Reed switch construction

Claim 1

A reed switch employing elongated magnetic elements of conductive, magnetic material, rigid non-magnetic, non-conducive enclosure through which said magnetic elements extend and by which said magnetic elments are supported in predetermined non-aligned position relative to each other, at least one of which magnetic elements is movable, such that in the presence of a magnetic field said magnetic elements will move to a magnetic reluctance minimizing position in which position said magnetic elements are at least in part aligned but not contacting, the space between the unsupported ends of the magnetic elements when aligned being sufficiently small to cause capillary attraction of conductive liquid into said space, a conductive liquid within said envelope and a reservoir therefor, and an elongated member supported in side-by-side relationship with said at least one movable magnetic element in position to draw said conductive liquid from the reservoir into a space between said elongated member and said movable magnetic element and positioned to squeeze said conductive liquid toward the end of said magnetic element which the movable magnetic element is moved into alignment with the other magnetic element such that said conductive liquid will be drawn into the space between the ends of the magnetic elements by capillary attractions in said aligned position.