US2058566A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

- ct. 27, 1936. H. cATRoN ET AL. l2,058,566

Oct. 27, 1936. H. cATRoN Er AL SWITCH` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1934 /llIlllllIl/l Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH corporation of Indiana Application March 5, 1934, Serial No. '114,014

10 Claims.

10 hicle body or the like, whereby opening movement of the compartment closure member or vehicle door will operate the switch to actuate a light or the like.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a switch of this type which isoperated solely by movement of the closure member, and which employs a projecting spherical roller member or plunger which is held in inoperative position by engagement with the closure member, but, upon opening movement of the closure mem- 20 ber cr door, is resiliently urged into switch-operating position. The switch may be employed to actuate suitable illuminating means within the compartment, or to sound an alarm or the like upon unauthorized opening of the compartment. rl'he illuminating means may be mounted directly upon the switch housing, if desired, or may be at a point removed therefrom.

An advantage provided by the present invention is the disposition of the switch housing and operating structure entirely within the confines of the compartment, the only projecting portion thereof being the operating member which is disposed within the door opening where it is engaged by the closure member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified switch construction in which the majority of structural parts are made from pressed sheet metal or the like, and in which the contact-engaging means is directly engaged by the projecting roller member or plunger. In order to simplify the construction still further, the roller member is preferably spherical in shape so that no aligning or special positioning thereof is required.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision. of a compact switch structure, having relatively few parts, and in which contact is effected by a resilient wiping action, insuring positiveness of operation and lessening the likelihood `of the parts getting out of position or adjustment.

Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a switch structure wherein the movable contact-carrying means is disposed g, within and directly engages the interior of the switch housing, whereby it is guided for its reciprocatory movement during operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of a compartment, showing the engagement of the closure member with the switch;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the switch structure'shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an 4end elevational view of the switch structure shown in Figure 2, with the terminal carrying member and light `socket removed therefrom;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of switch;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the switch shown in Flgure;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Figure '7 Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 with the terminal carrying member removed; and

Figure lil is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Illlt of Figure 8, showing certain details of the contact-carrying structure.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in

Figure l I have disclosed a compartment indicated generally by the reference numeral 5, having a front wall portion 6 provided with an opening indicated at 1 and adapted to be closed by the closure member 8 engaging at its lower end against an inwardly projecting portion of the wall 6, as indicated at I0. The member 8 may be pivoted at one of its lateral edges to the compartment.

The wall G, adjacent the opening 1, has a rearwardly extending portion indicated at Il,

which serves as a supporting means for the switch housing I2, the housing having extending portions indicatedgenerally at I3 in Figure 2, which are adapted'to receive securing screw members or the like I4 for mounting the housing in fixed position upon the supporting flange Il. It desired, the housing may be spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the ange.

The housing I2 of the switch is preferably rectangular in shape and is provided with the integral end portion I5 forming a closure for the rear of the housing. The forward portion of the housing has projecting wing portions I5 which are adapted to be engaged by the bent over edges I1 of a plate member I8 disposed across the front of the housing.

Disposed within the housing I2 and engaging the lower surface and normally extending side walls thereof is a contact carrying member indi- ;cated at 20, of inverted U-shape, having a projecting portion 2l struck out of the rearward wall thereof and aligned with a corresponding projecting portion 22 formed in the rear wall I5 of the housing, the projecting portions 2I and 22 serving as seating means for a coiled spring member 23 which normally urges the contact carrying means 2D forwardly within the housing I2.

The housing I2 and the contact carrying member 2li are both formed from sheet metal stampings, and the member 28 is provided with turned up defining edges 24 which are adapted to provide for sliding movement of the member 20 upon the inner surface of the bottom of the housing I2.

Formed in the upper surface of the contact carrying member 20 is a struck out or raised contact surface 25, which projects above the plane of the member 2li and is disposed substantially centrally thereof as shown in Figure 4. A suitable insulating member 26, substantially rectangular in shape, is provided with a cutaway portion adapted to receive the raised contact surface 25 of the member 20, and is seated upon the upper surface of the contact carrying member 2li. A pair of struck-up tongue members 21, formed integral with the member 2li, engage in suitable notches formed in the edges of the member 26 for centering the member 28 with respect to' the Itot of the member 20. 'Ihe insulating member extends substantially coplanar with the contact surface 25.

The switch housing I2 is closed by means of a suitable insulating plate member 30, which is adapted to t over the open face of the housing I2, and which is held in position thereon by means of the extending tongue portions 3| formed integral ywith the housing I2 and extending through suitable notches formed in the member 38. These tongue portions are slit and bent over, as shown in Figure 2, and engage the outer surface of the member 30 to hold it in fixed position on the housing I2.

The terminal plate 30 is adapted to carrya terminal lug member 32, which`mernber is provided with a portion of reduced diameter, indicated at 33, extending through the member 30 and peened over at its inner edge to embrace the inner surface of the member 30 for holding the lug 32 securely in position. A contact member indicated at 34 is centered about the reduced portionY 33 of the lug 32, and is provided with a key portion 35 adapted to secure it in nonrotative position with respect to the member 30. The extending end portion of the member 34 is curved back to form a contact, as indicated at 35, and is formed of resilient material. A suitable cap screw or terminal screw 31 is threaded into the terminal lug 32, for securing a conductor or the like to the terminal. This conductor is shown in Figure 1 by the reference numeral 38.

The member 38 is provided with a second contact, indicated by the numeral 40, which is secured in position on the inner surface of the member 35 by means of the rivet 4I, the terminal 40 having a centering lug or tongue 42 engaging within a suitable recess formed in the member 38. The member 4I) is formed of resilient material, and extends inwardly into the housing, terminating in a smoothly curved contact portion 43 adapted to be engaged by the raised contact surface 25 of the member 20. Thus, upon movement of the member 20 into the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the contact surface 25 thereof is wiped across the contact portion 43 of the contact 4I), to establish contact between the member 20 and the contact 40. The casing or housing I2 is grounded to the frame of the vehicle or to any other suitable ground connected to the closure member, and thus connection between the two contacts 34 and 40 establishes a completed circuit.

A socket, indicated generally by the reference numeral 45, comprises a. sheet metal member having a rear portion bent upwardly, as indicated at 45, and inwardly to form a receiving means or socket for the base 41 of an electric light bulb 48. The contact stud 49, extending from the base 41, is adapted to be engaged with the surface 36 of the contact 34. The circuit is thus traced through the terminal lug 32 and contact 34 to one terminal of the bulb 48. The other terminal of the bulb, comprising the base portion 41, is electrically connected to the resilient wing portions 46 which are electrically connected through the rivet 4I, the contact surface 25 of the member 2li, and the housing I2, to ground.

The bulb portion 48 of the light is disposed within the confines of the socket member 45, and its tip portion is held within the curved centrally extending arm member 50 carried by the socket 45. It is thus apparent that the bulb 48 may be easily removed from and placed within the socket, and that it isv electrically connected through the contacts 48 and 35, with the electrical circuit controlled by the switch. The base portion of the socket 45 is preferably provided with a lug 5|, which is adapted to extend into a suitable opening formed in the member 3D for non-rotatably mounting the socket in position on the outer face of the closure member 30.

Referring now in detail to the actuating means for the switch, this comprises a spherical metallic member indicated at 53, which member has its center disposed rearwardly of the closure plate I8, the plate I3 having an opening formed therein of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the sphere 53. Thus, outward displacement of the sphere or plunger member from the housing by the spring tension is prevented by its engagement with the closure plate I8. The member 53 has direct abutting engagement with the contact carrying means 20, and the spring member 23 normally forces the plunger into engagement with the closure plate I8.

The door 8 is provided with a flanged or extruded switch engaging portion 54, which, when the door is in the position shown in Figure l, is adapted to force the ball member 53 inwardly, moving the member 20 inwardly with respect to the housing I2 against the pressure of the spring member 23. This moves the contact surface 25 away from engagement with the contact surface 43 of the contact 40, and thus breaks the circuit. During all times that the door is in closed position, the plunger or ball member 53 is thus pressed inwardly by engagement with a portion of the surface of the door, and consequently no electric circuit is established through the bulb 4B. However, When the door 8 is opened, the spring 23 forces the plunger outwardly by means of the contact-carrying member 20 and moves the contact surface 25 into engagement with the contact 40. This completes the circuit and actuates the light member.

It will thus be seen that the actuation of the switch is controlled entirely by movement of the door member 8, this movement either depressing or allowing the plunger 53 to move inwardly or outwardly with respect to the housing I2, and

consequently disengaging or engaging the contact surface 25 with the contact 40 to break or complete the circuit.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, the switch disclosed in this embodiment is adapted for use in substantially the same manner as the switch shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, but in this case the means actuated by the switch, such as the light 48, or any other suitable means, is disposed at a point removed from the switch structure.

The switch of this invention comprises a housing 55, of generally rectangular shape, having an end closure member 56 provided with normally extending tongue portions 51 engaging in and preferably spot-welded to suitable recesses formed in the side walls of the housing 55. These recesses are indicated at 58.

The rear wall 56 of the housing is provided with an inwardly extending boss portion 59, which is adapted to form a seat for one end of the spring member 60.

The housing is provided with a closure member indicated at 6| formed of insulating material or the like, which is provided with notched edges adapted to receive extending tongue portions 62 carried by the upper edges of the housing and the rear wall 56 thereof, which are bent over to engage the outer surface of the member 6| to hold it firmly in position over the housing. A pair of terminal lug members 63 are provided, and are carried upon the outer surface of the switch closure member 6 I. The lugs 63 terminate in suitable receiving portions provided with terminal screws 64 for securing conductors or the like thereto. Rivets 65 extend through the lugs and the insulating member 6| for securing the lugs in position upon the closure member. At their inner ends, the lugs 63 are provid-ed with secondary riveting members 66, which have their inner surfaces rounded to provide a pair of spaced contacts 61.

A suitable carrier member, of generally U- shape formed from a sheet metal stamping or the like and indicated at 10, is adapted to have sliding movement within the housing 55, and has its rear wall provided with a boss portion 1| forming a seat for the opposite end of the spring 60. The spring thus tends to urge the member 1D outwardly of the switch housing. Disposed substantially centrally of the member 10 is a second spring member 12, biased at one end about a raised boss 13 formed in the base of the member 10, and engaging at its Opposite end within a recess formed in an insulating contact-carrying member 14. The member 14 is substantially movement within the carrier member 10. as shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to Figure 9, it will be noted that a metallic contact engaging member 16 is provided, extending along the upper surface of the member 14, and adapted to engage the contacts 61 formed on the inner surface of the rivets 66. The contact member 16 has a pair of downwardly extending end portions passing through notches 11 formed in the member 14, and turned over at their inner ends, as indicated at 18 in Figure 10, to mount the contact-engaging member 16 securely upon the carrier member 14.

' It will be apparent that upon movement cf the member 10 outwardly of the switch housing 55 under the tension of the spring 60, the contact engaging member 16 will engage the surfaces 61 of the rivets 66, and will force the carrier member 14 inwardly within the U-shaped member 10 against the pressure of the spring 12, due to the projection of the surfaces 61 inwardly of the plane of the member 6|. Thus a smooth resilient wiping action is provided across the surfaces of the contact 61. Upon engagement of the member 16 across these surfaces, contact is effected between the terminal lugs 63, and consequently the circuit connected to these lugs is energized.

The housing 55 is provided with a pair of extending wing portions- 80 which are adaptedto have secured thereacross a closure plate member 8|, the member 8| being spot-welded orotherwise suitably secured to the wing portion 80. The wing portions 80 and the member 8| are Vadapted to provide for mounting of the switch in desired position adjacent a door opening or the like, the switch being provided with a spherical actuating member 82 restrained against displacement outwardly of the housing 55 by means of the opening formed in the closure plate 8|, which opening is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the actuating member 82. The actuating member 82 has direct abutting engagement with the U- shaped contact-carrying means, and, when unrestrained against outward movement, assumes the position shown in Figure 8, in which position the carrier 10 is so disposed as to engage the member 16 across the contact surfaces 61 of the rivets 66. When a door or similar closure member i s moved into closed position, the member l2 which projects into the door opening, is depressed, moving the member 1|) rearwardly within the housing 55, and disengaging the contact engaging member 16 from the spaced contacts 61, whereby the circuit is broken between the terminals 64 of the lugs 63. Preferably the switch member is provided with reenforcing rib portions 83 adjacent the open end thereof.

It will thus be apparent that upon mountingr of the switch shown in either of the embodiments described, with the actuating members 53 or 82 disposed within a door opening or the like, movement of the closure member into closed position will depress the actuating member, -moving the contact engaging means out of engagement, and thus opening the switch circuit. The switch is held in inoperative position againstthe tension of the spring member mounted within the switch housing, and upon opening movement` of the closure member away from the door opening or clo'- sure opening, the spring will force the contact carrying means outwardly, and will engage the switch contact to close a suitable circuit for ac-. tuating an electric light, sounding an alarm, or for similar purposes.

It should be noted that the major parts of the switch construction are formed from stamped sheet metal, that relatively few parts are provided, and that by the provision of the actuating spherical roller member or plunger, a simplified switch structure is provided which is completely enclosed, and which may be disposed in position entirely within the compartment or enclosure. Further, the means controlled by actuation of the switch can be mounted either directly upon the switch, or at a point removed therefrom, without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, by the provision of the spring members 12 or the resilient contact 40 of Figure 3. a resilient wiping action is provided across the contact surfaces, which maintains them clean, and serves to assure positiveness of operation. The unitary housing construction, with all of the movable parts disposed for reciprocatory movement therein, simplifies the construction of the switch, and reduces the likelihood of any of the parts coming out of alignment or adjustment.

Inasmuch as various changes in the details of design and construction of the switch provided by the present invention may be made, without departing therefrom, we do not intend to be limited to the particular construction disclosed, but only as defined by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A switch of the class described having a metallic switch housing of channel section, contact-engaging means reciprocable in said housing and having an integral raised contact surface, an insulating member disposed coplanar with said surface and carried by said contact-engaging means, means on said contact engaging means for maintaining said insulating member in fixed position with respect to said contact surface, said contact engaging means having direct contact engagement with said housing opposite said contact surface, an insulating closure member for the housing having contact means extending therethrough into said housing, means in said housing normally urging said contact-engaging means into engagement with said contact means, a ball member confined within said housing and normally forced partially outwardly thereof by said contact-engaging means, whereby external engagement of said ball member to move said member inwardly disengages said contact-engaging means.

2. In a switch of the class described having a metallic housing of channel-shaped section, a closure `member therefor having an inwardly projecting spring contact, and means for engaging said contact comprising an inverted U-shaped member slidable endwise in said housing and having a raised contact-engaging surface, insulating means disposed about and coplanar with said contact surface, and integral means carried by said U-shaped member for holding said insulating means in position.

3. A contact-engaging member for a'switch of the class described comprising an inverted U- shaped member having rounded end portions providing for sliding movement thereof, an integral raised contact surface struck out of said member, insulating means disposed about and coplanar with said raised surface, and integral projecting means formed on said member for securing said insulating means in position for conjoint movement with said member.

4. A switch comprising a channel-shaped housing having an insulating closure member secured thereto, a resilient contact depending into said housing, a carrier member slidable in said housing and having a raised contact surface adapted to engage said contact, insulating means carried by said carrier member and disposed coplanar with said surface, and a ball projecting partially out of one end of said housing and movable axially of said housing for moving said surface out of engagement with said contact.

5. A switch comprising a switch housing, an inverted U-shaped carrier member therein having reciprocatory movement in said housing, the ends of said U-shaped member being reversely rolled to engage the floor of said housing for free sliding movement in said housing, spring means biased between an end wall of said housing and the adjacent leg of said U-shaped member, contact means in said housing, contact means formed integral with and projecting from the upper surface of said U-shaped member and normally urged into engagement with said contact means, and an insulating plate lying substantially coplanar with said last named means and held in fixed position about said projecting means.

6. A switch comprising a switch housing, a contact-engaging member reciprocatory in said housing, spring means biased between one end of said housing and said member, a resilient contact extending into said housing, an integral raised planar contact surface on said member for engaging said contact, planar insulating means carried by said member and extending coplanar with said surface, and operating means projecting from the opposite end of said housing and having abutting engagement with said member.

7. A contact-engaging member for a switch of the class described comprising an inverted U- shaped member having outwardly rolled end portions, an integral planar contact portion projecting upwardly from .said member, integral upwardly extending lugs spaced upon opposite sides of said contact portion, and a planar insulating member having opposed recesses engaged by said lugs and having a central cut-out portion receiving said raised contact portion of said member.

8. A contact-engaging member for a switch of the class described comprising a reciprocatory member having a raised planar contact portion extending upwardly from the central portion thereof, a planar insulating member having a central opening and fitting over said contact portion in coplanar relationship therewith, and means formed integral with said contact engaging member for retaining said insulating member in position.

9. In combination, a rectangular switch housing, a reciprocatory inverted U-shaped contactengaging member confined entirely within said housing for endwise movement therein, spring means biased between one end of said housing and one leg of said member, a spherical actuating member, means for retaining the major portion of said spherical member within the opposite end of said housing, said spherical member having abutting engagement with the other leg of said U-shaped member, Contact means extending into said housing, and means for engaging said contact means carried by and extending upwardly of and substantially centrally of the outer surface of the base portion of said U-shaped member.

l0. A switch of the class described including a rectangular switch housing having an insulated terminal-carrying closure plate provided with an amate@ internally projecting resilient Contact, an inverted U-shaped metallic member disposed entirely within said housing for endwise reciprocatory movement therein and in continuous electrical engagement with said housing, spring means biased solely between the center of one end wall of said housing and the center ofA the adjacent leg portion of said member, a raised contact portion on the outer surface of the base of said member normally maintained in engagement with said Contact by said spring means, in-

sulating means carried by said outer surface about said contact portion and coplanar there1 with, and means having point contact with the center of the opposite leg portion of said member and. adapted to be engaged externally of said housing for moving said member out of contacting engagement and moving said insulating means between said Contact and said member.

HAROLD CATRON. RALPH L. DASHNER. MARION W. MORRIS.

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