US3371179A - Electrical switch having a floating actuator which is detented into various circuit controlling positions by a leaf spring contact - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1968 T. E. LOHR 3,371,179

ELECTRICAL SWITCH HAVING A FLOATING ACTUATOR WHI IS DETENTED TO VARIOUS CIRCUIT CONTROLLING POSITI BY A LEAF SPRING CONTACT Filed Nov. 22, 1966 ATTOQNEY I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,371,179 ELECTRICAL SWITCH HAVING A FLOATING ACTUATOR WHICH IS DETENTED INTO VARIOUS CIRCUIT CONTROLLING POSI- TIONS BY A LEAF SPRING CONTACT Thomas E. Lohr, Warren, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,304 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical switch is constructed of a housing member and a floating actuating member devoid of attachment to the housing member and being movable with combined pivotal and bodily movement therein to a plurality of circuit controlling positions defined by the engagement of a cam nose projection on one of the members in a corresponding detent recess or pocket formed in a surface of the other member. The actuating member is detented in each of the various circuit controlling positions by the bias of resilient contact means which are moved between predetermined circuit controlling positions by the actuating member.

One feature of this invention is that it provides electrical switch construction of exceedingly simple and economical manufacture and including an actuating member which floats in its housing member free of attachment thereto. Another feature of this invention is that the various circuit controlling positions of the actuating member are defined by the engagement of a detent projection on one of the actuating and housing members in detent recesses in the other of the members. Another feature of the invention is that the detenting engagement is accomplished by the bias of resilient con-tact means controlled by the actuating member. Certain other features reside in the compact construction of the switch, and in the .realization of the above features with a pivotable actuating member and a resilient cantilever contact arm.

These and various other features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of an electrical switch according to this invention showing the switch actuating member in a first circuit controlling position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by lines 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the actuating member in a second circuit controlling position.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the switch of this invention includes a hollow housing member 10, the main body portion 12 of which is of relatively narrow rectangular configuration and provided with an open end opposite its exterior face portion 14. Face portion 14 is provided with a narrow rectangular aperture 16 for the projection therethrough of a floating actuating member 20.

The open side of housing member body portion 12 is closed by a base assembly 22 incuding an insulative base 24 of plastic or similar material and carrying a pair of terminal sets 26 of conventional construction. The fastener 28 of one terminal set 26 secures one end of a cantilever leaf spring contact arm 30 which carries a contact 32 at its other end. Contact 32 is engageable with a stationary contact 2-4 formed in the fastener portion 28 of the other terminal set 26. A rubber or like bumper 36 is mounted in base 24 to prevent excessive deformation of contact arm 30.

3,371,179 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 As best viewed in FIGURE 2, the actuating member 20 has a main relatively thin body portion 3'8 carrying at each side thereof a cam nose projection 40. Projections 40 are received each within a corresponding constraining recess 42 in the adjacent wall of the housing member body portion 12. Recesses 42 are formed with detent surfaces of sinuous, sinusoidal profile and including a pair of detent recess or pocket portions 44 separated by a projecting cam portion 46. The interior edge 48 of the body portion 38 of actuating member 20 is given a shape of predetermined relation with the location of the recess portion 44 whereby to define the position of contact arm 30 in the two positions of the actuating member 20 a will appear hereinafter.

The contact arm 30 has such a free undeformed state that in the position of the parts shown in FIGURE 1, the con-tact arm bears against edge 48 of the actuating member with sufiicient bias exteriorly of the housing as to engage projection 40 firmly within one of the detent recesses 44 and to engage a limit stop shoulder 50 of actuating member 20 against the housing. Manual depression on a face 52 of the actuating member moves the actuating member slightly bodily inwardly of the housing to remove the projection 40 from the one recess portion 44. A cam relief portion 54 of edge 48 slides over the contact arm and directs the bias of the contact arm to induce the actuating member to pivot clockwise for traversal of the projection 40 over the cam portion 46 and engagement in the other or leftward recess portion 44. In this position, the actuating member has its edge 48 so oriented as to have forced the contact arm 30 toward the base 24 for closure of the contacts 32 and 34. A shoulder 58 engages the wall of the housing 10 to provide a stop for this second position of the actuating member. The other or leftward detent recess 44 embraces the projection 40 to the extent of resisting counterclockwise pivoting of the actuating member from this position by the contact arm until manual pressure is applied to a face 56 of the actuating member.

It will be appreciated that by proper formation of the detent surfaces on the housing, the shape of edge 48 and the arrangement of one or more contact arms 30, more than the two illustrated circuit controlling positions may be provided for the switch parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an electrical switch, a housing member, an actuating member received Within said housing member free of attachment thereto for movement between a plurality of circuit controlling positions relative thereto, one of said members having a detent projection thereon, the other of said members having a projecting engaging detent surface including a detent recess portion for each of said circuit controlling positions of said actuating member, resilient contact means on said housing member and bear ing against said actuating member to bias the latter relative to said housing member in a direction for constant engagement of said projection on said detent surface, said projection and said detent surface being formed to cause said projection to seek location within any one of said recess portions under the bias of said contact means whereby to detent said actuating member in the corresponding circuit controlling position thereof, aid actuat ing member being manually movable relative to said housing member to disengage said projection from said any one recess portion and engage said projection within another recess portion in another circuit controlling position of said actuating member, said manual movement of said actuating member moving said contact means for control of an associated circuit.

2. A switch as recited in claim 1 wherein said detent surface is sinuous and includes adjacent detent recess portions separated by a projecting cam portion operative to "I (.9 cause said projection to seek one or the other of said adjacent recess portions.

3. A switch as recited in claim 1 wherein said acuating member includes a contact bearing surface portion against which said contact means bears, said bearing sur face being shaped to control the position of said contact means relative to a stationary contact means on said housing member in the various circuit controlling positions of said actuating member.

4. A switch as recited in claim 3 wherein said resilient contact means include a cantilever con-tact member.

5. A switch as recited in claim 2 wherein said actuating member is constrained in said housing member for primarily pivotal movement relative thereto and for limited bodily movement sufiicient for traversal of said detent projection over said cam portion of said detent surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,802 6/1956 Pashby ZOO-153.9 XR 2,909,624 10/1959 Colautti 200153.1() XR 2,916,566 12/1959 Meyer et al. 200153.10 XR ROBERT K. SCHAE'FER, Primary Examiner.

15 H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

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