US2823271A

US2823271A - Electric multiple switch

Info

Publication number: US2823271A
Application number: US541705A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin M Wagstaff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-10-20
Filing date: 1955-10-20
Publication date: 1958-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1975-02-11

Description

Feb. 11, 1958 E. M. WAGSTAFF 2,323,271

ELECTRIC MULTIPLE SWITCH Filed 001.. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W 55 Edwin M W oystaff ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1958 E. M. WAGSTAFF 2,

ELECTRIC MULTIPLE swncn Filed Oct. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent ELECTRIC MULTIPLE SWITCH Edwin M. Wagstalf, Galion, Ohio Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,705

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-1) This invention relates to switches and in particular to push-button multiple switches.

It is an object of this invention to provide a switch which will control a number of circuits simultaneously.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a switch that is simple and compact in construction and readily assembled.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a switch which eliminates side motion thereby eliminating unnecessary wear and tear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch having a minimum of moving parts.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example various embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the switch broken away in part;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch broken away in part;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the switch;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lamp spring connecting member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing one of the separating members;

Figs. 6 and 7, Figs. 8 and 9 and Figs. 10 and 11 show plan views of various forms of cooperating spring leaf contact members which may be used interchangeably with the cooperating spring leaf contact members shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the switch comprises a transparent plastic plunger button 10 which is attached to a tubular plunger 11. The plunger 11 is slotted at one end as at 12 to provide spring fingers 13 which grip the button 10 and secure it rigidly to the plunger 11.

Plunger 11 is slideably mounted in an outer cylindrical tube 14 which is secured to a bracket member 15 by a welding or spinning or the like operation. A shoulder 16 on tube 15 provides a seat for the bracket member 15. The bracket is of S-shaped construction and has a threaded opening 17 for receiving a screw or naiLfor mounting purposes.

An electric lamp 20 such as a Sylvania GOA-2 type bulb is inserted into a socket 21. The socket 21 is carried by the plunger 11 and has a base 22 limiting the depth of insertion of the socket 21 into the plunger 11. Contacts 23 and 24 are secured to opposite sides of a socket 21 and engage corresponding contacts on the lamp 20.

Leads

25 and 26 run from contacts 23 and 24 through the base 22 of the socket 21. Contacts 23 and 24 have gripping members 27 which prevent the lamp 20 from sliding from the socket.

Plunger 11 and tube 14 have cut

outs

30 and 31 respectively which serve to keep the bulb cool and provide for circulation of air about the lamp 20.

A slot 32 is provided in the side of plunger 11. A hole 33 in tube 14 is provided in which a screw 35 is 2,823,271 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 inserted which passes into the slot 32 limiting the travel of the plunger 11.

A series of insulators 40 having holes therein for receiving

bolts

41 and 42 are secured to bracket member 15. A back-up plate 43 maintains constant pressure on the insulators and prevents damage to the end insulator. Lamp

spring connecting members

44 and 45 are provided with holes H to receive the

bolts

41 and 42. Insulating members 40 are placed between the lamp spring connecting members. The ends of lamp

spring connecting members

44 and 45 are recessed to form fingers 46 which receive the ends of

leads

25 and 26 respectively. The ends of the leads may be soldered or otherwise secured to the fingers 46.

Alternately spaced cooperating spring

leaf contact members

47 and 48 are mounted upon the

bolts

41 and 42 in a manner similar to lamp

spring connecting members

44 and 45. The spring leaf contact members 48 each have two contact points 49 on one side and the spring leaf contact members 47 have two contact points 50 on each side.

Spring leaf contact members 47 have spacer insulating members 51 (Fig. 5) secured thereto by a rivet 52 or the like. It is to be noted that spacers 51 are cup-shaped. Spring leaf contact members 47 are movable. Spring leaf contact members 48 are stationary.

An insulating sleeve 53 is provided for insulating the

bolts

41 and 42 from the lamp

spring connecting members

44, 45 and the cooperating spring

leaf contact members

47 and 48. Nuts 54 prevent dislocation of the bolt and contact assembly from the bracket 15.

Member

44, 45, 47 and 48 each have a hole 55 in a projecting finger 56 in which may be inserted a circuit lead wire.

The stationary, that is, the non-movable pairs of con tact springs 48 are relieved so that the spacers 51 do not engage therewith; i. e. the movable members 47 move freely without moving the stationary members 48.

Operation Referring to Fig. 2, as shown, the contact points 50 on the left hand side of movable members 47 engage the contacts 49 on the right hand side of stationary members 48. When the plunger is depressed, the blades 47 move to the right with the plunger and contact is broken with the aforementioned contacts and contact points 50 on the right hand side of movable members 47 engage the contact points 50 on the left hand side of stationary members 48.

Each of the stationary members 48 is provided with a slit or slot 60 which allows for positive action during the contact operation.

Figs. 6 and 7, 8 and 9, and 10 and 11, show cooperating spring leaf contact members which may be interchanged with

contact members

47 and 48.

Fig. 6 shows a stationary contact arm centrally located on the base 71 of member 70. A central opening 72 is provided to allow for clearance of the spacer 51. It is to be noted that the end of the contact member 70 is slotted as at 73 in a manner similar to the slots shown in Fig. 3 of contact spring 47 except that in contact member 47, the end of the member makes a right angle turn. Fig. 7 shows the mating contact member of Fig. 6, the central portion of this member has a small opening 81 through which the rivet 52 of the spacer member 51 is passed. Arm 85 is disposed centrally of base 81 of member 80.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a stationary contact member 100 and a movable contact member which could be substituted for

members

47 and 48. Members 90 and have

spring arms

94 and 95 and 104 and 105 respec.

tively extending in the same direction from the corners of

bases

96 and 106 respectively.

A tongue 92 is provided in member 90 havinga central opening 93 through which the rivet-52 of spacer member 51 is passed.

Fig. 9 showing the cooperating member 100 which cooperateswith the member'90 shown in Fig; 8; is'slotted for the same purpose that contact member=47 is slotted.

Figs. 10 and 11 show cooperating contact members 110-and 120- which' are similar to contact

members

47 and 48--with the exception that the contact members have only one point of contact'111'a-nd-121- respectively and in addition contact member 111' isnotslotted as is contact member 47.

While the invention has been described" inconnection with several different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and th'isapplication is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of theinvention and including suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having'thus described my-invention what I claim is:

-1. An electrical switchcomprising an S-shaped bracket, 21 tubularsleeve connected to one leg of said S-shaped' bracket and substantially parallel to the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a' plungermounted in said sleeve for reciprocation therein, a lamp and socket mounted in said plunger, means-for limiting the travel of said plunger, a bolt corinected' to the other leg of said S-shaped bracket and having itsaxis substantially parallel to the centerbar of said S-shaped bracket, stationary contact members and movable contact members alternately spaced and mounted up'on said bolt and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said bolt and intersecting the axis of said plunger, insu-iators on said bolt separating said members, a-spacer mounted on the inside of each of said movable members, said stationary members having clearance forsaid spacers, said spacer on said movable members extending through the plane of intervem'ng stationary members and normally abutting another movable member, and a first spacer abutting said plunger, whereby operation of said. plunger shifts said movable.

contact members linearly to breakcontact with one.

stationary member andmake contact with, another stationary member.

2. An electrical switch .comprisingan S-shaped bracket,

- a tubular sleeve connected to one .legof the S-shaped.

bracket, and substantially, parallel to the. center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a plunger mounted insaid sleeve. 7

for reciprocation therein, a .lamp; andlsocketwithin said plunger, abolt connectedito the otherlegof said S-shaped bracket and having its axis substantially parallel 'to the.

one stationary member and make .contact with another' stationary member and a lamp connecting means-mounted on said bolt and connected to said lamp socket for carrying current to said lamp.

3. An electrical switch comprising an S-shaped bracket, a tubular sleeve connected to one leg of the S-shaped bracket and substantially parallel to the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a plunger mounted in said sleeve for reciprocation therein, a lampandisocket mounted within said plunger, a, bolt connectedto. the other ,leg of said shaped bracket and having its axis substantially parallel to the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, stationary contact members and movable contact members alternately spaced andmountedupon saidbolt-and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said bolt and intersecting the axis of said plunger, insulators on said bolt separating said members, a spacer mounted on the inside of each of said movable members, said stationary members having clearance for said spacers, said spacer on said movablemembersextending through'the plane of intervening stationary members and'normally abutting another'movab'le member, a first spacer abutting said plunger,- whereby operation of said plunger shifts-said movable contact members linearly to break contact with one stationary-member-and 'make contact with another stationary member, lamp connecting means mounted on said bolt," leads extending from'said lampsocket and said conneetin-gmeans having'rec essed fingers on said connecting means for receiving said lampsocket leads.

4. An-electrical switch comprising an 'S-shaped bracket, a tubular sleeve connected to one leg of said S-shaped bracket and substantially parallel-to the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a-plunger: mounted in said sleeve for reciprocation therein, a lamp and socket mounted in said plunger, means forcoolingsaid lamp, means for limiting the travelof said'plunger, a bolt connected to the other leg of said S-shaped bracket and having its axis substantially' parallel tothe: center" bar of said S-shaped bracket, stationary contact members and movable contact members alternately-spaced and mounted upon said bolt andextending'in-a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said bolt and intersecting the axis of said plunger; insulators on said bolt separating said members, a spacer mounted on the inside of each of said movable members said stationary members having clearance for saidspacers, :saidspacer onsaid-movable members extendingthrough interveningstationary members and normally abutting another movable member, and a first spacer abutting said plunger, whereby operation of said plunger shifts said movable contact members linearly to brea'kcontact with one stationary-memberand make con- I tact-with another sta'donary 'member;

References Cited ingthe ,file ofthis patent UNITED. l STATES PATENTS 1,038,776: McLarn Sept. 17, 1912 1,781,962 Stirling Nov. 18, 1930 2,062,259 T-hornas Nov. 24, 1936 2,178,151 Wagar Oct. 31, 1939 2,279,811 Baker Apr. 14, 1942 2,280,438 Matthews Apr. 21, 1942 2,295,301 Smith j--. Sept. 8, 1942 2,305,185. Merke l Dec. 15, 1942 2,321,834" Marco etal June 15, 1943 2,571,068 Seiden' Oct. 9, 1951 2,586,992 Rapuano Feb. 26, 1952 2,612,367 Blomqvist Sept. 30, 1952 2,612,597 'Sherrard v Sept. 30, 1952' 2,665,352 Bellamy et a1 Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France. Sept. '30, 1953