US2077472A - Push button switch - Google Patents

Description

p 1937- 1 GOTTLJEB 2,077,472

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Aug. 15, 1934 INVENTOR JOSEPH GOTTLIEB TORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1937 U-NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to snap switches of the push button type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a switch of the above type which is simple in construction, economical of manufacture and comprising few parts capable of expeditious assembly.

Another object is to provide a switch of the above character in which the few moving parts are of sturdy construction and capable of long ife.

A further object is to provide in a switch of the aforementioned character novel make and break circuit means.

The foregoing objects and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention in Which:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an elastic socket incorporating the switch mechanism embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles thereto.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the socket body in the plane shown in Figure 1 with the switch mechanism in the off position.

Fig. 4 is a side View of the socket body as reviewed from the right of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the socket body showing the electric conductor terminals.

While in the present instance the invention is shown as embodied in an electric socket, it, of

course, may be embodied in various other electric devices.

In the drawing the socket comprises a shell in, a cap II therefor and an insulating body I2. As is usual the inside of the shell is lined with an insulating sleeve l3 and the capserves to carry an insulating disc I4 having a central opening through which may be passed the covered electric conductors l5 and IS.

The body I2 is preferably designed to loosely fit the upper part of the shell l0 and its lower portion is provided with a through passage il in which is arranged the switch mechanism.

The upper portion of the passage I! is narrowed to form a slideway l8 terminating at its ends in walls l9 and 20.

A slide 2| is adapted to move in the slideway and is provided with out reaching downwardly directed arms 22 and 23 having lateral extensions covered by insulating push buttons 24 and 25 respectively.

The center of the slide may be provided with a downreaching projection 26 apertured at 27 to receive one end of an operating spring 28. A tiltable contact member 29 is preferably formed in the shape of abellcrank having one arm 30 oifset and protruding into the opposite end of the spring and another arm 3i acting as a contact arm and oiiset to engage against the middle of the portion 42.

The contact member 29 is pivotally connected at 32 to a portion 33 of the terminal 34. This portion is designed to project into the passage I I and to be positioned alongside one of the walls thereof.

The upper end of the terminal 34 is inwardly bent at an angle as at 35 and is provided with a screw seat for the binding screw 36 to receive the end of the conductor I5. The end of the binding screw 36 also serves to maintain the terminal 34 in assembled relation with the body l2.

The other terminal 31 is also provided with a binding screw 38 to receive the end of the conductor I6.

To the bottom of the body I2 there is applied a disc 39 of insulating material which serves to close the open bottom of the passage I1 and to carry a contact 40 which is substantially Z-shaped and formed with the usual center contact 4| and with a portion 42 contactable by the contact arm 3i.

The dead end of a screw shell 41 is applied against the under side of the disc 39, and the assembly of the body I2, the disc 39, the terminal 31, and the screw shell is maintained by means of the screws 43 and 44; the screw 43 also acting as a conductor in the circuit and employing the terminal 31 as its nut and the screw 44 being provided with a nut 45 which is kept from rotation by engagement with the walls of a recess 46 in the body.

The electric circuit which passes from the conductor l5 to the terminal 34, contact member 29, contact 40 through the device in the socket, to the screw shell 41, screw 43, terminal 31, and conductor 16 may be interrupted by pushing against the end of the push button 24 until the slide is centered over the pivot 32 of the contact member when the spring 28 will be at greatest compression. Continued push on this push button will move the slide slightly beyond the center position and the tendency of the spring 28 to expand will cause the slide to snap to a position against its stop wall 20, and since the contact member at all times seeks to maintain alignment with the axis of the spring its arm 3| will be lifted from contact with the portion 42 of the center contact to break the mentioned circuit.

This last position is shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to close the circuit the push button 25 is urged to the left and as the slide 5 comes to rest against the stop wall I9, the expanding tendency of the spring 28 will cause a firm contact between the contact arm 3| and the portion 42. This contact is sufficient for all ordinary purposes but should it be desired, the portion may be formed with two upstanding spring portions adapted to receive between them the contact arm 3|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple device for the purpose has been disclosed in the preferred form of its embodiment, but it is not desired to restrict the details to the exact construction shown, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electric switch, an insulating body having a transverse slideway and a central passage within the body and having a groove extending radially of the body from the passage to the periphery and longitudinally of the body and terminating in an offset recess, a U-shaped 30 terminal seated within the groove with one of its arms projecting into the passage and the end of the other of its arms overlying the offset recess, a binding screw on the end of the latter arm adapted when sent home to extend into the recess to maintain the terminal in assembled relation with the body, a bell crank contact member pivotally engaged with the end of the arm projecting into the passage, an operating coil spring, one arm of the bell crank nesting Within the confines of one end of the coil spring and a central contact adapted to be contacted by the other arm of the bell crank when the other end of the coil spring is moved, in one direction, a slide movable in the slideway, said other end of the coil spring being connected to the slide, to be actuated thereby.

2. In an electric switch, an insulating body having a transverse slideway and a central passage within the body and having a groove extending radially of the body from the passage .to the periphery and longitudinally of the body and terminating in an offset recess, a U-shaped terminal seated within the groove with one of its arms projecting into the passage and the end of the other of its arms overlying the offset recess, a bell crank contact member pivotally engagcd with the end of the arm projecting into the passage, an operating coil spring, one arm of the bell crank nesting within the confines of one end of the coil spring and a central contact adapted to be contacted by the other arm of the bell crank when the other end of the coil spring is moved inone direction, a slide movable in the slideway, said other end of the coil spring being connected to the slide, to be actuated thereby.

JOSEPH GOTTLIEB.

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