US3312807A - Switch mounting means having pivotally mounted switch-retaining spring means - Google Patents

Description

A ril 4, 1967 s. E. MANECKE INVENTOR.

SIEGFRIED E. MANECKE Mfm HIS ATTORNEYS .proceeds with reference to the Patented Apr. 4, 1967 assignor to Robert- Richrnond, Va, a corpora- This invention relates to an improved switch mounting means as well as to improved parts for such a mounting means or the like.

It is well known that electrical switch constructions and the like are adapted to be detachably and effectively mounted to mounting brackets that are permanently secured to a supporting structure so that the electrical switch constructions can 'be readily removed and replaced from the mounting brackets without removing the mounting brackets from its substantially permanent installation.

Accordingly, one feature of this invention is to provide an improved switch mounting member wherein the switch construction can be readily and simply detachably secured thereto in such a manner that the switch construction is effectively held from movement relative to the mounting member while still being adapted to be simply removed therefrom when desired.

In particular, this invention provides a mounting memher having pivotally mounted spring means so constructed and arranged that the spring means are adapted to snapfit the electrical switch construction to the mounting member in a simple and effective manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved combination of an electrical switch construction and a mounting member, the combination having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mounting mem'ber for such a combination or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of one embodiment of the improved mounting member of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the mounting member illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the mounting member illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates how the spring means of the mounting member are utilized to detachably secure a switch construction thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a rear perspective view of the mounted switch construction illustrated in FIGURE 5.

' FIGURE 7 is a front perspective view of the mounted switch construction illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates still another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the mounting member of the embodiment of FIG- of the mounting member URE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a front perspective view of the mounted switch construction illustrated in FIGURE 10.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to mount an electrical switch construction or the like, it is to be understood that various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide means for mounting other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the improved combination of an electrical switch construction and the mounting bracket of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a mounting member 21 detachably holding an electrical switch construction 22 thereto whereby the mounting member 21 is adapted to be secured in a substantially permanent manner to the desired supporting structure so that the electrical switch construction 22 can 'be detachably secured to the supporting structure by the mounting member 21.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, the mounting member 21 comprises a substantially flat plate 23 having a rear surface 24 and a front surface 25, the plate 23 having a central aperture 26 passing therethrough and being defined by a rearwardly extending flange 27.

In this manner, the rear face of the electrical switch construction 22 can be disposed against the front side 25 of the mounting member 21 and be detachably secured thereto in a manner hereinafter described, the electrical switch construction 22 being of conventional form and having an actuating plunger or the like extending from the rear side thereof to be actuated by any means projecting through the aperture 26 of the mounting member 21.

For example, the flange means 27 of the mounting member 21 can effectively house a snap-action thermostatic member 28 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10 to actuate the plunger of the electrical switch construction 22. Alternately, the aperture 26 and the mounting member 21 can be effectively closed by a closure member 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. If desired, the flange 27 of the mounting member 21 can be utilized to effectively secure a diastat means 36 to the mounting member 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 9 whereby the diastat means 30 will actuate the plunger of the electrical switch construction 22 under the desired conditions.

Thus, it can be seen that the particular switch actuating means for the electrical switch construction 22 can take many forms and can he reaspectively coupled thereto by the mounting means 21 of this invention.

However, it is to be understood that the actuating means for the electrical switch construction 22 can comprise any other desired actuating means whether the same is carried by the mounting member 21 of this invention or not.

The plate portion 23 of the mounting member 21 of this invention has opposed slots 31 to permit the mounting member 21 to be substantially permanently attached to the supporting structure by threaded fastening members passing through the slots 31 in a conventional manner and having the enlarged heads thereof abut the front face 25 of the mounting member 21.

A plurality of fiat tangs 32 are integrally formed with the plate like means 23 of the mounting member 21 and project outwardly from the front face 25 thereof, the tanks 32 being so constructed and arranged that the same are adapted to be respectively received in recess means 33 formed at the four corners of the substantially rectangular switch construction 22 in the manner illustrated in the perspective views of the drawings.

In particular, the switch construction 22 has the consides 34 and 35 and another pair of opposed sides 36 and 37 in addition to the opposed rear and front faces thereof. However, the switch construction 22 also has substantially rectangular portions 38 and 39 extending outwardly from the opposed sides 36 and 37 thereof whereby the projections 38 and 39 cooperate with sides 36 and 37 thereof to define the recess means 33 receiving the tangs 32.

In this manner, it can be seen that when the rear face of the switch construction 22 is disposed against the front side 25 of the mounting member 21, the tanks 32 are disposed against the -opposed sides 36 and 37 of the switch construction 22 with the projections 38 and 39 of the switch construction 22 projecting between adjacent pairs of the tangs 32 whereby the tanks 32 prevent sidewise movement of the switch construction 22 relative to the mounting means 21 in any sidewise direction.

The mounting member 21 pivotally carries a pair of spring means 40 comprising resilient wire-like members each having opposed ends 41 respectively pivotally mounted to a pair of tangs 32 of the mounting member 21 by projecting inwardly through suitable openings 42 formed in the tangs 32 in the manner illustrated in the drawings, the spring means 40 being thus snap-fitted to the tangs 32.

Each spring means 40 has a pair of legs 43 provided with first portions 44 disposed parallel to each other and upper or second portions 45 converging toward each other and being respectively interconnected together by a substantially U-shaped cross member 46 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the spring means 49 are adapted to move between the posit-ions illustrated in FIG URES 2 and to effectively detachably secure the electrical switch construction 22 to the mounting means 21 in a manner now to be described.

The top or outer face 47 of the electrical switch construction 22 is provided with a pair of raised ridges 48 disposed spaced from a raised central portion 49 thereof to define notch means 50 therebetween in the outer face 47 thereof for a purpose now to be described.

With the spring means 40 of the mounting member 21 disposed in the open position as illustrated in FIGURE 2,

ventional pair of opposed the electrical switch construction 22 is disposed against the face of the mounting member 21 in such a manner that the tangs 32 of the mounting member 21 are received in the recess means 33 of the switch construction 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Thereafter, the spring means 40 are pivoted toward the switch construction 22 tocause the cross members 46 thereof to be cammed over the ridge means 43 of the switch construction 22 and be sna-pfitted into the recess means 50 thereof whereby the spring means 40 effectively detachably secure the switch construction 22 to the mounting means 21 through the resiliency of the spring means 40. In this manner, the switch construction 22 is fixedly secured to the mounting member 21 but can be readily detached therefrom by forcing the spring means 40 outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to release the switch construction 22.

When the spring means 40 are being utilized to secure the switch construction 22 to the mounting means 21 in the above manner, it can be seen that the first portions 44 of the legs 43 of each spring means 40 are disposed along the opposed sides 36 and 37 of the switch construction 22 while the second portions 45 thereof are respectively disposed against either the side 34 or the side of the switch construction 22 with the cross member 46 thereof being disposed over the outer face 47 of the switch construction 22.

In this manner, it can be seen that the spring means are substantially wrapped around the switch construction 22 to assist the tangs 3-2 in firmly holding the switch construction 22 to the mounting means 21 by a snap-fit relationship therewith.

If desired, the spring means 40 of this invention can be so constructed and arranged that the same can be substantially U-shaped and still perform the snap-fitting function of this invention without wrapping around any of the sides of the switch construction.

In particular, another combination of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 51 in FIGURES 10 and 12 and parts thereof similar to the combination 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals.

As illustrated in FIGURES 10-12, the mounting means 21 of the combination 51 is substantially the same as previously described except that the spring means 52 therefor are substantially U-shaped as defined by parallel legs 53 respectively snap-fitted in the openings 42 in the tangs 32 and interconnected to a straight cross member 54.

The switch construction 22 of the combination 51 is substantially the same as the switch construction 22 previously described and is adapted to nest against the side 25 of the mounting means 21 in such a manner that the tangs 32 thereof project into the recesses 33 of the switch construction 22 to prevent sidewise movement thereof relative to the mounting means 21.

However, when the spring means 52 are disposed over the outer face 47 of the switch construction 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12, the cross members 54 thereof are adapted to be snapped over the ridges 48 of the switch construction 22 and be received in the recesses 50 thereof to snap-fittingly secure the switch construction 22 to the mounting member 21.

Thus, it can be seen that various modifications may be made in the spring means of the mounting member of this invention while the spring means still performs the function of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Accordingly, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide an improved combination of a switch mounting means and a switch construction, but also this invention provides an improved mounting means for such a combination or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed'subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, 'a switch mounting member having spring means pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and a switch construction disposed against said mounting member, said spring means being pivoted and snap-fitted over said switch construction to hold such switch construction to said mounting member, said mounting member having outwardly directed tangs, said switch construction having recesses provided therein and respectively receiving said tangs whereby sidewise movement of said switch construction relative to said mounting member is prevented by said tangs.

2. 'In combination, a switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having the opposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and a switch construction disposed against said mounting member, said spring means each having an intermediate portion thereof snap-fitted over said switch construction to hold said switch construction to said mounting member.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch construction has notch means respectively receiving said intermediate portions of said spring means.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting member has outwardly directed tangs and wherein said switch construction has recesses provided therein to respectively receive said tangs whereby sidewise movement of said switch construction relative to said mounting member is prevented by said tangs.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said opposed ends of each spring means are pivotally mounted to a respective pair of said tangs.

6. In combination, a switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having the opposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and a substantially rectangular switch construction disposed against said mounting member, said spring means each having a pair of legs disposed against opposed sides of said switch construction and having a cross member interconnecting said legs together and being snap-fitted over the outer face of said switch construction.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein each spring means is substantially U-shaped.

8. In combination, a switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having opposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and a substantially rectangular switch construction disposed against said mounting member, said spring means each having a pair of legs provided with first portions disposed along opposed sides of said switch construction and with second portions disposed along another side of said switch construction and having a cross member interconnecting said legs together and being snap-fitted over the outer face of said switch construction.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second portions of said legs of each spring means converge toward each other as they extend toward said cross member thereof.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cross member of each spring means is substantially U- shaped.

11. A switch mounting member having spring means pivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means being adapted to be pivoted and snap-fitted over a switch construction disposed against said mounting member to hold said switch construction to said mounting member, said mounting member having outwardly directed tangs to be respectively received in recesses provided in said switch construction to prevent sidewise movement of said switch construction relative to said mounting member.

12. A switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having the opposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means each having an intermediate portion thereof adapted to be snap-fitted over a switch construction disposed against said mounting member to hold said switch construction to said mounting member.

13. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 12 wherein said mounting member has outwardly directed tangs to be respectively received in recesses provided in said switch construction to prevent sidewise movement of said switch construction relative to said mounting member.

14. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 13 wherein said opposed ends of each spring means are pivotally mounted to a respective pair of said tangs.

15. A switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, each spring means comprising a length of wirev having opposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means each having a pair of legs adapted to be disposed against opposed sides of a switch construction disposed against said mounting member and having a cross member interconnecting said legs together and being adapted to be snap fitted over the outer face of said switch construction.

16. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 15 wherein each spring means is substantially U-shaped.

17. A switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having opposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means each having a pair of legs provided with first portions adapted to be disposed along opposed sides of a switch construction disposed against said mounting member and with second portions disposed along another side of said switch construction and having a cross member interconnecting said legs together and being adapted to be snap-fitted over the outer face of said switch construction.

18. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second portion of said legs of each spring means converge toward each other as they extend toward said cross member thereof.

19. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 17 wherein said cross member of each spring means is substantially U-shaped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. K. H. CLAFFY, H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

11. A SWITCH MOUNTING MEMBER HAVING SPRING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED AND SNAP-FITTED OVER A SWITCH CONSTRUCTION DISPOSED AGAINST SAID MOUNTING MEMBER TO HOLD SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID MOUNTING MEMBER HAVING OUTWARDLY DIRECTED TANGS TO BE RESPECTIVELY RECEIVED IN RECESSES PROVIDED IN SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION TO PREVENT SIDEWISE MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION RELATIVE TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBER.

Images