Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches – Electrothermally actuated switches – With bimetallic elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-01
2001-10-23
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches
Electrothermally actuated switches
With bimetallic elements
C337S039000, C337S059000, C337S085000, C337S112000, C337S113000, C337S066000, C337S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307460
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switch structure having an overload interruption structure so as to automatically open the circuit when the current is overloaded.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The overload interruption structures equipped with a power switch device known to applicant are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,786,742, 5,223,813, 4,937,548, 4,661,667, 4,931,762, 5,451,729 and 4,704,594. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,548, a thermally deformed bimetal plate is operationally connected to a cam to open the circuit. However, the action to open the circuit takes time because the cam is indirectly operated by the bimetal plate so that there is a possibility that the electric current will destroy the electric equipment when the current is overload. Furthermore, an additional wire is required to connect between the bimetal plate and a conductive plate. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,742, the switch is directly connected to the conduct point so that the open action for the circuit is not fast enough to timely protect the equipment.
The present invention intends to provide a power switch device that has a simple structure and timely open the circuit to protect the electric equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power switch device and comprised with a switch box having a button pivotally connected thereto and a tongue extending centrally from a bottom of the button. A first rod and a block respectively extend from an inside of the switch box. A first terminal plate and a second terminal plate are respectively engaged with the switch box and extend from the switch box. An inverted U-shaped bimetal plate having two legs respectively connected to the first terminal plate and a first end of a conduct plate. The other end of the bimetal plate is a pushing end. An actuating member has a head on a first end of the actuating member and an engaging member is movably mounted to a second end of the actuating member. A slot is defined through the head so that the head is movably mounted to the first rod received in the slot. The head presses on the second end of the conduct plate toward the second terminal plate. The tongue of the button is pivotally connected to the actuating member. A resilient plate has a first end thereof fixedly connected to the switch box and the other end of the resilient plate is engaged with one end of the button.
The object of the present invention is to provide a switch that has an actuating member which can be pushed by a pushing end of a bimetal plate FOR override, and the other end of the actuating member is then lifted to open the circuit.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.
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Picard Leo P.
Vortman Anatoly
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