings of which are of the same diameter, and that `the means employed for this purpose has the added func tion of retaining the base of the switch in position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a switch of the character described: an enclosure for the switch including a formed metal side wall having inwardly directed depressions, said depressions extending to one edge of the side wall, and securing ears projecting from the edges of the depressions for securing the switch assembly to a support,` said securing ears extending from the inner portions of the depressions so that they lie wholly within the space generally bounded by the side wall and mounted on a support no larger in transverse dimensions than the switch enclosure.

2. A switch of the character described comprising, a base of insulating material, switch mechanism supported on the base, a metal side wall encircling the base and surrounding the switch mechanism thereon, an inturned portion on said side wall overlying the outer face of the base, integral indentations in the side wall overlying the inner face of the base and clamping the base against the inturned portion to hold the base assembled with the side wall, said indentations extending to the edge of the side the switch can be wall remote from the base, and attaching ears extending from the indentations for mounting the switch assembly on a support, said attaching ears being on the inner portions of the indentations so as to lie wholly within the space generally bounded by the side Wall to thereby enable the switch to be mounted on a support no larger in transverse dimensions than the switch.

3. In a switch of thecharacter described, a cup-shaped enclosure for the switch mechanism comprising a base of insulating material and a substantially cylindrical metallic side wall, a plurality of inwardly depressed portions on the side wall extending to the edge of the side wall at the open end of the cup-shaped enclosure, and a securing ear projecting from the edge of each depressed portion for securing the switch assembly to a support, said securing ears lying wholly within the circle defined by the cylindrical portion of the side wall so that said ears may be passed through holes in a support no larger in diameter than the enclosure.

4. A switch assembly comprising, a non-conducting base, switch mechanism mounted on the base, a metallic housing member engaging the edge of the base and extending perpcndicularly therefrom so that the base and housing member conjointly form a substantially cup-shaped housing, an inturned portion on the' housing member engaging one face of the base, an inwardly formed portion on the housing member engaging the other faceofl the base directly' opposite said inturned portion to conne the base therebetween, said inwardly formed portion extending to the edge of the housing member at the open end of the cup-shaped housing, and having a portion thereof continuing beyond said edge to provide a securing ear Aby which the switch assembly is securable to a support.

5. A switch assembly comprising, a non-conducting base, a metallic side wall extending therefrom and having an inturned portion engaging the outer face of the base, Aswitch mechanism mounted on the inner face of thebase, said switch mechanism including a pivot member extending through the base and said inturned portion of the side wall and securing the base and side wall together, and means on the side wall engaging the inner face of the base to support the spaced from the pivot member.

6. In a switch assembly, a. base of insulatingy base, a metallic side wall connected with the base and surrounding the switch mechanism, said side wall having a portion engageable with a support. and mounting ears integral with the sidewall and oset inwardly with respect thereto, said mounting .ears projecting beyond said side wall portion for connection with said support.

7. In a switch of the character described: a substantially cup-shaped housing having a metal side wall; portions integral with the side Wall and projecting from the edge thereof defining the open end of the housing to provide attachi ing ears for securing the housing to a support;

the side wall in line with said projecting porl tions being indented to dispose said portions wholly within the space generally .bounded by,

the side wall.

8, In an electric switch: a substantially cupshaped housing having a metal side wall; indentations in the side wall extending to the edge thereof at the open end of the cup-shaped housing with the edges of the indentations substantially in the plane of said edgeA of the side wall and inwardly of said side wall to provide support engaging portions located inwardly of the side wallso that the switch may be mounted on a support no larger in transverse dimensions than the housing without danger of having the support slip down into the cup-shaped housing; and mounting ears projecting from said indentations for connection with the support.

9. In an electric switch: a substantially cupshaped housing having a metal sidewall; indentations in the side wall at spaced intervals vabout the periphery thereof, said indentations adapted to be passed through apertures in a supporting wall and struck therever to secure the switch housing to the supporting wall, thek edges of the indentations providing a rm support fori the supporting wall during the bending of the mounting ears and the position of the mounting ears with relation to the side wall of the housing providing adequate space for a clinching 50 Atool in theevent the switch is secured to the back material, switch mechanism mounted on the of the cup-shaped support no larger in diameter than the switch housing.

' NEWTON C. SCHELLENGER..