Vibration switch

Details Vibration switch Vibration switch

2003-05-13

2004-03-16

Scott, James R. (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Special application

Change of inclination or of rate of motion responsive

C200S061520, C200S277000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06706979

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vibration switch, more particularly to a vibration switch with two electrically conductive rollable bodies which abut against two tangential areas of two electric contact bodies to establish electric contact between the electric contact bodies, and which will lurch towards a farthermost area of a respective one of the electric contact bodies when the vibration switch is in an unsteady state so as to break the electric contact.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional vibration switch
1
is shown to include a metal housing
11
with an accommodation chamber
111
for receiving a deflectable electric contact body
12
, such as a coil spring. An anchoring end
121
of the electric contact body
12
is sleeved on a plug portion
112
of the housing
11
such that a contact terminal end
122
thereof is held along an axis. A first electric contact terminal
113
extends from a side wall of the housing
11
downwardly. A second electric terminal
14
has a contact end inserted into the contact terminal end
122
through a through hole
131
in an insulating plug member
13
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, when the housing
11
is jerked by a force (F), the contact terminal end
122
of the electric contact body
12
is deflected radially as a result of an inertial force so as to contact the second electric terminal
14
, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the first and second electric contact terminals
113
,
14
. However, when the housing
11
is jerked by a force (not shown) from a direction substantially parallel to the axis, the extent of deflection of the contact terminal end
122
is relatively small so that the contact terminal end
122
may not be able to contact the second electric terminal
14
to establish the electrical connection between the terminals
113
,
14
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a vibration switch which can be instantly disposed in a switch-off state when jerked by a force coming from any direction.
According to this invention, the vibration switch is adapted to be disposed in electric contact with a support, and includes a housing adapted to be mounted on the support in an upright direction. The housing includes an upper wall and a lower wall spaced apart from each other in the upright direction to confine an accommodation chamber.
First and second electric contact bodies are disposed in the accommodation chamber, and respectively have first and second rolling surfaces that are spaced apart from each other along a centerline which is oriented in one of the upright direction and a longitudinal direction that is transverse to the upright direction. The first and second rolling surfaces respectively define first and second farthermost areas which are spaced apart from each other by a first length along the centerline, and respectively define first and second tangential areas which are offset from the centerline. The first and second tangential areas are spaced apart from each other by a distance that, when projected on a longitudinal line in the longitudinal direction, is equivalent to a second length.
First and second electrically conductive rollable bodies are respectively rollable on the first and second rolling surfaces about first and second rolling axes, and respectively have first and second perimetrical areas which are in contact with the first and second rolling surfaces, and first and second widths. Each of the first and second widths is defined by a distance which is between two diametrically opposite points in a respective one of the first and second perimetrical areas. Sum of the first width and the second width is smaller than the first length and larger than the sum of the second length and the third length. As such, when the support on which the housing is mounted stands still, the first and second electrically conductive rollable bodies are tangent to each other, and respectively abut against the first and second tangential areas by virtue of gravity, thereby establishing electric contact between the first and second electric contact bodies. Once the support is caused to quiver in an unsteady state, the first and second electrically conductive rollable bodies will be caused to lurch towards one of the first and second farthermost areas so that one of the first and second electrically conductive rollable bodies is out of contact with a corresponding one of the first and second rolling surfaces which defines the other one of said first and second farthermost areas, thereby breaking the electric contact between the first and second electric contact bodies.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2107570 (1938-02-01), Hobbs
patent: 2206094 (1940-07-01), Hobbs
patent: 3706867 (1972-12-01), Rand et al.
patent: 4085304 (1978-04-01), Hasler
patent: 4513183 (1985-04-01), Hill
patent: 5209343 (1993-05-01), Romano et al.
patent: 6545235 (2003-04-01), Chou
patent: 2077504 (1981-12-01), None

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