Rotary switch for a two-wire electrical cable

Details Rotary switch for a two-wire electrical cable Rotary switch for a two-wire electrical cable

2000-08-10

2001-05-22

Gellner, Michael L. (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Solid contact

Rotating actuator

C200S571000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06236007

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rotary switch, more particularly to a rotary switch that can be retained securely on a two-wire electrical cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional rotary switch is shown to comprise a rectangular switch housing, a rotary dial
13
, a rotary contact
17
, and first and second conductive terminals
15
,
16
. The switch housing includes complementary upper and lower housing parts
11
,
12
. The rotary dial
13
is mounted rotatably in the switch housing, and has diametrically opposite edge portions that extend outwardly of the switch housing at opposite lateral sides of the latter. The rotary contact
17
is mounted on the rotary dial
13
. A two-wire electrical cable
14
extends longitudinally through the switch housing. The electrical cable
14
includes first and second wires
141
,
142
. The second wire
142
has a split section to form first and second wire portions
143
,
144
inside the switch housing. The first and second conductive terminals
15
,
16
are mounted in the switch housing, and are disposed at opposite longitudinal end portions of the same. The first conductive terminal
15
has a wire connecting portion
152
that pierces through insulation at the first wire portion
143
to connect electrically therewith. The second conductive terminal
16
has a wire connecting portion
162
that pierces through insulation at the second wire portion
144
to connect electrically therewith.
When the rotary dial
13
is rotated to a first switch position, the rotary contact
17
is brought to connect electrically with spring arm portions
151
,
161
of the first and second conductive terminals
15
,
16
, thereby permitting current flow through the electrical cable
14
. When the rotary dial
13
is rotated to a second switch position, the rotary contact
17
is moved to disconnect the spring arm portions
151
,
161
, thereby interrupting current flow through the electrical cable
14
.
In the aforesaid conventional rotary switch, the electrical cable
14
is retained in the switch housing solely by the first and second conductive terminals
15
,
16
. As such, when the electrical cable
14
is subjected to tensile forces, the electrical cable
14
can easily move relative to the first and second conductive terminals
15
,
16
, which can result in electrical shock in the event that current flows through the electrical cable
14
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a rotary switch of the aforesaid type that can be retained securely on a two-wire electrical cable.
According to this invention, a rotary switch is adapted for use with a two-wire electrical cable that includes first and second wires. The first wire has a split section to form first and second wire portions. The rotary switch comprises a switch housing, a rotary dial, a rotary contact, and first and second conductive terminals.
The switch housing includes complementary upper and lower housing parts that are fastened to each other and that cooperate to confine a chamber. One of the housing parts has a base wall and a surrounding wall that extends in a transverse direction from a periphery of the base wall. The surrounding wall has opposite first and second end wall portions, and opposite first and second lateral wall portions that interconnect the first and second end wall portions. Said one of the housing parts has a longitudinal axis. The first and second end wall portions of the surrounding wall are respectively formed with first and second wire notches that are disposed on the longitudinal axis. The first wire notch includes a pair of first notch portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. The second wire notch includes a pair of second notch portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. One of the first notch portions is longitudinally aligned with one of the second notch portions relative to the longitudinal axis. The other one of the first notch portions is longitudinally aligned with the other one of the second notch portions relative to the longitudinal axis.
Said one of the housing parts further has first, second, third and fourth barriers that extend from the base wall in the transverse direction. The first barrier is parallel to the first end wall portion of the surrounding wall, and is spaced apart from the first end wall portion along the longitudinal axis. The first barrier is formed with a first retaining notch that is disposed closer to the first lateral wall portion of the surrounding wall than the longitudinal axis, and a second retaining notch that is disposed closer to the second lateral wall portion of the surrounding wall than the longitudinal axis. The second barrier is parallel to the second end wall portion of the surrounding wall, and is spaced apart from the second end wall portion along the longitudinal axis. The second barrier is formed with a third retaining notch that is disposed closer to the first lateral wall portion than the longitudinal axis, and a fourth retaining notch that is disposed closer to the second lateral wall portion than the longitudinal axis. The third barrier is parallel to the first barrier, is spaced apart from the first barrier along the longitudinal axis, and is disposed between the first and second barriers. The third barrier is formed with a fifth retaining notch that is disposed closer to the second lateral wall portion than the longitudinal axis. The fourth barrier is parallel to the second barrier, is spaced apart from the second barrier along the longitudinal axis, and is disposed between the second and third barriers. The fourth barrier is formed with a sixth retaining notch that is disposed closer to the second lateral wall portion than the longitudinal axis.
One of the first notch portions and the first retaining notch are adapted to permit the first wire portion of the first wire of the electrical cable to extend therethrough and to permit subsequent bending of the first wire portion toward the longitudinal axis. The first and third barriers are adapted to clamp and retain the first wire portion therebetween. One of the second notch portions and the third retaining notch are adapted to permit the second wire portion of the first wire of the electrical cable to extend therethrough and to permit subsequent bending of the second wire portion toward the longitudinal axis. The second and fourth barriers are adapted to clamp and retain the second wire portion therebetween. The other one of the first notch portions, the second retaining notch, the fifth retaining notch, the sixth retaining notch, the fourth retaining notch and the other one of the second notch portions are adapted to permit the second wire of the electrical cable to extend therethrough.
The rotary dial is mounted rotatably in the chamber of the switch housing, and has an edge portion that extends outwardly of the switch housing. The rotary contact is mounted on the rotary dial, and is rotatable with the rotary dial between first and second switch positions. The first and second conductive terminals are mounted in the switch housing, and are disposed adjacent to the first and second end wall portions of the surrounding wall, respectively. The first conductive terminal has a wire connecting portion that is adapted to be connected electrically to the first wire portion, and a spring arm portion that extends toward the rotary dial. The second conductive terminal has a wire connecting portion that is adapted to be connected electrically to the second wire portion, and a spring arm portion that extends toward the rotary dial. The rotary contact connects electrically the first and second conductive terminals when the rotary contact is disposed in the first switch position, and disconnects the first and second conductive terminals when the rotary contact is disposed in the second switch position.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3892931 (1975-07-01), Lockard
patent: 5905238 (1999-05-01),

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