US1509506A - Wall switch - Google Patents

Description

Sept, 23, 1924. @09,5%

'D. D. GORDON I WALL SWITCH Filed Aprn 15. 1921 v Patented 23, 1924o DWD D. GORDON, 0F CHCAGO, ILLINOS, ASSIGNDR TU MCGILL MANUFACTU COMPANY, F VALPARAISO, INDIANA.

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Application led April 15, 1921.

T 0 all whom t may concer/n.:

Be it known that l, DAVID D. GORDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Vin the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wall Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. A

y invention relates to electric switches and has to do more particularly with electric switches of the wall type, that is switches of the character which are adapted for mounting Hush with the wall face.

My invention is directed more to the provision ot' an improved and simplified switch of the above character having certain features of advantage as will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing specification and appended claims.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing my improved switchy of the three-way type;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view 2 2 of F ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a face view of Fig. 1 with plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional 4 1 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 5 is a view of abportion of Fig. 1 but with the switch mechanism'in a position alternate to that of Fig". 1 and with the operating lewer slightly od normal;

Fig. 6 .is a perspective view of the wall switch showing my new pendent pull arrangement, and 'y FigQl' is a modified form of my invention showing a one-way switch.

Referring now more in detail to the switch along the line shown in Figs. 1 to 11, it comprises a mount! ing plate 10 which is of the usual standard arrangement for mounting the same in the wall box. Extending from the 'frame 10 is a pair of insulation frame plates 11-12, I

preferably similar in construction and secured to the mounting plate 10 by lug portions 13--111` which extend through the plate and are up-set to securely hold the plates.

Mountedy upon the upper plate is a pair of contacts 15V-16 and a similar pair ot view along the line -the inner face of frame Serial No. 461,571.

contacts 17-18 are mounted upon the lower plate 12. These contacts are preferably secured to the inner faces of the frame plates and have ll-shaped portions extending through the trame plates and back along aligning faces against which the contacts rest under tension in proper position to be engaged by the switch contact arm.

ln using the' switch as a three-way switch l preferably connect contacts lr6-13 in common and to this end use a bracket member 19 having one extension' 20 which is attached te the plate 11 by screws, one screw 21 passing through the plate directly into the extension and the other screw 22 passing through the plate 11,- the fastening ear of contact 16, and the extension 20 so as to securely attach the bracket to the plate 11, and also hold it in intimate electrical engagement with contact 16. The other leg'of bracket 19, that is portion 23, is secured to the frame plate 12 by means of a screw 2t which also `acts to clamp the contact 18 between the strip 23 and frame 12. This bracket connectingI member has a further extending portion 25 which is a continuation of the portion 23, the eXtension 25 having a terminal binding screw 'to which an incoming conductor is connected.

The other two contacts 15-1Z are connected to individual terminals, contact 15 being connected to a terminal 27 which eX- y tends along the inner face of the frame plate 11 and has an angularly disposed eX- tension 28 which serves as a terminal connector for Contact 15. rllhe oppositelcontact, that is 17,' is similarly connected to a terminal having a portion 29 extending alone' plate 1e and with an angularly disposed terminal 30.

lt will thus be seen that l have provided a unitary switch, contact and terminal structure carried by the tace and frame plates.

.ln order to' protect the device l have'provided an enclosure in the form et a porce lain box or cover 31 having four slots 32, 33, 3.4i, 35 (Fig. 2) adapted to slidingly receive the frame plates 11-12. Thus the cover 31 may be readily placed over the rear end of the switch structure to insulatingly enclose the l'same with its extending screw terminals. The face edge of the cover 31 is recessed in order to receive the terminals 28, 30 and 25 which set lback from the' way but not to cooperate with my improved trame construction. This switch mechanism includes a frame 39 on which is seated a universally tiltable lever 40 which may also be drawn straight out away from the switch and connected by means of a link 41 to a U-shaped link 42 which carries a pawl member 43 having alternate pivot positions in that it may pivot upon the alternateframe points 44-45 when the pull member 42 is actuated. This pawl member 43 is connected to the U-shaped contact arm 46.

The contact army is pivotally supported upon insulation bushings 47-48 carried by small lugs which extend laterally from the frame sides. An insulating yoke 49 is passed over the frame and positioned between the legs of the contact arm and the trame 3./ so as to insulatingly separate them. The contact arm is connected with the pawl member 43 by means of a spring 50 which is insulatingly secured at one end to the contact arm 46 and at the other end to a hook in the yokeof the pawl 43.

The contact arm 46 has alternate positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, resting in each position against a stop lug 51 or 52 (Fig. 7)

which is cast in the corner of the cover 31 and having a stop face substantially flush with the inner face of the insulation mounting plates 11-12.

These lug stops 51--52 are not essential in connection with the three-way switch ot Figs. 1 to 5, but are provided so as to make an interchangeable one and three-way switch.- That is when the switch is used as a one-way switch as shown in Fig. 7, one ot the frame plates 11 and its contacts are lett oli in which case the contact arm, when moved to the non-contact position, which is the upper one in Fig. 7, abuts the stop lug 51. The frame plates 11-12 are therefore notched at their outer edges so as to clear the stops 51 or 52. Of course, it is not essential that two lug stops 51 52 need be provided but I do this sothat the cover 31 may be used interchangeably with either type of switch and also may be balanced in that both plates 11-12 are notched so as to use the same plate for both sides of the switch instead of making two types of plates.

In the operation of the switch mechanism and assuming that it is in the position shown in Fig. 1, upon tilting the universal lever 40 or pulling it straight out the pull member 42 is drawn toward the left thereby pivoting the pawl 43 on its upper hook at pivot point 44, thus moving the spring connected end of the pawl upwardly so as tol move the spring beyond the dead center and thereby shift the contact arm 46 to its alternate position as shown in Fig. 5 by snap action. Upon releasing lever 40 it is returned to its seat thereby allowing the pawl to assume its alternate position as indicated in Fig. 5. In this ligure the lever 40 is shown in a slightly tilted position.

Another actuation of lever 40 now ivots the pawl 43 upon its lower pivot point 45 thereby shifting the spring to its alternate position beyond the dead center so as to effeet a snap action operation of the switch arm and return it to its other position, that indicated in Fig. l.

Thus successive actuations of the actuating member 40 will effect successive actuations of the switch mechanism thereby moving the contact arm from one position to another. Also due to the universal operation of the actuating member 40, the switch may be placed in various positions such as either low down on the wall where the lever may be directly grasped by the operator. higher up on the wall where it may be pulled by an actuating chain 55 of the desired length; or upon the ceiling or other directly inaccessible position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my improved wall switch having a pendent pull arrangement attached to the operating lever. thus providing a very neat and etfective operating arrangement, pleasing in design and new so far as I am aware. The lever 40 has a flexible connection 55 preferably in the form of a ball chain which is heldin the lever by means of a spring hook-shaped clip 56 as shown in Fig. 1, held in position hy a set-screw 57 threaded through the side wall of the lever. This connection 55 is inserted into an opening in the upper end of the pull operating member 58 and held therein by means of a set-screw 59. The pull operating mechanism thus hangs free of the wall plate 60 and by the use of the universal operating lever 40 the switch may be mounted in any position, vertical or horizontal. and the pull member operated by pulling sideways in any direction or straight out. rlhe exposed parts such as the plate 60, lever 40. chain 55 and handle 58 maybe finished as desired such as by plating, painting or otherwise. V

The handle member 58 is shown in the form of a cast metal tassel (although of course other designs may be used) which gives a verv attractive appearance to the switch and by ditl'erent. finishes makes it desirable for highclass interior work. -Also by means of the depending pull arrangef ment the device may be readily grasped 'and easily operated.v v

What I claim as newV and desire lto secure by United States Letters Patent is:

' l. In an electric wall switch, a mounting 2. In an electric wall switchya mounting' plate, a pair ofI spaced insulation -frame plates extending therefrom, a switch mounted upon one of said frame plates between the pair includinga contact arm having alternate positions corresponding to the frame plates and having an operating member extending from the face ofthe mounting plate,

and cooperating stationary contacts carried by the frame plates for alternate engagement with the contact arm.

3. In an electricwall switch, a plate, a pair of insulation frame plates' extending therefrom, a switch mounted yupon one of' said frame plates between the pair including a contact arm 'having alternate positions corresponding to the frame plates and having an operating member extending from the 'face of the mounting plate, cof operating stationary contacts carried by the frame plates for alternate engagement with the contact arm, and a supporting bracket connecting said frame, plates and also a pair ofcontacts one from each frame late.

4. In an electric wall switch, a ramecom prising va mounting plate. two contact supporting insulation plates extending therefrom in arallel relation, and a supporting spacing `racket connecting the insulation plates and serving as a connector between contacts on thef plates.'

5. In an electrical wall switch, a frame comprising a mounting with a mechanism and contact supportin plate depending, therefrom, and a cover ox having grooves in the insides of opposite'walls to receive the li'ihintingl means for throwing said switch from one extreme position 'to the other, to,

edges of the supporting plate to hold the cover in place on the frame.

6. In an'electrical wall switch, a face mounting plate, a frame permanently secured thereto and extendingw rearwardly therefrom having opposed 'contact sets, a switch mechanismhavi-ng a swingable contact arm with a contact end movable laterally between said opposed contact sets, and terminal connectors extendin from the contact sets toward the face of t e switch.

'7. In an 'electrical wall switch, a face mounting plate and frame extending rear- -wardly having opposed sets of two contacts each, means for connecting one contactof eachsettogether in common, and a switch mechanism having a laterally reciprocable contact arm with a contact end movable to connect the two contacts of one or the other of the contact sets together.

8. In an electricalwall switch, a frame including a face mounting plate and rearwardly extending mounting plate, a switch mechanism having a contact arm and cooperating contacts mounted upon one side of the -latter mounting plate, said contacts being positioned at the rear end of the mounting plate, and terminal connector strips se'- cured to the contacts' 'and extending forwith screw terminals positioned parallel to -wardly over the edge of the mounting plate and immediately back ofthe :face mounting plate.

9. In an electricswitch, the combination with a frame provided with arms, and iixed terminals, of a swin il'ig, double-throw switch member cooperating with said .fixed terminals and pivoted-to said arms, spring member gether with shoulders on the :frame to limit the movements of the switch member in both directions, an actuating device mounted for universal swinging movement 'in said frame and operative connections between the actuating device and saidy switch member.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of Mar. A. D., 1921.

DAVID D. GORDON.

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