US2626336A

US2626336A - Switch assembly

Info

Publication number: US2626336A
Application number: US183784A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph H Chute
Original assignee: United Carr Fastener Corp
Current assignee: United Carr Fastener Corp
Priority date: 1950-09-08
Filing date: 1950-09-08
Publication date: 1953-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-20

Description

Patented Jan. 29, 1953 SWITCH ASSEMBLY Ralph E. Chute, Quincy, Mass, assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,784

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to switches, and has particular reference to a plunger operated electric switch assembly of the type adapted for assembly into automobile door frames and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly which is provided with means for receiving connecting members in snapping engagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly in which connector-receiving portions retained in a switch housing base are provided with integral spring arm contact portions extending therefrom into the housing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly having a pair of spring arm contact members and a movable shorting ring disposed. in a molded plastic housing in which the spring arm members are retained in assembly with the housing by means of connectorreceiving portions disposed in apertures in the housing base.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a switch embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in elevation of the switch member of Fig. 1 with the switch in the off position;

Fig. 3 is a view of the switch housing of Fig. 2 as seen from the right end;

Fig. 4 is a view in section similar to Fig. 2 in which the switch is in the on position; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a switch assembly H), which is adapted for assembly into an opening 12 in a supporting panel I5.

The switch assembly It comprises generally a hollow body l8, which is preferably formed of a single piece of molded synthetic organic plastic; a pair of contact members 20 and 2| assembled with the housing; and an operating plunger mechanism disposed in one end of the housing and extending therefrom.

The body I8 is provided with a base 24 at the end opposite the plunger, which has a pair of

apertures

26 and 21 extending therethrough.

Recesses

28 and 29 are provided in one face of the base 25 adjacent the openings and connecting thereto for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A peripheral rim 30 is provided about the housing at the end opposite the base to enable the housing to be engaged by an attaching cap 32 for snapping assembly into the panel I4.

The contact members 20 and 2| comprise hollow connector-receiving

portions

34 and 35 which are disposed in the apertures 26 and 2! in the base, and spring contact arms 35 and 3'! which are integral therewith and extend into the interior of the body. The arms 36 and 31 are disposed in spaced relation throughout their length, and are provided with outwardly rounded contact portions 38 and 59 near the ends. To retain the contact members in assembly with the housing, the

connector receiving portions

34 and 35 are each provided with inner retaining tabs 40 and M which are turned outwardly inside the body to bear against the inner face of the base 25, and

outer retaining tabs

62 and 43 which are turned outwardly outside the housing to bear against the outer face of the base, and the

outer tabs

42 and 43 are disposed in the

recesses

28 and 29 respectively to prevent rotation of the connector receiving portions in the apertures.

Connectors 44 for use with the switch housin are generally of the type which have a Wire 45 attached to one end, and a shoulder portion 46 disposed therein, and hence the connector receiving portions 5 3 and 35 are provided with

internal shoulders

48 and 49 respectively for snapping engagement with the connector. The connector receiving portion may also have a 1ongitudina1 slot 55, to impart radial resilience thereto to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the connector.

The operating plunger mechanism 22 comprises a hollow plunger 52 having a flange portion 54 .disposed thereon inside the body l8, so that the plunger may be retained in assembly with the body by means of a split ring 56 disposed in an interior groove 58 in the body. A hollow shortin eyelet 6D is assembled on the end of the plunger, and is adapted to pass over the ends of the spring contact arms during operation of the switch to make electrical contact with both

contact portions

38 and 39 to complete an electric circuit therebetween. An operating spring 62 is disposed in the body l8, one end of which bears against a flange 64 on the eyelet, and the other end bears against an insulating washer 65 disposed against the base 24, so that the spring 62 continually urges the plunger mechanism 22 outwardly into the contact position.

In operation, the switch is normally in the off position, with the plunger held inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2 by the closure member I6, so that the eyelet 65 is disposed about the spring arms but out of contact therewith. When the closure member 16 is moved away from the switch housing, the spring 62 forces the plunger out of the body, so that the eyelet passes over the

contact portions

38 and 39 to com lete an electric circuit therebetween, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The connectors 44 are easily engaged and disengaged with the switch assembly, to facilitate assembly or repair operations on devices in which the switch is used.

The construction of the switch is particularly adapted to economical assembly in great quantities, since the assembly operation is simple and the component parts are easily produced onautomatic machinery.

Since certain obvious modifications mayv be made in the device without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. n an, e r c, w t h. a sembl m s n a hollow switch housing having a base at one end with; a pair ofspacedapertures, extending therehroc ens w i chlqp r n m s a he h r end including contact shorting means; a pair of connector members assembled with the housing, each comprising a female connecting portion dis: posed in one of the apertures in the base and extending longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever arm integral with the connecting por tion and extending therefrom into the switch housing, said cantilever arms being spaced in the housing 'so that a circuit may be completed theree w erl by s id. h r n me 2. In an, electric switch assembly, comprising a hollow switch housing formed of a single piece of molded plastic, said housing having a relatively thick base atone end with a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough and switch operating means at, the other end including contact shorting means; a pair of connector members assembled in the housing, each of said connector members comprising a female connecting portion disposedv in oneof the apertures to receive a cone hector inserted therein from outside the housing, and a spring contact arm integral with the connector-receiving portion and extending therefrom into, the housing, said contact arms being disposed in spaced relation throughout their length and being so positioned that a circuit may be com pleted therebetween by said shorting member.

3. An electric switch assembly as set forth in a hollow connector receiving portion disposed in" claim 1, in which said female connector receiving portion has means therein for snapping engagement with a shouldered connector.

4. An electric switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said female connector portion has outwardly extending integral retaining members disposed thereon on each side of the base to retain the contact member in assembly therewith.

5. An electric switch assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which the base is provided with recesses in'at least one face thereof which are adjacent to and connect with the apertures, and said female connectorportion has integral retaining members disposed, therein which extend outwardly into the re s 6. In an electric switch assembly comprising a hollow switch housing, formed of a single piece of molded-synthetic organic plastic, said housing having a relatively thick base at one end with a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of contact members assembled, in

the housing and switch operating means at the other endincluding cylindrical contact shorting means; each of said contact members comprising one of the apertures, and having means thereon inside the aperture for snapping engagement with a shouldered connector inserted therein from out side the housing, said connector receiving portion having retaining portions at each end which extend outwardly for engagement with the base on opposite sides thereof, and an integral spring arm (intending upwardly from each connector portion, said spring arms having free endsdisposed 1n spaced relation so as to be in position to be encircled said cylindrical shorting means, and means slidable in the housing to encircle said free endsto complete an electric circuit therebetween;

RALPH H.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the