US3518381A

US3518381A - Two-button two-stage switch

Info

Publication number: US3518381A
Application number: US790563A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin G Gaynor
Original assignee: EDWIN S GAYNOR
Current assignee: EDWIN S GAYNOR
Priority date: 1969-01-13
Filing date: 1969-01-13
Publication date: 1970-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1987-06-30

Description

June 30, 1970 E. G. GAYNOR TWO-BUTTON TWO-STAGE SWITCH;

Filed Jan. 13, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .j 60 o j] l 4 0 f 1 l i 6U 'lmi,... f "um-H. w67 q 1 z5 JZ Z5* 66a/ j JZ/"5 66 :,43-

igj, lfzzr, 11g-j 69 Z50, '2:40 *u T mmf 697 Ilm/5 Mfg Z5@ 7] J4 K 619@ da 67 45a" y 76' 60 f6@ 69@ Z7 zo 3,518,381 TWO-BUTTON TWO-STAGE SWITCH Edwin G. Gaynor, Southport, Conn., assignor to Edwin S. Gaynor, Southport, Conn. Filed Jan. 13, 1969, Ser. No. 790,563 Int. Cl. H01h 9/26 U.S. Cl. 200- 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch for controlling energization and de-energzation of a plurality of electric discharge lamps and operable upon a single activation of one of a plurality of manual control members first momentarily to close a given circuit and thereafter to complete closure thereof. This comprises a compact assembly including terminals of a plurality of circuits supported by opposing frames and controlled by manually operable members for opening and closing those circuits, one of said members being operative upon continuing activation thereof rst momentarily to connect terminals closing a given circuit and then to complete closure thereof which is maintained by detent means associated with said one member and said frames, until opened by activation of another of said members.

Generally of the character of the disclosure of Gaynor Pat. No. 3,221,112 of Nov. 30, 1965 and application Ser. No. 759,444, led Sept. 12, 1968, my present invention differs therefrom in important respects including the provision of novel means for opening, closing, and maintaining the circuits. The simplicity, efficiency, compactness and facility of assembly and operation of the structure together with other advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a switch assembly ernbodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a bottom View of a housing in the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation partially broken away of the housing shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of that housing;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a frame included in the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation of that frame;

FIG. 11 is an opposite side elevation of the same frame;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a teeter included in the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation of that teeter;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of a first manual component of the invention;

FIG. 15 is an end elevation of that component;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the component of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of a second manual component of the invention;

FIG. 18 is an end elevation of the latter component;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view of a terminal for the switch;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a bezel for the switch;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the first manual component;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the second manual component;

lUnited States Patent O c ICC FIG. 23 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the switch assembly.

Referring to the dra-wings, a switch assembly 11 embodying my invention, and illustrating its application to a circuitry including two electric discharge lamps, comprises a generally rectangular housing 12 open on one side (the top as shown in FIGS. 1, 7) and 'having a plurality of openings 13 in its opposite side 14 (bottom FIGS. l, 7) connected with conduits 15 and arranged in selected spaced relation for supporting lead wires 15a, 15b, to the lamps and a power source.

Housing 12 has transverse outwardly extending ledges 16 along the edges of its end Walls. Generally rectangular inwardly projecting enlargements 18 of walls 17 are arranged to provide guideways 19 for receiving and supporting identical terminal supporting frames 20, 21 (FIGS. 9, 10, l1) in opposing spaced relation along opposite sides 12a. interiorly of housing 12. Upwardly projecting portions of the frames function as spacers 20a, 21a in a manner to be noted.

Outer corresponding faces 20h, 2lb of the frames, which are arranged to abut adjacent side walls 12a of the housing, have spaced cutaways 22 for seating spring clip portions 23a, 24a, 25a of opposing identical terminals 23, Z4, 25 supported in like manner on the two frames. In the arrangement shown opposed terminals 23v when connected provide a circuit for energizing one lamp; opposed terminals 24, another lamp; and opposed terminals 25, both lamps. Slots 26 in frames 20 are arranged in selected spaced relation to enable operative contact of

terminals

23, 24, 25 with corresponding circuit closing elements to be described.

Inner opposing faces 20c, 21C of

frames

20, 21 have embossed nodes 27 arranged to cooperate with another component of the assembly as will appear.

Bores 28 in

frames

20, 21 are disposed coaxially and arranged to receive, in journalledl relation, end portions 30a of pin 30 upon which teeter 31 is fixed lfor relative rotation (oscillation) about the common axis. Enlarged hub portions 30b of pins 30 limit thrust axially thereof.

Frames

20, 21, with

terminals

23, 24, 25 seated therein in operative opposed relation and teeter 31 suspended therebetween for relative rotation, are inserted in housing 12 by sliding the vertical end portions thereof along guideways 19 to a point where their lower edges 20d, 21d abut the inner surface of the housing bottom and their upper edges 20e, 21e are flush with the upper end portions 18a of enlargements 18 of walls 17. In practice, the two sets of identical terminals lwill be arranged, as shown here, wtih those connected with the power line on one frame and those connected wth lamps on the other frame in corresponding array after a legend provided on the housing. Accordingly for brevity the terminals on one frame will be called line treminals; those on the other, lamp terminals.

Teeter 31, which comprises arms 31a and 31h, is conformed and arranged (FIGS. 2, `4, 12, 13) to cooperate with other components of the assembly as a linkage, so to speak, to effect changes in circuitry. This is accomplished by means of a manually operable control mechanism 35 including a pair of push buttons.

Button 40 .(FIGS. 1, 2, 14, 15, 16) is generally rectangular in form with outward narrow anges 41 extending longitudinally thereof along opposite sides (FIGS. 14, 15, 16) and a generally retcangular cutaway 42 extending medianly of the underside thereof. Undercut lateral extensions 43 of cutway 42 are provided to receive complementary anges 44 of plug 45 pressed therein in locking countersunk relation.

Plug 45 has a rectangular projection 46 arranged for operative engagement -with a corresponding portion of 3 arm 31a of teeter 31. Plug 45 is arranged to secure generally inverted-U shape, tong-like spring brushes 47 with expanded (bulging) arms 47a, in operative position in relation to button 40.

Coil springs 48 are seated in bores `49l provided in button 40 in spaced relation and operative to bias said button when in operative setting in said assembly to open switch position for a purpose to be noted.

Button 50 (FIGS. 17, 18), generally rectangular in form and similar in structure to button 40, but preferably of contrasting color and as shown smaller dimension longitudinally, supports on brush 51 comparable with brushes 47 and a brush 52 of smiliar form but smaller dimensions and for a different purpose; plug 53 having a projection 53u similar to projection 46, and flanges 54 receivable in undercut extensions 55 of cutaway 56 upon being pressed therein as in the case of button 4t). Flanges 5f7 of button 50 are similar to lianges 41.

Buttons

40 and 50 and the parts associated with them are conformed and disposed for cooperative relation with

frames

20, 21 and the parts associated with them, including

terminals

23, 24, 25 and teeter 31 in compact arrangement in housing 12. Spacers a,

21a support buttons

40, 50 in predetermined spaced relation with one another.

It will be understood that the brushes associated with

buttons

40, 50 and the

terminals

23, 24 and 25 and their spring clip portions are made of suitable conductive material. In the embodiment illustrated,

frames

20, 21 are insulative (Bakelite); bezel 60 and supports, metallic; and housing 12 and other components of the assembly, insulative (nylon). Other materials consistent with good engineering practice may be used.

When

buttons

40, 50 with their associated parts are positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, they are maintained in operative relation by a bezel structure 60 (see FIG. 20) This comprises a generally rectangular frame 61 having

rectangular openings

62, 63 for receiving

buttons

40, 50 respectively n freely slidable relation but conformed for engagement with

flanges

41, 57, respectively, to limit relative movement of the buttons. Depending, longitudinally extending flanges 64 are arranged for engagement with the outer srufaces of the upper rim portions of adjacent sidewalls 12a of the housing. Transverse flanges l65 depending somewhat below flanges 64, are arranged to overhang and abut the outer extremities of ledges 16, and have slots 66 for receiving corresponding tongues 67 of angulated supports 68, the bases 69 of which have openings 69a to accommodate means for securing the assembly to a lamp frame or other desired object (not shown). The buttons, the bezel, and associated parts, are conformed and arranged in relation to the housing structure so as to provide a closure therefor and an over-all compact, efficient unitary two-stage switch assembly. In commercial practice, to avoid undesired disassembly prior to installation, flanges 65 are crimped sufficiently to hold the parts together.

The arrangement is such that upon assembly of the parts (FIG. 2), frames 20, 21 with

terminals

23, 24, 25 being in place and teeter 31 supported therebetween for relative rotation, the outer extremities of springs 48 of button 40 rest on

frames

20, 21, brushes 47 straddle, and projection 46 of plug 45 overlies, arm 31a of the teeter; the brushes 47 being aligned with but removed from

terminals

23, 24; brush 51 is aligned with but removed from terminals brush 52 is aligned with but removed from nodes 27 of

frames

20, 21; and projection 53a overlies arm 31h of the teeter; all compactly held in operative relation by bezel structure 60.

Terminals

23, 24, 25 and their respective spring clipy portions are conformed and arranged for spring clip action operative to engage and retain lead wires 15a, 15b, introduced through conduits 15 whereby to provide circuitry under switch control, effectuated in this manner:

Control mechanism through button 40 operates to energize the two lamps of the present embodiment momentarily only and in separate circuits. Upon depressing button 40, springs 48 yield, the outer surfaces of arms 47a of brushes 47

contact opposing terminals

23 and 24 thereby closing circuits through and energizing the lamps. Simultaneously, in the event that button 50 shall previously have been operated to complete and maintain a circuit including brush 51 and terminals 25, teeter 31 will rock under pressure applied to arm 31a through plug projection 46 causing arm 31b to act upon plug 53, thrusting button 50` upward and removing lbrush 51 from contact with terminals 2S thereby opening the previously established circuit. Downward movement of button 40 and the parts carried by it is limited by the upper surface of frames 20.

The circuits established by depressing button 40` are momentary, lasting only while the button is under pressure as springs 48 operate to restore the button and the brushes associated therewith to switch-open position irnmediately upon being released.

Control mechanism 35 through button 50 operates somewhat differently to energize the two lamps in one circuit in two stages, iirst momentarily and then upon continuing activation of button 50 to establish the condition. To this end brushes 51 and 52 are respectively conformed and arranged in relation to terminals 25 and nodes 27 so that upon depressing button 50 a predetermined extent the forward ends 52b of arms 52a of brush I52 encounter nodes 27 thereby to resist further downward movement of the button and of brush 51, arms 51a of which are conformed and arranged initially to contact terminals 25 at this point and close the circuit through both lamps. The closure, however, would be unstable and upon release of the button, a circuit would be Opened due to recoil of the spring character of the brush. Upon continued activation of button 50, however, to a point overcoming the resistance imposed by the encounter of brush 52 with nodes 27, when arms 52a yield (contract) until the expanded portions 52C thereof pass below nodes 27, at which time they resume their expanded position. Then upon cessation of pressure on button 50, arms 52a of brush 52 and nodes 27 will serve as a detent locking control mechanism in circuit closing position subject to interruption in normal course only upon operation of button 40 in the manner previously stated. As in the case of button 40 downward movement of button 5()` and the parts associated therewith is limited by the upper surface of

frames

20, 21.

The foregoing description is intended not to limit the scope of my invention but rather to illustrate it. Application of it to a variety of arrangements of many lamps and substitute parts without departing from the spirit of the invention will be readily understood. The terminology employed is meant to be informative rather than restrictive and to be interpreted accordingly.

I claim:

1. A switch assembly comprising:

(a) a housing,

(tb) circuitry including:

(1) a plurality of line terminals, supported in predetermined spaced relation with one another in said housing, and

(2) a plurality of lamp terminals respectively supported therein opposing spaced relation with said line terminals,

(c) a button control mechanism comprising a first button and a second button and means operative upon activation of said rst button initially to connect momentarily one of said line terminals and the opposing lamp terminal and thereafter to complete and maintain the connection therebetween, and upon activation of said second button simultaneously to break that connection and momentarily connect others of said line terminals and said lamp ter= minals respectively opposing one another.

2. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the terminals are supported on opposing insulative frames extending longitudinally of said housing interiorly thereof in parallel spaced relation with one another, said terminals comprising a generally rectilinear portion and a spring clip portion, said frames having:

(a) cutaways on one face thereof for receiving the spring clip portions of said terminals in nesting relation for operative engagement with lead wires and (b) communicating slots enabling projection of the rectilinear portions of said terminals therethrough for interconnection with corresponding portions of opposing terminals.

3. A switch assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the terminal supporting frames are slidably supported in guideways provided in opposing walls of the housing to limit movement of the buttons in one direction.

4. A switch assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the housing is provided with conduits to receive said lead Wires corresponding with the terminals and the cutaways of the frames to receive said lead wires in cooperative relation with the terminals.

5. A switch assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the terminal supporting frames have means on one face thereof cooperative with means on said first button when the latter is activated in one direction to brake momentarily the progress thereof and upon continued activation thereof in the same direction then to hold said first button in operative position.

6. A switch assembly as dened in claim 1 in which the control mechanism comprises (a) first and second push buttons, said first button supporting (b) a spring contact brush and (c) a spring detent member, said brush and said detent member having spaced arms,

(d) said first button and the parts associated therewith being conformed and arranged to operate in relation to certain of said terminals whereby upon activation of said first button from initial open switch position the arms of said brush respectively progress to a point of engagement with corresponding terminals thereby closing a circuit therebetween and simultaneously the arms of said detent member encounter complementary means in said housing thereby to brake the activation of said first button and the progress of the brush momentarily pending yielding by the arms of the detent member to the activation of said first button whereupon the arms of the detent member and the complementary detent means cooperate to hold said first button and the brush in circuit closing position in relation to said corresponding terminals,

(e) said second button supporting a plurality of spring contact brushes having arms in spaced relation with one another and conformed and arranged respectively to operate in relation to certain others of said terminals whereby upon activation of said second button from initial open switch position the arms of said latter brushes respectively progress to a point of engagement with corresponding opposing terminals thereby closing a circuit therebetween,

(f) said second button having means associated therewith simultaneously engageable witih means operative to engage means associated with said first button whereby to activate the latter and remove the brush associated therewith from circuit closing position,

(g) said second button having spring means operative upon deactivation thereof to remove the same to open switch position.

7. A switch assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the control mechanism comprises a rocker pivotally mounted within said housing for oscillation in a plane intermedately of said opposing terminals, said rocker having one arm engageable with means on said first button and an oppositely extending arm engageable with means on said second button, the parts being operatively conformed and arranged whereby activation of said second button, when said first button is held in circuit closing position, causes said rocker to oscillate so as to remove said first button from circuit closing position thereby opening the circuit.

8. A switch assembly as defined in claim 6 in which the complementary detent means comprise opposing nodes respectively arranged on the inner face of terminal supporting frames mounted in said housing in cooperative relation witih spring means on said first button to brake activation of the latter pending yielding of the spring means and thereafter to hold said button and said first mentioned spring Contact brush in circuit closing position.

9. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the components of said assembly are secured in operative relation in said housing by means including a closure frame defining a bezel with supports therefor cornprising a base and an upright member, said closure frame comprising means supporting said buttons of said control mechanism in operative relation in said housing.

10. A switch assembly comprising (a) ahousing,

(b) circuitry including (l) a plurality of line terminals, supported in predetermined spaced relation with one another in said housing, and

(2) a plurality of lamp terminals respectively supported therein in opposing spaced relation with said line terminals,

(c) a button control mechanism operative upon activation of a first button initially to connect momentraily one of said line terminals and the opposing lamp terminal and thereafter to complete and maintain the connection therebetween, and upon activation of a second button simultaneously to break that connection and momentarily connect others of said line terminals and said lamp terminals respectively opposing one another,

(d) supports for said terminals comprising insulatve frames extending longitudinally of said housing interiorly thereof and in parallel spaced relation with one another,

said terminals having a generally rectilinear portion and a spring clip portion,

said frames having (l) cutaways on one face thereof for receiving the spring clip portions in nesting relation for operative engagement with lead wires, and

slots communicating therewith for supporting the rectilinear portions respectively for cooperative connection with corresponding portions of opposing ter-minals,

(e) said control mechanism comprising (1) a first button and (2) a second button,

said first button supporting a spring contact brush and a spring detent member, each having spaced arms, and said first button and the parts supported thereby being conformed and arranged to operate in relation to certain of said terminals whereby upon activation of said first button from initial open switch position the arms of said brush respectively progress in two stages, first to a point of engagement with corresponding terminals thereby closing a circuit therebetween and simultaneously the arms of said detent member encounter complementary means on opposing faces of said frames thereby resiliently to brake nals thereby closing a circuit therebetween, the progress of said rst button and the (f) linkage means operative simultaneously upon said contact brush supported thereby momenactivation of said second button to remove said tarily pending yielding by the arms of said first button and the contact brush associated theredetent member whereupon said detent 5 witih from circuit closing position, and

fmember and said complementary means co- (g) spring means carried by said second button and operate to hold said contact brush in circuit operative upon deactivation thereof to restore said closing engagement with said corresponding second button to open circuit position.

terminals,

said second button supporting a plurality 10 References Cited of spring contact brushes having arms in UNITED STATES PATENTS spaced relation with one another and con 3,221,112 12/1965 Gaynor 200 5 formed and arranged respectively to operate in relation to certain others of said terminals whereby upon activation of said 15 ROBERT K SCHAEFER Prlmary Exammer second button from initial open switch M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner position the arms of said latter brushes respectively progress to a point of engage- U.S. Cl. X.R.

ment with corresponding opposing termi- 200-50