US3688065A - Momentary contact switch - Google Patents

Momentary contact switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3688065A
US3688065A US94240A US3688065DA US3688065A US 3688065 A US3688065 A US 3688065A US 94240 A US94240 A US 94240A US 3688065D A US3688065D A US 3688065DA US 3688065 A US3688065 A US 3688065A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
wall
extending
recess
side wall
Prior art date
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
US94240A
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter A Wolf
Prentice R Corn
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.)
Federal Mogul LLC
Original Assignee
Switches Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Switches Inc filed Critical Switches Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3688065A publication Critical patent/US3688065A/en
Assigned to INDIANA NATIONAL BANK, THE reassignment INDIANA NATIONAL BANK, THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SWITCHES, INC
Assigned to FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION reassignment FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: SWITCHES, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/14—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
    • H01H3/141—Cushion or mat switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H2001/145—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting by crossing each other, the cooperating contacts each having a contact making ridge perpendicular to each other

Definitions

  • a momentary contact electric switch includes a pair of normally spaced annular contacts formed of electrically conductive material and supported in an upwardly open annular recess in a reinforcing member formed of a rigid insulating material.
  • a flexible and resilient casing surrounds the reinforcing member, and a switch actuating portion is provided on the undersurface of the crown portion of the casing.
  • the actuating portion includes a downwardly extending rib that is positioned in alignment with an annular protuberance on the upper contact, which in turn is positioned in alignment with a plurality of radially extending protuberances on the lower contact.
  • a plurality of webs extend radially on opposite sides of the downwardly extending rib, so that the actuating portion of the casing has a uniform feel throughout its circumferential extent.
  • the contacts are retained in normally spaced insulated relation by a pair of annular insulating members of limited radial extent that allow the upper contact to flex downwardly relative to the lower contact.
  • crown portion extends in opposite directions from the rib to give the crown portion of the casing a uniform feel.
  • the crown portion simulates the softness of a foam filled pad common to such decorative and safety zone areas.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • the switch of the present invention includes a rigid reinforcing member having an annular recess at the upper end thereof that supports, aligns, and guides two annular electric contacts.
  • a resilient and flexible decorative casing surrounds the reinforcingmernber, and a crown portion of the casing is positioned in juxtaposed relation with respect to the recess in the reinforcing member.
  • Annular insulating members of limited radial extent arepositioned between the contacts and retain the same in normally spaced insulated relationship while allowing the upper contact to be moved into circuit completing engagement with the and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
  • the momentary switch 10 is adapted to be secured to the end of a steering column 12, and for purposes of example and not of limitation, the securement means 'may take the form of that illustrated in commonly assigned Corn et al. application, Ser. No. 97,677 filed Dec. I4, 1970.
  • Switch 10 includes a resilient, flexible casing 14 adapted to surround and enclose a rigid contact supporting reinforcing'member 16.
  • Reinforcing member 16 is formed of an electrical insulating material, such as I a suitable rigid plastic, and reinforcing member 16 includes a generally upright outer wall 18 and a generally irregularly shaped top wall 20 extending radially inwardly adjacent the upper end of outer wall 18.
  • Outer wall 18 is generally frusto-conically shaped, as can be best seen in FIG. 3, and the upper end 22 of wall 18 extends above the upper surface of top wall 20 and cooperates with an annular flange 24 circumferentially inwardly thereof to provide an annular upwardly facing recess 26.
  • the upwardly facing surface 28 at the bottom of recess 26 is flat, and disposed at right angles with respect to the axis of the reinforcing member 16. Surface 28 provides a rigid and stable support for electrical contact members to be hereinafter described, and
  • flanges 22 and 24 cooperate to positively confine and greater than the outer diameter of flange 24.
  • a tab or connection portion 32 extends downwardly from the inner diameter of contact 30, and the reinforcing member 16 includes clearance means whereby the connection portion 32 is exposed within the interior of the reinforcing member so that a terminal wire assembly can be readily connected thereto.
  • Flange 24 is provided with a clearance notch 34 (FIG. 2) while an opening 38 is provided in a depressed portion 36 of top wall 20 in radial alignment with notch 34.
  • Notch 34 and opening 38 not only serve to establish communication between recess 26 and the interior of the reinforcing member 16 to facilitate connection of a terminal wire assembly, but. also to provide a means for positively circumferentially locating the contact 30 relative to the reinforcing member 16.
  • contact 30 is stamped from a resilient piece of electrically conductive material, but it will become apparent from the ensuing description that for successful operation of the present invention, contact 30 does not need to be resilient and in fact may be rigid.
  • the lower contact may be an integral portion of a support element for the switching assembly, and in such an arrangement, the support element would be formed of an electrically conductive material.
  • the switch includes a second or upper contact 40 (FIG. 2) that has essentially the same external and internal dimensions as contact 30, so as to be positively confined and guided within recess 26.
  • Contact 40 is stamped from a thin, flat, inherently resilient piece of electrically conductive material.
  • a tab or connection portion 42 extends downwardly from the inner diameter of contact 40, and tab 42 projects downwardly into the interior of reinforcing member 16 through a notch 44 in flange 24, and an opening 46 in top wall portion 36.
  • Notches 34 and 44 are spaced circumferentially from one another by an angle of less than 180, and both notches serve the purpose of angularly orienting their respective contacts, in addition to enabling the connection portions thereof to be readily accessible within the interior of reinforcing member 16.
  • Each terminal assembly is generally identical, and includes a sheathed wire 48 having an exposed end portion 50 that is soldered, or otherwise suitably connected, to the exposed connection portion of the respective contacts.
  • Wires 48 are connected in a suitable electric circuit, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.
  • Reinforcing member 16 includes a terminal wire support 52 formed integrally therewith which functions to support the terminal wires adjacent their connections to the contacts, so that the terminal wires are not supported merely by their connection to the contacts.
  • the top wall of the reinforcing member 16 includes a downwardly extending portion 54 at the inner end of wall portion 36, and a flange 56 extends radially inwardly from the inner end of wall portion 54.
  • Support member 52 is a thin, flat bar that extends diametrically across the opening 58 in flange 56, and upwardly facing notches 60 are provided in support 52 adjacent the outer ends thereof for reception of the wires 48 leading from the contact portions 32 and 42. It will be readily understood that during as sembly, the terminal wires 48 can be positioned in notches 60 to facilitate the connection of the end portions 50 to the contact tabs 32 and 42.
  • contact 30 may be similar to the contacts disclosed and claimed in commonly assigned Wolf et al. US. Pat. No. 3,485,974.
  • contact 30 may include a plurality of upwardly struck embossed protuberances 62, while contact 40 may include an elongate downwardly struck embossed protuberance 64;
  • protuberances 62 extend generally radially with respect to contact 62, while protuberance 64 is a circumferentially continuous annular bead that is positioned in vertical alignment with protuberances 62.
  • Protuberances 62 and 64 arenormally retained in the area of actuation.
  • the contacts 30 and 40 and insulating members 66 and 68 are maintained in assembled relationship within recess 26 by casing 14, as will hereinafter appear.
  • contacts 30 and 40 can be retained in normally spaced relationship with respect to one another by projections formed integrally with reinforcing member 16 or casing 14.
  • Casing 14 is both a decorative and functional member, and is formed of a resilient material, preferably a decorative plastic, so as to comply with safety requirements when the casing 14 forms the exposed outer portion of the steering column of a motor vehicle.
  • Casing 14 includes a generally upright outer wall 70 that is generally frustoconical in shape so as to closely embraces the wall 18 of the reinforcing member while a flanged configuration 72 adjacent the lower end of wall is seated over a mating flange at the upper end of the steering column 12.
  • Casing 14 includes an actuating portion 74 at the upper end thereof that is positioned in juxtaposed relationship with respect to recess 26, so that when the actuating portion is manually depressed, the protuberance 64 on contact 40 is brought into circuit completing relationship with respect to one or more protuberances 62 on contact 30.
  • Actuating portion 74 is defined by an inwardly extending crown wall 76 having an annular rib 78 extending downwardly thereof in substantial alignment with the protuberance 64 in contact 40. Because of the flexible nature of the casing 14, when manual pressure is brought to bear against crown wall 76, rib 78 flexes the adjacent portion of contact 40 downwardly to bring protuberance 64 into circuit completing engagement with one or more protuberances 62.
  • a web structure similar to that disclosed and claimed in commonly assigned copending Wolf et al. application Ser. No. 828,641, filed May 28, 1969, may be provided.
  • a plurality of circumferentially spaced webs extend generally radially between the upper end of sidewall 70 and an intermediate wall 84 of the actuating portion radially inwardly thereof.
  • Each web includes a first portion 80 extending between the upper end of wall 70 and rib 78, and a second portion 82 extending between rib 78 and wall 84.
  • the lower surface of rib 78 is exposed below the lower surface of web portions 80 and 82. so that the rib 78 defines an operating member for causing the switch contacts 40 and 30 to complete an electrical circuit.
  • a decorative medallion 86 may be inserted in the center of the crown wall 76 of the casing 14, if desired.
  • a switch comprising: a rigid re-inforcing member formed of an insulating material and having an upwardlyopening recess in the upper portion thereof, said recess having a bottom surface; first contact means in the form of a flat flexible'contact member seated within said recess and supported on said surface;
  • second contact means positioned in juxtaposed relationship with said first contact means in said recess;- means between outer edges of said contacts normally retaining said contact means in spaced insulated relation with respect to one another within said recess; and a resilient casing member surrounding said re-inforcing member, said casing including a flexible actuating portion at the upper end thereof positioned in alignment with said recess, whereby said first contact means is moved into engagement with said second contact means when the actuating portion of said casing is depressed.
  • one of said contact members includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending portions extending toward the other contact member; and wherein the other contact member includes a circumferentially extending bead extending toward the radially extending portions of said one contact.
  • said means normally retaining said contact members in spaced insulated relation include an annular outer insulating member interposed between said contact members adjacent the outer diameter thereof and an annular inner insulating member interposed between said contact members adjacent the inner diameter thereof, and wherein said insulating members are loosely received between said contact members, said contact members being held in clamping engagement with said insulating members by said casing member.
  • each of said contact members includes a downwardly extending tab portion adapted to be connected to a leadwire assembly, and wherein spaced clearance openings are provided in the recess of said reinforcing member, each clearance opening having a contact member tab portion extending therethrough; said reinforcing member including means for supporting said leadwire assemblies adjacent said openings, whereby theconnection between the leadwire assemblies and the contact member tab portions do not provide the sole means for supporting the leadwire assemblies.
  • a resilient casing 4 member surrounding said re-inforcing member and having a side wall closely embracing the side wall of the re-inforcing member, said casing including a flexible actuating portion at the upper end thereof positioned in alignment with said recess, whereby said first contact means-is moved into engagement with said second contact means when the actuating portion of said casing is depressed.
  • said actuating portion includes an annular rib extending downwardly from said crown wall, an intermediate wall extending downwardly from said crown wall in spaced and generally concentric relation with respect to the upper end of said side wall, and a plurality of webs extending radially between said intermediate wall and said side wall, each web including a first portion between said intermediate wall and said annular rib and a second portion between said annular rib and said side wall.
  • a switch as set forth in claim 8 in which the lower end of said annular rib is positioned in alignment with a circumferentially extending bead on one of said contacts.
  • a rigid and unitary reinforcing member for use in a momentary switch, or the like comprising: a generally upright outer wall; and an irregularly shaped top wall extending generally perpendicularly with respect to said outer wall, the outer periphery of said top wall being positioned below the upper end of said outer wall, said top wall including an upwardly extending flange radially inwardly of the upper end of said outer wall and cooperating therewith to define an annular recess.
  • a reinforcing member as set forth in claim 10 including circumferentially spaced clearance openings in said flange and passage means in said top wall adjacent each opening to provide communication between said recess and the interior of said reinforcing member.
  • a reinforcing member as set forth in claim 10 in cluding a support member depending from said top wall and extending generally diametrically with respect thereto, said support member including holding means facing each of said passage means.
  • An actuating cover for use in a switch, or the like comprising: a generally upright side wall; a crown wall extending inwardly of said side wall adjacent the upper end thereof; an annular intermediate wall extending downwardly from said crown wall in spaced and generally concentric relation with respect to the upper end of said side wall; an annular rib extendingdownwardly from said crown wall between said side wall and said intermediate wall; and a plurality of webs extending radially between said intermediate wall and said side wall, each web including a first portion between said intermediate wall and said annular rib and a second portion between said annular rib and said side

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
US94240A 1970-12-01 1970-12-01 Momentary contact switch Expired - Lifetime US3688065A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9424070A 1970-12-01 1970-12-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3688065A true US3688065A (en) 1972-08-29

Family

ID=22243951

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US94240A Expired - Lifetime US3688065A (en) 1970-12-01 1970-12-01 Momentary contact switch

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3688065A (pt)
JP (1) JPS5221191B1 (pt)
AR (1) AR193363A1 (pt)
AU (1) AU458842B2 (pt)
BR (1) BR7107980D0 (pt)
CA (1) CA1004714A (pt)
DE (1) DE2159649C3 (pt)
FR (1) FR2117224A5 (pt)
GB (1) GB1337686A (pt)
IT (1) IT945210B (pt)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5684279A (en) * 1995-09-12 1997-11-04 Key Tronic Corporation Computer keyboard with improved membrane keyswitch structure having deflection concentration feature

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US804389A (en) * 1904-01-22 1905-11-14 Alexander Dow Electric-circuit closer.
US1801551A (en) * 1926-02-25 1931-04-21 Inland Mfg Co Steering wheel and shaft assembly
US2227250A (en) * 1939-05-13 1940-12-31 American Hard Rubber Co Device for operating automobile horns
US2409483A (en) * 1944-01-24 1946-10-15 Gen Motors Corp Electric switch
US2749399A (en) * 1954-09-13 1956-06-05 Gen Motors Corp Steering wheel switch
US3209089A (en) * 1962-08-17 1965-09-28 Bryant Electric Co Miniature casing pressure operated switch with resilient contact spacer and short circuit prevention structure
US3246112A (en) * 1964-04-06 1966-04-12 Donald R Adams Polypropylene diaphragm assemblies
US3485974A (en) * 1968-05-20 1969-12-23 Switches Inc Momentary contact switches for control of accessory circuits

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US804389A (en) * 1904-01-22 1905-11-14 Alexander Dow Electric-circuit closer.
US1801551A (en) * 1926-02-25 1931-04-21 Inland Mfg Co Steering wheel and shaft assembly
US2227250A (en) * 1939-05-13 1940-12-31 American Hard Rubber Co Device for operating automobile horns
US2409483A (en) * 1944-01-24 1946-10-15 Gen Motors Corp Electric switch
US2749399A (en) * 1954-09-13 1956-06-05 Gen Motors Corp Steering wheel switch
US3209089A (en) * 1962-08-17 1965-09-28 Bryant Electric Co Miniature casing pressure operated switch with resilient contact spacer and short circuit prevention structure
US3246112A (en) * 1964-04-06 1966-04-12 Donald R Adams Polypropylene diaphragm assemblies
US3485974A (en) * 1968-05-20 1969-12-23 Switches Inc Momentary contact switches for control of accessory circuits

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5684279A (en) * 1995-09-12 1997-11-04 Key Tronic Corporation Computer keyboard with improved membrane keyswitch structure having deflection concentration feature

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1004714A (en) 1977-02-01
BR7107980D0 (pt) 1973-03-29
AR193363A1 (es) 1973-04-23
DE2159649C3 (de) 1974-12-05
GB1337686A (en) 1973-11-21
JPS5221191B1 (pt) 1977-06-08
DE2159649A1 (de) 1972-06-08
FR2117224A5 (pt) 1972-07-21
AU3635771A (en) 1973-06-07
IT945210B (it) 1973-05-10
AU458842B2 (en) 1975-03-13
DE2159649B2 (de) 1974-05-09

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: INDIANA NATIONAL BANK, THE INDIANAPOLIS, IN.

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SWITCHES, INC;REEL/FRAME:004117/0507

Effective date: 19821210

AS Assignment

Owner name: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION, MICHIGAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SWITCHES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005000/0981

Effective date: 19881221

Owner name: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SWITCHES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005000/0981

Effective date: 19881221