US3539741A - Magnetically activated door switch - Google Patents

Magnetically activated door switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3539741A
US3539741A US849603A US3539741DA US3539741A US 3539741 A US3539741 A US 3539741A US 849603 A US849603 A US 849603A US 3539741D A US3539741D A US 3539741DA US 3539741 A US3539741 A US 3539741A
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United States
Prior art keywords
door
switch
casing
magnet
leaf spring
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Expired - Lifetime
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US849603A
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Elmo W Voland
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Duracell Inc USA
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PR Mallory and Co Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • H01H36/0073—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding actuated by relative movement between two magnets

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a door switch; more particularly it relates to such a switch which is magnetically operated.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a door switch which is magnetically operated.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetically operated door switch which has a magnet disposed in the door casing and in the compartment casing in spaced relation.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetically operated door switch in which the switch magnet is situated at one end of a leaf spring, the other end of the spring being biased at one of the contacts of a unitarily constructed electrical spade terminal with an electrical contact centrally located in the leaf spring and in spaced relationship with the other contact of the spade terminal.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide a magnetically operated door switch/.which is simple in construction, reliable, and economic to produce.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view in partial cross section of the switch and its actuating means
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of the switch and its actuating means when the door is in the closed position.
  • the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a magnetically operated door switch that is located in the casing of the compartment utilizing the door, the actuating means for the switch being located in the door casing. More specifically, the magnetic switch comprises a housing disposed within the casing of an opening for a compartment, a leaf spring dis- 3,539,741 Patented Nov.
  • the spring being at one end fixedly connected to the housing and further at the same end being in electrical contact with an electrical contact of an electrical spade terminal, a magnet disposed at the other end of the spring and being in spaced alignment with a magnet of opposite polarity disposed within the casing of a door adapted to close the opening of the compartment, and an electrical contact centrally disposed on the leaf spring and being in spaced alignment with the other electrical contact of the spade terminal.
  • the switch 10 is held within the casing 11 defining the opening of a compartment.
  • the term compartment is here meant to mean any enclosed space, whether it be a refrigerator storage area, the passenger space of an automobile, or a simple storage box.
  • the switch 10 has a housing 12, the housing as well as the casing being made from an insulating material such as a thermosetting plastic.
  • Disposed within the housing is a leaf spring 13 that is fixedly connected to the housing at one end through a rivet or other pin type connection 14.
  • the pin also serves as an electrical connection between the leaf spring and one of the electrical terminals 15 of a unitarily constructed spade terminal 16, the pin 14 also serving to attach the terminal to housing 12.
  • a magnet 17 that is constructed of a suitable magnetic material such as iron, a ceramic-iron mixture, or the like.
  • an electrical contact 18 Centrally disposed on the spring is an electrical contact 18 which is in spaced alignment with an electrical contact 19.
  • Electrical contact 19 is in electrical contact with terminal 20 of spade terminal 16 through rivet or pin 21, the pin also serving to attach contact 19 and terminal 20 to the housing 12.
  • the means to actuate the switch is disposed within the door 22.
  • the means to actuate the switch comprises a magnet 23 disposed within the casing 24 of the door.
  • Casing 24 is preferably constructed of an electrically insulating material such as a plastic or rubber moulding.
  • Magnet 23 can be fabricated from a material similar to magnet 17; however its pole should be opposite that of magnet 17. With this actuating structure, there need be no plunger protruding from the door casing as is common in prior art door switches.
  • the casing 24 could be constructed of a plastic or rubber material impregnated with a magnetic material, thus eliminating the need for magnet 23.
  • the operation of the switch can be shown as the door is opened or closed.
  • contact 18 is closed with contact 19, thus completing the electrical circuit through the spade terminal 16, the spring being biased such that the circuit is closed when the door is open.
  • magnet 23 attracts magnet 17, thus causing the circuit through the spade terminal 16, and leaf spring 13 to be opened when contact 18 disengages contact 19. The light is then turned OFF.
  • the spring may be oppositely biased with the polarity of the magnets being reversed.
  • FIG. 3 also shows an alternate form of the invention wherein the leaf spring is constructed to give a snap action.
  • leaf spring 13 has a circular depression or dimple 25 located near the end where it is fixedly connected to the housing 12 such that a snapping action is imparted to the spring when the spring is released through separation of the magnets.
  • a combination comprising: a door switch comprising a housing of electrically insulating material disposed within a casing of electrically insulating material forming the opening of a compartment, a leaf spring disposed within said housing fixedly connected to said housing at one end thereof, a magnet disposed at the other end of said leaf spring, a first electrical contact centrally disposed on said leaf spring, a second contact carried by said housing in line with said first contact; a second magnet of opposite polarity from said first magnet carried by a door connected to said compartment closing said opening; said leaf spring biased to close said contacts when said door is open; and means to complete an electrical circuit through said leaf spring and electrical terminals connected to said switch.
  • a door switch according to claim 1 in which said leaf spring has a circular depression near its end where it is fixedly connected to said housing so as to impart a snapping action to said spring.

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  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)

Description

Nov. 10, 1970 s. w. VOLAND 5 MAGNETICALLY ACTIVATED DQOR SWITCH Original Filed Oct. 31, 1966 V 3 l 22 I g [o g 0 9 .v I I. y,
IF I 6 3 /VENTOR ELMO W. VOLAND ATTORNEY -United States Patent Office 3,539,741 MAGNETICALLY ACTIVATED DOOR SWITCH Elmo W. Voland, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 590,732, Oct. 31, 1966. This application Aug. 8, 1969, Ser. No. 849,603 Int. Cl. H0111 3/16 U.S. Cl. ZOO-61.62 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 590,732, filed Oct. 31, 1966.
This invention relates to a door switch; more particularly it relates to such a switch which is magnetically operated.
Various types of electrical switches are commonly used in conjunction with doors to actuate other devices when such doors are opened and closed. Automobile and refrigerator doors, for example, actuate a switch which turns lights on and off as the door opens and closes. In such applications, the switch is usually actuated by a plunger protruding through the door casing, the plunger being depressed upon the doors closing. While such an arrangement is for the most part satisfactory, it would be better for the sake of reliability and for ease in cleaning that the switch be actuated without the use of the protruding plunger.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a door switch which operates without the use of a plunger protruding from the doors casing.
Another object of the invention is to provide a door switch which is magnetically operated.
Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetically operated door switch which has a magnet disposed in the door casing and in the compartment casing in spaced relation.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetically operated door switch in which the switch magnet is situated at one end of a leaf spring, the other end of the spring being biased at one of the contacts of a unitarily constructed electrical spade terminal with an electrical contact centrally located in the leaf spring and in spaced relationship with the other contact of the spade terminal.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a magnetically operated door switch/.which is simple in construction, reliable, and economic to produce.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view in partial cross section of the switch and its actuating means;
FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of the switch and its actuating means when the door is in the closed position.
Generally speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a magnetically operated door switch that is located in the casing of the compartment utilizing the door, the actuating means for the switch being located in the door casing. More specifically, the magnetic switch comprises a housing disposed within the casing of an opening for a compartment, a leaf spring dis- 3,539,741 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 posed within the housing, the spring being at one end fixedly connected to the housing and further at the same end being in electrical contact with an electrical contact of an electrical spade terminal, a magnet disposed at the other end of the spring and being in spaced alignment with a magnet of opposite polarity disposed within the casing of a door adapted to close the opening of the compartment, and an electrical contact centrally disposed on the leaf spring and being in spaced alignment with the other electrical contact of the spade terminal.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 the novel magnetic switch 10 is held within the casing 11 defining the opening of a compartment. The term compartment is here meant to mean any enclosed space, whether it be a refrigerator storage area, the passenger space of an automobile, or a simple storage box. The switch 10 has a housing 12, the housing as well as the casing being made from an insulating material such as a thermosetting plastic. Disposed within the housing is a leaf spring 13 that is fixedly connected to the housing at one end through a rivet or other pin type connection 14. The pin also serves as an electrical connection between the leaf spring and one of the electrical terminals 15 of a unitarily constructed spade terminal 16, the pin 14 also serving to attach the terminal to housing 12.
Attached to the leaf spring at its opposite end is a magnet 17 that is constructed of a suitable magnetic material such as iron, a ceramic-iron mixture, or the like. Centrally disposed on the spring is an electrical contact 18 which is in spaced alignment with an electrical contact 19. Electrical contact 19 is in electrical contact with terminal 20 of spade terminal 16 through rivet or pin 21, the pin also serving to attach contact 19 and terminal 20 to the housing 12.
The means to actuate the switch is disposed within the door 22. The means to actuate the switch comprises a magnet 23 disposed within the casing 24 of the door. Casing 24 is preferably constructed of an electrically insulating material such as a plastic or rubber moulding. Magnet 23 can be fabricated from a material similar to magnet 17; however its pole should be opposite that of magnet 17. With this actuating structure, there need be no plunger protruding from the door casing as is common in prior art door switches. As an alternative, the casing 24 could be constructed of a plastic or rubber material impregnated with a magnetic material, thus eliminating the need for magnet 23.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the operation of the switch can be shown as the door is opened or closed. As shown in FIG. 1, when the door is opened, contact 18 is closed with contact 19, thus completing the electrical circuit through the spade terminal 16, the spring being biased such that the circuit is closed when the door is open. Thus a light or other device within the compartment will be ON when the door is open. When the door is closed, as is shown in FIG. 3, magnet 23 attracts magnet 17, thus causing the circuit through the spade terminal 16, and leaf spring 13 to be opened when contact 18 disengages contact 19. The light is then turned OFF. It should be understood that it is within the scope of the invention that the spring may be oppositely biased with the polarity of the magnets being reversed.
FIG. 3 also shows an alternate form of the invention wherein the leaf spring is constructed to give a snap action. In this embodiment leaf spring 13 has a circular depression or dimple 25 located near the end where it is fixedly connected to the housing 12 such that a snapping action is imparted to the spring when the spring is released through separation of the magnets.
From the foregoing discription it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides a new and useful door switch. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the scope of the invention is to be determined from the claims appended hereto.
What is claimed is:
1. A combination comprising: a door switch comprising a housing of electrically insulating material disposed within a casing of electrically insulating material forming the opening of a compartment, a leaf spring disposed within said housing fixedly connected to said housing at one end thereof, a magnet disposed at the other end of said leaf spring, a first electrical contact centrally disposed on said leaf spring, a second contact carried by said housing in line with said first contact; a second magnet of opposite polarity from said first magnet carried by a door connected to said compartment closing said opening; said leaf spring biased to close said contacts when said door is open; and means to complete an electrical circuit through said leaf spring and electrical terminals connected to said switch.
2. A door switch according to claim 1 in which said leaf spring has a circular depression near its end where it is fixedly connected to said housing so as to impart a snapping action to said spring.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 186,169 1/1877 Rowbotham. 2,924,682 2/ 1960 Winterburn 3 35205 2,448,779 9/ 1948 Crise 3 35-205 3,017,473 1/196-2 Verger 340274 XR 3,222,473 12/ 1965 Delhase ZOO-61. 62
ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 335--207
US849603A 1969-08-08 1969-08-08 Magnetically activated door switch Expired - Lifetime US3539741A (en)

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Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3671064A (en) * 1969-11-28 1972-06-20 Ind De Mechanismes Comp Ball or roller fastening device
US3706090A (en) * 1970-10-12 1972-12-12 James I Callaghan Burglar alarm triggered by breaking of a magnetic circuit
US3716893A (en) * 1971-04-14 1973-02-20 Berkel Patent Nv Meat tenderizer
FR2198247A1 (en) * 1972-08-31 1974-03-29 Alarm Device Mfg
US3855919A (en) * 1972-08-21 1974-12-24 Mc Graw Edison Co Control system for a compacting machine
US3873789A (en) * 1973-11-19 1975-03-25 Ward Ind Inc Belt position indicator switch with feeler arm
US3890476A (en) * 1974-08-08 1975-06-17 Gen Motors Corp Appliance cabinet with actuated door switch
US3945314A (en) * 1972-10-16 1976-03-23 Compactor Company, Inc. Waste compactor with clamshell bag support
US4057773A (en) * 1976-02-09 1977-11-08 Morton Cohen Magnetic switch
US4075588A (en) * 1973-11-09 1978-02-21 Alarm Device Manufacturing, Co. Switching apparatus
US4241337A (en) * 1979-03-29 1980-12-23 General Electric Company Appliance door position sensor arrangement
DE3410698A1 (en) * 1984-03-23 1985-09-26 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, 8000 München Brake-light switch for motor vehicles
US5477428A (en) * 1994-06-21 1995-12-19 Micro Craft, Inc. Underhood lamp assembly with gravity-actuated switch
US5721387A (en) * 1995-06-13 1998-02-24 Yazaki Corporation Method of inspecting incomplete terminal insertion and inspecting device therefore
US5722759A (en) * 1996-04-22 1998-03-03 Micro Craft, Inc. Lamp assembly with inverted pivot member
US5887446A (en) * 1996-06-29 1999-03-30 Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator equipped with a refrigerator lamp magnet switch
EP1255265A1 (en) * 2001-04-30 2002-11-06 Cédric Motte Anti-electric shock switch
US20090072936A1 (en) * 2007-04-23 2009-03-19 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching device
US10184716B1 (en) 2017-07-12 2019-01-22 Whirlpool Corporation Door ajar detection system
US20230147481A1 (en) * 2021-11-09 2023-05-11 Frameless Hardware Company Llc Magnetic door lock control system and method

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US186169A (en) * 1877-01-09 John s
US2448779A (en) * 1945-12-08 1948-09-07 George W Crise Switch mechanism for automatic stokers
US2924682A (en) * 1957-06-03 1960-02-09 George A Winterburn Magnetically actuated switches
US3017473A (en) * 1958-07-02 1962-01-16 Verger Nathan Magnetic switch
US3222473A (en) * 1961-03-06 1965-12-07 Jose H Delhase Combined switch and closure means

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US186169A (en) * 1877-01-09 John s
US2448779A (en) * 1945-12-08 1948-09-07 George W Crise Switch mechanism for automatic stokers
US2924682A (en) * 1957-06-03 1960-02-09 George A Winterburn Magnetically actuated switches
US3017473A (en) * 1958-07-02 1962-01-16 Verger Nathan Magnetic switch
US3222473A (en) * 1961-03-06 1965-12-07 Jose H Delhase Combined switch and closure means

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3671064A (en) * 1969-11-28 1972-06-20 Ind De Mechanismes Comp Ball or roller fastening device
US3706090A (en) * 1970-10-12 1972-12-12 James I Callaghan Burglar alarm triggered by breaking of a magnetic circuit
US3716893A (en) * 1971-04-14 1973-02-20 Berkel Patent Nv Meat tenderizer
US3855919A (en) * 1972-08-21 1974-12-24 Mc Graw Edison Co Control system for a compacting machine
FR2198247A1 (en) * 1972-08-31 1974-03-29 Alarm Device Mfg
US3945314A (en) * 1972-10-16 1976-03-23 Compactor Company, Inc. Waste compactor with clamshell bag support
US4075588A (en) * 1973-11-09 1978-02-21 Alarm Device Manufacturing, Co. Switching apparatus
US3873789A (en) * 1973-11-19 1975-03-25 Ward Ind Inc Belt position indicator switch with feeler arm
US3890476A (en) * 1974-08-08 1975-06-17 Gen Motors Corp Appliance cabinet with actuated door switch
US4057773A (en) * 1976-02-09 1977-11-08 Morton Cohen Magnetic switch
US4241337A (en) * 1979-03-29 1980-12-23 General Electric Company Appliance door position sensor arrangement
DE3410698A1 (en) * 1984-03-23 1985-09-26 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, 8000 München Brake-light switch for motor vehicles
US5477428A (en) * 1994-06-21 1995-12-19 Micro Craft, Inc. Underhood lamp assembly with gravity-actuated switch
US5669696A (en) * 1994-06-21 1997-09-23 Micro Craft, Inc. Underhood lamp assembly with gravity-actuated switch
US5798912A (en) * 1994-06-21 1998-08-25 Micro Craft, Inc. Underhood lamp assembly with gravity-actuated switch
US5721387A (en) * 1995-06-13 1998-02-24 Yazaki Corporation Method of inspecting incomplete terminal insertion and inspecting device therefore
US5722759A (en) * 1996-04-22 1998-03-03 Micro Craft, Inc. Lamp assembly with inverted pivot member
US5887446A (en) * 1996-06-29 1999-03-30 Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator equipped with a refrigerator lamp magnet switch
EP1255265A1 (en) * 2001-04-30 2002-11-06 Cédric Motte Anti-electric shock switch
US20090072936A1 (en) * 2007-04-23 2009-03-19 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching device
US7750771B2 (en) * 2007-04-23 2010-07-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching device
US10184716B1 (en) 2017-07-12 2019-01-22 Whirlpool Corporation Door ajar detection system
US20230147481A1 (en) * 2021-11-09 2023-05-11 Frameless Hardware Company Llc Magnetic door lock control system and method

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