Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Contact
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-06
2001-05-22
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Contact
C439S409000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236006
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application Serial No. 299 05 589.2, filed Mar. 26, 1999, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a switch device.
To date, switch devices of a type involved here, typically have a casing which is closeable by a lid and provided interiorly with contact members. A conductive cable is guided through an inlet opening into the interior of the casing and has at least two conductors, enclosed by an insulating sheath, for electric connection with the conductive contact members inside the casing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved switch device, which is easy to assemble and cost-efficient and yet realizes a superior electrically conductive contacting between the cable and the contact members.
This object, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing contact members which include terminals, pointing in the direction of the lid, for penetration through the insulating sheath of the cable and contacting the conductors, and by providing a pressure pad, secured interiorly on the lid in an area of contact between the contact members and the conductors, destined for exerting a pressure onto the cable, whereby the pressure pad projects to such an extent into the interior of the casing as to firmly press the cable onto the contact members via the connected terminals, when the lid is closed.
The configuration of a switch device in accordance with the present invention realizes an especially simple assembly of the switch device, in particular as far as the required contacting between the contact members, on the one hand, and the electrically conducting cable, on the other hand, is concerned. After being inserted in the interior of the casing and placed onto the terminals, the cable is slightly pushed against the terminals. A complete and intimate contact is implemented when the lid is closed because the pressure pad, disposed on the inside of the lid, pushes the cable firmly against the terminals. As a consequence, the terminals completely penetrate through the insulating sheath of the cable and contact the conductors within the cable. In this contact-making position, the pressure pad, on the one hand, and the terminals, on the other hand, sufficiently secure the cable in place, at the same time.
The lid is sealed against the casing so as to render the switch device easily suitable for high protective systems while yet reducing manufacturing costs and assembly costs.
According to another feature of the present invention, the pressure pad has a cable-proximal side which is formed with a substantially U-shaped guide groove for, at least partial, engagement of the cable, with the groove having a width substantially corresponding to a width of the cable. As a result, a simple and good lateral securement of the cable is provided. Suitably, the groove has a flank area which expands conically outwards. Thus, even when an installer is not particularly attentive, this configuration ensures that the cable is actually received in the groove, when the lid is closed.
According to still another feature of the present invention, the system of protection can be further enhanced by disposing in the inlet opening a sealing plug which is formed with a bore for feedthrough of the cable and is so compressed by the lid, when the lid is closed, as to seal the bore against the cable.
The lid may be hinged to the casing and may have a hinge-distal edge formed with a locking lug for engaging behind a projecting shoulder of the casing, when the lid is closed. It is also conceivable to secure the lid on the casing via, e.g., several screw fasteners.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2723327 (1955-11-01), Gilbert
patent: 4081641 (1978-03-01), Piber
patent: 4351581 (1982-09-01), Wied
patent: 4612423 (1986-09-01), Munroe
patent: 6051801 (2000-04-01), Wang
patent: 6074239 (2000-06-01), Camps
Bernstein AG
Feiereisen Henry M.
Scott J. R.
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