US3056002A

US3056002A - Snap-action switch

Info

Publication number: US3056002A
Application number: US847206A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Charles A Ball
Original assignee: Cherry Electrical Products Corp
Current assignee: Cherry Corp
Priority date: 1959-10-19
Filing date: 1959-10-19
Publication date: 1962-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1979-09-25

Description

p 1962 c. A. BALL, JR 3,056,002

SNAP-ACTION SWITCH Filed Oct. 19, 1959 Bill ll/11111. 10 INVENTOR.

3 CHARLES/419mb, F5 4.

11/5 Ara at/vac United States Patent one 3,056,002 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,056,002 SNAP-ACTION SWITCH Charles A. Ball, Jr., Highland Park, IlL, assignor to Cherry Electrical Products Corp, Highland Park, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,206 3 Claims. (61. 200-67) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a snap-action switch and more particularly to an electrical switch actuated by the minimum movement of an actuator which in turn causes a positive snap-action movement of a switch blade.

An improvement object of my invention is in the provision in a switch of this character of an integral pivot bracket comprising separate fulcrums for the switch blade and actuator.

Another important object of my invention is in the provision in a switch of this character of an arrangement of parts which aifords a greater mechanical advantage ratio between the movement of the actuator by applied force and the work accomplishing movement of the switch blade.

Yet, another object of my invention is in the provision in a switch of this character of an arrangement of parts which accomplishes the several objects of this invention yet comprises a minimum amount of space and effort in manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view switch;

FIG. 2 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 showing the parts of my switch in actuated position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of my invention in exploded relation; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional detailed view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawing in which drawing there is illustrated a mounting plate 10. This mounting plate may be formed of suitable non-conductive material.

Mounted on the plate 10 is a pivot bracket 11 comprising a vertically extending post 12. The free end of the post 12 terminates into two spaced apart parallelly extending

fingers

13 and 14. These

fingers

13 and 14 each have one face thereof V-grooved as at 15, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The opposite end of the pivot bracket 11 terminates into a depending terminal 16 which may be of either the quick connecting type as illustrated in FIG. 3, or the integral type, both of which are well known in the art. Between the terminal 16 and the post 12 and struck from the medial portion of the bracket 11 is a pair of spaced apart supports 17 and 18. These supports have the opposite outside edges notched as at 19 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

A switch blade is indicated as at 20. This switch blade 20 provides parallelly extending spaced apart

members

21 and 22 at one end thereof. These

members

21 and 22 provide longitudinally extending

parallel fingers

23 and 24 respectively formed as an integral portion of the opposite longitudinal edges of the blade 20 as seen in FIG. 3.

An actuator is indicated as at 25. This actuator provides a medial portion 26 which is adapted to lie in spaced of my improved snap-action parallel relation with respect to the plate 10 when mounted in an operative position hereinafter described. One end of the actuator 25 is formed to provide a stop member 27.

The opposite end of the actuator 25 is bent so as to provide an elevated free end 28. At the bend in the actuator 25 the opposite edges thereof are notched-out as at 29. One side edge of each of the notched-out portions is tapered as at 30 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

In mounting the parts of my improved snap-action switch together, the switch blade 20 has the

members

21 and 22 thereof projected through the opening 31 formed in the pivot bracket 11 where the

supports

17 and 18 were struck therefrom. The

members

21 and 22 are projected through this opening 31 until the

fingers

23 and 24 provided thereby are pivotally seated in the notches 19 formed in the opposite edges of the

supports

17 and 18, FIGS. 1 and 2.

The

fingers

13 and 14 of the post 12 are projected through the notches 29 formed in the actuator 25. The tapered edges 30 of the notches 29 are caused to sit in the V-grooves 15 formed in the faces of the

fingers

13 and 14, FIGS. 1 and 2. This arrangement provides a simple, yet effective fulcrum for the actuator 25.

A tension member 32 in the form of a coil spring has one end connected as at 33 to the switch blade 20. The opposite end of the member 31 is connected as at 34 to the end of the actuator 25. Under normal tension of the tension member 32 the switch blade 20 and the actuator 25 will assume the positions shown in FIG. 1.

When an applied force is placed on the free end 28 of the actuator 25 it will cause the same to pivot about its fulcrum so that the connection 34 of the tension member 32 is moved relative to the fulcrum of the switch blade 20. By continued movement the tension member 32 is caused to pass between the

members

21 and 22 to a posi tion above the longitudinal axis of the switch blade 20 causing the same to move with a snap-action to a position shown in FIG. 2. In such position the contact 35 I. carried by the switch blade 20 will be out of engagement With a contact 36 carried by the plate 10.

The snap movement of the switch blade 20 will be arrested by shoulders 37 formed adjacent the opening 31 of the post 12. When the applied force is removed from the free end 28 of the actuator 25 a reverse action takes place. The reversing movement of the actuator 25 is arrested by the stop member 27 engaging one end portion of the pivot bracket 11.

By the foregoing construction I have provided an electrical snap-action switch which utilizes all the mechanical advantages resulting from the greater distance ratio between the actuator fulcrum and the switch blade fulcrum. The actuator 25 is contained within a minimum of horizontal space and has its longitudinal length substantially in the same vertical plane with respect to the mounting bracket and switch contacts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eifect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A snap-action switch comprising an integral terminal member and mounting bracket for a switch blade and switch actuator,

said bracket at one end providing a terminal member,

the other end of said bracket providing an angularly disposed pivotal member having parallelly extending spaced apart fingers,

a pivotal switch actuator adapted to be disposed between and in pivotal contact with said parallel fingers of said bracket,

a pair of spaced apart pivotal supports struck from said bracket intermediate said terminal member and said pivotal member and adapted to extend in a spaced parallel relation with respect to said fingers,

said pivotal supports adapted to pivotally receive one end portion of a switch blade,

a movable switch blade having one end in pivotal contact with said spaced apart pivotal supports and its opposite end projected through an opening formed in said pivotal member so as to lie in a longitudinal plane transversely to said pivotal member and said pivotal supports,

tensional means for forcing said blade and said actuator in opposite directions into pivotal contact with their respective pivotal supports and pivotal fingers and for movably maintaining said blade and said actuator in an unactuated position,

means on said actuator for preventing pivotal movement thereof in one direction under tension of said spring,

and means provided by said pivotal bracket for preventing unlimited pivotal movement of said switch blade in an opposite direction by said spring when said blade is in an actuated position.

2. A snap-action switch comprising an integral terminal member and mounting bracket for a switch blade and switch actuator,

said mounting bracket providing at one end a terminal member,

the other end of said bracket providing an oppositely extending pivotal member having parallelly extending spaced apart fingers,

said fingers having V-shaped transversely extending grooves formed in one side face thereof for pivotally receiving a portion of a switch actuator,

a pivotal switch actuator comprising an elongated member providing an angled intermediate portion having a reduced neck providing side shoulders adapted to be disposed between and in pivotal contact with said V-shaped grooves of said parallel fingers,

a pair of spaced apart pivotal supports struck from said bracket intermediate said terminal member and said pivotal member, with said supports of a length less than said pivotal members and adapted to extend in a spaced parallel relation with respect thereto,

said pivotal supports having notches formed in their outer edges for pivotally receiving end portions of a switch blade,

a movable switch blade having one end bifurcated to provide parallel arms with said arms having their end portions notched so as to pivotally engage the notches formed in said pivotal support,

the opposite end of said switch blade adapted to project through an opening formed in said pivotal member so as to lie in a longitudinal plane transversely with respect to said pivotal member and said pivotal supports,

a coiled spring for forcing said blade and said actuator in opposite directions into pivotal contact with their respective pivotal supports and pivotal fingers and for movably maintaining said blade and said actuator in an unactuated position,

means on said actuator for preventing pivotal movement thereof in one direction under tension of said spring, said pivotal member providing stop members projecting inwardly of the opening formed therein for preventing unlimited pivotal movement of said switch blade in an opposite direction by said spring when said blade is in an actuated position.

3. A snap-action switch comprising an integral terminal member and pivot bracket for a switch blade and a switch actuator,

said bracket at one end providing an angularly disposed pivotal member having parallelly extending spaced apart fingers,

said fingers having V-shaped transversely extending grooves formed in one side thereof for pivotally receiving a switch actuator,

a switch actuator comprising an elongated member providing an angled intermediate portion having a reduced neck providing side shoulders adapted to be disposed between and in pivotal contact with said V-grooves of said fingers,

a pair of spaced apart pivotal supports struck from said bracket intermediate said terminal member and said spaced apart fingers, with said supports of a length less than said pivotal members and adapted to extend in a spaced parallel relation with respect thereto,

said pivotal supports having notches formed in their outer edge portions for pivotally receiving a bifurcated end portion of a switch blade,

a switch blade having one end bifurcated to provide parallel arms having their end portions notched so as to pivotally engage the notched out portions of said pivotal supports,

the opposite end of said switch blade adapted to project through an opening formed in said bracket so as to extend in a plane normal to said pivotal fingers,

a tension member extending through the opening formed in said bracket and betwen the arms of said switch blade and having one end fixed to said switch blade and the opposite end fixed to one end of said actuator so as to maintain said actuator in pivotal contact with said fingers and said blade in pivotal contact with said pivotal supports,

means on said actuator for preventing pivotal movement thereof in one direction under tension of said spring, said pivotal member providing stop members projecting inwardly of the opening formed therein for preventing unlimited pivotal movement of said switch blade in an opposite direction under tension of said spring when said actuator is pivoted relative to said pivotal bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,157,156 Abendroth May 9, 1939 2,314,995 Lennholm Mar. 30, 1943 2,513,804 Kaminky July 4, 1950 2,758,171 Cherry Aug. 7, 1956 2,790,865 Cherry i Apr. 30, 1957 2,862,083 Bailey Nov. 25, 1958