Switch contact structure

Details Switch contact structure Switch contact structure

2002-09-27

2004-07-20

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Solid contact

Reciprocating actuator

C200S571000, C200S251000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06765166

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch contact structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, the switch contact structure of this type includes, for example, the one shown in FIG.
9
and
FIG. 10
, or the one shown in
FIG. 11
, which is disclosed in JP-A-11-250772. As shown in
FIG. 9
, a plurality of fixed contacts
202
are provided on a substrate
201
, and a movable block
203
is disposed so as to be movable along the substrate
201
in the directions indicated by arrows G and H.
The movable block
203
is provided with a plurality of movable contacts
205
corresponding to the fixed contacts
202
. The movable contact
205
includes a resilient arm
207
supported by the movable block
203
and a curved contact portion
209
at the distal end of the resilient arm
207
.
The movable block
203
is provided with an engaging section
211
, which projects upward from an elongated hole
215
formed on the partition wall
213
. A control rod engages the engaging section
211
, and thus the movable block
203
is capable of linear movement on the substrate
201
in the directions indicated by the arrows H and G in conjunction with the action of the control rod. The linear movement of the movable block
203
allows the contact portions
209
of the movable contacts
205
to be brought into and out of contact with the fixed contacts
202
on the side of the substrate
201
in a prescribed state to create the ON state and the OFF state.
Resiliency of the resilient arm
207
formed of conductive metal leaf spring material allows the contact portion
209
to make resilient contact with the fixed contact
202
to maintain a desirable contact pressure. In addition, pressing the movable block
203
toward the partition wall
213
by the resilient arm
207
may prevent rattling of the movable block
203
.
The example shown in
FIG. 11
is constructed in such a manner that the movable contact
219
is stored in a recess
217
on the movable block
203
via a contact spring
221
. Therefore, in the case shown in
FIG. 11
, a resilient force of the contact spring
221
allows the movable contact
219
to be brought into resilient contact with the fixed contact
202
, and simultaneously presses the movable block
203
against the partition wall
213
to prevent rattling of the movable block
203
.
However, in the examples shown in
FIG. 9
,
FIG. 10
or
FIG. 11
, since the movable contact
205
or the movable contact
219
, and the contact spring
221
are provided separately from the movable block
203
formed of resin, the number of components increases and thus assembly and parts management are very complicated.
In the case of the movable contact
205
as shown in
FIG. 10
, since the resilient arm
207
is disposed obliquely with respect to the movable block
203
, a resilient force exerted on the movable block
203
may be biased and thus it cannot prevent rattling of the movable block
203
satisfactorily.
Furthermore, in the example shown in
FIG. 11
, though the contact springs
221
on both sides gives a well-balanced resilient force to the movable block
203
, the number of the contact spring
221
and the like significantly increases, and thus there arises such a problem that assembly and parts management become complicated. In addition, when assembling the movable contact
205
to the movable block
203
, the movable contact
205
is liable to be dropped from the movable block
203
.
In the example shown in
FIG. 10
, the separate movable contact
205
is mounted on the movable block
203
, and in the example shown in
FIG. 11
, the separate movable contact
219
and the contact spring
221
are mounted on the movable block
203
. Therefore, there arises such a problem that the movable contact
219
and the contact spring
221
are liable to be dropped at the time of assembly, and the movable block
203
is liable to rattle at the time of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a switch contact structure including a reduced number of components, thus facilitating assembly and parts management, and preventing the movable block reliably from rattling
The invention according to (1) is a switch contact structure comprising a substrate, a movable block disposed so as to be movable along the substrate, a fixed contact mounted on the substrate, and a movable contact mounted on the movable block, wherein the movable contact is brought into and out of contact with the fixed contact by the movement of the movable block along the substrate, characterized in that the movable block is provided with a resin spring portion formed integrally therewith for urging the movable contact toward the substrate, and the movable contact plated or printed on the surface facing toward the aforementioned substrate.
The invention according to (2) is a switch contact structure comprising a substrate, a movable block disposed so as to be movable along the substrate, a fixed contact mounted on the substrate, and a movable contact mounted on the movable block, wherein the movable contact is brought into and out of contact with the fixed contact by the movement of the movable block along the substrate, characterized in that the movable block is provided with a resin spring portion formed integrally therewith for urging the movable contact toward the substrate, and the resin spring portion is provided with the movable contact plated or printed on the surface facing toward the substrate.
The invention according to (3) is a switch contact structure as set forth in (2), characterized in that the movable block comprises a base portion having a engaging section for coupling, and a resin spring portion of substantially diamond shape in cross section formed integrally with the base portion, and the movable contact is plated or printed on the resin spring portion at the top of the diamond shaped cross section.
According to the invention as set forth in (1), since a substrate, a movable block disposed so as to be movable along the substrate, a fixed contact mounted on the substrate, and a movable contact mounted on the movable block are provided, the aforementioned movable contact may be brought into and out of contact with the fixed contact by moving the movable block along the substrate.
Since the movable block is provided with the resin spring portion formed integrally therewith for urging the movable block toward the substrate, and the movable contact plated or printed on the surface facing toward the substrate, a separate contact spring for bringing the movable contact into resiliently contact with the fixed contact is not necessary, whereby the number of components may be reduced to facilitate assembly and parts management, thereby reducing the costs.
This arrangement allows reliable resilient contact between the movable contact and the fixed contact, and this reliable contact ensures prevention of loose connection. Furthermore, since the resin spring portion is integrally formed with the movable block, the spring member is prevented from being dropped when being assembled and occurrence of rattling of the movable block can be reliably prevented.
According to the invention as set forth in (2), since a substrate, a movable block disposed so as to be movable along the substrate, a fixed contact mounted on the substrate, and a movable contact mounted on the movable block are provided, the movable contact may be brought into and out of contact with the fixed contact by moving the movable block along the substrate.
Since the movable block is provided with the resin spring portion formed integrally therewith for urging the movable block toward the substrate, and the resin spring portion is provided with the movable contact plated or printed on the surface facing toward the substrate, a separate contact spring for bringing the movable contact into resiliently contact with the fixed contact is not necessary, whereby the number of components may be reduced to facilitate assembly and parts management, ther

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