US3260802A - Two-step pushbutton switch - Google Patents

Two-step pushbutton switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3260802A
US3260802A US354171A US35417164A US3260802A US 3260802 A US3260802 A US 3260802A US 354171 A US354171 A US 354171A US 35417164 A US35417164 A US 35417164A US 3260802 A US3260802 A US 3260802A
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Prior art keywords
slider
latch
pushbutton
switch
pin
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Expired - Lifetime
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US354171A
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English (en)
Inventor
Yamauchi Yuichiro
Sakagami Shoichi
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Fujitsu Ltd
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Fujitsu Ltd
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    • 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
    • H01H1/28—Assembly of three or more contact-supporting spring blades
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
    • H01H13/56—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force
    • H01H13/562—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force making use of a heart shaped cam
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
    • H01H13/56—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force
    • H01H13/562—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force making use of a heart shaped cam
    • H01H13/564—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force making use of a heart shaped cam convertible to momentary push button switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
    • H01H13/56—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force
    • H01H13/562—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force making use of a heart shaped cam
    • H01H13/568—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force making use of a heart shaped cam the contact also returning by some external action, e.g. interlocking, protection, remote control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/72—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard wherein the switch has means for limiting the number of operating members that can concurrently be in the actuated position
    • 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
    • H01H2001/145—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting by crossing each other, the cooperating contacts each having a contact making ridge perpendicular to each other
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H21/00—Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H21/02—Details
    • H01H21/18—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H21/22—Operating parts, e.g. handle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/18—Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/20—Control lever and linkage systems
    • Y10T74/20207—Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
    • Y10T74/20238—Interlocked
    • Y10T74/20244—Push button

Definitions

  • Our invention relates to two-step pushbutton switches in which the pushbutton is locked in its depressed position to keep the switch contacts in deflected or actuated condition, and in which the pushbutton must be depressed a second time to release it for return to the original position and thereby resetting the switch contacts.
  • a pushbutton switch which can be used as a unit of a group to permit being actuated by means of its own pushbutton and to be released by actuation of any pushbutton appertaining to the entire group.
  • Another object of the invention is to selectively permit providing for an interlock of such kind that, once a switch of a group is actuated by means of its pushbutton, it
  • Still another object of our invention is to make the switch units, particularly the appertaining interlocking components, largely independent frorn observance of strict manufacturing tolerances so that an accurate performance with respect to mutual interlocking and release within a group of such switches is reliably secured even if the interlocking components of the respective switches differ from each other with respect to accuracy of dimensions.
  • Another object is to devise a two-step pushbutto-n switch that permits being assembled to a group of mutually interlocked and mutually releasable units in virtually any desired large number, for example more than or up to about 50, without encountering diiiiculties beyond ordinary routine.
  • the pus-hbutton-actuated shank or slider of a two-step switch with a transverse latch pin which engages a guiding groove in a preferably plate-shaped latch member that is displaceable under the action of the latch pin and the opposing action of a biasing spring to move transversely of the depressing direction of the pushbutton slider.
  • the latch pin will thus cause the plate member to shift to the left or right until a stop shoulder formed by the guiding groove locks the latch pin in the depressed position of the pushbutton slider in which the switch contacts remain set to the active positions.
  • each latch member or plate is provided with respective coupling means on opposite lateral sides for coupling the latch member with that of an adjacent pushbutton switch in cases where a plurality of such switches are combined to a set of juxtaposed units.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a pushbutton 3,260,802 Patented July 12, 1966 ice switch according to the invention seen from different directions respectively.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective and exploded view of the same switch on larger scale.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one of two sets of contact springs which form part of the same switch.
  • FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified latch plate member applicable in a switch otherwise as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
  • FIG. 6 shows similarly two latch plate members according to FIG. 5 joined together for operation as a single unit.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two pushbutton switches joined side by side and having their respective latch members intercoupled according to FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a front view of two intercoupled latch plate members of a design substantially corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3.
  • the switch illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a frame structure of sheet metal which forms two lateral plates 1 and 1' punched and bent to symmetrical shape and provided with laterally bent lug portions 2, 2 on which two sets 3 and 3 of contact springs are mounted by means of respective fastening screws 4 and 4 (FIG. 3)
  • the frame plates 1 and 1 have respective slots 5 (FIG. 3) engaged by respective projections 9 of an insulating carrier plate 8 on which two sockets 7 (FIGS. 1, 3) for pilot lamps are mounted.
  • the sockets are provided with appertaining terminal strips 6 for soldering respective conductor wires thereto.
  • the displaceable shank for a pushbutton is formed by a slider piece 12 (FIGS.
  • the slider 12 has sloping cam pieces 13 and 13 located at opposite sides of the middle portion 11 and bent away from the plane of the slider.
  • Two lateral arms 14 and 14 of slider 12 have respective guiding noses 15.
  • Each cam piece 13, 13 is thus located between the middle portion 11 and one of the two arms 14, 14, thus being reliably prevented from unduly yielding during displacing movement of the slider 12 imparted thereto by the pushbutton still to be described.
  • the upper marginal portion of the slider 12 is bent laterally to form a top ledge 16.
  • a latch pin 17 so as to participate in the upward and downward motion of the slider 12.
  • the latch pin 17 is axially displaceable relative to the slider 12 and is biased by a helical spring 91 (FIG. 2) which is seated on the latch pin 17 between the legs of a mounting stirrup 18 welded to the slider 12.
  • the spring 91 tends to move the latch pin 17 in the direction indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 3 toward and into a groove 20 formed in a displaceable latch plate member 19 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5) of molded plastic material, which in FIG. 3 is shown turned about away from its normal position for the purpose of exposing the interior parts of the switch.
  • the latch member 19, in coaction with the latch pin 17 serves to lock the pushbutton slider 12 in its depressed, active position.
  • a helical pull spring 25 (FIG. 3) has one end hung into respective frame plates 1 and 1'.
  • each frame plate 1 and 1' Mounted on the inner side of each frame plate 1 and 1' and located opposite each other are respective bearing members 27 and 27 of sheet metal whose thickness is smaller than that of the frame plates.
  • the upper portion of each bearing member forms two tapering projections 26, 26'.
  • the lower ends 28 and 28 are welded to the The tapering projections 26, 26' of each member overlap a recess in the adjacent frame plate and form a circular journal opening 48 merging with an upwardly widening gap 29, 29' of V-shape which is open toward the top edge of the frame plate.
  • the parts so far described are assembled as follows.
  • the projections 9 of the insulating carrier plate 8 are inserted into the slots of frame plates 1, 1' and the guiding noses of the slider 12 are inserted into corresponding guiding grooves 30 (FIG. 2) of the frame plates.
  • the lower end 31 of the pushbutton stem 11 is inserted into respective slots 33 and 33' in laterally bent lugs 32 and 32' formed by the respective frame plates 1 and 1'.
  • the latch member 19 is inserted through a guide window 34, 34' (FIG. 3) formed by the frame plates 1 and 1 respectively. Then the assembly is tightened and fastened together by means of two small screws (not shown) passing through holes 35, 35' and 36, 36 (FIG. 3).
  • cam pieces 13 and 13 of the slider 12 are now positioned at the ends 38 and 38' of respective follower bars 37 and 37' which form part of two previously attached sets 3, 3' of contact springs; and the latch pin 17 is positioned at the deepest spot 0 (FIG. 3) of the groove 26 in the latch plate 19.
  • the pushbutton 39 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) of the switch is molded of plastic material and has generally the shape of a box with a projection 40 at its lower rear end and two coaxial journal pins 41 located laterally near the opposite transparent material is placed on top of the front portion and has lateral legs 44 and 44 (not seen because of the views of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) with respective openings 43 snapped over the pins 41.
  • An identifying card or slip 46 exhibiting, for example, an identifying numeral or other character 45, is thus held on the pushbutton, re- 'rnaining visible through the transparent cover plate.
  • the pushbutton body 39 is located at the top of the frame plates 1 and 1'. It is attached by inserting the projection 40 beneath two mutually adjoining stop plates 47, 47' bent laterally away from the respective frame plates 1 and 1, and then pushing the respective pins 41 through the V-gaps 29, 29' into the journal openings 48 and 48' of bearing members 27 and 27' (FIG. 3).
  • the pushbutton thus seated, is being depressed, it turns downwardly about the pivot axis of its journal pins tion to the force of return spring 10.
  • the latch pin 17 moves along the path indicated by an arrow d in FIG. 3 until it drops from the shallowest portion of the groove at step 59 into the latching position at the deepest point 0 of the groove. Now the contact springs have returned to the original position of rest and the latch pin 17 remains locked in the position 0. To obtain this latching operation, the guiding groove 29 in 0, becomes progressively shallower along the path denoted by the arrows c and d until the shallowest point is reached at step 59.
  • Circular holes 60, 60 and 61, 61' ture of the switch permit on a panel or support.
  • the set 3 of contact springs comprises an insulating flat spacer piece 62, the abovementioned follower bar 37, a mounting screw 4, two rigid end plates 63 and 64 of sheet metal, the contact springs 57, 58, 53, 54 and a number of intermediate insulating inserts 65 of which only two are shown.
  • the spacer piece 62 has a forward and rear projection 66, 66 and has on both longitudinal sides a number of spacing projections 67, 67', 68, 68, 69, 69', 70, 70, 7&1, 71'.
  • the projection 66 is inserted into a slot 76 of the end plate 63, and the projection 66 into a corresponding slot 73 of the end plate 64.
  • the follower bar 37 has teeth 50, 50'.
  • bar 37 passes through a slot 75 in end plate 64.
  • the other end 74 of bar 37 is inserted through a slot 72 of the opposite end plate 63.
  • the fixed contact springs 57 and 58 are of identical construction. Their upper part is bifurcated. lower part forms a terminal strip 77, 78. Elongated and vertically extending contact members 79 and 80 are provided on the rear side of respective contact springs 57 and 58.
  • the upper ends of fixed contact spring 57 rest elastically against sides e, e of the respective projections 68 and 68' formed by the spacer piece 62.
  • the upper ends of fixed contact spring 58 rest against the sides 1 and 7" of respective projections 70 and 70'.
  • the fixed contact springs 53 and 54 are of the same construction as the above-mentioned contact springs 57 in the frame strucmounting the switch One end 38 of an elongated and vertically extending contact member 55, 56.
  • the two legs of contact spring 53 rest against the sides g and g of respective projections 69 and 69, and contact spring 54 has its legs resting against the sides It and h of projections 71 and 71' on the spacer piece 62.
  • the moving contact springs 51 and 52 are of the same each having a terminal strip 83, 84 at the lower horizontal contact members 85, 86 on the front and rear Since the fixed contact springs have vertically excontact or x-type contact is always made between each two mutually engaging springs.
  • the inward projections 87 of spring 51 rest against the end face j on tooth 50 of follower bar 37, and the inward projection 88 of spring 52 rests against the corresponding end face of tooth 511. In the condition of rest, the moving contact is in elastic engagement with the fixed contact 55, and the moving contact 36 engages the fixed contact 56.
  • Each fixed and moving contact spring is slightly bent at the bifurcated upper part to provide for satisfactory elasticity.
  • the contact-spring set 3 (FIG. 4) is assembled as follows.
  • the spacer piece 62, follower bar 37, end plates 63, 64 and contact springs 57, '53, 53, 54, 511 and 52 are placed in proper position relative to one another. Then provided with elongated, 1
  • an insulating insert 65 is placed between each end plate and the adjacent contact spring, and also between each two adjacent contact springs.
  • the assembly is then attached to the lug 2 of the frame plate 1 by the screw bolt 4 passing through all of the corresponding holes in the individual components then registering with each other as is apparent from FIG. 4. I hereafter the follower bar is properly positioned upon the separated parts of each spring as described in the foregoing.
  • the plate-shaped member 19 has on its illustrated front side a recess which forms the above-mentioned guiding groove 20 of varying depth.
  • the groove 20 is generally triangular with a point at the top and its base at the bottom, and an extension of the groove extends horizontally from the top point toward the right (FIG. 5).
  • the member 19 is further provided with a concave coupling recess 21 at one side and two semi-circular projections 22 at the opposite side.
  • the projections 22 jointly form a compressible plug mating the coupling recess 21.
  • the depth of the guiding groove 20 in the latch slider 19 shown in FIG. 5 has its depth graduated as follows.
  • the surface portions denoted by C2, C3 and C4 are deeper than the surface areas denoted by A1, A2, A3 and A4; and the area D is deeper than the areas 02 to C4.
  • the area D slopes upwardlytoward the area C2 and forms a top ridge at 59'.
  • a step 59 is formed between the groove bottom constituted by' area C4 and the adjacent deeper area D.
  • the tip of the latch pin 17 glides in the groove and over the ridge and step thus formed, being pressed against the latch plate by the above-mentioned spring 91 (FIG. 2) which causes the pin to always engage the bottom of the recessed surfaces.
  • the latch plate member .19 is biased by the pull spring 25 (FIG. 3) so as to be subjected to a force indicated by an arrow P1 in FIG. 5.
  • the latch pin 17 is further subjected to a force in the upward direction as indicated by an arrow P3, this force being exerted by the return spring 10 (FIG. 3).
  • the latch pin 17 In the static condition of rest, the latch pin 17 is positioned at point M (FIG. 5). When the latch pin 17 is being moved downwardly by depression of the pushbutton, it travels against the force P3 along the sloping edge of area D, passes over the top of ridge 59 and then downwardly to the groove area C2. The further downward motion of the latch pin 17 and consequently of the pushbutton slider 12 (FIG. 3) is stopped when the latch pin 17 abuts against the bottom edge of groove area C2. On this travel, as the latch pin 17 reaches the crest of ridge 5? between areas D and C2, it shifts the latch pin 17 up to the level of area C2 against the biasing fonce of the spring 91 (FIG.
  • the latch pin 17 When the pushbutton is depressed a second time, the latch pin 17 is moved downwardly from the position L (FIG. 5) to the lower end of groove area C4 adjacent to the raised surface portion A4. When then the pushbutton is released, the latch pin 17 glides in the groove C4 upwardly under the action of force P3 until it drops at step 59 to the deeper area D where it resumes the original static condition of rest. Now the spring sets are returned to the original operating condition, and the switch is ready for another operating cycle.
  • switch No. 1 the contact springs of only switch No. 1 are in actuated position, whereas switch No. 2 (or any additional switches joined therewith) remains inactive.
  • switch No. 2 When thereafter the pushbutton of switch No. 2 is being depressed, it will place the spring contacts of switch No. 2 to active position in the same manner as described above. At the same time, switch No. 2 will release switch No. 1 and reset it to the inactive position of rest. This takes place as follows.
  • the above-described performance of intercoupled switches according to the invention is not predicated upon observance of close tolerances with respect to dimensions and slope conditions in the latch plate members or latch pins.
  • the dimensions as well as the pitch of the slopes in the latch members 19 and 19 may considerably differ from precise values, and the dimensions of the latch members particularly at the localities identified by x, y and z in FIG. 6 may be made rather large without impairing the proper operation.
  • a pushbutton switch according to the invention can readily be made in such a manner that o defective operation is encountered with any desired number of units, for example about 50 units, connected mechanically in series as described, without imposing any particularly exacting requirements upon tolerances with respect to precise dimensions.
  • the latch slider 19 or 19' can be removed from one or more of switches assembled in the manner shown in FIG. 7, if the assembly is to comprise individually operable units. Due to the snap movement of the latch slider, it is further possible to use it for the purposes of a snap-action switch to be operated by a pushbutton.
  • the latch members shown in FIG. 8 are basically similar to those according to FIG. 6, except that a space 1' is provided between the initial position M of the latch pin 17 When in the locked condition illustrated. Accordingly, when the pushbutton of switch No. 2 is being depressed, the appertaining latch pin 17 becomes locked in the position L as in the embodiment of FIG. 6. However, during the travel of the latch pin, it will move along the groove areas C3 and C4 because of the presence of the space r; and if the pushbutton is released by the operators hand, the latch pin will move back upwardly through the pushbutton other than that of switch No. 2 is being depressed, the latch pin previously locked in position L1 will be released for upward movement through the groove C4 in the intercoupled group.
  • This kind of interlock is achieved by providing the latch members with a marginal recess 89, 89 at one side thereof and having this recess stop 90 fixed to the frame structure of the switch. As shown in FIG. 8, the stop 96 is so mounted that it engages the left end of the recess 89 in latch member 19. Accordingly, the stop 90 prevents displacement of the latch assembly toward the right.
  • the stop 90 can be provided for any one or more of the intercoupled latch members.
  • the stop 90 prevents the latch member 19 from sliding to the right, the member cannot be shifted in the direction required to release the locked latch pin from the active position L1. Consequently, when the switch No. 2 is once depressed and locked in the active condition of its contact springs, it cannot be reset by means of its own pushbutton but requires actuation of a different pushbutton switch in the same group. For example, if the pushbutton of switch No. 1 is being depressed, the intercoupled latch members 19 and 19' will move to the left and then the latch pin 17' will move from the locked When no stop 99 is provided, any one of the intercoupled switches can be placed into active or inactive position by operation of its own pushbutton.
  • FIG. 7 the interlocking action produced by the above-mentioned example, when the latch pin 17 of switch No. 1 is locked in position Lil, the movement of the latch pin 17' to the right is prevented because the latch pin 17' of switch No. 2 then abuts against the left-hand end of the deep area D in the groove.
  • the switch No. it can be 1.
  • a two-step pushbutton switch comprising contacts movable between two switching positions, a pushbutton slider displaceable from a normal to a depressed position groove having a closedloop said displacement direction responding member of an adjacent switch.
  • said latch pin being axially displaceable on said pushbutton slider, and another spring engaging said pin to bias it toward the bottom of said groove in said latch plate memher.
  • said coupling means on one side of said latch plate member forming a plug projecting from said side, and said coupling means on the other side being formed by a socket recess in said latch plate member having a shape mating the plug.
  • said coupling means comprising two coupling members, one of said coupling members being positioned on one side of said latch plate member and consisting of two arcuate projections spaced and curving away from each other and being elastically compressible toward each other, said projections forming an integral part of said plate member, said plate member consisting of insulating plastic material and having a concave recess which forms the other of said coupling members.
  • said groove of said latch plate member being generally triangular, with a point at the top and the base at the bottom and having an additional portion extending laterally away from said point in substantially parallel relation to said base, said groove having at said base an upwardly projecting stop wall for limiting the spring-biased lateral movement of said member when said pushbutton slider is being held depressed, said stop shoulder extending downwardly above and near the peak of said stop wall for catching said latch pin when said slider is being released to move upwardly under the bias of said return spring.
  • each switch comprising contacts movable between two switching positions, a pushbutton slider displaceable from a normal to a depressed position, a return spring biasing said slider to normal position, means on said slider for moving said contacts from one to the other of said switching positions by depressing movement of said slider, a latch pin mounted on said slider for movement therewith, a latch plate member, means movably mounting said latch plate member for movement transversely of the displacement direction of said slider, said latch plate member having a groove engaged by said latch pin, said groove having a closed-loop shape in a plane parallel to said displacement direction, spring means biasing said latch plate member to a given start position of said groove relative to said pin, said groove forming a stop shoulder for latching said pin in depressed position of said slider, said latch plate member having opposite said shoulder a sloping groove wall guidingly engageable by said pin upon repeated depression of said slider to then release said pin for return of said slider to normal position, and
  • said latch plate members comprising travel limit means for preventing said latch plate members from moving away from the latching position of said latch pin in the direction opposed to the biasing direction of the spring means biasing said latch plate members, whereby each of said switches actuated by depression of its pushbutton slider can be reset to normal position only by actuating another switch in said group.
  • each of said latch plate members having a marginal stop shoulder on a lateral side, and a fixed stop engageable with said latter shoulder for preventing said latch plate members from moving away from the latching position of said pin in the direction opposed to the biasing force of the spring means biasing said latch plate members.

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US354171A 1963-03-23 1964-03-23 Two-step pushbutton switch Expired - Lifetime US3260802A (en)

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JP1519063 1963-03-23

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US3260802A true US3260802A (en) 1966-07-12

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080518A (en) * 1976-05-10 1978-03-21 Louis Marrero Multi-mode switch assembly and electrical outlet
US4213017A (en) * 1977-03-26 1980-07-15 Lucas Industries Limited Multiple switch assembly with detent and interlock
US5187335A (en) * 1990-02-23 1993-02-16 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switch with interlocked operators
FR2902572A1 (fr) * 2006-06-14 2007-12-21 Valeo Electronique Sys Liaison Interrupteur a chemin de came comportant une rampe

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2226678A1 (de) * 1972-05-31 1973-12-13 Siemens Ag Elektrischer schaltkontakt

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3136176A (en) * 1960-04-14 1964-06-09 Painton & Co Ltd Control arms for electronic, electrical and other instruments
US3187602A (en) * 1960-07-06 1965-06-08 Telephone Mfg Co Ltd Push button device

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Cited By (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080518A (en) * 1976-05-10 1978-03-21 Louis Marrero Multi-mode switch assembly and electrical outlet
US4213017A (en) * 1977-03-26 1980-07-15 Lucas Industries Limited Multiple switch assembly with detent and interlock
US5187335A (en) * 1990-02-23 1993-02-16 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switch with interlocked operators
FR2902572A1 (fr) * 2006-06-14 2007-12-21 Valeo Electronique Sys Liaison Interrupteur a chemin de came comportant une rampe

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1240162B (de) 1967-05-11

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