Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Snap – Double snap
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-11-27
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Snap
Double snap
C200S406000, C200S317000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323449
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE
Applicant claims priority from French patent application No. 97/14990 filed Nov. 28, 1997 and PCT application PCT/FR98/02480 filed Nov. 18, 1998 which named the United States.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of electrical switch includes electrically conductive blades that can be deflected down against contacts to close switches formed by the blades and contacts. An actuator that downwardly deflects the blades can include a snap dome tripper which suddenly snaps down when deflected past a transition point. The sudden change of state of the tripper provides a tactile feedback to the person who depresses the switch, to inform him/her that the switch has been closed so the person will not press with greater force on the push button.
Many products are being manufactured in progressively smaller sizes, and it is desirable to provide a switch with multiple contacts, which is of small size, and especially very small thickness. The switch and other components are commonly mounted on a circuit board, and the switch should take up little space on the circuit board and project a minimal distance above it. It is also desirable to reduce the number of components required for a switch, and to incorporate two or more different switch devices into a single switch. A single switch that has a minimum number of easily assembled components, in which operation of the switch as by depressing an actuator, results in the closing of many switch devices, which creates a tactile feedback through the actuator, which has a small size and especially a very small thickness, and which uses a minimum number of components, would be of value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, applicant provides an electrical switch with a plurality of switch devices that are all operated by operation of a single actuator, and with tactile feedback through the actuator, where the switch is of very small size and has a minimum number of components. The switch includes a support with a dielectric lower portion, a plurality of contacts mounted on the support and having exposed contact surfaces at the support lower portion, an intermediate contact member that is largely in the form of a plate lying above the contact surfaces, and a tripper which lies above the intermediate contact member. The largely plate-shaped intermediate contact member has slots forming a plurality of blades that are each positioned over but spaced from the contact surfaces so the blades can be deflected against the contact surfaces. The tripper is of the snap dome type that snaps down to downwardly deflect the leaves of the intermediate contact member against the contact surfaces when the tripper has been depressed more than a predetermined amount so it then snaps down.
The snap dome tripper preferably lies directly on the intermediate member, which minimizes the height of the switch and the number of switch components. The exposed contact surfaces are preferably flush with a dielectric flat surface at the lower portion of the support. The contacts lie at opposite sides of the middle of the dielectric surface. This allows the middle of the snap dome tripper to deflect very close to the dielectric support surface.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4032728 (1977-06-01), Oelsch
patent: 4385218 (1983-05-01), Nishida
patent: 4405845 (1983-09-01), Kondo et al.
patent: 4588877 (1986-05-01), Mizuta et al.
patent: 4931605 (1990-06-01), Zoller
patent: 5660272 (1997-08-01), Janniere et al.
patent: 6018132 (2001-01-01), Chen
patent: 6180903 (2001-01-01), Chen
patent: 3137749A1 (1983-01-01), None
patent: 0339151A1 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 0743663A1 (1996-11-01), None
patent: WO 99/28937 (1999-06-01), None
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Scott J. R.
Turner Roger C.
LandOfFree
Touch sensitive multiple electrical switch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Touch sensitive multiple electrical switch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Touch sensitive multiple electrical switch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596239