US3098903A

US3098903A - Snap action switch

Info

Publication number: US3098903A
Application number: US125775A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred N Anderson
Original assignee: Cherry Electrical Products Corp
Current assignee: Cherry Corp
Priority date: 1961-07-21
Filing date: 1961-07-21
Publication date: 1963-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-23

Description

July 23, 1963 F. N. ANDERSON SNAP ACTION SWITCH Filed July 21, 1961 INVENTOR. @250 IV. ANDERSON fins Arm/mars United States Patent My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a snap action switch and more particularly to an electrical switch having an arrangement of parts whereby the movable contact bearing blade is rapidly actuated for making and breaking electrical contacts.

A particular object of my invention is in the provision in a snap action switch of this character of a suspended type movable switch blade that has no fixed connection to the switch housing.

A further object of my invention is in the provision in a snap action switch of this character of an arrangement of parts whereby a terminal post pivotally supports in a suspended relation a movable switch blade within a switch housing and bet-ween fixed contact bearing terminal members.

Yet another object of my invention is in the provision in a snap action switch of this character of a compression spring utilized for resiliently retaining the movable switch blade in operable position while simultaneously controlling the operation and positioning of a movable actuator for the switch blade.

Still another important object of my invention is in the provision in a snap action switch of this character of an arrangement of parts that permits the operating elements of the switch to be easily and quickly assembled within a switch housing.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

- The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangements 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 perspective view of my complete switch assembled.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with the cover removed.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar .to FIG. 3 but showing the parts in their actuated position, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of certain parts of my invention in an exploded relation as shown in FIG. 3.

My improved snap action switch mechanism is adapted to be housed in a cavity formed in a casing 10. The cats ing is provided with a removable side cover 11 which affords ready access to the cavity formed in the casing 10.

Extending through appropriate slots 12 and 13, comp-lementarily formed in the side wall :14 of the casing and cover 111, are fixed

terminal members

15 and 16. These

terminal members

15 and 16 on that portion thereof which is positioned within the cavity of the casing 10 are provided with spaced apart confronting contacts 15' and 16'. These

terminal members

15 and 16 have their inner ends which are positioned within the cavity of the casing 10 bent at oppositely extending right angles and such angled ends are provided with laterally extending studs 17 and 18 which are inserted into locating apertures 19 and 20 formed in the back wall 21 and inner surface of the cover 11.

The bottom wall 22 of the casing 10 and cover 11 has formed therein a slot 23, in which a third terminal member 24 is positioned. This terminal member 24 is angularly formed so as to provide a pivot post 25 centrally located within the cavity of the casing 10. The

pivot post 25 has formed in one side face thereof a V- notch 26, which extends transversely to the longitudinal length of the post 25. The opposite side face of the pivot post 25 is provided with a laterally extending circular stud 27 as seen in FIG. 5.

Positioned Within the cavity of the casing 15 is a movable switch blade 28 which comprises a unitary flat strip of spring material, slotted as at 29 and 30 so as to provide apair of

outer tension bars

31 and 32. By slotting the strip as at 29 and 30, I provide a pair of oppositely extending

fingers

33 and 34 which have their confronting free ends spaced apart as shown in FIG. 5. Each of the

fingers

33 and 34 have a substantial portion of their length angularly disposed out of the flat plane of the blade 28 into depending bisecting planes when mounted within the casing 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

One end of the blade 28 is provided with a contact member 35 which is normally disposed in contact with one of the contacts 15' and :16 of the fixed terminal members 11-5 and 16. The opposite end of the blade 28 together with a portion of the finger 33 provides an enlarged fiat bearing surface 36 upon which is adapted to set one end 67 of the actuator 38.

The actuator 38 is adapted to be slidably contained in a slot 39 formed in the casing 10, which slot 39 at its lower end is in open communication with the cavity formed in the casing .10. The one end 37 of the actuator 38 is provided with a side projection 40 which prevents the actuator 38 from moving upwardly through the slot 39 and out of the casing .10.

In assembling the snap action switch of my invention, the fixed terminal members 15, 1'6, and 24, are placed in their

appropriate slots

12, 13, and 23, formed in the casing 10. The switch blade is placed in the cavity of the casing 10 with the terminal post 25 positioned between the

tension bars

31 and 32 and with the free end of the finger 34 seated within the V-notch 26 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A compression spring 41 is seated upon the stud 27 pro vided by the post 25 :and convoluted about the finger 33, with its end resting upon (laterally extending shoulders 42 provided by the enlarged bearing surface 36. This compression spring 41 exerts a line of force through the angled portion of the finger 33 so :as to urge the switch blade 28 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the direction of the end wall 43 of the casing 10.

The compression spring 41 will yieldably bear the end of the finger 34 into a seated pivotal position in the V-notch 26 of the pivot post 25. By reason of the angular position of the spring 41 the switch blade 28 will also be forced upwardly in the direction of the angular plane of the finger 33. This will place the

tension bars

31 and 32 under tension, and finger 34 under compression and will cause the opposite end of the blade 28, carrying the contact 35, the be positioned in contact with the con tact 15' of the terminal member 15.

The end of the actuator 38 will sit upon the enlarged bearing surface 36 of the switch blade 28. The spring 41 will be compressed upon the stud 27 of the post 25 by downward movement of that end of the blade 28 that provides, together with finger 33, the enlarged bearing surface 36. This movement is accomplished through the depressing of the actuator 38 inwardly of the casing 10. Such movement of the actuator 38 and one end of the blade 28 is against the action of the spring 41. As the enlarged bearing surface 36 of the blade 28' thus moves downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it will cause the corresponding connected ends of the

tension bars

31 and 32 to flex downwardly in the direction of the horizontal plane of the angled portion of the finger 34.

As the actuator 38 forces the tension bars 31 and 32' to move downwardly beneath the plane of the finger 34 and its pivotal connection to the post 25, the contact 35 on that end of the switch blade 28 will move with a snap action downwardly into contact with the contact 16 of the fixed terminal member 16 as viewed in FIG. 4. In such actuated position, it should be noted that the free ends of the angular portions of the fingers 33' and 34 are now disposed in substantial spaced apart planes on opposite sides of the blade 28. The direction of the force exerted by the compression spring- 41 is still substantially in an oblique direction with respect to the fiat plane of the blade 28 and thus in a position to efiect rrestonation of the blade 28 into its original condition as seen in FIG. 3 when the moving force is removed from the actuator 38.

While I' have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I theretore do not wish-to be limited to the precise details of constnuction set forth but desire to avail myself of such variation and modification 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. In a switch of the class described comprising (a) a substantially flat switch blade formed of spring material slotted'longitudinally to form a pair of paral- I with respect to the fixed contacts, a movable switch actua lel side tension bars connected together at opposite Q ends,

(12) one end of said blade having an electrical contact thereon adapted for movement between two spaced apart fixed contacts with the opposite end of said blade providing an actuator seat.

(c) said blade providing between said tension bars confronting spaced apart fingers each having a' substantialportion of their length angular-1y disposed out of and beneath the longitudinal plane of said tension 'bai's when said blade is mounted in said switch,

(d) a fixed terminal post member provided by said switch and having pivotal connection with the free end of one of said fingers at a point below the normal'longitudin-al plane of said blade,

(e) a coil spring disposed between said terminal post and said other linger for urging said blade in one direction relative to its longitudinal length so as to place under compression said one of said fingers and to yieldably urge said actuator seat into engagement with a switch actuator,

(f) and a switch actuator slidably carried by said switch and having a portion thereof in contact with said seat provided by said opposite end of said switch blade,

(g) said actuator movable perpendicularly against said seat provided by said blade to move said tension bars thereof relative to said terminal post member and tor freely engaging the switch blade at one end thereof,

' (a) a snap action mechanism including a pair of spaced apart confironting fingers integrally formed from the blade andhaving a substantial portion of their length 'langularly disposed into bisecting planes extending downwardly of the longitudinal plane of the blade when in assembly condition,

(1)) a fixed support extending tangentially between said fingers and having pivotal contact with one of said fingers at a point below the longitudinal plane of the blade,

(c) a resilient means interposed between said support and said other finger for yieldably positioning the blade in its first position and said one end thereof in engagement with said switch actuator and for yieldably resisting movement of said switch actuator.

(d) said switch actuator movable against said resilient means for moving with a snap-action the switch bladeinto its second position below the point of pivotal contact between said one of said fingers and said support and into contact with the other of said fixed contacts with said switch blade changing its planar relation with respect to said one of said fingers while the other cf said fingers maintains its angular relation with respect thereto and to said switch actuator.

3 In a switch of'the class described and defined by claim-2 wherein-said fixed support includes a combination terminal and pivot post, said post providing a laterally extending stud about which sets one end of said resilient means, said stud adapted to prevent displacement of said resilient means trom said post when said actuator is moved against switchblade.

4. In a switch of the class described and defined by claim 2' wherein said resilient means includes a coil spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Petensen June 3, 1930 Miller- June 3, 1952

Claims

1. IN A SWITCH OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SWITCH BLADE FORMED OF SPRING MATERIAL SLOTTED LONGITUDINALLY TO FORM A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE TENSION BARS CONNECTED TOGETHER AT OPPOSITE ENDS, (B) ONE END OF SAID BLADE HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREON ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN TWO SPACED APART FIXED CONTACTS WITH THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BLADE PROVIDING AN ACTUATOR SEAT. (C) SAID BLADE PROVIDING BETWEEN SAID TENSION BARS CONFRONTING SPACED APART FINGERS EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEIR LENGTH ANGULARLY DISPOSED OUT OF AND BENEATH THE LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF SAID TENSION BARS WHEN SAID BLADE IS MOUNTED IN SAID SWITCH, (D) A FIXED TERMINAL POST MEMBER PROVIDED BY SAID SWITCH AND HAVING PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH THE FREE END OF ONE OF SAID FINGERS AT A POINT BELOW THE NORMAL LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF SAID BLADE, (E) A COIL SPRING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TERMINAL POST AND SAID OTHER FINGER FOR URGING SAID BLADE IN ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO ITS LONGITUDINAL LENGTH SO AS TO PLANE UNDER COMPRESSION SAID ONE OF SAID FINGERS AND TO YIELDABLY URGE SAID ACTUATOR SEAT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A SWITCH ACTUATOR, (F) AND A SWITCH ACTUATOR SLIDABLY CARRIED BY SAID SWITCH AND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF IN CONTACT WITH SAID SEAT PROVIDED BY SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID SWITCH BLADE, (G) SAID ACTUATOR MOVABLE PERPENDICULARLY AGAINST SAID SEAT PROVIDED BY SAID BLADE TO MOVE SAID TENSION BARS THEREOF RELATIVE TO SAID TERMINAL POST MEMBER AND SAID FINGERS INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TENSION BARS IN A SWITCH ACTUATED POSITION, (H) SAID COIL SPRING YIELDABLY RESISTING THE PERPENDICULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR WHILE MAINTAINING CONTACT PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT ON ONE END OF SAID BLADE AND A FIXED CONTACT AND SAID ACTUATOR SEAT ON THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BLADE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ACUATOR.