CA1159097A - Switch device for use on circuit board - Google Patents
Switch device for use on circuit boardInfo
- Publication number
- CA1159097A CA1159097A CA000392829A CA392829A CA1159097A CA 1159097 A CA1159097 A CA 1159097A CA 000392829 A CA000392829 A CA 000392829A CA 392829 A CA392829 A CA 392829A CA 1159097 A CA1159097 A CA 1159097A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- spring arm
- base portion
- switch device
- circuit board
- switch
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
- H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
- H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
- H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
- H01H11/0056—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches comprising a successive blank-stamping, insert-moulding and severing operation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/58—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals
- H01H1/5805—Connections to printed circuits
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/58—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals
- H01H1/5805—Connections to printed circuits
- H01H2001/5811—Connections to printed circuits both fixed and movable contacts being formed by blank stamping and mounted or soldered on printed circuit board without any other housing elements
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
One piece stamped and formed switch (2) which is intended for mounting on a circuit board (8) com-prises an elongated flat base (14) having mounting tabs (16, 18, 28) extending from its ends. A flange (24) extends from one of the ends in the opposite direction from the direction of the mounting tabs and provides a fixed contact surface (26). A cantilever spring (30) is integral with the base (14) at the opposite end and extends alongside the base past the flange (24). In use, the switch device is mounted on the circuit board (8) by inserting the mounting tabs (16, 18, 28) through holes (4, 6) in the circuit board. Thereafter, an inter-mediate portion (22) Or the base is removed by shearing so that the remaining portions are electrically isolated from each other and the spring arm can be engaged with the flange to close a circuit between the conductors on the underside of the circuit board.
One piece stamped and formed switch (2) which is intended for mounting on a circuit board (8) com-prises an elongated flat base (14) having mounting tabs (16, 18, 28) extending from its ends. A flange (24) extends from one of the ends in the opposite direction from the direction of the mounting tabs and provides a fixed contact surface (26). A cantilever spring (30) is integral with the base (14) at the opposite end and extends alongside the base past the flange (24). In use, the switch device is mounted on the circuit board (8) by inserting the mounting tabs (16, 18, 28) through holes (4, 6) in the circuit board. Thereafter, an inter-mediate portion (22) Or the base is removed by shearing so that the remaining portions are electrically isolated from each other and the spring arm can be engaged with the flange to close a circuit between the conductors on the underside of the circuit board.
Description
Switch Device fo ~se on circuit_b ard --This invention relates to a stamped and formed sheet metal switch which is intended for mounting on a circuit board for switching conductors - 5 on the circuit board.
U.S. Patent ~,152,556 discloses a stamped and formed sheet metal switch device having a cantilever spring, a mounting tab for mounting the spring on a cir-cuit board, and a fixed contact which is also intended to be mounted on a circuit board. The parts of the switch shown in that patent publication are produced by stamping and forming sheet metal and are all inte-gral with each other. After the switch is assembled to the circuit board, connecting portions of the switch device which connect the f'i.xed contact to the spring arm are removed so that the spring arm is electrically isolated from the switch contact. The switch is there~
fore a normally open switch which can be closed by moving the spring arm against the fixed contact. The f'lxed contac-t and the spring arm are connected to the circuit board conductors so that movement of the spring arm against the fixed contact completes a circuit path ~, ~q ... . . . . . . .... . . .. . . ....
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'7 between the circult board conductors.
The switch shown in U.S. Patent ~,152,556 is normally open and it would be desirable to produce a switch, by stamping and forming sheet metal, which would be normally closed after being assembled to the circuit board.
The present invention in accordance with one ~
aspect thereof is directed to the achievement of a one-piece switch device which, after assembly to a circuit board forms a normally c]osed switch. In accordance with a further aspect, the invention is directed to the production of switch devices in strip form so that indi-vidual switch devices can be mounted in circuit boards I by means of automatic and semi-automatic insertion machines.
A switch device in accordance with the inven-tion comprises a one-piece stamped and formed switch having a cantilever contact spring that has a fixed end and a free end, a contact post which is contacted by the contact spring, and mounting members for mounting the fixed end of the contact spring in a circuit board.
The contact post is connect,ed to the switch by remov-able portions of the stamped and formed part which are removed after the switch is assembled to the circuit board. A switch in accordance with the invention is characteri~ed in that the free end of the cantilever contact spring is resiliently biased towards the con-tact portion and the free end of the cantilever contact ... ; - . . . . . . . . .
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spring is held in a location which is spaced :Erom the contact post by an inte-gral stop. The stop is disengaged from the cantilever spring after the spring has been inserted into the circuit board so that the spring arm moves against the contact post under the influence of its resilient bias.
One embodiment of the invention has an integral stop for the contact spring which is removed from the switch after the switch is inserted into the circuit board. An alternative embodiment has a stop which is simply bent after insertion of the switch into the circuit board so that the stop is disengaged from the spring arm.
In summary, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a one-piece stamped and formed switch device which is intended for mounting in holes in a circuit board as a circuit board switch of the type comprising a fixed contact post and a cantilever spring arm which is engageable with said contact post, said switch device comprising: an elongated flat base portion having spring arm mounting means extending therefTom at one end thereof, said spring arm mounting means extending substantially normally of said base por-tion in a first direction, a flange extending normally of said base portion at the other end thereof in a second direction which is the opposite direction from said first direction, said contact post being integral with said flange and extending beside said flange, said post projecting in said one direction past the plane of said base portion, and normally of the plane of said base portion, said cantilever spring arm being disposed beside said base portion in a plane which extends normally of the plane of said base portion, said spring arm having a fixed end which is integral with said base portion at said one endJ said spring arm extending beside saicl base portion and past said flange whereby, upon insertion of said spring arm mounting means and said contact post into circuit board holes and soldering said mounting means and said post .
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to conductors on the ~mderside of said circuit board, and upon thereafter re-moving intermediate portions of said base, said contact post will be elec-trically isolated from said spring arm mounting means and said spring arm can flex against portions of said post thereby providing a switch on said circuit board for switching said two conductors.
Specific examples of switches according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a short section of strip having switch devices in accordance with the invention integral therewith.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing a switch device mounted on a circuit board prior to soldering of the mounting post and tabs to the circuit board conductors.
FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the appearance of the parts after soldering and after removal of intermediate portions of the base of the switch.
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FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the switch OIl the circuit board prior to soldering.
~ IGURE 5 is a plan view of a short section of a carrier strip having switch blanks integral there-with.
FIGURE 6 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 o~ Figure 5. ^
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another em-bodiment of the invention showing the switch spaced from the surface of a circuit board.
FIGURE ~ is a view showing the switch installed on the circuit board.
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the flat blank ~rom which the switch of Figure 7 is formed.
As shown in Figure 3, a switch device 2 in accordance with the invention is intended for mounting in holes 4, 6 in a circuit board ~ having conduc-tors 10, 12 on its underside. The switch device provides switching between these conductors, the disclosed form of the invention being a normally closed switch so that a circuit path will exist between the conductors until the switch is opened. \
Prior to insertion ~\to the holes ~, 6, the switch device 2 comprises a relàtively elongated flat base portion 14 having a tab 16 extending downwardly from the first end 20 thereof and having an additional ; tab 1~ extending downwardly from the base intermediate :`
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lts ends. The lefthand portion as viewed in the drawing 22 of the base is of reduced width and has an up-standing flange 24 at its end. The flange 24 has a lat-erally extending ear portion which is rolled as shown at 26 to form a contact post on the upper surface of the circuit board. The rolled ear portion extends down wardly beneath the plane of the base 1~ to~ provide a -mounting post 2~ which is soldered to the conductor 12 on the circuit board.
A cantilever spring arm 30 extends beside the lefthand edge 29 of the base portion and is integral at its fixed end 34 with the base portion as shown at 32. As will be explained below, the spring arm is formed when a flat spring blank is bent upwardly from the plane o~ the base portion 14.
The spring arm is of reduced width along its length and has a contact portion 36 which is opposed to the surface of the contact post 26. The spring arm extends obliquely towards and pas-t the post from the contact portion as shown at 3~ and is then bent as shown at 39 to provide a free end portion l,0.
The spring arm 30 has a resilient bias urging it to move towards and against the surface of the con-tact post 26, however, in its as-manufactured form, the spring arm is maintained in spaced relationship to the contact post by means of a stop 42 which is lntegral with with the edge 44 of the reduced width portion 22 - , .
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of the base. This stop extends obliquely upwardly from the plane of the base and bears against the surface of the contact spring.
Switch devices in accordance with the invention are produced in continuous strip form, each switch device being connected to a carrier strip L~6 by means of a connecting section 4g which extends from the righthand edge of the spring arm at the fixed end thereof.
In use, an individual switch device is removed from the carrier strip and inserted into the holes 4, 6 of the circuit board as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The tabs 16, ~ are then clinched against the conductor 10 of the circuit board and the lower ends of these tabs and the lower end of the mounting post 6 are all soldered to the conductors. As shown in Figure 4, the circuit board is provided with an en-larged hole 52 beneath and intermediate portion of the base 14 and beneath the stop 42. After s~ldering, an intermediate portion o~ the base, including the stop 42, is removed by shearing as shown at 50, and the spring arm 30 thereafter moves against the surface of the post 26. The spring arm can be disengaged from the post by simply flexing it away from the post. The flexing force can be applied against the end portion or the reverse bend 39 of the spring arm.
Figure 5 shows a short section of a strip of Y `~
blanks from which switch devices in accordance with the invention are formed. The parts of the blanks are iden-tified wi-th the same reference numerals, differentiated by prime rnarks, as were used above in the description of the formed s~itch devices. As is apparent from Figure ~, contact metal such as gold can be plated in a narrow band of the strip as shown at 56~and in the formed switch device of Figure 19 the plated surfaces will be on the rolled contact post 26 and on the con-tact surface 36. The plating is applied to only onesurface of the strip of Figure 5 since the surface of the post and the contact surface 36 are both on the visible sides o~ the blanks of Figure 5.
The preloading or prestressing of the canti-lever spring arm 30 is achieved by imparting the pro-file shown in Figure 6 to the portion 30' of the blank prior to bending the base portion from the plane of the blank to its position as shown in ~igurè 1. The stop member ~2' may be struck upwardly f'rom the plane of the blank so that it will engage the spring arm 30'. When the spring arm 30' is formed as shown in Figure 6, the end portion 40' is drawn inwardly as is apparent from a comparison of the lower blank in Figure 5, which has an unformed or flat spring arm 30', with the upper I~lank.
Switch devices in accordance with the inven-tion can easily be inserted into circuit board holes ' 9~
by means of automatic or semi-automatic insertion machines. By virtue of the fact that two tabs 16, 1 are provided and these tabs are clinched against the underside of the circuit board after insertion, the holes l~ which receive the ta~bs can be relatively over-size. The hole 6 which receives the integral solder post 2~ will be slightly oversize relativè to the dia- -rneter of the solder post. The two tabs 16, 1~ are pre-cisely located relative to each other durlng manu-facture since they are formed from the same section of' the blank and are adjacent to each other.
Figures 7 and ~ show another switch 5g in accordance with the inverntion, having a cantllever contact spring arm 60 which extends from a base 62. The base 62 extends in a plane that is normal to the surface of the circuit board ~ when the switch is in-stalled and which is also norrnal to the plane of the con-tact spring arm 60. A fixed support arm 64 extends from the base 62 alongside the spring arm 60 and 20 mounting tabs 66 are formed on the lower edge of this support arm. An ear 6~ extends laterally from the lower edge of the support arm beneath the lower edge of the contact spring 60 and the fixed contact post 70 is . f`ormed on the end of the ear 6~.
An additional ear 72 extends from the lower edge of the support arrn 64, the ear 72 being between .
the ear 6~ and the base 62. The ear 72 extends beyond 9527 _9_ , . ;i, . , ' ! , ' :
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, the spring arm 60 and has an upwardlr extending stop 7 on its end.
The contact spring arm 60 has a resili.ent bias such that it tends to move against the fixed 5 contact post 70 but it is prevented from doing so prior .
to insertion into the circuit board by the stop 74.
; After insertion of the switch 5g into holes 76~ 7~ in the circuit board, the stop 74 is bent downwardly as shown in Figure ~, so that the spring arm 60 can move against the fixed contact post 70. An opening ~0 is provided in the circuit board g to receive the stop 7 when it is bent downwardly. The fixed contact post 70 is electric~lly isolated frorn the spring arm 60 by punching out a portion of the ear 6~ as shown at ~0.
This punching operation is also carried out after the switch is assembled to the circuit board.
The switch of Figure 7 may also be manu- .
factured as a part of a continuous strip of switches with the individual switches extending from a carrier strip ~2. The switches are carried to the carrier strip by a connecting section ~ which is removed by severing prior to insertion of the switch into the circuit board holes.
Figure 9 shows a flat blank from which the switch 5~ is produced. The parts of the blank are iden~
tified wi~h the same reference numerals, dlfferentiated by prime marks, as are used above in the description of :, :
the switch. The finished switch is produced by bending and forming the blank shown in Figure 9 along the bend llnes required to give the switch its final form~
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U.S. Patent ~,152,556 discloses a stamped and formed sheet metal switch device having a cantilever spring, a mounting tab for mounting the spring on a cir-cuit board, and a fixed contact which is also intended to be mounted on a circuit board. The parts of the switch shown in that patent publication are produced by stamping and forming sheet metal and are all inte-gral with each other. After the switch is assembled to the circuit board, connecting portions of the switch device which connect the f'i.xed contact to the spring arm are removed so that the spring arm is electrically isolated from the switch contact. The switch is there~
fore a normally open switch which can be closed by moving the spring arm against the fixed contact. The f'lxed contac-t and the spring arm are connected to the circuit board conductors so that movement of the spring arm against the fixed contact completes a circuit path ~, ~q ... . . . . . . .... . . .. . . ....
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'7 between the circult board conductors.
The switch shown in U.S. Patent ~,152,556 is normally open and it would be desirable to produce a switch, by stamping and forming sheet metal, which would be normally closed after being assembled to the circuit board.
The present invention in accordance with one ~
aspect thereof is directed to the achievement of a one-piece switch device which, after assembly to a circuit board forms a normally c]osed switch. In accordance with a further aspect, the invention is directed to the production of switch devices in strip form so that indi-vidual switch devices can be mounted in circuit boards I by means of automatic and semi-automatic insertion machines.
A switch device in accordance with the inven-tion comprises a one-piece stamped and formed switch having a cantilever contact spring that has a fixed end and a free end, a contact post which is contacted by the contact spring, and mounting members for mounting the fixed end of the contact spring in a circuit board.
The contact post is connect,ed to the switch by remov-able portions of the stamped and formed part which are removed after the switch is assembled to the circuit board. A switch in accordance with the invention is characteri~ed in that the free end of the cantilever contact spring is resiliently biased towards the con-tact portion and the free end of the cantilever contact ... ; - . . . . . . . . .
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spring is held in a location which is spaced :Erom the contact post by an inte-gral stop. The stop is disengaged from the cantilever spring after the spring has been inserted into the circuit board so that the spring arm moves against the contact post under the influence of its resilient bias.
One embodiment of the invention has an integral stop for the contact spring which is removed from the switch after the switch is inserted into the circuit board. An alternative embodiment has a stop which is simply bent after insertion of the switch into the circuit board so that the stop is disengaged from the spring arm.
In summary, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a one-piece stamped and formed switch device which is intended for mounting in holes in a circuit board as a circuit board switch of the type comprising a fixed contact post and a cantilever spring arm which is engageable with said contact post, said switch device comprising: an elongated flat base portion having spring arm mounting means extending therefTom at one end thereof, said spring arm mounting means extending substantially normally of said base por-tion in a first direction, a flange extending normally of said base portion at the other end thereof in a second direction which is the opposite direction from said first direction, said contact post being integral with said flange and extending beside said flange, said post projecting in said one direction past the plane of said base portion, and normally of the plane of said base portion, said cantilever spring arm being disposed beside said base portion in a plane which extends normally of the plane of said base portion, said spring arm having a fixed end which is integral with said base portion at said one endJ said spring arm extending beside saicl base portion and past said flange whereby, upon insertion of said spring arm mounting means and said contact post into circuit board holes and soldering said mounting means and said post .
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to conductors on the ~mderside of said circuit board, and upon thereafter re-moving intermediate portions of said base, said contact post will be elec-trically isolated from said spring arm mounting means and said spring arm can flex against portions of said post thereby providing a switch on said circuit board for switching said two conductors.
Specific examples of switches according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a short section of strip having switch devices in accordance with the invention integral therewith.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing a switch device mounted on a circuit board prior to soldering of the mounting post and tabs to the circuit board conductors.
FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the appearance of the parts after soldering and after removal of intermediate portions of the base of the switch.
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FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the switch OIl the circuit board prior to soldering.
~ IGURE 5 is a plan view of a short section of a carrier strip having switch blanks integral there-with.
FIGURE 6 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 o~ Figure 5. ^
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another em-bodiment of the invention showing the switch spaced from the surface of a circuit board.
FIGURE ~ is a view showing the switch installed on the circuit board.
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the flat blank ~rom which the switch of Figure 7 is formed.
As shown in Figure 3, a switch device 2 in accordance with the invention is intended for mounting in holes 4, 6 in a circuit board ~ having conduc-tors 10, 12 on its underside. The switch device provides switching between these conductors, the disclosed form of the invention being a normally closed switch so that a circuit path will exist between the conductors until the switch is opened. \
Prior to insertion ~\to the holes ~, 6, the switch device 2 comprises a relàtively elongated flat base portion 14 having a tab 16 extending downwardly from the first end 20 thereof and having an additional ; tab 1~ extending downwardly from the base intermediate :`
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lts ends. The lefthand portion as viewed in the drawing 22 of the base is of reduced width and has an up-standing flange 24 at its end. The flange 24 has a lat-erally extending ear portion which is rolled as shown at 26 to form a contact post on the upper surface of the circuit board. The rolled ear portion extends down wardly beneath the plane of the base 1~ to~ provide a -mounting post 2~ which is soldered to the conductor 12 on the circuit board.
A cantilever spring arm 30 extends beside the lefthand edge 29 of the base portion and is integral at its fixed end 34 with the base portion as shown at 32. As will be explained below, the spring arm is formed when a flat spring blank is bent upwardly from the plane o~ the base portion 14.
The spring arm is of reduced width along its length and has a contact portion 36 which is opposed to the surface of the contact post 26. The spring arm extends obliquely towards and pas-t the post from the contact portion as shown at 3~ and is then bent as shown at 39 to provide a free end portion l,0.
The spring arm 30 has a resilient bias urging it to move towards and against the surface of the con-tact post 26, however, in its as-manufactured form, the spring arm is maintained in spaced relationship to the contact post by means of a stop 42 which is lntegral with with the edge 44 of the reduced width portion 22 - , .
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of the base. This stop extends obliquely upwardly from the plane of the base and bears against the surface of the contact spring.
Switch devices in accordance with the invention are produced in continuous strip form, each switch device being connected to a carrier strip L~6 by means of a connecting section 4g which extends from the righthand edge of the spring arm at the fixed end thereof.
In use, an individual switch device is removed from the carrier strip and inserted into the holes 4, 6 of the circuit board as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The tabs 16, ~ are then clinched against the conductor 10 of the circuit board and the lower ends of these tabs and the lower end of the mounting post 6 are all soldered to the conductors. As shown in Figure 4, the circuit board is provided with an en-larged hole 52 beneath and intermediate portion of the base 14 and beneath the stop 42. After s~ldering, an intermediate portion o~ the base, including the stop 42, is removed by shearing as shown at 50, and the spring arm 30 thereafter moves against the surface of the post 26. The spring arm can be disengaged from the post by simply flexing it away from the post. The flexing force can be applied against the end portion or the reverse bend 39 of the spring arm.
Figure 5 shows a short section of a strip of Y `~
blanks from which switch devices in accordance with the invention are formed. The parts of the blanks are iden-tified wi-th the same reference numerals, differentiated by prime rnarks, as were used above in the description of the formed s~itch devices. As is apparent from Figure ~, contact metal such as gold can be plated in a narrow band of the strip as shown at 56~and in the formed switch device of Figure 19 the plated surfaces will be on the rolled contact post 26 and on the con-tact surface 36. The plating is applied to only onesurface of the strip of Figure 5 since the surface of the post and the contact surface 36 are both on the visible sides o~ the blanks of Figure 5.
The preloading or prestressing of the canti-lever spring arm 30 is achieved by imparting the pro-file shown in Figure 6 to the portion 30' of the blank prior to bending the base portion from the plane of the blank to its position as shown in ~igurè 1. The stop member ~2' may be struck upwardly f'rom the plane of the blank so that it will engage the spring arm 30'. When the spring arm 30' is formed as shown in Figure 6, the end portion 40' is drawn inwardly as is apparent from a comparison of the lower blank in Figure 5, which has an unformed or flat spring arm 30', with the upper I~lank.
Switch devices in accordance with the inven-tion can easily be inserted into circuit board holes ' 9~
by means of automatic or semi-automatic insertion machines. By virtue of the fact that two tabs 16, 1 are provided and these tabs are clinched against the underside of the circuit board after insertion, the holes l~ which receive the ta~bs can be relatively over-size. The hole 6 which receives the integral solder post 2~ will be slightly oversize relativè to the dia- -rneter of the solder post. The two tabs 16, 1~ are pre-cisely located relative to each other durlng manu-facture since they are formed from the same section of' the blank and are adjacent to each other.
Figures 7 and ~ show another switch 5g in accordance with the inverntion, having a cantllever contact spring arm 60 which extends from a base 62. The base 62 extends in a plane that is normal to the surface of the circuit board ~ when the switch is in-stalled and which is also norrnal to the plane of the con-tact spring arm 60. A fixed support arm 64 extends from the base 62 alongside the spring arm 60 and 20 mounting tabs 66 are formed on the lower edge of this support arm. An ear 6~ extends laterally from the lower edge of the support arm beneath the lower edge of the contact spring 60 and the fixed contact post 70 is . f`ormed on the end of the ear 6~.
An additional ear 72 extends from the lower edge of the support arrn 64, the ear 72 being between .
the ear 6~ and the base 62. The ear 72 extends beyond 9527 _9_ , . ;i, . , ' ! , ' :
' ';
, the spring arm 60 and has an upwardlr extending stop 7 on its end.
The contact spring arm 60 has a resili.ent bias such that it tends to move against the fixed 5 contact post 70 but it is prevented from doing so prior .
to insertion into the circuit board by the stop 74.
; After insertion of the switch 5g into holes 76~ 7~ in the circuit board, the stop 74 is bent downwardly as shown in Figure ~, so that the spring arm 60 can move against the fixed contact post 70. An opening ~0 is provided in the circuit board g to receive the stop 7 when it is bent downwardly. The fixed contact post 70 is electric~lly isolated frorn the spring arm 60 by punching out a portion of the ear 6~ as shown at ~0.
This punching operation is also carried out after the switch is assembled to the circuit board.
The switch of Figure 7 may also be manu- .
factured as a part of a continuous strip of switches with the individual switches extending from a carrier strip ~2. The switches are carried to the carrier strip by a connecting section ~ which is removed by severing prior to insertion of the switch into the circuit board holes.
Figure 9 shows a flat blank from which the switch 5~ is produced. The parts of the blank are iden~
tified wi~h the same reference numerals, dlfferentiated by prime marks, as are used above in the description of :, :
the switch. The finished switch is produced by bending and forming the blank shown in Figure 9 along the bend llnes required to give the switch its final form~
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Claims (10)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A one-piece stamped and formed switch device which is intended for mounting in holes in a circuit board as a circuit board switch of the type comprising a fixed contact post and a cantilever spring arm which is engageable with said contact post, said switch device comprising: an elongated flat base portion having spring arm mounting means extending therefrom at one end there-of, said spring arm mounting means extending substantially normally of said base portion in a first direction, a flange extending normally of said base portion at the other end thereof in a second direction which is the opposite direction from said first direction, said contact post being integral with said flange and extending beside said flange, said post projecting in said one direc-tion past the plane of said base portion, and normally of the plane of said base portion, said cantilever spring arm being disposed beside said base portion in a plane which extends normally of the plane of said base portion, said spring arm having a fixed end which is integral with said base portion at said one end, said spring arm extending beside said base portion and past said flange whereby, upon insertion of said spring arm mounting means and said contact post into circuit board holes and soldering said mounting means and said post to conductors on the underside of said circuit board, and upon thereafter removing intermediate portions of said base, said contact post will be electrically isolated from said spring arm mounting means and said spring arm can flex against portions of said post thereby providing a switch on said circuit board for switching said two conductors.
2. A switch device as set forth in claim 1, said spring arm being resil-iently biased towards said contact post, said switch device having a stop integral with said base portion and extending towards said spring arm, said stop maintaining said spring arm in spaced relationship from said contact post, said stop being removable along with said intermediate portions of said base portion whereby said spring arm will move against said post to provide a normally closed switch.
3. A one-piece stamped and formed switch device which is intended for mounting in holes in a circuit board as a normally closed circuit board switch, said switch device comprising: an elongated flat base portion having spring arm mounting means extending therefrom at one end thereof, said spring arm mounting means extending substantially normally of said base portion in a first direction, a flange extending normally of said base portion at the other end thereof in a second direction which is the opposite direction from said first direction, said flange having an integral contact post extending beside said flange and projecting in said one direction past the plane of said base portion, a cantilever spring arm disposed beside said base portion in a plane which extends normally of the plane of said base portion, said spring arm having a fixed end which is integral with said base portion at said one end, said spring arm extending beside said base portion and past said flange, said spring arm having a resilient bias towards said flange, a stop extending from said one side edge of said base portion intermediate said ends, said stop being against said spring arm and restraining said spring arm against its resilient bias and thereby maintaining said spring arm in spaced relationship to said flange whereby, upon insertion of said spring arm mounting means and said contact post into circuit board holes, soldering said spring arm mounting means and said post to conductors on the underside of said circuit board, and thereafter removing intermediate portions of said base including said stop, said contact post will be electrically isolated from said spring arm mounting means and said spring arm will move against, and be resiliently biased against, portions of said flange thereby providing a normally closed switch on said circuit board.
4. A switch device as set forth in claim 3, said contact post comprising rolled portions of said flange.
5. A switch device as set forth in claim 4, portions of said spring arm and parts of said rolled portions constituting contact surfaces which are normally against each other when said switch device is installed on a circuit board, said contact surfaces having contact metal coated thereon.
6. A switch device as set forth in claim 5, said spring arm being of decreasing width along its length, said stop extending obliquely from said one side edge of said base towards said spring arm.
7. A switch device as set forth in claim 6, said spring arm mounting means comprising a first tab extending from said base at said one end and a second tab extending from said base intermediate the ends thereof.
8. A switch device as set forth in claim 3, said switch device being inte-gral with a continuous carrier strip having a plurality of additional switch devices, which are identical to said switch device, internal therewith at spaced intervals along its length.
9. A switch device as set forth in claim 7, said switch device being integral with a continuous carrier strip having a plurality of additional switch devices, which are identical to said switch device, internal therewith at spaced intervals along its length.
10. A switch device as set forth in claim 8 or 9, said switch device being connected to said carrier strip by means of a connecting section extendingfrom said fixed end of said spring arm to said carrier strip.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/218,853 US4350855A (en) | 1980-12-22 | 1980-12-22 | Electrical switch assembly |
| US218,853 | 1980-12-22 | ||
| US238,885 | 1981-02-27 | ||
| US06/238,885 US4357510A (en) | 1981-02-27 | 1981-02-27 | Switch device for use on circuit board |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1159097A true CA1159097A (en) | 1983-12-20 |
Family
ID=26913304
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392829A Expired CA1159097A (en) | 1980-12-22 | 1981-12-21 | Switch device for use on circuit board |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0055528B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1159097A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3170043D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES505930A0 (en) |
| HK (1) | HK55188A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19642808C1 (en) * | 1996-10-17 | 1998-04-23 | Siedle & Soehne S | Method of making a contact assembly |
| DE29707018U1 (en) * | 1997-04-18 | 1997-07-03 | Siemens AG, 80333 München | Contact device for a printed circuit board |
| FR2781919B1 (en) * | 1998-07-31 | 2000-09-01 | Itt Mfg Enterprises Inc | NORMALLY CLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3437772A (en) * | 1966-06-06 | 1969-04-08 | Cutler Hammer Inc | Contact structure for electrical switching device and method of assembly |
| DE2145584A1 (en) * | 1971-09-13 | 1973-03-22 | Philips Patentverwaltung | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A CONTACT SWITCH WITH SEVERAL CONTACT SPRINGS ARRANGED IN PARALLEL |
| DE2638941C2 (en) * | 1976-08-28 | 1978-09-14 | Rudolf Schadow Gmbh, 1000 Berlin | Key unit with sliding key switches arranged next to one another |
| US4144430A (en) * | 1978-03-10 | 1979-03-13 | Amp Incorporated | Cantilever spring contact having integral support pin |
-
1981
- 1981-10-01 ES ES505930A patent/ES505930A0/en active Granted
- 1981-12-04 EP EP19810305722 patent/EP0055528B1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-12-04 DE DE8181305722T patent/DE3170043D1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-12-21 CA CA000392829A patent/CA1159097A/en not_active Expired
-
1988
- 1988-07-21 HK HK55188A patent/HK55188A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES8207377A1 (en) | 1982-09-01 |
| ES505930A0 (en) | 1982-09-01 |
| HK55188A (en) | 1988-07-29 |
| DE3170043D1 (en) | 1985-05-23 |
| EP0055528A1 (en) | 1982-07-07 |
| EP0055528B1 (en) | 1985-04-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |