US2988613A

US2988613A - Alternate action switch

Info

Publication number: US2988613A
Application number: US856973A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin J Kudalis
Original assignee: Controls Company of America
Current assignee: Controls Company of America
Priority date: 1959-12-03
Filing date: 1959-12-03
Publication date: 1961-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1978-06-13

Description

June 1961 E. J. KUDALIS ALTERNATE ACTION SWITCH Filed Dec. 3, 1959 U w S a arm Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 856,973 6 Claims. (Cl. 200- 67) This invention relates to alternate action electrical switches and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved switch of this kind.

-It is a main object of the invention to provide an alternate action electrical switch of small current carrying capacity, which is of simple construction and is thoroughly reliable in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternate action switch which is of compact design and isarranged to be mounted readily upon a panel or escutcheon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternate action switch which can be manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality. 6

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example only and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the switch of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross secitonal view through the switch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the spring unit and a portion ofthe operating member of the switch;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the spring unit and operating member at one stage of operation of the switch into circuit closing position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG.'4, showing the next stage in the operation;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the switc in circuit closing position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the first stage of movement from circuit closing to circuit opening positiomand 4 7 FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7, showing the next stage of the circuit opening operation.

Alternate action electrical switches, oftentimes called f push-push switches, usually are equipped with a push button that telescopes into the switch casing to operate the switch mechanism into circuit closing position on alternate operations and into circuit opening position on intervening operations, in so-called single throw switches. In double throw switches, alternate operations move the switch from one circuit closing position to another, and the intervening operations reverse this operation.

The alternate action switch of the present invention is a single pole single throw switch embodying this principle.

Prior art alternate action switches of which I am aware have usually been provided with a pivoted cam member engaged by a flexible member carried on the push button and rotated thereby, as the push button is depressed, to move the spring assembly from one position to another.

The switch of the present invention simplifies prior art devices by eliminating the cams or their equivalent and by including the plunger carried resilient member in the circuit closed by the switch. As a result the switch of the present invention is of simple design, can be manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality, and is adaptable for use in low current capacity circuitry.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the drawings wherein it will be seen that the switch is housed in a metallic casing 1 that is cylindrical in shape and has an open endin which a mounting plate or base 2 is fixed. Base 2 is composed of an insulating material. Casing 1 is equipped with a mounting collar 3 having external threads 4 adapted to receive a nut 4 by which the casing may be mounted upon a panel or escutcheon. The collar 3 contains a cylindrical opening that extends completely through it and is fixed onto the casing in known manner as indicated at 6. Adjacent its casing end the collar contains a counterbore that forms a shoulder 7, and an ear '5 projects radially inwardly at the other end of the collar.

Fixed upon the base 2 is a spring unit 10, best seen in FIG. 3. This unit has a base engaging portion 11 that is pierced to receive a rivet 12 by which the unit and a terminal 13 are fixed upon the base. Projecting from the portion 11 are

parallel leaves

14 and 15 which extend upwardly from the base at an acute angle A, FIG. 2. Leaf 14 has at its upper end an extension that terminates in a U-shape member having an upper leg 16 and a lower leg 17 both of which are aligned with and overhang the leaf 15. The leaf 14 is crimped at 14' to shorten it and thereby enable

legs

16 and 17 to overhang the leaf 15. An insulating member 18 is fixed to the outer surfaces of

legs

16 and 17 and also to the outer surface of the closed end of the U member.

Also engaging the base 2 is a frusto conical spring 20 that is fixed thereon by a clamp 21 secured to the base and to a terminal 23 by a rivet 22. The rivet and clamp extend an electrical connection between the terminal 23 and spring 20.

Fitted in the opening in the collar is a plunger or push button 30 that has a flangelike collar 31 at its lower end. Spring 20 abuts against the push button and urges it outwardly of the collar, such movement being arrested by engagement of the collar 31 with the shoulder 7. Button 30 also contains a longitudinally extending groove 32 into which car 5 projects to prevent rotation of the button in the collar.

Button 30 contains a counterbore 33 opening into its lower end and into a smaller diameter counterbore 34. A coil spring 35 is press fitted into counterbore 34 and extends downwardly therefrom, terminating in a resilient member having a vertical portion 36 and a horizontal portion 37' which is aligned with the U member of the spring unit. A wire or metallic band 38 is fixed to springs 20 and 35 in convenient manner, such as by soldering or brazing, to extend an electrical connection therebetween.

As the push button is depressed to move the switch into circuit closing position, portion 37 of the resilient member moves into engagement with the insulation 18 on the upper leg 16 of the U member, moving that leg downwardly into engagement with the leaf 15. Portion 36 is flexed to the left, FIG. 4, during this movement. Engagement of the leg 16 with the leaf 15 may move the latter downwardly decreasing the angle A slightly, as shown at A Lateral flexing of portion 36 continues as downward movement of the plunger continues until portion 37 passes 0E of leg 16 and into engagement with leaf 15, as shown in FIG. 5. This closes the circuit through the switch. It will be noted that disengagement of portion 37 with leg 16 permits the U member to move upwardly so that lower leg 17 engages leaf 15.

When pressure is removed from the push button spring 20 moves it upwardly, moving the resilient member 3637 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 with 37 engaged with the closed end of the U'member. This engagement prevents the button from moving into the position shown in FIG. 2, rather it is held partially telescoped into the collar 3 in which position it indicates that the switch is in circuit closing position. The tension in spring 20 elevates the leaf 15 slightly increasing angle A, as indicated at A When it is desired to open the circuit through the switch, plunger 30 is again depressed. As will be seen in FIG. 7, member 37 is moved into engagement with leg '17 and leg 16 is thereby moved into engagement with leaf 15. Member 36 is again flexed to the left until 37 moves to the end of leg 17, at which time the U member snaps up and 37 moves into engagement with insulation 18, as shown in FIG. 8. The circuit through the switch is thus broken. As spring 20 forces the push'button upwardly, member 3 6 travels over the outer surface of the U member and is flexed to the right, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 8, until it clears the end of that member and then returns to the position in which it is shown in FIG. 2.

It will be noted that during operations of the switch into and out of the circuit closing position, member 37 rubs over the surfaces of leaf 15 and also over the facing inside surfaces of

legs

16 and 17 ofthe U member. This rubbing action insures that these surfaces and the member 37 will be maintained bright and capable of forming a good electrical connection when the switch is in circuit closing position.

In the drawings and description, the casing is shown as cylindrical, this particular shape being by way of example only, as the shape of the casing is not critical to the functioning of the switch and may be varied within the teachings of the invention.

The switch of the present invention possesses many advantages. It is of simple compact constructionthat can be manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality. It is positive inits action and capable of giving long trouble free service when used for the purposes intended.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention by showing and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of it, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An alternate action switch comprising: a spring member of U shape disposed with its two legs located one above the other; means for extending an electrical connection to said spring member; a push button; a resilient member of L shape carried by said button and disposed above and in alignment with the upper leg of the spring member; means for extending an electrical connection to said resilient member; an insulating member fixed to the outer surface of said spring member; alternate operations of said push-button moving said L-shaped member into engagement with the insulation and flexing the L member laterally until it clears the end of the upper leg and snaps into the closed end of the U to.hold the button partially operated and to extend'the electrical circuit through the switch; intervening .operations of the push button moving the L member into engagement with the lower leg of the spring and flexing the L member laterally until it clears the end of that leg and snaps into engagement with the insulation thereon to free the push 'button and to open the circuit through the switch.

2. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 1, in which the L member wipes along the underside of the upper leg of the -*U spring as the switch is operated to circuit closing position and wipes along the upper surface of the'lower leg of the spring as the switch is operated to circuit opening position, which wiping action clears the interengaged surfaces to enable the formation of a good electrical connection therebetween.

3. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 1, in which there is a leaf spring projecting into the open end of the U spring, which leaf spring is engaged by the upper 'leg of the U spring when that leg is engaged by the L member to limit movement of that leg and is engaged by the lower leg of the U when that leg is engaged by the L member to limit movement of that leg.

4. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 3,

in which the switch includes an insulation base and in which the U spring andleaf springs are integral portions of a spring unit that is fixed upon that base. 5. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 4, in which a coil spring engages the base and push button -to urge the L member away from the U spring and in which the means for extending an electrical connection to the L member includes the coil spring.

6. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 5, in whichthe base is fixed in a casing out of which the push'button projects, said button including a collar which engages the casing to limit outward movement of the push button and in which the push button contains a groove and the casing contains a tongue projecting into that groove to prevent rotation of the button with respect to the casing thereby to maintain the L member aligned withthe .U spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS