US3949181A — Low profile-low bounce electrical switch apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 166 words

Apparatus for making or breaking electrical contact with low bounce switching characteristics in an electrical circuit, said apparatus comprising: a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor, at least one torsion beam member comprising: a torsion beam having an axis and being restrained from rotation thereabout at a first point, and an operating beam connected to the torsion beam at a second point spaced from said first point and having an axis oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of said torsion beam such that displacement of said operating beam causes rotation of said torsion beam from its quiescent rotational state thus producing a torsional bias force against said displacement, at least one of said conductors being operatively associated with said operating beam for displacement therewith, the remaining electrical conductor being disposed for making or breaking of said electrical contact with said one conductor upon displacement of said operating beam, and means for displacing said operating beam thereby making or breaking said electrical contact.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 166 words

Apparatus for making or breaking electrical contact with low bounce switching characteristics in an electrical circuit, said apparatus comprising: a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor, at least one torsion beam member comprising: a torsion beam having an axis and being restrained from rotation thereabout at a first point, and an operating beam connected to the torsion beam at a second point spaced from said first point and having an axis oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of said torsion beam such that displacement of said operating beam causes rotation of said torsion beam from its quiescent rotational state thus producing a torsional bias force against said displacement, at least one of said conductors being operatively associated with said operating beam for displacement therewith, the remaining electrical conductor being disposed for making or breaking of said electrical contact with said one conductor upon displacement of said operating beam, and means for displacing said operating beam thereby making or breaking said electrical contact.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said at least one conductor and said at least one torsion beam member comprise an integral electrical conductor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the other conductor includes one of said torsion beam members as part of an integral electrical conductor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the portions of the integral electrical conductors which make and break said electrical contact are complementary in shape and disposed to define two parallel mated wiping contact areas which effect a sliding or wiping type of electrical contact.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 128 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said integral electrical conductor comprises: a secured leg portion having an axis which is substantially fixed, a torsion beam leg portion having an axis disposed at an effective angle with respect to said secured leg portion and connected thereto at a first end such that rotational forces applied at a point spaced therefrom will tend to cause a twisting of the torsion beam portion along its axis, and an electrical contact leg portion comprising said operating beam and said at least one conductor, said contact leg portion being connected to the other end of the torsion beam leg portion and disposed such that displacement thereof causes rotation of said torsion beam leg portion and consequent making or breaking of said electrical contact.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said electrical contact leg portion includes: a first section having an axis disposed at substantially 90° with respect to the axis of the torsion beam leg portion, and a second section having an axis disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the torsion beam leg portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 73 words

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the other conductor also includes one of said torsion beam members as part of an integral electrical conductor and wherein the contact leg portions are diposed relative to one another such that the first and second sections of one come into and out of wiping electrical contact with the second and first sections respectively of the other electrical contact leg portion upon displacement of the operating beams.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 145 words

An electrical switch comprising: an electrically insulating base member having a bottom wall and guide means, an electrically insulating activation member having a top wall and guide means mating with the guide means of said base member to permit relative to-and-from movement of said base and activation members, mating catch means formed in said base and activation members to limit the relative movement therebetween to a maximum amount, a torsion beam spring means having a beam axis disposed to bias said base and activation members to a predetermined limit of relative movement therebetween and to permit movement away from said predetermined limit only through the forced rotation of said torsion beam about its axis, and at least two electrically conducting contact members disposed between said base and activation members for controlling an external electrical circuit contact by relative movement of said base and activation members.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 145 words

An electrical switch comprising: an electrically insulating base member having a bottom wall and guide means, an electrically insulating activation member having a top wall and guide means mating with the guide means of said base member to permit relative to-and-from movement of said base and activation members, mating catch means formed in said base and activation members to limit the relative movement therebetween to a maximum amount, a torsion beam spring means having a beam axis disposed to bias said base and activation members to a predetermined limit of relative movement therebetween and to permit movement away from said predetermined limit only through the forced rotation of said torsion beam about its axis, and at least two electrically conducting contact members disposed between said base and activation members for controlling an external electrical circuit contact by relative movement of said base and activation members.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

An electrical switch as in claim 8 wherein said beam spring means and at least one of said electrically conducting contact members comprise a single unitary electrical conductor having a torsion beam portion formed at an effective angle with respect to a contact area portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

An electrical switch as in claim 9 wherein said effective angle is substantially 90°.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 233 words

An electrical switch as in claim 8 wherein said torsion beam spring means and said electrically conducting contact members comprise two separate but individually integral electrical conductors and wherein each of the electrical conductors is formed to define a plurality of serially connected leg portions comprising: a secured leg portion having an axis which is substantially fixed with respect to one of said base and activation members, a torsion beam leg portion having an axis disposed at an effective angle with respect to said secured leg portion and connected thereto at a first end such that rotational forces applied to the other end of said torsion beam leg portion will tend to cause a twisting of the torsion beam leg portion along its axis, an electrical contact leg portion having an axis disposed at an effective angle with respect to said torsion beam leg portion, said electrical contact leg portion being connected to said other end of the torsion beam leg portion and disposed such that relative movement of said base and activation members away from said predetermined limit causes displacement of said electrical contact leg portion and, in turn, rotation of said torsion beam leg portion about its axis, and each of said electrical contact leg portions being shaped and disposed to come into and out of wiping electrical contact with the other upon relative movement of said base and activation members.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 109 words

An electrical switch as in claim 11 wherein each of said electrical contact leg portions includes: a first section having an axis disposed at substantially 90° with respect to the axis of its connected torsion beam leg portion, and a second section having an axis disposed substantially parallel to the axis of its corresponding torsion beam leg portion, said electrical contact leg portions being disposed relative to one another such that the first and second sections of one come into and out of wiping electrical contact with the second and first sections respectively of the other electrical contact leg portion upon relative movement of said base and activation members.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

An electrical switch as in claim 11 wherein said secured leg portions include sections extending beyond said one of said base and activation members for electrical connection to said external electrical circuit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 62 words

An electrical switch as in claim 11 wherein said one of said base and activation members is the base member and wherein said base member comprises: a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall and securing means located therewithin at opposingly situated side walls for retaining the secured leg portion of the respectively corresponding contact member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

An electrical switch as in claim 12 wherein one of said base and activation members includes an internally directed projection disposed between the first and second sections of the two contact leg portions for maintaining alignment therebetween.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 140 words

An electrical switch structure comprising: a base member, an activation member movingly mated to and overlying at least a portion of said base member and adapted for movement toward said base member to a minimum limit and movement away from said base member to a maximum limit, and first and second electrical contact members disposed between said base member and said activation member for controlling an external electrical circuit when placed into and out of mutual electrical contact by movement of said activation member toward said minimum limit and toward said maximum limit, at least one of said contact members comprising a torsion beam having an axis therealong and mounted to bias said activation member toward one of said limits and to permit movement toward the other of said limits only through rotation of said torsion beam about its axis.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 140 words

An electrical switch structure comprising: a base member, an activation member movingly mated to and overlying at least a portion of said base member and adapted for movement toward said base member to a minimum limit and movement away from said base member to a maximum limit, and first and second electrical contact members disposed between said base member and said activation member for controlling an external electrical circuit when placed into and out of mutual electrical contact by movement of said activation member toward said minimum limit and toward said maximum limit, at least one of said contact members comprising a torsion beam having an axis therealong and mounted to bias said activation member toward one of said limits and to permit movement toward the other of said limits only through rotation of said torsion beam about its axis.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 16 wherein said at least one contact member comprises an integral electrical conductor formed into a first portion comprising said torsion beam and a second portion comprising an electrical contact area disposed to electrically contact the remaining contact member upon movement of said activation member toward said minimum limit.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 60 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 16 wherein each of said contact members comprise an integral electrical conductor formed into a first portion comprising said torsion beam and a second portion comprising an electrical contact area disposed to make wiping mutual contact with the other mating electrical contact area upon movement of said activation member toward said minimum limit.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 149 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 18 wherein each of said contact members comprise: a first leg secured to said base member, a second leg disposed at an angle to said first leg and constituting said torsion beam, a third leg which, in the quiescent state, normally extends angularly between said base member apart and said activation member thereby biasing these members apart and which transmits a rotational force to said second leg when said base member and said activation member are moved toward said minimum limit, and a fourth leg disposed at an angle to said third leg, said third and fourth legs constituting said electrical contact areas such that the fourth and third legs of the first contact member come into wiping electrical contact with the third and fourth legs respectively of the second contact member when said activation member is moved toward said minimum limit.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 19 wherein said base member comprises a pair of recesses disposed at an angle with respect to respectively associated second legs and wherein first legs each comprise: a first section extending outwardly from said base member for connection to an external electrical circuit, and a second section physically secured within the corresponding recess formed in said base member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 20 wherein each of said recesses in the base member comprises a resilient receiving slot having a lower receiving chamber for receiving said second section therein and an upper overlying catch means which is shaped to hold the second section within said receiving chamber after the second section is pushed therebeneath.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 128 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 16 wherein: said base member comprises a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall and vertical guide means included in the outer surface of at least one of said side walls, and said activation member comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls extending downwardly from the periphery of the top wall about the outside of the corresponding side walls of said base member and vertical guide means included on the inside of at least one of the side walls of said activation member adapted to cooperate with the guide means of said base member to maintain alignment of the base member and activation member during relative movement therebetween.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 22 wherein: the guide means of said base member comprises an outwardly directed projection and the guide means of said activation member comprises an outwardly directed recess which mates with said projection.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 42 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 23 comprising a plurality of such mating guide means wherein at least one mating guide means is of dimensions different from others thereby insuring proper mating orientation of the base and activation members during assembly.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 50 words

An electrical switch structure as in claim 16 further comprising a vertical projection attached to one of said base and activation members and extending in alignment with said at least one contact member for maintaining the alignment of said contact member during relative movement of said base and activation members.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 90 words

an electrical switch structure as in claim 16 wherein said base and activation members are formed of a resilient insulating material and further comprising: a least one mating recess and wedge-shaped catch means formed in the base and activation members to define said maximum limit of movement in an assembled condition and formed to permit easy assembly of the base and activation members by relative sliding movement which temporarily deforms the members as the wedge-shaped catch means slides into its mating recess thereafter retaining the members in the assembled condition.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 84 words

Apparatus for making or breaking electrical contact in an electrical circuit, comprising a torsion beam, a pair of torque-applying members for applying a torque to the torsion beam, a first conductor which moves with a first of the torque-applying members and a second conductor disposed for making or breaking electrical contact with the first conductor upon displacement of the first torque-applying member relative to the second torque-applying member in a direction which produces a torsional bias force in the torsion beam resisting the displacement.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 84 words

Apparatus for making or breaking electrical contact in an electrical circuit, comprising a torsion beam, a pair of torque-applying members for applying a torque to the torsion beam, a first conductor which moves with a first of the torque-applying members and a second conductor disposed for making or breaking electrical contact with the first conductor upon displacement of the first torque-applying member relative to the second torque-applying member in a direction which produces a torsional bias force in the torsion beam resisting the displacement.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus according to claim 27, in which the second torque-applying member is fixed.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 27 in which the first conductor, the first torque-applying member and the torsion beam are formed as an integral electrical conductor.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 29 in which the first conductor, the first and second torque-applying members, and the torsion beam are formed as an integral electrical conductor.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 86 words

Apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising a second torsion beam and a second pair of torque-applying members for applying a torque to the second torsion beam, the second conductor being movable with a first of the second pair of torque-applying members in such a manner that electrical contact with the first conductor is made or broken upon simultaneous displacement of the first of the second pair of torque-applying members in a direction producing a torsional bias force in the second torsion beam resisting the displacement.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus according to claim 31 in which the second conductor, the second torsion beam and the first of the second pair of torque-applying members are formed as an integral electrical conductor.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 31 in which the second of the second pair of torque-applying members is fixed.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus according to claim 33 in which the second conductor, the first and second of the second pair of torque-applying members and the second torsion beam are formed as an integral electrical conductor.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 27 in which the portions of the two conductors which make and break the electrical contact are complementary in shape and effect a sliding or wiping type of electrical contact.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 120 words

An electrical switch including apparatus according to claim 27 and further comprising an insulating base having a bottom wall, an actuator having a top wall and guide means mating with corresponding guide means of the base to permit relative movement between the base and the actuator, and mating catch means formed in the base and the actuator to limit the extent of the relative movement, the torque-applying members associated with the, or each, torsion beam being disposed to bias the base and the actuator to a predetermined limit of the relative movement whereby movement away from the predetermined limit is permitted only through displacement of the, or each, torque-applying member to apply a torque to the, or each, torsion beam.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 36 words

A switch according to claim 36 in which the second torque-applying member is fixed and in which each fixed torque-applying member includes a section extending beyond the base of the actuator to provide a switch terminal.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 30 words

A switch according to claim 37 in which the base includes upwardly extending sidewalls and in which the, or each, fixed torque-applying member is secured alongside one of the sidewalls.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 18 words

A switch according to claim 38 in which the two fixed torque-applying members are secured alongside opposed sidewalls.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 114 words

A switch according to claim 36 further comprising a second torsion beam and a second pair of torque-applying members for applying a torque to the second torsion beam, the second conductor being movable with a first of the second pair of torque-applying members in such a manner that electrical contact with the first conductor is made or broken upon simultaneous displacement of the first of the second pair of torque-applying members in a direction producing a torsional bias force in the second torsion beam resisting the displacement in which either base or the actuator includes an internally directed projection disposed between the repsective contacts of the first and second conductors for maintaining alignment therebetween.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 183 words

A switch according to claim 36 further comprising a second torsion beam and a second pair of torque-applying members for applying a torque to the second torsion beam, the second conductor being movable with a first of the second pair of torque-applying members in such a manner that electrical contact with the first conductor is made or broken upon simultaneous displacement of the first of the second pair of torque-applying members in a direction producing a torsional bias force in the second torsion beam resisting the displacement in which the first torque-applying member of each pair includes a first section having an axis disposed at substantially 90° with respect to the axis of the torsion beam to which it is connected and a second section having an axis disposed substantially parallel to the axis of its corresponding torsion beam, the arrangement being such that relative movement between the base and the actuator brings the first and second sections of one of the torque-applying members into and out of wiping electrical contact with the second and first sections respectively of the other torque-applying member.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 24 words

A switch according to claim 39 in which each of the two fixed torque-applying members is secured in a respective recess in the base.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 53 words

A switch according to claim 42 in which each of the recesses comprises a resilient slot having a lower receiving chamber for receiving the respective torque-applying member and an upper overlying catch which is shaped to hold the torque-applying member within the receiving chamber after the torque-applying member is pushed beneath the catch.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 36 words

A switch according to claim 36 in which the guide means of the base comprises an outwardly directed projection and the guide means of the actuator comprises an outwardly directed recess which mates with the projection.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 47 words

A switch according to claim 44 comprising a plurality of the mating guide means in which at least one mating guide means is of dimensions different from the other mating guide means to ensure a correct orientation of the base and actuator during assembly of the switch.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 52 words

A switch according to claim 36 in which the mating catch means comprises at least one mating recess and wedge-shaped catch formed in the base and actuator, the base and the actuator being formed of a resilient insulating material which is temporarily deformed as the wedge-shaped catch slides into its mating recess.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-04-06	1979-10-06	1980-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-04-06	1983-10-06	1984-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-04-06	1987-10-06	1988-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Low profile-low bounce electrical switch apparatus

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