Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Cases and bases
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-28
2003-12-02
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Cases and bases
C200S293000, C200S294000, C174S053000, C174S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06657144
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to electrical switches and more specifically to a switch which includes an internal through-strap which does not require a separate component which acts as a barrier to isolate the strap from the switch terminals.
The following patents illustrate a variety of electrical switching devices which exemplify the state of the art with respect to through-straps or equivalent components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,637 (Matsuda) discloses a switch assembly which includes a case
12
containing light control components, a front panel
16
furnished with a control knob, and a radiating plate
14
(a through-strap) for attaching the assembly to a switch box
21
and mounted between the case and the front panel. The assembly requires an insulating plate
50
.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,204 (Sommer) discloses an electrical switch assembly including a cover
30
for mounting a rocker switch
16
and a base
28
for mounting a switch unit
14
. No strap is disclosed, but the cover
30
, which is external, also performs many of the functions of a through-strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,787 (Data) discloses a switch assembly including a front housing
12
in which four rocker actuators
30
are mounted, and a rear wiring module
42
in which terminals
44
are mounted. A front plate
40
, which is similar to an external through-strap, is mounted between the housing and the module.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,308 (Bryde et al.) discloses a switch and dimmer device that is interposed between a bezel housing
17
and a back cover
12
. Yoke
20
is an external through-strap
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 430,497 (Michaels) discloses an external yoke sandwiched between a cover member mounting a switch and a body member mounting the switch terminals.
The only internal through strap in the above cited prior art requires an insulating component to isolate the strap from the terminal. Where the through-strap is external, it does not provide for any significant reinforcement of the device
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an internal through-strap for an electrical device which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art described above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an internal through-strap for an electrical device which eliminates the need for a separate electrical barrier component.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an internal through-strap which contributes to a rugged switch assembly by providing reinforcement for the device.
The present invention is directed to an electrical switch assembly which includes an internal metal strap or through-strap which functions to provide attachment means to an electrical enclosure. A top enclosure functions to captivate and holds a planar through-strap in a fixed, nesting engagement by contact between the bottom surface of the top enclosure and the top surface of the through strap. A body or bottom enclosure captivates and holds the through-strap in a fixed, nesting engagement by contact between the top surface the body and the bottom surface of the through-strap. The strap includes a vertically disposed tab which is designed and positioned to be received in a notch or well contained in the top enclosure which functions to orient and captivate the through-strap in a predetermined location during and after assembly. A corresponding notch is also included in the body which also functions to orient and captivate the through strap.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4255637 (1981-03-01), Matsuda
patent: 4871893 (1989-10-01), Slovak et al.
patent: 4880950 (1989-11-01), Carson et al.
patent: 5213204 (1993-05-01), Sommer
patent: 5445539 (1995-08-01), Dale
patent: 5783787 (1998-07-01), Data
patent: 5826710 (1998-10-01), Kurek et al.
patent: 5990436 (1999-11-01), Balaban et al.
patent: 6005308 (1999-12-01), Bryde et al.
patent: D430497 (2000-09-01), Michaels
patent: 6313403 (2001-11-01), Livingston et al.
DelFavero Mark S.
Savicki, Jr. Gerald R.
Friedhofer Michael
Pass & Seymour, Inc.
Wall Marjama & Bilinski LLP
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