Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Combined with or actuated by connector coupling – Multiple circuit control – selective
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-21
2001-04-10
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Combined with or actuated by connector coupling
Multiple circuit control, selective
C200S051110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215080
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch device having an AC inlet and an AC switch which are accommodated within a common bracket. Particularly, the invention is concerned with a connecting structure for connecting terminals electrically with each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As conventional switch devices in which an AC inlet and an AC switch are accommodated within a common bracket there are generally known a switch device in which a common bracket formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin is provided with receptacle portions, and an AC inlet and an AC switch are fitted in those receptacle portions respectively, and a switch device in which a bracket is allowed to also serve as an insulating base of an AC inlet, and an AC switch is attached thereto.
As methods for connecting the AC inlet and the AC switch in such switch device equipped with AC inlet there generally are known a method in which lead wires or the like are soldered to the respective terminals and a method in which both are connected together using a printed circuit board with a connecting pattern printed thereon. In both methods, however, for ensuring the distance of an energized portion defined by the electric appliance and material control law and also by safety standards in various countries, an external size of the bracket increases in the thickness direction, thus making it difficult to follow the tendency to the reduction of thickness. Moreover, in case of using a printed circuit board, an increase of cost results.
As a method proposed recently for the connection of AC inlet and AC switch there is known a method in which a connecting strip serving as a conductive portion is formed using a thin metallic strip such as a thin steel or brass strip and terminals are connected together through the said connecting strip. According to this method using such a connecting strip, it becomes possible to thin the terminals to be connected and the assembly is easy, so that the reduction of cost can be attained.
In the above structure of the conventional switch device with AC inlet, however, in case of connecting the terminal of the AC inlet and that of the AC switch with each other by using the connecting strip, since the connection with the connecting strip is a solid connection made by caulking or soldering, the connection is deficient in flexibility. Particularly, since an attachment plug for the supply of an alternating current from an external power supply is inserted and pulled out with respect to the terminal of the AC inlet, an external force is exerted on the terminal, giving rise to the problem that the connection between the terminal and the connecting strip is damaged or an unstable contact results.
Further, in the case where the material of the AC inlet and AC switch terminals and that of the connecting strip are of different kinds, a stress is imposed on the terminals due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient when power is ON, resulting in damage of the connection between the terminals and the connecting strip or the occurrence of a crack. In this case, the connecting strip becomes unstable in its held state and there remains a problem to be solved in point of assemblability and reliability of connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a connecting structure in a switch device with AC inlet wherein, when terminals of the switch device are connected together using a thin metallic connecting strip, there is no fear of an external force on the terminals causing damage to the connection between the terminals and the connecting strip and resulting in unstable contact, and which, even at different thermal expansion coefficients in a power ON condition, ensures a stably held state of the connecting strip and can afford excellent assemblability and reliability of connection.
For solving the above-mentioned problems, in the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a switch device comprising an AC inlet having a connecting pin for AC input and an inlet terminal for connection, an AC switch having a connecting-side terminal and an output-side terminal, a metallic connecting strip for electrically connecting the inlet terminal of the AC inlet and the connecting-side terminal of the AC switch with each other, and a bracket with the AC inlet and AC switch attached thereto, wherein the connecting strip is formed of a flat metallic strip and has a bent portion at an intermediate position of the connection between the inlet terminal and the connecting-side terminal of the AC switch.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the bent portion of the connecting strip is bent in a generally U shape in the thickness direction of the connecting strip to permit longitudinal expansion and contraction of the connecting strip.
In the third aspect of the present invention, the bottom of the generally U-shaped bent portion of the connecting strip and the vicinity thereof are formed thin to provide a thin-wall portion.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the bracket is formed with a holding portion for abutment against the connecting strip to hold the connecting strip.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3723679 (1973-03-01), Carney
patent: 4256935 (1981-03-01), Ito et al.
patent: 4485282 (1984-11-01), Lee
patent: 4930047 (1990-05-01), Peterson
patent: 6062886 (2000-05-01), Chen
patent: 08007559A (1996-01-01), None
Goto Yoshimi
Mori Toshiharu
Takeda Masayuki
Tanabe Yoshio
Alps Electric Company
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Friedhofer Michael
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