US2924681A - Electric switches and mountings therefor - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1960 J. H. SCHMIDT 2,924,681

ELECTRIC SWITCHES AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 l. 3 7 19 l a. i T; ,1 7:) ii

21/ i0 t m J6 .llli 7* i9 2 22 a 14 '3 s1 1 15 H INVENTOR. $4505 H fimwmr Feb. 9, 1960 Filed Jan. 16, 1958 J- H. SCHMIDT ELECTRIC SWITCHES AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 53 n INVENTOR.

lever. :ations also disclosed, includes the aforesaid basic con- ELECTRIC SWITCHES AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR Jacob H. Schmidt, Aurora, Ill.

Application January 16,1958, Serial No. 709,260 3 Claims. (Cl. 20067) The present invention relates to improvements in electric switches and mountings therefor, and is more particularly concerned with the novel construction and parts arrangement of a toggle type electric switch, which may be easily and inexpensively assembled with but slight modification to provide an on-ofi switch or a three-way switch, and to a novel plate assembly for the selective mounting of one or more such switches and/or outlet receptacles on an outlet box cover plate.

The invention generally, comprises the production of a toggle type switch having a novelly constructed body and a novel contact carrying toggle lever therein and novel means to facilitate snap action of said lever so as to open and close a circuit or circuits in which the switch is connected. The structure is such that, with the substitution of but few minor parts, it can be converted into either one of. two commonly used types of switches, thus minimizing manufacturing costs and reducing parts inventory.

In one of the two basically similar embodiments herein disclosed, the switch elements are enclosed in a hollow body of insulating material. They include a pair of spaced terminal contact structures which are selectively engaged and contacted by a contact structure mounted directly on and movable with a toggle type actuating A modification thereof, involving slight part varitact structure and also a third terminal contact structure that is always in electric connectionwith the contact structure carried by the toggle type actuating lever. The bodies of these switches have substantially like outside configurations and they are adapted to be mounted,

either or both of them as well as any other electrical component such as an outlet receptacle of similar external configuration or an aperture closing blank, on an outlet box cover plate having a multiplicity of openings .therein.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novelly constructed toggle type electric switch.

Another object is to provide a switch having but a .minimum number of parts and which is therefore inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and less likely to become damaged.

Another object is to provide a rugged on-oif toggle .type of electric switch having but few parts and which parts are not expensive to produce, are easily installed by unskilled persons, and very satisfactory in use.

Another object is to provide a novel mounting frame for attaching electric switches, outlet receptacles and the 1 which will, appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction,

Patented Feb. 9, 1960 ice - particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employedto identify corresponding parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an outlet box cover plate having electric components mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a back elevational view of the Figure 1 assembly.

Figure 3 is a vertical central sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2, but showing the components mounted thereon, in elevation.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing an electric switch in elevation.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an on-off switch embodying features of the present invention, showing parts in elevation.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the switch housing.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a bail.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the toggle lever.

Figure 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a three-way switch embodying features of the present invention and showing parts in elevation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and particularly to the assembly best shown in Figures 1 to 4, an improved type of switch generally indicated at 10, is removably mounted on the back face of an outlet box cover plate 11 by means of a novel frame 12. In the present disclosure, which is for purposes of illustration and not limitation, the cover plate 11 has a plurality (in this instance three) substantially rectangular openings 13 in one of which the switch 10 is mounted. Another one of the openings 13 may be closed by a blank 14,

' while the third opening can mount anoutlet receptacle 15. The outlet receptacle is interiorly of conventional construction, however its body is interchangeable with the body of the switch disclosed herein. As will become better understood as the description proceeds, the assembly can include any selected combination of switches, blanks or outlet receptacles, which are readily interchangeable one with the other and are held in place by the novel frame 12.

The frame 12 comprises a sheet metal stamping formed substantially rectangular and smaller than the dimensions of the cover plate 11, and it is provided with reinforcing flanges on its edges and is formed on its ends with planularly ofiset apertured wings 16 disposed in registering alignment with the conventional holes provided in the cover plate 11 for receiving screws 17 to mount the assembly on an outlet box. The frame, in this instance, has three substantially rectangular openings 18 corresponding to the cover plate openings 13, each to receive either a switch 10, a blank 14, or an outlet receptacle 15. As is perhaps best illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 7, the switch 10, as well as the blank and outlet receptacle, has end flanges 19 providing 'reverse shoulders 21 against which are abutted the margins of the plate at the ends of the respective opening 18 through which the switch body projects. With the switch, and/or outlet receptacle and blank, so mounted with respect to the frame, the sub-assembly is .placed against the back face of'the cover plate 11 and the whole is secured thereto as by screws 22. These screws are of a length to locate their heads for ready accessand they preferably are fitted with spacer sleeves 2 2a. AcceSsto the switch and outlet receptacle is obtained through the cover plate openings 13 in registering alignment therewith. It should be quite evident that. the installation and inter'chan ge of s'witches,'bl'anks-ai1d outlet r'eceptacle's can'be' easily and quickly eifecte'd and requires no special skills. I, v I

The electric s'witch'ltl, 'best illustrated Figure 5, is anon-off toggle typ'e' switch. It comprises a cubical body 23 of insulation inaterial recessed from one face to provide parallel side walls '24, end walls ".25 and 26 and a bottom wall '27. fMount'ed firmly within the body at enema of the recess and preferably to the inside face of the end wall .25 is acontact structure 28 having an inturned terminal flange 29 on its upper extremity. The ,contact structure may be secured in place in any approved manner and it has, threaded therein, a wire connectorscrew '31 extending to the outside of the body. A contact structure 32 is mounted at the other end of the recess, preferably on the inside face of the end wall 26. This contact structure is formed substantially mid- 'way between its ends with a pair of laterally spaced spring terminal fingers 33. A wire connectorscrew 34- is threaded into this contact structure and extends to the .outside of the body for ready access.

' The switch also includes a cover or closure plate 35 which overlies the recess and has a central rectangular aperture therein through which the finger engaging portion or lever 36 of a toggle element 37 extends. The toggle element is best shown in Figures 6 and 9, and it comprises a substantially T-formation of insulation material, usually plastic, including the said lever 36 and an elongated body or head 38. 'A die-electric insulator 39 is integrally mounted on the elongated bottom face of the head 38 and an electric conductor strip or wear plate v41 is secured to the bottom face of said toggle lever. The strip 41 has a pair of longitudinally spaced perpendicular shoulders 42 formed integral therewith, or attached thereto as by means of its mounting screws 43, and the portion of the strip between'said shoulders is formed with a downwardly facing longitudinal channel or groove 44 all for purposes to be described presently. The strip 41 is longer than the length of the head 38 to which it is attached so as to provide end contact terminals 45 and 46.

The toggle element 37 also is formed on each side face with bearing trunnions 47 which are adapted to be seated in the complemental bearings 48 formed on the side walls of the body 23 and in the closure plate 35. It will be apparent that the toggle element is mounted in the body-closure plate assembly in such manner thatit may be oscillatably rocked on its trunnions into switch open and switch closed positions, as shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 5.

In" order to insure snap action operation of the toggle element 37 so as to prevent arcing, a novel toggle spring assembly is operably connected with the toggle element. This assembly comprises a pin 51 having a head 52 that is seated in the channel 44 in the contact strip 41 and over which is mounted a normally tensioned coil spring 53 having its upper end bearing against the head 52 and its lower end bearing against a metal bearing element 54 telescoped loosely on the lower end of said pin. The bearing element is seated at all times in a lateral recess 55 formed in the bottom wall 27. The toggle spring assembly functions at all times to retain the toggle element in on and off position. When in on7 position, the contact terminal 45 of the strip 41 is held in electrical contact with the terminal flange 29 and the other contact terminal 46 is held in engagement between the spring terminal fingers 33.

g In order to facilitate assembly of the toggle structure, the pin 51 is furnished longer than required was to extend through an aperture 56, in the bottom wall 27, *asindicated in dot-dash lines in Figure 5, so as to enable the spring-pin subassembly to be held while the toggle element and closure plate are being assembled on' the body. After assembly, the extended pin portion is broken off; a score line 57 preferably being formed on the pin to facilitate such separation.

Complete assembly of the switch is made simple by providing novel means on thebody 23 that is easily and quickly engaged over the closure plate 35 to retain the mechanism inplace so as to facilitate transit handling. This means comprises a -pair-of bails 58 (Figure 8) formed from spring-wire stocksubstantially U-shaped and arranged one adjacent each end of the body. The free ends-of the U-shaped bail are turned inwardly, as at 59, and are engaged normally 'inapertures 61 in the body side walls24. These bails lie in grooves 61a and 61b in the body and cover respectively, so as to lie beneath the surface of the switch body and cover. In order todisengage the bails from their holding. position over the closure plates, the engaged ends 59 are lifted out of the engaged apertures and the bail is then slid upwardly sufficiently to permit it to be swung outwardly off of the engaged end of the closure plate.

The three-way switch shown in Figure 10, is substantially like the on-otf switch described hereinabove and like numerals are used to identify identical parts. This switch has a third terminal connection provided in the forum of a contact structure 62 seated on or partially embedded in thebody bottom wall 27. structure includesa lateral recess 63 in which the bear- The contact ing element 5'4 on the end of the toggle pin5-1 is seated, and a wire connecting screw 64, threaded into said contact structurecxtendsto the outside of the bottom 'wall.

The i switch assembly also includes'a contact structure 65 which is installed in place'of' the contact structure '32 of the previously described switch, and which is identical to the contact structure 28. This contact structure 65 has an inturned terminal contact 66 on its upper end.

The operation of the toggle element 37 is such that when assemble; and are positive in their operation. Furthermore, the novel toggle structure rigidly carries an electric conductor for direct electric engagement "with selected terminal structures when in an extreme position. The hereindisclosed switch structure is not restricted to multiple switch installation, but may be installed singly by using a conventional single-unit strap (not shown). Such mounting is rendered possible by forming each body end flange 19 with a shallow recess or notch 67 that may be frictionally engaged by cars on the strap to hold the strap and switch body together. In such mounting the balls 58 may be omitted. I

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without, further description, and it should also be manifest that while preferred embodiments of the invention have been-shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent elongated body and a lever, the latter extending through the cover for manual engagement, a wear plate of electrically conductive material secured to the toggle body member and located entirely within the recess, a guideway in said wear plate, stops at the ends of said guideway, a pin having a head slidably engaged with the guideway, a bearing element telescoped on the other end of said pin, a contact structure in which said bearing element is seated, a spring on said pin compressed between the head and bearing element, said pin, spring and hearing element assembly being effective to cause snap action oscillatable movement of the toggle member when said lever is manipulated and to maintain an electrical connection between the wear plate and said contact structure, a contact structure in said recess engageable by the wear plate when the toggle member is in one of its extreme positions, and another contact structure in said recess engageable by the wear plate when the toggle memher is in its other extreme position.

2. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed from one face, a cover for said recess, a toggle member pivotally mounted in said recess and movable to on and off positions, said member including a body and a lever, said lever extending through the cover for manual engagement, a wear plate of electrically conductive material secured to the toggle member body and located entirely within the recess, a guideway in said wear plate, stops at the ends of said guideway, a pin having a head slidable along said guideway, a bearing element telescoped on the other end of said pin, a contact structure in a wall of the recess in which said bearing element is seated, a spring on said pin compressed between the head and bearing element to maintain an electrical connection between the said contact element and wear effective to cause snap action oscillatable movement of the toggle member when said member is manipulated, and a stationary contact structure in said recess which is engageable by the wear plate when the toggle member is in its on position.

3. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed from one face and including at least one wall, a cover for said recess, a toggle lever pivotally mounted in said recess and extending through the cover for manual engagement, a wear plate of electrically conductive material secured to the toggle lever and located entirely within the recess, electrical terminal contacts on the ends of said wear plate, a guideway in said Wear plate, stops at the ends of said guideway, a pin having a head slidably engaged with the guideway, a bearing element on the other end of said pin, a recess in said one wall in which said bearing element is seated, a spring on said pin compressed between the head and bearing element, said pin, spring and bearing element assembly being effective to cause snap action oscillatable movement of the toggle lever when said lever is manipulated, and a pair of contact structures in said recess engageable by the terminal contacts on the wear plate when the toggle lever is in one of its extreme positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,246 Fountain Apr. 16, 1912 1,351,443 Robertson Aug. 13, 1920 1,389,713 Thompson Sept. 6, 1920 1,762,787 Nelson June 10, 1930 1,812,914 Williams July 7, 1931 2,289,863 Batcheler July 14, 1942 2,623,142 Karl Dec. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 183,234 Great Britain July 18, 1922

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