US3809834A

US3809834A - Snap switch construction and snap blade therefor or the like

Info

Publication number: US3809834A
Application number: US00244792A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Hipple
Original assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Current assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC; Fleet National Bank
Priority date: 1972-04-17
Filing date: 1972-04-17
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

A snap switch blade construction for a snap switch having a housing provided with a fixed contact, the snap switch blade comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends. One of the ends of the blade carries a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with the fixed contact, the other end of the blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of the blade and cooperating with the housing to provide a pivot for the blade. The one end of the blade has a part thereof cooperating with the housing to provide a compression member of the blade that causes the blade to snap between the operating positions thereof. The ends of the blade are rigid adjacent the elbow of the blade so that the elbow and the compression member define the only operating flexible parts of the blade. An actuator engages the part of the elbow of the blade that is defined by the reversely bent end of the blade to place such elbow under tension when causing movement of the blade from one position thereof to another position thereof.

Description

D United States Patent 1 1 3,809,834 Hippie May 7, 1974 SNAP SWITCH CONSTRUCTION AND SNAP P i E i D vid S ith, Jr,

BLADE THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Candor, Candor & Tassone [75] Inventor: George M. Hipple, Columbus, Ohio [73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company, ABSTRACT' Rlchmond A snap switch blade construction for a snap switch [22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 having a housing provided with a fixed contact, the snap switch blade comprising a one-piece switch blade [21] Appl' 244792 having opposed ends. One of the ends of the blade carries a contact to be movable relative to and coop- [52] U.S. Cl 200/67 D erate with the fixed contact, the other end of the blade [51] Int. Cl. H01h 13/36 being reversely bent to define an elbow of the blade [58] Field of Search 200/67 D and cooperating with the housing to provide a pivot for the blade. The one end of the blade has a part [56] References Cited thereof cooperating with the housing to provide a UNITED STATES PATENTS compression memberof the blade that causes the 1 blade to snap between the operating positions thereof. 212 2;? g The ends of the blade. are rigid adjacent the elbow of 334151962 12/1968 Kriegert: 200/67 D the blade 50 that the elbow and the Compression 2,513,s04 7/1950 Kaminky 200/67 D ber define the y Operating flexible PartS 0f the 2,565,790 8/1951 Ryan et al 200/67 D blade. An actuator engages the part of the elbow of 3,5 8, 26 5/1 71 O r an 00/67 D the blade that is defined by the reversely bent end of 1170,998 2/1965 Stahl v v ZOO/67 D the blade to place such elbow under tension when 2,977,436 3/1961 Haydon ZOO/67 D causing movement of the blade from one position thereof to another position thereof.

22 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SNAP SWITCH CONSTRUCTION AND SNAP BLADE THEREFOR OR THELIKE This invention relates to an improved snap switch construction as well as to an improved snap switch blade for such a snap switch construction or the like.

.moved over center. Such-bladealso has apart 'pivotally mounted to the housing to permit the blade to move over center by an actuator:engagingagainst su'ch blade and causing such movement thereof.

It is a feature of this invention to provide an improved snap switch construction of the above type wherein the blade is formed from a one-piece blank and has one end reversely bent to define an elbow for the blade with the elbow and compression member thereof being the only operating flexible parts of the blade.

In particular, oneembodiment of this invention .provides a snap switch construction having a housing means provided with a fixed contact. A one-piece snap switch blade construction is disposed within the housing means and has opposed ends. One end of the blade carries a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with the fixed contact. The otherend of the blade is reversely bent to define an elbow ofthe blade and cooperates with the housing means to provide -a pivot for the blade. The one end of the blade has a part thereof cooperating with the housing means to provide a compression member of the blade that causes the blade to snap between the operating positions thereof. The ends of the blade are rigid adjacent the elbow of the blade so that the elbow and the compression member define the only operating flexible parts of the blade. A movable actuator is carried by the housing means and is engageable with the elbow of the blade to cause the blade to pivot and thereby snap the blade to one of the operating positions thereof, the actuator having an actuatable part thereof disposed on the side of the part of the elbow that is defined by the one end of the blade and having an elbow-engaging part engaging the part of the elbow that is defined by the other end of the blade.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved snap switch construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved snap switch blade construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved snap switch construction of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

.2 I FIG.-4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the snap switch construction in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the-snap switch blade construction of this invention before the same is bent into its operating configuration.

FIG. 6 isan exploded perspective view illustrating the snap switch blade construction of this invention and the actuator for operating the same.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to provide a snap blade for an electrical switch, it is to be understood that the snap blade of this invention can be utilized for other structures as desired.

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

Referring now to FIG. 1, the improved snap switch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a housing means 11 formed of two

housing parts

12 and 13 suitably s'ecured together, such as by fastening means or the like. The housing part 12 has a chamber or cavity '14 interrupting one side 15 thereof that is closed off by the cover member or other housing part 13 in the man- 'ner illustrated in FIG. 2.

A pair of

terminals

16 and 17 respectively pass through

openings

18 and 19 in the housing means 11 so that the right-hand ends 20 and 21 thereof extend exteriorly of the housing means 11 and the left-hand ends 22 and -23 thereof are disposed within the chamber 14 of the housing means 11 and are bent at right angles relative thereto to be received within suitable recesses 24 and .25 that position the

terminals

16 and 17 in the housing means 11 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The

terminals

16 and 17 respectively carry

fixed contacts

26 and 27 in spaced relation relative to each other within the chamber 14 of the housing means 11 to be cooperable with contact means 28 carried by a snap switch blade construction 29 of this invention in a manner hereinafter described.

' Another terminal member 30 has a portion thereof passing through opening means 31 in the housing means 11 so that a part 32 thereof is' disposed exteriorly of the housing means 11 and another part 33 thereof is disposed within the chamber 14 of the housing means 1 l, the part 33 being bent to define a first leg 34 at right angles relative to the part 32 of the terminal 30 and another leg 35 bent at right angles to the arm 34 and having a free end 36 disposed within a recess 38 within the housing means 11 to position the terminal 30 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The snap blade construction 29 of this invention is formed from a one-piece blank structure as illustrated in FIG. 5 that has a free end 39 for carrying the contact means 28 thereon and being fastened through an opening 40 thereof in a conventional manner. A tongue-like compression-member 41 is carved from one end 42 of the blade 29 to .have one end 43 thereof integral with the blade end 42 and the other end 44 thereof disposed free thereof in a cantilevered manner. The forming of the compression member 41 defines a pair .of

side members

45 and 46 disposed parallel with the compres- I scribed.

sion member 41 but spaced therefrom. In order to render the end 42 of the blade 29 rigid except at the compression member 41, the

side members

45 and 46 are bent upwardly at right angles relative to the compression tongue 41 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 so that the end 42 of the blade 29 is rendered relatively rigid by the angularly

bent side members

45 and 46 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The other end 47 of the blade 29 has its free end 48 provided with an outwardly directed pair of

tongues

49 and 50 for respectively straddling the terminal 30 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the free edge 51 between the

tangs

49 and 50 can be received within a recess 52 of the terminal 30 and thereby permit the blade 29 to pivot on theterminal 30 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The end 47 of the blade 29 is rendered substantially rigid by the forming of a longitudinally disposed rib 53 therein except at an end part54 thereof which cooperates with an end part 55 of the end 42 of the blade to define an elbow 56 of the blade 29 when the end 47 is reversely bent relative to the end 42 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 whereby it can be seen that the elbow 56 is substantially V-shaped and is relatively flexible because the

parts

55 and 54 that form the same have not been rendered rigid by the

bent side members

45, 46 and the ribbing 53 previously described.

As illustrated in FIGS. and 6, the part 55 of the elbow 56 is inwardly necked by

recesses

57 and 58 on opposite sides thereof for a purpose hereinafter de- When the snap blade 29 is assembled in the chamber 14 of the housing means 11, the end 44 of the compression member 41 is received within a notch 59 formed in the arm 35 of the terminal 30 and when the edge 51 of the end 47 of the blade 29 is disposed within the notch or recess 52 of the'terminal 30 in the manner illustrated in FIG.- 2, the tongue 41 is placed under compression so that the end 42 of the blade 29 tends to snap between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 as the end 42 of the blade 29 is moved over center relative to the end 44 of the compression member 41 in a manner well known in the art.

An actuating plunger 60 is carried by the housing means 11 and is disposed within an opening 61 passing therethroughso that the end 62 of the plunger 60 is exposed exteriorly of the housing means 11 while a shoul- Zder part 63 thereof is disposed for engagement with a shoulder means 64 of the housing means 11 to prevent the actuator 60 from passing completely out of the opening 61 in the housing means 11. The shoulder means 63 of the actuator 60 has a pair of V-

shaped abutments

65 and 66 respectively disposed in spaced apart relation to straddle the part 55 of the elbow 56 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 so as to engage against the part 54 of the elbow 56 which is the part of the elbow 56 that is defined by the end 47 of the blade 29.

The snap blade 29 is so constructed and arranged that the same has a natural tendency to be disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 where the contact 28 thereof is normally disposed in contact with the fixed contact 26 so that the electrical connection through the switch constructionll is between the terminals 30 and as illustrated.

However, when a person or part pushes downwardly on the end 62 of the actuator 60, the actuator 60 pushes downwardly on the part 54 of the elbow 56 to place the elbow 56 under tension and thereby begin to pivot the blade 29 about the pivot point 52 of the terminal 30 until the end 42 of the blade 29 passes over center for the compression member 41 to snap the contact 28 away from the fixed contact 26 and into contact with the fixed contact 27 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 with such condition remaining as long as the actuator 60 is in its pushed-in condition as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this manner, the electrical circuit through the snap switch construction 10 is now between the

terminals

30 and 21 thereof.

However, when the actuator 60 is released, the natural tendency of the compression member 41 is to cause the seitch blade 29 to move upwardly so that when the end 42 thereof passes over the center position of the compression member 41, the movable contact 28 is snapped away from the fixed contact 27 and back into electrical contact with the fixed contact 26 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 to remain in such condition until the actuator 60 is again pushed inwardly in the manner previously described. 7

Thus, it can be seen that through the ribbing 53 and the

bend side members

45 and 46, the snap blade 29 is rendered flexible only in the

operating parts

41 and 56 thereof which respectively define the compression member and elbow thereof.

While the actuator 60 has been previously described as having the parts .65.and 66 thereof straddling the part 55 of the elbow 56 in order to operate on the lower part 54 of the elbow 56, it is to be understood that the actuator 60 can be so constructed and arranged that the same could pass through an opening in the part 55 to engage the lower part 54 of the elbow 56 if desired.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 7 wherein parts similar to the switch construction 10 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the part 55A of the elbow 56Afor the blade 29A is provided with an opening 67 passing therethrough for loosely re ceiving a central projection 68 on the actuator 60A which can engage against the lower part 54A of the elbow 56A to operate the snap switch blade 29A in the same manner'as the blade 29 previously described.

From the above, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved snap switch construction as well as an improved one-piece snap switch blade construction for such a snap switch construction or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been described as required by the patent statutes, it is to be understood that other forms can be utilized and all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a snap switch construction having a housing means and a fixed contact, the improvement comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with said fixed contact, the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and cooperating with said housing means to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof cooperating with said housing means to provide a compression member of said blade that causes said blade to snap between the operating positions thereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade.

2. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein a movable actuator is carried by said housing means and is engageable with said elbow of said blade to cause said blade to pivot and thereby snap said blade to one of said operating positions thereof.

3. In a snap switch construction having a housing means and a fixed contact, the improvement comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with said fixed contact, the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and cooperating with said housing means to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof cooperating with said housing means to provide a compression member of said blade that causes said blade to snap between the operating positions thereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade, and a movable actuator being carried by said housing means and being engageable with said elbow of said blade to cause said blade to pivot and thereby snap said blade to one of said operating positions thereof, said actuator having an actuatable part thereof disposed on the side of the part of the elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade and having an elbow engaging part engaging the part of the elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

4. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 3, the further improvement wherein said elbow engaging part of said actuator comprises two spaced abutments, said part of said elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade being inwardly necked to cause said abutments to straddle that part of said elbow and engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

5. In a snap switch constructionas set forth in claim 3, the further improvement wherein said part of said elbow that is defined by said one of said blade has an opening therethrough, said elbow engaging part of said actuator passing through said opening to engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

6. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said one end of said blade has said compression member carved therefrom.

7. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 6, the further improvement wherein said one end of said blade has a pair of side members straddled by said compression member, said side members being bent out of the plane of said one end of said blade to render said one end of said blade rigid except at said compression member and the part thereof that defines part of said elbow.

8. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 7, the further improvement wherein said side members of said one end of said blade are bent at substantially right angles relative to the remainder of said one of said blade.

9. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said elbow has a substantially V-shaped configuration.-

10. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said other end of said blade has ribbing thereof to render the same relatively rigid except at the part thereof that defines part of said elbow.

11. A snap switch blade construction comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with another contact,'the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and being adapted to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof adapted to provide a compression member of said blade that will be adapted to cause said blade to snap between operating positions thereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade.

12. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein a movable actuator is adapted to engage said elbow of said blade to cause said blade to pivot and thereby snap said blade to one of said operating positions thereof.

13. A snap switch blade construction comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with another contact, the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and being adapted to providea pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof adapted to provide a compression member of said blade that will be adapted to cause said blade to snap between operating positions thereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow'of said blade so that said elbow arid said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade, and a movable actuator being adapted to engage said elbow of said blade to cause said blade to pivot and thereby snap said blade to one of said operating positions thereof, said, actuator being adapted to have an actuatable part thereof disposed on the side of the part of the elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade and have an elbow engaging part engaging the part of the elbow that is defined by the other endof said blade.

' 14. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein said elbow engaging part of said actuator is adapted to comprise two spaced abutments, said part of said elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade being inwardly necked to be adapted to cause said abutments to straddle that part of said elbow and engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

15. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein said part of said elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade has an opening there through, said elbow engaging part of said actuator being adapted to pass through said opening to engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

16. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said one end of said blade has said compression member carved therefrom.

17. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 16 wherein said one end of said blade has a pair of side members straddled by said compression member, said side members being bent out of the plane of said oneend of said blade to render said one end of said blade rigid except at said compression member and the part thereof that defines part of said elbow.

- 18. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 17 wherein said side members of said one end of said blade are bent at substantially right angles relative to the remainder of said one end of said blade.

19. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said elbow has a substantially V- shaped configuration.

20. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said other end of said blade has ribbing thereof to render the same relatively rigid except at the part thereof that defines part of said elbow.

21. In a snap switch construction having a housing means and a fixed contact, the improvement comprising a switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with said fixed contact, the other end of said blade being reversely disposed to define an elbow of said blade and cooperating with said housing means to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof cooperating with said housing means to provide a compression member of said blade that causes said blade to snap between the operating positions thereof, a movable actuator carried by said housing means and engageable with said elbow of said blade to cause said blade to pivot and thereby snap said blade to one of said operating positions thereof, said actuator having an actuatable part thereof disposed on the side of the part of the elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade and having an elbow engaging part engaging the part of the elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

22. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 21, the further improvement wherein said ends of said blade are rigid adjacent said elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade.

Claims

1. In a snap switch construction having a housing means and a fixed contact, the improvement comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with said fixed contact, the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and cooperating with said housing means to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof cooperating with said housing means to provide a compression member of said blade that causes said blade to snap between the operating positions thereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade.

5. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 3, the further improvement wherein said part of said elbow that is defined by said one of said blade has an opening therethrough, said elbow engaging part of said actuator passing through said opening to engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

9. In a snap switch construction as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said elbow has a substantially V-shaped configuration.

11. A snap switch blade construction comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with another contact, the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and being adapted to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof adapted to provide a compression member of said blade that will be adapted to cause said blade to snap between operating positions thereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade.

13. A snap switch blade construction comprising a one-piece switch blade having opposed ends, one of said ends carrying a contact to be movable relative to and cooperate with another contact, the other end of said blade being reversely bent to define an elbow of said blade and being adapted to provide a pivot for said blade, said one end of said blade having a part thereof adapted to provide a compression member of said blade that will be adapted to cause said blade to snap between operating positions tHereof, said ends of said blade being rigid adjacent the elbow of said blade so that said elbow and said compression member define the only operating flexible parts of said blade, and a movable actuator being adapted to engage said elbow of said blade to cause said blade to pivot and thereby snap said blade to one of said operating positions thereof, said actuator being adapted to have an actuatable part thereof disposed on the side of the part of the elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade and have an elbow engaging part engaging the part of the elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

14. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein said elbow engaging part of said actuator is adapted to comprise two spaced abutments, said part of said elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade being inwardly necked to be adapted to cause said abutments to straddle that part of said elbow and engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

15. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein said part of said elbow that is defined by said one end of said blade has an opening therethrough, said elbow engaging part of said actuator being adapted to pass through said opening to engage the part of said elbow that is defined by the other end of said blade.

17. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 16 wherein said one end of said blade has a pair of side members straddled by said compression member, said side members being bent out of the plane of said one end of said blade to render said one end of said blade rigid except at said compression member and the part thereof that defines part of said elbow.

18. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 17 wherein said side members of said one end of said blade are bent at substantially right angles relative to the remainder of said one end of said blade.

19. A snap switch blade construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said elbow has a substantially V-shaped configuration.