US3247352A

US3247352A - Modular electrical components having means for side-by-side physical and electrical inter-connection

Info

Publication number: US3247352A
Application number: US172533A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reiner Kenneth
Original assignee: Reiner Industries Inc
Current assignee: Reiner Industries Inc
Priority date: 1962-02-12
Filing date: 1962-02-12
Publication date: 1966-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1983-04-19
Also published as: DE1490212A1; GB975696A

Description

April 19, 1966 K. REINER MODULAR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVING MEANS FOR SIDE-*BY-SIDE PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL INTER-CONNECTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 M m K INVENTOR.

BY /.2Jzz;v

Apnl 19, 1966 K. REINER 3, 4

MODULAR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVING MEANS FOR SIDE-BY-SIDE PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL INTER-CONNECTION Filed Feb. 12, 1962 E5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ZEw/En/ ,Hs/A/z-e,

INVENTOR.

April 19, 1966 K- REINER MODULAR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVING MEANS FOR SIDE-BY-SIDE PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL INTER-CONNECTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 flaw/Er flaws/ INVENTOR.

BY lrmkzfg United States Patent 3,247,352 MODULAR ELEQTRHUAL (ZOMPQNENTS HAVENG MEANS FOR SlDE-fiY-SEDE PHYSECAL AND ELEQTRHCAL INTER-CUNNECTHON Kenneth Rainer, Los Angeles, Calir"., assignor to Reiner Industries, Inc, Pico Rivera, Calif a corporation of California Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,533 Claims. (Cl. 260-467) This invention relates generally to electric circuit controlling and/or indicating lamp or signal lamp devices. More particularly, it relates to electric switch and lamp constructions which make it possible to include a plurality of switching and/or indicating lamp or signal lamp elements in a minimum of space, in arrangements which are pleasant in appearance and which are of such dimensions as to permit surface mounting. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to modular constructions wherein individual circuit controlling and/ or lamp modules may be associated with one another to form electrically and aesthetically integrated systems of as many circuits as desired, the arrangement being such that assembly of modules to one another is simply effected by plugging them together.

It is generally true that electrical outlets and switch de vices normally used for control of lighting have been of relatively large size. It has been the practice to form large openings or chambers in walk or panels, to support such outlets and switches in such openings, and to cover such openings and the switch housings with face plates. Such arrangements required defacement of the walls or panels and involved a good deal of expense and effort, and were further disadvantageous in that they limited the positions or surfaces where outlet boxes could be recessed into a wall without detrimentally affecting the structure, appearance, or operation of walls, door jambs, sliding appurtenances, etc. Because of these factors structural features dictated the location of switches in a room, and once the position of a switch was established, it became impractical or impossible to change it. Also, because of the large breaks in the walls required for switch and outlet boxes, extra large escntcheon or face plates were necessary, so that the switching and outlet functions utilized relatively large wall space areas per switch or outlet and a multiplicity of them became quite unsightly.

Aside from the above mentioned disadvantages, it is further generally true that switch constructions have lacked flexibility in the sense that the casings and electrical systems thereof have been such that multiplication of units by association of a plurality thereof with one another has not been possible in any simple manner, because neither individual casing units nor electrical constructions were such as to readily cooperate with one another to form either aesthetically or functionally integrated groups. Thus, it has generally been true that plural switch arrangements have had to be custom made or of the few common multiples which have been economically feasible to manufacture.

The present invention overcomes the above stated disadvantages or shortcomings of the prior art and provides economical switch constructions of extreme flexibility of use as well as of greatly improved appearance and functional utility. Such improved results are accomplished by novel constructions which make it possible for individual switch units to be associated with one another in side-by-side relationship. It is also possible, in the present invention, to provide external housing structures such that the association of switch modules with one another results in aesthetically coordinated and pleasing external appearances; which may be made so thin as to be either surface or flush mounted in relatively thin panels;

3,247,352 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 and which are so shaped and related to one another as to permit a plurality of switches to be operated by sweeping a finger across the face of the assembly.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide improved switch constructions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved switch constructions including signal or indicating lamp means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide modular switch and/or lamp constructions where-in individual modules are adapted to be readily associated with one another in electrically and aesthetic-ally coordinated groupings.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide casing enclosed switch and/ or lamp constructions adapted to be electrically connected to one another by mere linear association with one another.

A still further object of the present invention is to prov-ide switch and/ or lamp constructions of minimum depth which are particularly adaptable to surface or flush mounting on walls or panels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide switch and/ or lamp constructions which may be miniaturized to provide plural arrangements such as control panels and switch and signal or indicator boards in a minimum of space and with a minimum of cost and diificulty of installation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide switch constructions wherein a plurality of circuits may be impulse controlled and an indicator lamp utilized, if desired, all in a minimum of space.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide switch modules wherein each module is capable of impulse controlling a relay to switch a circuit or device to either on or off condition and to operate a signal lamp contained therein to indicate the condition of the circuit or device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide switch casing modules which are adapted to be associated linearly with one another in any number, and end casing portions for placement at the ends of the modular assembly, which in combination provide a multiple switch and housing construction of unitary design and pleasing appearance, wherein adjacent switches may be operated by sweeping a finger across the face of the assembly.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of improved switch means for providing impulse switch control of electrical devices and including lamp means to indicate the condition of such devices.

A further object of the present invention is to provide switch constructions having such a front wall configuration that the finger of an operator is guided along a path to actuate the switch operating buttons.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide improved switch means for low voltage control of electrical circuits and electrically operated devices.

These and other objects and the advantages attendant thereto will become apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are similarly numbered throughout and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a multiple segment or module switch and switch housing arrangement according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing a single module switch according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing all of the components of switches according to either FIG- URE 1 or FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3a is a perspective view of the left side end piece of the structure of FIGURES 1 to 3, illustrating a detail;

FIGURE 3b is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the central switch housing element of FIGURES 1 to 3;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1, on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5- -5 of FIGURE 1, on a scale similarto that of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a rear view of the construction of FIG-

URES

1, 4 and 5, with parts broken away for clarity of illustrations;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the rear closure member of the switch housing, taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6, and illustrating the wire attachment and contact details of the construction of FIGURES l to 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the line 38 of FIGURE 6, illustrating a manner of attachment of the rear cover plates to the switch housings; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 6, illustrating a manner of establishing electrical contact between portions of the modular switch construction.

The present invention is characterized by a sectional or modular construction of electrical components (switches and/or lamps) and the housings thereof which makes it possible to assemble any desired number of sections or modules into an electrically integrated structure. In this connection, attention is directed to the drawings, wherein FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate respectively a three-unit assembly and a single-unit assembly, which may be constructed of one or more of each of the parts shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, switches and housings therefor, according to the present invention, may be assembled by associating a left end member 10 and a right end member 12 with any desired number of switch or center sections 14. In order to align these elements properly and to assure the desired association of cooperating parts, a system of pegs 16 and recesses 18 are provided on these elements. Thus, when the casing pieces as illustrated at the top of FIGURE 3 are'pressed together longitudinally with the aligned pegs 16 inserted into the recesses 16, an assembly such as shown in FIG- URE 2 is formed, with contour lines aligned and forming a smooth, pleasing external appearance. Obviously, inclusion of three switch sections rather than one forms an assembly as shown in FIGURE 1, and any desired number of such sections may be employed.

Each switch section 14 comprises the external housing,

switch operating buttons

20, 21, a resilient conducting and switching frame 22, and a rear closure plate 24, and may be provided with a lamp 26 and a display window 28, if desired,

The housing of switch section 14 is open at the rear and has a front wall 36, a bottom wall 32, a top wall 34, and webs 36 forming side walls. Webs 36 extend rearwardly from the front wall a distance less than the total depth of the switch section to provide passageway for electrical wires, as will be later discussed, this detail being clearly shown in FIGURES 3, 3a, and 3b. The webs 36 have aligned alternate pegs 16 and recesses 18, as previously described, and are also provided with rectangular slots 33 for the purpose of receiving attaching tangs 40 on the rear closure plate 24 when the assembly of the switch parts is made. Webs 36 are each also provided with a pair of medially positioned spaced notches 42 in the edges thereof, to receive electrical transmission extensions of the frame 22, for a purpose and in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The front wall 30 of the switch housing has a pair of openings to accommodate

switch operating buttons

20, 21, and may be arcuately recessed from side to side about each switch operating button, as shown. The inner surface of the found on the side walls of the bases of such lamps.

front wall may be provided with a light bathe in the form of a web 44 extending laterally across the switch housing. In the central portion of the housing a pair of

posts

46 and 48 are provided, at the sides thereof, internally of the Webs 36 and positioned in the general area of the notches 42 in said webs. The post 46, on the right hand side of each switch housing, as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 (the left hand side of the rear view of FIGURES 3b and 6), is of a thickness from the front wall to provide a rear surface which is generally forwardly of the rearward edge of the web 36 and which has undercut shoulders which provide and define the notches 42. Post 46 is provided with a forwardly directed third notch 49 to accommodate a current carrying extension of the frame 22, as will be later described. The post 48 extends rearwardly to the same extent as the post 46, so that the rearward surfaces of the two posts are in a common plane in order to support the center portion of the frame element 22 when the parts are assembled. Post 48 has an upstanding lug 51) of less extent than the rearward surface thereof, and the lug 56 extends rearwardly a distance such that its rearmost edge is co-planar with the rear edge of the web 36, this arrangement providing notches 42.

The

posts

48 and 46 are provided with aligned through

openings

54 and 52 respectively, to provide receptacles for a signal lamp 26 and for electrical contacts. The opening 54 is provided with a shoulder 56 adapted to serve as a stop to cooperate with the usual flange 58 of small lamps of the type of the lamp 26 and may be provided with a groove 60 to admit the positioning lug usually A glass engaging stop element 61 may be provided in the path of insertion of the lamp 22 to define the assembled position of the lamp when the center of the filament is desired to be held accurately, centrally, in the switch housing.

The top wall 34 may be provided with an opening adapted to receive a name plate or a transparent name plate holder 28, as shown in the drawing.

The conducting and switching frame 22 comprises opposed

contact segments

62 and 63 spaced from one another along a common plane which is along the longitudinal axis of the switch assembly in its assembled form (as in FIGURES 1 and 2). Each of the segments has forwardly extending integral arms at its outer lateral edges, at the top and bottom thereof. The ends of the top pair of arms are integrally attached to a pressure plate '64, and the ends of the bottom pair to a pressure plate 65. The

plates

64, 65 are positioned (after assembly) to be contacted by the

switch operating buttons

20, 21. Thus, the upper pressure plate '64 is positioned to be operated by the button 20, and the lower pressure plate 65 is positioned to be operated by the button 21. A pair of integral connecting arms extends rearwardly and outwardly from each of the pressure plates, and each pair has a contact bar attached thereto. Thus, upper contact bar 66 is attached by integral legs to the pressure plate 64 and is depressed by operation of the operating button 26. Similarly, lower contact bar 67 is attached by integral legs to the pressure plate 65 and is depressed by operation of the operating button 21.

The conducting and switching frame 22 is provided with means for connecting it to the conducting member in the next'adjacent module. A preferred manner and means for forming such a connection is shown'in the drawings. Referring now to contact segment 62, said element is provided with a pair of outwardly extending contacts 68, it being notable that the main body of the segment 62 is of a shape to rest on and conform to the rear surface of the post 48 in the assembled relationship of the parts, and that the contacts 68 are of a length to extend longitudinally past the lug 50 and into and slightly beyond the notches 452, so that they extend laterally outwardly of the housing after assembly. The extended ends of said contacts are bent slightly forwardly, as shown. In 'a similar manner, contact segment 63 is of a basic shape to rest on and conform to the rear surface of the post 46 in the assembled relationship of the parts. The segment 63 has three laterally outwardly extending contacts, namely, a central contact 7 ti and a pair of outer contacts 72. Central contact 70 is of a width to fit within the central notch 49 and is bent to extend in a forward direction over the opening 52 in the assembled relation of the parts. The pair of outer contacts are of length and spacing to extend through and beyond the notches 42 in the post 46 so that they extend laterally outwardly of the housing after assembly. The extended ends of contacts 72 are bent rearwardly for cooperation with the contacts 68 on the opposite portion of a next adjacent switch unit, when side-by-side assembly of components is eifected.

Attention is now directed to the rear closure plate 24, which comprises a generally flat rectangular piece of a size and specific configuration to enclose a switch section in the plane of the rearmost extent of the Webs 36, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. The plate 24 is provided with forwardly extending tangs 46 adapted to snap into the slots 38 in webs 36 (see FIGURE 8) to effect a firm attachment with the switch center section and to hold the switch parts in operative assembly. The plate 24 is provided, along one side edge, with a pair of laterally extending cars 78 of a width and spacing to overlie the contacts 63 and to provide a notch 86 adapted to receive the lug 56 of post 48 when the closure plate 24 is applied to complete a switch assembly. The ears 78 are of a length such that the ends thereof are coplanar with the outer edge of web 36 when assembled. The opposite side edge of closure plate 24 has a medially positioned outwardly extending flange 82 of such length and position as to overlie the post 46 and to cover the

notches

42 and 49, and of a lateral extent such as to coincide with the outer edge of the web 36.

The rear closure plate 24 is of a thickness such that its outer (rear) surface coincides with the rearward edges of the webs 36 to present a neat, enclosed unit when assembly is completed. Three electrical connections and contacts are provided on rear closure plate 24 in the example disclosed herein, and might comprise any desirable contact and connection means. In the illustrated example hollow rivets are utilized both to effect the connections and to form contacts, as is best shown in FIG- URE 7. Thus, upper contact 84 is a holiow rivet which is used to effect a connection with a lead wire 35, and lower contact 86 is a hollow rivet which is used to effect a connection with a lead wire 87. The center contact may comprise a rivet 83, effecting a connection with a lead wire 89, and the inner (forward) flange of the rivet 83 has a resilient contact extension 96, as shown, for the purpose of contacting the contact ring 92 of the lamp 26 when the parts are assembled (see FZGURE 4). The forward face of the closure plate 24 has two raised ridges 94 in a position to engage the inner extremities of the

contact segments

62 and 63 to firmly position the switch blade in position when the parts are assembled and to insulate the segments from the contact 88 and its extension W.

In the assembly of a switch center

section operating buttons

20, 21 and lamp 26 may be inserted at any time during the assembly operation. The insertion of a lamp 26 into the opening 54 until the lamp portion contacts the stop 61 places it in a position in which the flange 58 abuts the shoulder 56 in the opening 54 in which the contact button 96 is substantially in the plane of the web 36, as is best seen in FIGURE 4. A conducting and switching frame 22 is placed in the housing, with pressure plate 64 in contact with operating button 2!), with pressure plate 65 in contact with operating button 21, and with

contact segments

62 and 63 resting on the

posts

48 and 46 respectively, so that the

contacts

68 and 72 rest within their respective notches 42 and extend slightly beyond the webs 36, and so that the contact 76 extends through the notch 49 and forwardly in the path of the opening 52. Attention should be directed at this pont to the fact that the function of the contact 70 is to make electrical contact with the contact button 96 of the lamp of the next adjacent switch module and not of the lamp in the module in which the contact itself is supported, and this is best illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The switch center section assembly is completed by installing the closure plate 24 to completely enclose the switch structure and to hold the component parts in position. Closure plate 24, with

electrical leads

85, 87 and 89 attached thereto by

rivet contacts

84, 86 and 88 respectively, is inserted into the back of the housing, with tangs 4t) engaging in the openings 38 in webs 36 of the switch housing (see FIGURE 8); with the lug 56 received in the notch 80 and ears 78 overlying the contacts 68 of contact segment 62; and with flange 82 of the closure plate overlying the post 46 and the contacts 72 of contact segment 63. Name plate holder 28 may be inserted when desired.

In the assembled switch center section as described in the preceding paragraphs, the resilient conducting and switching frame 33 is so formed that the contact bars 66, 67 are normally out of contact with the contact rivets 84, 86 respectively, and the pressure plates 64, exert continual slight forward pressure on the

switch operating buttons

20, 21 respectively to hold the buttons fully extended forwardly to limits established by their inner stop flanges 26b, 21b. Thus, when a switch operating button is depressed, the pressure plate associated therewith is pushed rearwardly to press the attached contact bar into contact with the contact rivet positioned thereunder, it being noteworthy that the enlarged

outer flanges

20a, 21a, of

buttons

20, 21 prevent overstressing of frame 22. When pressure on the button is released, the resilience of the material of frame 22 causes the pressure plate to push the button forwardly and to lift the contact bar from electrical contact with the contact rivet.

Attention is now directed to the

end members

10 and 12 of the modular switch construction herein disclosed as exemplary of the present invention. Each of these members has a front face and top and bottom walls which form a continuation of similar portions of switch center section 14, so that the exterior lines of an assembly of these parts are continuous and coordinated. End members 1t) and 12 each has an outer end wall 74 of a depth to serve as a closure for the end of a switch assembly, and a web 36 on the laterally interior end thereof, such webs being of a depth to coincide with similar webs on switch center sections 14. The webs 36 of both left and right end members are each provided with a pair of spaced notches 42 positioned to be aligned with the similar notches 42 in switch center sections 14 when the parts are assembled together. Either or both of the end members may be provided with means to transmit electrical energy. In the illustrated example the left end member 16 is shown as adapted for this purpose.

The left end member 10 is best shown in FIGURES 3a and 4 and is provided with a medially positioned support post 46a adjacent the web 36 and the spaced notches 42, a central notch 49, and an aperture 52-all similar to those in the post 46 of switch center 14. An end portion contact segment 63a is provided for assembly with the left end member 10 and comprises a main section which has an aperture 75 to accommodate a screw 76 for attaching the segment 63a to the post 46a. Segment 63a has integral extensions in the form of a pair of spaced contacts 72 and a central forwardly bent contact arm which are similar to those on the contact segment 63 of the frame 22.

Modules and end pieces, as previously described, may be assembled into unitary arrangements having any number of switch sections. As an example, FIGURES 1, 4 and 6 of the drawing show an arrangement of three switch modules. Such an arrangement is constructed by placing the desired number of switch modules or center sections 14 in side-by-side relationship and similarly assembling a left end member 10 and a right end member 12 to complete the assembly. When so assembled, the pegs 16 and recesses 18 of the various members are tightly interlocked to form a unitary housing having coordinated exterior lines to present a coordinated and pleasing exterior aspect. When the pieces are so assembled, the

tabs

68 and 72 of next adjacent switch blade elements 22 make electrical contact with one another (as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 9). Similarly, the tabs 72 of left end member 63a make contact with the tabs 68 of the next adjacent switch module. At the opposite end of the assembly, the protruding tabs 72 of the module next adjacent right end member 12 are recived in the notches 42 of the right end member 12.

With the parts so assembled, it should be apparent that all of'the conducting and switching frames 22 are electrically connected to one another and to the connecting segment 63a of left end member 10, so that the entire assembly of conductive material is necessarily at the same potential as any wire connected to the segment 63a by the screw 76. Thus, all of the contact bars 66, 67 and all of'the lamp contacts 70 (in contact with buttons -96 on the lamps) areelectrically connected to the same potential, so that if a wire connected to segment 63a is grounded, for example, the entire electrically connected conductive arrangement is grounded.

Such'assemblies may be surface mounted on walls or panels by any suitable means, as, for example, by the interengagment of notches or slots llitlformed in the housings of the center sections 14 and the

end sections

10 and 12 with tangs 102 appropriately positioned on a backing strip 104, which may be attached to a wall or panel by screws llM-or other suitable fastening means. It should be noted that-the aligned 'arcuate recesses in the front walls of the modular housing piecesprotect the switch buttons from inadvertent operation and also serveas a guide for an actuator (as the finger of an operator) which can be swept across an entire row of switch operating buttons for rapid, consecutive (substantially simultaneous) operationof the instrumentalities controlled by the buttons.

If an instrumentality to be controlled by anelectrical impulse is electrically attached to a source of electrical potential which is diiferent from that connected to segment 63a and connected to a contact 84, as by a wire 85, then depression of the associated operating button 20 against pressure plate 64 causes contact bar 66 to engage the contact 84 to complete a circuit to allow current to flow through the instrumentality to be controlled, as a relay, a buzzer, or other device. Similarly, connection of a device to a source of electrical potential and to a contact 86, as by a wire 87, allows completion of an electrical circuit by pressure exerted on button 21 to cause contact arm 67 to engage the contact 86.

The lamps are positioned, as previously described, so that the'contact buttons 96 thereof are contacted by contacts 70 so that they are at the electricalpot'ential of the contact segment 63a. Contact 90 on the inner surface of back cover 24 is maintained in constant contact with the contact ring 92 on the opposite side (electrically) of the lamp filament. The wire 89 (see FIGURE 7) is connected to a circuit in such a manner that the amount of current flow from that circuit through the lamp indicates the condition of the circuit, directly, or the condition of any device controlled by such a circuit.

It should be obvious to anyone skilled in the electrical arts that a wide variety of circuitry and types of devices could be controlled by switch and lamp means as described hereinabove. Thus, each module could be used to provide an on and oii control impulse tor a relay for gontrolling a circuit or a mechanical device and the signal lamp therein so connected as to indicate the condition of the circuit or mechanical device. Such arrangements are particularly useful in the utilization of low voltages to operate relays for the remote control of high voltage circuitry and are coming into increasing popularity in industrial and residential usages.

Another possible use would be to operate buzzers, lights, alarms, etc., with each module operating two such instrumentalities and the lamps either reflecting responses or merely illuminating the housings. These and many other adaptations are obviously possible and will be obvious to persons skilled in the electrical arts.

The switch construction described hereinabove provides extreme flexibility in the formation of banks or boards of multiple switches or signals without the necessity for custom construction of "housings and internal mechanism. The structure of the modular switch sections of the present invention permits electrical integration of the modules to provide obvious economies in space, in time required for installation, and in the simplicity of such installation. Moreover, the constructions of the present invention provide a pleasing appearance per se; and by virtue of the thinness and compactness which are thus made possible, they may be surface mounted or utilized to cover a joint line through which wires may be brought whereby to obviate the need for large holes or pockets in the surfaces of the walls or panels, as generally previously required in the mounting of switch devices.

The specific form of the present invention shown and described herein is by way of example only and serves to illustrate, in exemplary fashion, some of the applications of the principles-of the invention. Obviously, many variations and modifications are possible. For example, the modular arrangement, which is an important feature of the present invention, may be utilized in arrangements wherein signal lamps only are included in the modules; i.e., one lamp in each module, and arranged into a signal bank. In similarfashion, modules having only one impulse switch or one switch and one lamp could be utilized. Moreover, modules having more than one side-by-side unit may be fashioned, if desired, as well asend modules wherein a left or right end member may be integrally formed with a module, and such arrangements assembled with one another or with the simpler units herein illustrated to form desired combinations.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the, present invention is not to be limited by the particular illustrated example thereof, but rather by the scope and language of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch construction comprising a housing having lateral ends adapted to be placed in abutting relationship with the lateral ends of other housings, said housing having a switch contact therein, means for connecting said switch contact to a circuit to be controlled, a resilient conductive member, means supporting said conductive member in said housing in a position overlying said switch contact and adapted to be movable into contact there with, an operating button mounted in said housing and overlying said resilient conductive member and said switch contact, whereby depression of said operatingbutton will move said conductive member into contact with said switch contact and the resilience of the conductive member will cause it to move itself out of contact with said switch contact and to raise said button, said conductive member extending laterally beyond and outwardly' of at least one lateral end of the housing, a second switch contact in said housing, the means supporting said conductive member including means to support a portion of the conductive member in a position overlying said sec ond switch contact, and a second operating button mounted in said housing and overlying said last-mentioned portion of the conductive member, said means supporting said condnctive rnember being centrally'located in said housing, said two-switch contacts being on opposite sides of said support means, said resilient conductive member being positioned on said support means and having a resilient bar extending on each side of said support means to positions normally out of contact with the switch contact on that side of said support means, and means associated with each resilient bar for pushing said bar into contact with its associated switch contact.

2. A lamp construction comprising a housing having side walls adapted to be placed in abutting relationship with the side walls of similar housing elements, said housing having a transverse cavity therein, said cavity being of a length to receive a light bulb of the type having an end button and a contact ring insulated from said button with the button substantially in the plane of one side wall of the housing, means mounted in said housing for electrically connecting the contact ring of such a bulb to an electrical circuit, conductive material supported in said housing, said conductive material having an exposed integral tongue member substantially in the plane of the side wall opposite to that in which the button of a bulb may be positioned and extending to a position longitudinally aligned with said cavity whereby to be adapted to effect electrical contact with the button of a light bulb installed in a next adjacent similar lamp construction.

3. A combined switch and lamp construction comprising a housing having side wall adapted to be placed in abutting relationship with the side walls of similar housing elements, said housing having a transverse cavity therein, a light bulb of the type having an end button and a contact ring insulated from said end button and positioned in said cavity with the said end button substantially in the plane of one side wall of the housing, means mounted in said housing for electrically connecting the contact ring of said bulb to an electrical circuit, said housing having a switch contact therein, means for connecting saidswitch contact to a circuit to be controlled, a resilient conductive member supported in said housing in a position overlying said switch contact but adapted to be movable into contact therewith, an operating button mounted in said housing and overlying said resilient conductive member and said switch contact whereby depression of said operating button will move said conductive member into contact with said switch contact and the resilience of the conductive member will cause it to move itself out of contact with said switch contact and to raise said operating button, said conductive member extending laterally beyond and outwardly of at least one side wall of the housing, said conductive member having an exposed integral tongue member substantially in the plane of the side wall opposite to that in which the button of said light bulb is positioned and extend-ing to a position aligned longitudinally with said cavity whereby said conductive member is adapted to effect electrical contact with the button of the light bulb of a next adjacent similar switch and lamp construction and to effect elec trical connection with the conductive member of said next adjacent similar switch and lamp construction.

4. In combination, a plurality of housing members arranged in side-by-side abutting relationship, each of said housing members having resilient conductive means supported therein, conductor means connecting each of said conductive means to the conductive means in the next adjacent housing, whereby the conductive means in all of said housing members are electrically connected, means for connecting one of said conductive means to a source of potential whereby all of said conductive mean are at said potential, a plurality of said housing members having contact means therein normally out of electrical contact with said resilient conductive means, means for connecting each of said contact means to a circuit to be controlled, actuating means associated With each of said plurality of housing members relative to the contact means therein for actuating the conductive means within that housing member to contact the contact means therein whereby the potential of said conductive means is connected to said contact means to complete the circuit to which it may be connected, the front walls of said housing members having similarly positioned transverse arcuate recesses longitudinally aligned with one another and extending across the entire length of said housing members to form a continuous arcuate recess, said actuating means associated with each of said plurality of housing members being positioned within said continuous recess and whereby the continuous recess serves as a guide to permit rapid consecutive operation of said actuating means by the sweeping of the finger of an operator along said recess.

5. In combination, a plurality of housing members arranged in side-by-side abutting relationship, each of said housing members having a switch contact therein, means for connecting each of said switch contacts to a circuit to be con-trolled, each of said housing members having a resilient conductive member therein, means supporting each of said conductive members in a position overlying its related switch contact and adapted to be movable into contact therewith, an operating button mounted in each of said housings and overlying the resilient conductive member in said housing and its related switch contact whereby depression of said operating button will move said conductive member into contact with said switch contact and the resilience of the conductive member will cause it to move itself out of contact with said switch contact and to raise said operating button, said resilient conductive member extending laterally beyond the extent of at least one side of said housing member and extending internally into the next adjacent housing member and effecting electrical connection with the conductive member in the next adjacent housing so that the conductive members of all the housing members are at the same electrical potential and only one external connection to a source of electrical potential is necessary to provide one of the potential levels necessary for cooperating with said plurality of switch contacts for controlling the plurality of circuits to which they are connected.

6. In combination, a pair of end housing members and a plurality of center housing members, said end and center housing members having complementary side walls and being arranged in abutting side-by-side relationship to form a unitary assembly; each of said center housing members having a switch contact therein, means for connecting each of said switch contacts to a circuit to be controlled, each of said center housing members having resilient conductive means and means supporting said conductive means in said center housing member in a position overly-ing and out of contact with the switch contact in that housing member but movable into contact therewith, an operating button mounted in each of said center housing members and overlying the resilient conductive means therein and its related switch contact, whereby depression of said operating button will move said conductive means into contact with said switch contact and the resilience of the conductive means will cause it to move itself out of contact with said switch contact and to raise said operating button, the resilient conductive means in each of said center housing members extending beyond the extent of the center housing member on at least one side thereof and extending internally into the next adjacent center housing member and effecting electrical connection with the conductive means in said next adjacent center housing member so that electrical connection of the conductive means in all of the center housing members is effected by mere side-by-side association of center housing members with one another; at least one of said end housing members having a conductive member supported therein and extending laterally beyond the extent of the said end housing member and extending into the contiguous center housing member and elfecting electrical connection with the conductive means of said contiguous center housing member, and means connected 1 1 to said conductive member for effecting attachment thereof to a source of electrical potential.

'7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of the center housing members has a transverse cavity therein, said cavity being of a'length to receive a light bulb of the type having an end button and a contact ring insulated from said end button, a light bulb of the said type'positioned in said cavity with'its end button substantially in the place of'one side Wall ofthe center housing member, means mounted in said center housing member for electrically connecting theconta'ct ring of said light bulb to an electrical circuit, the resilient conductive means in each of the center housing members having an integral tongue member substantially in the plane ol the side wall opposite to that in which the end button is positioned and extending to a position longitudinally aligned with said cavity,'and contacting'the end button of the light bulb in'the next adjacent center housing member, the conductive member supported in said'one of'said end housing members having atongue extending therefrom substantially in the plane ofthe side wall of that end housing member andinto a position of axial alignment with the cavity in the next adjacent center housing member and contacting the button on the light bulb therein, so that the end buttons on the light bulbs in said center housing members 'a's'well'as the conductive means in all of the members are at the potential of the saidsource of electrical potential.

8. A modular electrical construction comprising a plurality of components arranged in side-by-side relationship to form a unitary assembly, said components comprising individual housing membersyeach of said housing members having an electrical instrumentality therein, said housing members having means at their rearward edges ing flat matching side walls and complementary external configurations whereby to form a coordinated unitary construction when assembled, the electrical instrumentalities in each of said components including a conductive member, and conductive connecting means connecting adjacent conductive members to one another, whereby to effect electrical connection with the conductive member in a next adjacent component so that theelectrical instrumentalities in said components are all attached to a common line.

9. A modular electrical construction according to claim 8 wherein said electrical instrumentalities include a plurality of normally open switch means and wherein said conductive members are resilient members forming a contact of each of said switch means, whereby one side of all of said open switch means are on said common line.

10. A modular electrical construction according to claim 9 wherein said electrical instrumentalities include light bulbs of the type having a socket end comprising a contact ring and an end contact button and wherein the conductive means in each'housing member has a portion which extends into contact with the end button of the light bulb in the next adjacent housing member whereby one side of each of the light bulb filaments is also connected to said common line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT S 2,848,581 8/1958 Oshkosh et a1. 200-114 X 2,904,662 9/1959 Spring 200167 2,909,624 10/1959 Colautti 200 -153 2,919,315 12/1959 Woofter 200-153 2,966,559 12/1960 Meyer 200-6 3 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY,Primary-Examiner. for attachment to a surface of a supporting wall and hava BERNARD A. GILHEANY, ROBERT K. SCHAEFER,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A SWITCH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING LATERAL ENDS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LATERAL ENDS OF OTHER HOUSINGS, SAID HOUSING HAVING A SWITCH CONTACT THEREIN, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SWITCH CONTACT TO A CIRCUIT TO BE CONTROLLED, A RESILIENT CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBER IN SAID HOUSING IN A POSITION OVERLYING SAID SWITCH CONTACT AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVABLE INTO CONTACT THEREWITH, AN OPERATING BUTTON MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND OVERLYING SAID RESILIENT CONDUCTIVE MEMBER AND SAID SWITCH CONTACT, WHEREBY DEPRESSION OF SAID OPERATING BUTTON WILL MOVE SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBER INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SWITCH CONTACT AND THE RESILIENCE OF THE CONDUCTIVE MEMBER WILL CAUSE IT TO MOVE ITSELF OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID SWITCH CONTACT AND TO RAISE SAID BUTTON, SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBER EXTENDING LATERALLY BEYOND AND OUTWARDLY OF AT LEAST ONE LATERAL END OF THE HOUSING, A SECOND SWITCH CONTACT IN SAID HOUSING, THE MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS TO SUPPORT A PORTION OF THE CONDUCTIVE MEMBER IN A POSITION OVERLYING SAID SEC-