Patent US3624332A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3624332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap switch
Assignee: Oak Electro Netics Corp
•
Filing: 1970-09-09
•
Granted: 1971-11-30
•
Expires: 1990-09-09
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in a two circuit snap switch of a type having opposed pairs of contacts and a leaflike contact blade positioned therebetween, which is normally urged into engagement with one pair of contacts and movable into engagement with an opposed pair of contacts, wherein an actuator stem extends through the contact blade and is normally biased against a spring in the interior of the housing and, wherein another spring stems across the contact blade and is intersected by the actuator stem. The snap switch of this invention is characterized by the provision of an offset medial portion in the actuator through which the contact blade spring extends, whereby lateral wiping action is imparted to the contact blade and the contacts it engages during movement thereof toward, and away from, the opposed contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Van Benschoten
- 👤 Jan Albert Kilsdonk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/18; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/26; H01H13/28; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A snap switch comprising: a housing having an interior; an opposed pair of contacts positioned in the housing interior; a switch arm extending across and positioned between said housing pairs of contacts, said switch arm including a medial opening and a spring means stressed across said opening between spaced portions of the switch arm; and an actuator mounted in the housing for generally reciprocal movement in a direction generally transverse to said switch arm, said actuator extending through said switch arm medial opening and having an intermediate portion intersecting said spring means, and a bottom portion slidably mounted in said housing, said actuator intermediate portion having surfaces offset relative to said bottom portion and in engagement with portions of the switch arm; whereby reciprocal movement of said actuator will cause movement of said switch arm from a position engaging one of said pair of contacts to a position engaging the other of said pair of contacts while simultaneously imparting relatively lateral movement to said switch arm at the initiation of movement away from one pair of contacts and during the termination of movement into engagement with the other pair of contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A snap switch comprising: a housing having an interior; an opposed pair of contacts positioned in the housing interior; a switch arm extending across and positioned between said housing pairs of contacts, said switch arm including a medial opening and a spring means stressed across said opening between spaced portions of the switch arm; and an actuator mounted in the housing for generally reciprocal movement in a direction generally transverse to said switch arm, said actuator extending through said switch arm medial opening and having an intermediate portion intersecting said spring means, and a bottom portion slidably mounted in said housing, said actuator intermediate portion having surfaces offset relative to said bottom portion and in engagement with portions of the switch arm; whereby reciprocal movement of said actuator will cause movement of said switch arm from a position engaging one of said pair of contacts to a position engaging the other of said pair of contacts while simultaneously imparting relatively lateral movement to said switch arm at the initiation of movement away from one pair of contacts and during the termination of movement into engagement with the other pair of contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The snap switch of claim 1 wherein the actuator is connected to biasing means for normally urging the actuator in one direction of its movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The snap switch of claim 1 wherein the spring means for the switch arm is stressed in a state of compression across the switch arm opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The snap switch of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of said actuator is canted relative to said bottom portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The snap switch of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of said actuator is generally upright with said offset surfaces comprising rib portions thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The snap switch of claim 4 wherein said actuator is connected to biasing means for normally urging said actuator in one direction of movement and wherein said spring means intersects said actuator on one side of the switch arm and extends through said canted portion of said actuator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The snap switch of claim 6 wherein said switch arm has contacts on opposite ends of each of the faces thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The snap switch of claim 1 wherein the actuator bottom portion is generally perpendicular to the switch arm and the actuator intermediate portion is canted relative to said bottom portion and said switch arm and, wherein the spring means intersects the canted portion of the actuator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The snap switch of claim 1 wherein the actuator intermediate portion is generally perpendicular to the switch arm and wherein said offset surfaces includes rib portions on the opposite sides thereof, said rib portions including upper and lower forwardly offset portions and an intermediate rearwardly offset portion, and wherein said switch arm opening includes laterally opposed notches in which said ribs are received.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The snap switch of claim 8 wherein the spring means for said switch arm is stressed in a state of compression across the switch arm opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The snap switch of claim 9 wherein the spring means for said switch arm is sTressed in a state of compression across the switch arm opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |