US3594529A - Actuating assemblies and components therefor particularly suitable for electrical switches - Google Patents

Actuating assemblies and components therefor particularly suitable for electrical switches Download PDF

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Publication number
US3594529A
US3594529A US844594A US3594529DA US3594529A US 3594529 A US3594529 A US 3594529A US 844594 A US844594 A US 844594A US 3594529D A US3594529D A US 3594529DA US 3594529 A US3594529 A US 3594529A
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United States
Prior art keywords
resilient structure
actuating
actuating member
movement
arms
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US844594A
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English (en)
Inventor
John Anthony Cartwright
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Painton and Co Ltd
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Painton and Co Ltd
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Publication date
Application filed by Painton and Co Ltd filed Critical Painton and Co Ltd
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/20—Driving mechanisms

Definitions

  • a switch assembly comprises an actuating member and a biasing assembly movable along a common longitudinal axis. Initial movement of the actuating member causes deformation of the biasing assembly thereby to energize the same. A position is reached where the biasing assembly moves towards a less stressed condition, such movement being adapted to actuate the device provided with the actuating assembly.
  • One object of this invention is to provide an actuating assembly, and components therefor, which can be used to actuate easily and with a relatively long actuating movement, an operating member having a short operating movement and which is more substantially biased.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an assembly which incorporates components which effectively produce a mechanical advantage.
  • an actuating assembly adapted to be operatively associated with a deviceto be actuated, said assembly comprising an actuating member movable with respect to a biasing assembly which comprises a resilient structure having at least a pair of arms, at least one of said arms being engageable by the actuating member and a part of said resilient structure being adapted to engage the device to be actuated, initial movement of the actuating member against the action of the biasing assembly resulting in the deformation of the resilient structure as a result of relative movement between the arms thereof so as to place the biasing assembly into an energized condition whereafter further movement of such actuating member causes the resilient structure to move towards a condition where it is less deformed with a consequent result that movement of said part of the resilient structure which is adapted to engage the device to be actuated occurs in a device actuating direction.
  • the resilient structure may comprise a pair of intercoupled arms and such resilient structure may be substantially U-shaped.
  • said resilient structure may be fonned in many alternative ways, for example, by fabricating the same from a springy metal, very desirably such resilient structure may be formed principally or wholly from a plastics material which, when appropriately dimensioned, is resilient.
  • both of the free end portions of the arms of the resilient structure may be engaged by the actuating member although in other embodiments only one of said arms may be engaged thereby. In such latter embodiments the free end portion may be coupled to, or may be formed with, said actuating member.
  • the resilient structure may be substantially U-shaped and the base of the U may be arranged to engage the device to be actuated and movement of the actuating member causes the two arms of the structure to move towards one another, or alternatively away from one another, whereafter further movement of the actuating member causes movement of the resilient structure as a whole to actuate the device.
  • a resilient structure for incorporation into an actuating assembly in accordance with this invention, a resilient structure.
  • FIG. I is a front elevational view (with portions broken away) of a first embodiment of pushbutton assembly coupled to a switch;
  • HO. 2 is a partly sectioned side view of the assembly of HG.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FlG. l but showing the assembly coupled to a bank of three switches;
  • FIG. 4 is a front elevational view (with portions broken away) of a second embodiment of pushbutton assembly coupled to a switch;
  • FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned side view of the assembly of FIG.
  • FlG. 6 is a partly sectioned side view of a third embodiment of pushbutton assembly coupled to a switch.
  • FIG. 7 is a further partly sectioned view but shows a fourth embodiment of pushbutton assembly coupled to a switch.
  • the actuating assembly comprises a body I moulded from a plastics material which basically comprises an inverted L-shaped bracket, the upright 2 of the L serving as a support for an electrical switch mechanism 3 whereas the foot 4 of the L is bored at 5 andis encircled by a cylindrical collar 6 formed on the surface of the foot remote from said upright 2.
  • This collar 6 constitutes a cylinder 7 in which is located a piston part 8 of an actuating member generally designated 9.
  • the actuating member 9 comprises said piston part 8 which carries on its longitudinal axis a stem 10, such stem being screw threaded or serrated at its free end at ll and receives a pushbutton l2. 7
  • An inwardly directed flange 13 on the collar 6 prevents the actuating member 9 from being withdrawn from the collar 6 in one direction, whilst the pushbutton I2 (once it has been attached to the stem) prevents withdrawal of the actuating member 9 in the opposite direction.
  • the piston part 8 is provided, in its end face remote from the stem 10, with a blind, axially positioned, bore 14 which tapers inwardly towards its inner end so that the bore 14 is generally of frustoconical shape.
  • the upright 2 of the L-shaped bracket constituting the body 1 is adapted to have secured thereto the switch 3, which is a microswitch and the form and shape of this microswitch 3 is chosen so that its spring-biased operating member, designated 15, lies directly beneath the bore 14 in the bracket and its line of movement lies on the longitudinal axis of the actuating member 9.
  • the switch 3 which is a microswitch and the form and shape of this microswitch 3 is chosen so that its spring-biased operating member, designated 15, lies directly beneath the bore 14 in the bracket and its line of movement lies on the longitudinal axis of the actuating member 9.
  • a substantially U-shaped resilient structure 16 lnterposedbetween the actuating member 9 of the assembly and the operating member 15 of the switch is a substantially U-shaped resilient structure 16.
  • the anns 17 of the U are splayed outwardly andcarry on their free extremities enlargements 18 which constitute cams which engage the internal surfaces of the frustoconical blind bore [4' in the piston part 8 of the actuating member 9.
  • the base of the U-shaped resilient structure 16 carries a plate 19 which engages the operating member 15 of the switch 3.
  • the collar 6 is externally screw threaded at 20 to enable the assembly to be secured to a support plate (not shown).
  • a support plate not shown
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 a single microswitch is indicated.
  • the plate 19 is extended to each side of the resilient structure 16 so that actuation of the pushbutton 12 causes simultaneous actuation of the operating plungers 21, 22 and 23 of three microswitches secured to the upright 2 in a bank.
  • An aperture 24 (shown in FIG. 2) is provided in the upright 2 so as to allow for situations when three or more switches are to be banked.
  • the piston member 8 is provided with a frustoconical end portion 25 and the arms of the resilient structure 16 engage such end portion 25.
  • the resilient structure 16 in this embodiment is not strictly U- shaped but is cuplike being a circular base 26 having a plurality of upstanding radially disposed arms 27 (chamfered at 28).
  • the end portion 25 increases in diameter in a direction extending away from the arms 27 so that when the actuating member is moved in a switch operating direction by depression of the pushbutton 12 the arms of the resilient structure 16 are forced to travel along the walls of the frustoconical end portion 25 and are accordingly forced away from one another.
  • the resilient structure is formed with a spigot 28 which is positioned centrally of the anns 27 of such resilient structure 16 and this spigot 28 is positioned and dimensioned to ride within a cylindrical blind bore 29 in the piston part 8 of the actuating member so as to locate the resilient'structure 16 with respect thereto.
  • the resilient structure [6 has more than two arms but the term U-shaped resilient structure" in this specification should be understood to include a structure in which three or more arms are provided which effectively define a cupor U-sliaped structure.
  • the third embodiment of pushbutton assembly shown in FIG. 6 is, in many ways, similar to the first embodiment already described.
  • This third embodiment has an inverted L- shaped bracket 1 and a collar 6 upstanding therefrom housing an actuating member having a piston part 8, a stem 10 and a pushbutton 12.
  • the piston part 8 is not provided with a blind frustoconically shaped bore and furthermore the U-shaped resilient structure 16 has its base pivotally supported at 30 on the upright 2 of the L so that the free end portion of one of its arms (designated 31) engages the surface of the actuating member 9 remote from the stem 10, whilst the equivalent portion (designated 32) of the other arm of the resilient structure engages the switch operating member 15.
  • initial depression of the pushbutton 12 causes the anns 31, 32 of the resilient structure 16 to be moved towards one another and to energize such resilient structure 16 whereafter continued depression of the pushbutton results in the energized resilient structure operating the switch-operating member 15.
  • a fourth embodiment of pushbutton assembly which is shown in FIG. 7 is extremely similar to the third embodiment described above, but in this fourth embodiment the U-shaped resilient structure 16 is not at any point secured to the upright 2 of the inverted L-shaped bracket 1.
  • the spring whilst the spring is disposed in the assembly in a fashion similar to the third embodiment of FIG. 6, the end portion .31 of the arm thereof is coupled to said piston part.
  • the resilient structure 16 is formed integrally with the piston part 8.
  • said resilient structure 16 is moulded from a plastics material although it is conceivable that a resilient structure could be fabricated from metal.
  • metal would increase cost because of the need for several piece-parts and expensive forrning methods such as the sintcring of compacted preforms.
  • a satisfactory plastics material from which the assembly in accordance with this invention could be moulded is an acetal resin such as that manufacturedand sold under the Registered Trade Mark DELRIN.
  • An actuating assembly adapted to be operatively associated with a device to be actuated, said assembly comprising: an actuating member and a biasing assembly, said actuating member being movable with respect to the biasing as sembly along a common longitudinal axis;
  • said biasing assembly comprising a resilient structure having at least a pair of arms
  • An actuating assembly according to claim 7, wherein a first arm is engaged by the actuating member and a second arm is arranged to engage the device to be actuated and movement of said actuating member first causes movement of the first of the arms of the resilient structure in a direction towards the second arm and then further movement of the actuating member results in the second arm moving away from said first arm in a device actuating direction.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US844594A 1968-08-06 1969-07-24 Actuating assemblies and components therefor particularly suitable for electrical switches Expired - Lifetime US3594529A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3748768 1968-08-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3594529A true US3594529A (en) 1971-07-20

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US844594A Expired - Lifetime US3594529A (en) 1968-08-06 1969-07-24 Actuating assemblies and components therefor particularly suitable for electrical switches

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US (1) US3594529A (fr)
GB (1) GB1233400A (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3646298A (en) * 1970-08-25 1972-02-29 Black & Decker Mfg Co Switch operating trigger with integral biasing means and excessive force protection means
US4035759A (en) * 1973-03-19 1977-07-12 Cts Corporation Electrical control having an insulated shaft extension
US4297556A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-10-27 Taylor Glenn R Pushbutton operator
US4454397A (en) * 1982-06-23 1984-06-12 Wico Corporation Push button switch assembly
US5168982A (en) * 1990-04-12 1992-12-08 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Switch device
US5446252A (en) * 1994-01-21 1995-08-29 Burger; Philip M. Flat spring actuating mechanism for plunger-type switch
EP0825627A2 (fr) * 1996-08-23 1998-02-25 Electrolux Outdoor Products Limited Mécanisme de commande
US6396014B1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-05-28 Crouzet Automatismes Device to amplify the movement of an operating button of a switch
US6982392B1 (en) 2005-05-06 2006-01-03 Burger & Brown Engineering, Inc. Water resistant actuating mechanism for plunger type switches
US20070084708A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-19 Takashi Kodani Rotary electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
US20080197009A1 (en) * 2007-02-21 2008-08-21 Burger & Brown Engineering, Inc. Low-profile switch with flat spring actuating mechanism
US20100116635A1 (en) * 2008-11-13 2010-05-13 Hyundai Motor Company Emblem-Unified Trunk Opening and Closing Device
US20140159390A1 (en) * 2012-12-11 2014-06-12 Dae Dong Co., Ltd. Trunk switch assembly integrated with emblem

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2381997A1 (fr) * 1977-02-25 1978-09-22 Gaget Ets Clement Perfectionnements aux doseurs de produits pulverulents
US4351988A (en) * 1980-12-08 1982-09-28 Ncr Corporation Keyboard switch assembly
GB2166836B (en) * 1984-04-17 1988-03-16 British Aerospace Springs
ES1003865Y (es) * 1987-11-10 1989-03-16 Industrias Lorenzo, S.A. Montura para pulsadores.
GB2246021B (en) * 1990-06-18 1994-05-04 Qualcast Garden Prod Actuating mechanisms
DE102020116718A1 (de) 2020-06-25 2021-12-30 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Befehls- und Meldegerät

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239641A (en) * 1963-09-27 1966-03-08 Square D Co Mushroom type pushbutton operator
US3403237A (en) * 1967-04-05 1968-09-24 Robertshaw Controls Co Electrical switch having a one-piece actuator and spring arm structure
US3403236A (en) * 1967-04-05 1968-09-24 Robertshaw Controls Co Electrical switch having a one-piece actuator and spring arm structure

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239641A (en) * 1963-09-27 1966-03-08 Square D Co Mushroom type pushbutton operator
US3403237A (en) * 1967-04-05 1968-09-24 Robertshaw Controls Co Electrical switch having a one-piece actuator and spring arm structure
US3403236A (en) * 1967-04-05 1968-09-24 Robertshaw Controls Co Electrical switch having a one-piece actuator and spring arm structure

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3646298A (en) * 1970-08-25 1972-02-29 Black & Decker Mfg Co Switch operating trigger with integral biasing means and excessive force protection means
US4035759A (en) * 1973-03-19 1977-07-12 Cts Corporation Electrical control having an insulated shaft extension
US4297556A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-10-27 Taylor Glenn R Pushbutton operator
US4454397A (en) * 1982-06-23 1984-06-12 Wico Corporation Push button switch assembly
US5168982A (en) * 1990-04-12 1992-12-08 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Switch device
US5446252A (en) * 1994-01-21 1995-08-29 Burger; Philip M. Flat spring actuating mechanism for plunger-type switch
EP0825627A2 (fr) * 1996-08-23 1998-02-25 Electrolux Outdoor Products Limited Mécanisme de commande
EP0825627A3 (fr) * 1996-08-23 1999-03-24 Electrolux Outdoor Products Limited Mécanisme de commande
US6396014B1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-05-28 Crouzet Automatismes Device to amplify the movement of an operating button of a switch
US6982392B1 (en) 2005-05-06 2006-01-03 Burger & Brown Engineering, Inc. Water resistant actuating mechanism for plunger type switches
US20070084708A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-19 Takashi Kodani Rotary electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
US7208690B1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-24 Matsushita Electic Industrial Co., Ltd. Rotary electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
US20080197009A1 (en) * 2007-02-21 2008-08-21 Burger & Brown Engineering, Inc. Low-profile switch with flat spring actuating mechanism
US7569783B2 (en) 2007-02-21 2009-08-04 Burger & Brown Engineering, Inc. Low-profile switch with flat spring actuating mechanism
US20100116635A1 (en) * 2008-11-13 2010-05-13 Hyundai Motor Company Emblem-Unified Trunk Opening and Closing Device
US8129639B2 (en) * 2008-11-13 2012-03-06 Kia Motors Corporation Emblem-unified trunk opening and closing device
US20140159390A1 (en) * 2012-12-11 2014-06-12 Dae Dong Co., Ltd. Trunk switch assembly integrated with emblem
US9022435B2 (en) * 2012-12-11 2015-05-05 Hyundai Motor Company Trunk switch assembly integrated with emblem

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1233400A (fr) 1971-05-26

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