Electric timer mechanism with improved printed circuit contact and actuating structure

Claim 2

A timer comprising a housing, a shaft rotatably carried by said housing and having at least one end extending through said housing, at least two printed circuit boards carried by said housing in back-to-back relationship, at least two current selector means carried by said shaft and cooperating with said circuit boards, butterfly boss means extending from each of the backs of said current selector means, said butterfly boss means adapted to interfit with eAch other when said current selector means are disposed in back-to-back relationship, means driving at least one of said current selector means, said current selector means including wiper means engaging electrical circuit means of said circuit board.

Claim 3

A timer according to claim 1, wherein said current selector means includes a gear means coupled to said drive means.

Claim 4

A timer according to claim 1, wherein said current selector means includes locking means connecting said current selector means to said shaft.

Claim 5

A timer according to claim 3, wherein said locking means includes a boss means extending from said current selector means, a slot in said boss means, and a pin means disposed in said slot and extending through said shaft.

Claim 6

A timer according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board includes a plurality of spaced circular, electrically conductive strips, continuous for substantially a complete circle.

Claim 7

A timer according to claim 5, wherein said circuit board includes spaced electrically conductive tabs extending from said strips.

Claim 8

A timer according to claim 5, wherein said circuit board includes an insulative film disposed over said strips and spaced apertures in said film so as to expose portions of said strips at spaced predetermined intervals.

Claim 9

A timer according to claim 7, wherein said insulative film is a polyester.

Claim 10

A timer according to claim 1, wherein said current selector means further includes locating means so as to insure that said current selector means are located with respect to each other in a predetermined position.

Claim 11

A timer according to claim 9, wherein said locating means includes pin means extending from said current selector means, said pins engaging slots disposed in said butterfly shaped boss means.

Claim 12

A timer according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a synchronous motor.

Claim 13

A timer according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes two motor means and said means coupling said drive means to said current selector means includes clutch means.

Claim 14

A timer according to claim 11, wherein said drive means further includes manual drive means, and said motor drive means includes spring-biased clutch means.

Claim 15

In a timer according to claim 11, wherein said circuit board is carried by a housing for said timer, and said wiping means is independently rotatably carried by a shaft extending through said housing.

Claim 16

In a timer wherein electrical circuits are opened and closed in accordance with a programmed sequence, a circuit board, spaced electrical conductive paths disposed on a surface of said circuit board, electrical terminal means connected to said paths, a thin electrically insulative film having spaced apertures therein bonded to said surface, said spaced apertures in said film-exposing portions of said electrically conductive paths, drive means and wiping means coupled to said drive means and engaging said thin electrically insulative film and said electrically conductive paths to selectively open and close electrical circuits through said paths and said wiping means to said electrical terminal means.

Claim 17

In a timer wherein electrical circuits are opened and closed in accordance with a programmed sequence, a circuit board, spaced electrical conductive paths disposed on a surface of said circuit board, electrical terminal means connected to said paths, a thin electrically insulative film having spaced apertures therein bonded to said surface, said spaced apertures in said film-exposing portions of said electrically conductive paths, drive means and wiping means coupled to said drive means and engaging said thin electrically insulative film and said electrically conductive paths to selectively open and close electrical circuits through said paths and said wiping means to said electrical terminal means.

Claim 18

In a timer wherein electrical circuits are opened and closed in accordance with a programmed sequence, a circuit board, spaced electrical conductive paths disposed on a surface of said circuit board, electrical terminal means connected to said paths, a thin electrically insulative film having spaced apertures therein bonded to said surface, said spaced apertures in said film exposing portions of said electrically conductive paths, and wiping means engaging said thin electrically insulative film and said electrically conductive paths in response to relative rotation between said circuit board and said wiping means to selectively open and close electrical circuits through said paths and said wiping means to said electrical terminal means.

Claim 19

In a timer wherein electrical circuits are opened and closed in accordance with a programmed sequence, a circuit board, spaced electrical conductive paths disposed on a surface of said circuit board, electrical terminal means connected to said paths, a thin electrically insulative film having spaced apertures therein bonded to said surface, said spaced apertures in said film exposing portions of said electrically conductive paths, and wiping means engaging said thin electrically insulative film and said electrically conductive paths in response to relative rotation between said circuit board and said wiping means to selectively open and close electrical circuits through said paths and said wiping means to said electrical terminal means.

Claim 20

In a timer according to claim 16 wherein said film is a polyester.