US2812405A - Electrical switch assembly - Google Patents

Description

1957 D. WOLKOV ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed April 2, 1956 I N V EN TOR. 04m /4 01 /\0 1 BY Arrow 5y;

ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY David Wolkov, Hicksville, N. Y., assignor to Superior Magneto Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,504 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-157) The present invention relates generally to electrical switch assemblies and more particularly to switch assemblies incorporated within a manual grip and controllable by separate fingers of the operators hand.

It is known to install electrical switches in grip members which may be grasped in the hand of an operator, the switches being operated by push-buttons and the like projecting from the body of the grip. From the standpoint of human engineering it has been found that where the same button is used both to actuate and de-actuate the switch, the possibility of operational error is increased. Moreover, switches controlled by a single button usually require springs, washers and guides to lock-out the switch.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide in a grip a switch assembly having separate finger operated means to actuate and de-actuate the switch. A significant feature of the invention resides in the fact that the normal positions assumed by the fingers f the hand when holding the grip are conveniently related to the positions of the switch control means to facilitate the rapid operation thereof. A switch assembly based on the invention may be readily operated even when the user is wearing heavy gloves.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a switch assembly wherein the switch may be locked-out without the use of springs, washers, or guides, as are entailed in conventional arrangements. Thus a switch assembly in accordance with the invention is of relatively simple and eflicient design and may be manufactured at low cost. Also an object of the invention is to provide within a grip housing a push-switch assembly in cooperative relationship whereby actuation of the trigger switch serves simultaneously to de-actuate the push-switch.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like components in these figures are represented by like reference numerals.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view, partially in section, of a grip having switch assemblies installed therein in accordance with the invention.

. Fig. 2 is a view taken along lines 22 in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a grip of hollow construction comprising a handle portion 10a, whose exterior walls are corrugated or otherwise roughened to facilitate handling, and a housing portion 10b. Mounted within housing 10b at the upper end thereof is a push-switch assembly, generally designated by numeral 11, and mounted therebelow is a trigger-switch assembly 12.

Push-switch assembly 11 includes a microswitch 13, supported on a bracket 14 secured by screws or other means to the wall of the housing. Microswitch 13 is of conventional design and includes an actuator pin 15 projecting from a point adjacent the upper left comb 2,812,405 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 which, when depressed, causes a flexible movable contact to engage a fixed contact, the movable contact normally engaging a second fixed contact. Thus the microswitch is provided with exterior terminal posts 16, 17 and 18 for connection respectively to the movable contacts and the first and second fixed contacts.

To operate actuator pin 15 there is provided a leaf spring 19, one end of which is integral with a bracket 20 riveted to the face of the microswitch casing whereby the spring flexes about a point adjacent the upper right corner of the switch. Attached to the free end of leaf spring 19 and rotatably supported between lugs 19 thereon is a roller 21. The leaf spring is so tensioned that normally it is out of engagement with actual pin 15.

Bracket 14 is provided at either side thereof with flanges 14a and 14b for slidably supporting a shaft 22 which is disposed in parallel relation to the microswitch and is in operative relation to roller 21. To form bearing surfaces for the shaft, the flanges 14a and 14b are provided with aligned openings which are disposed in axial registration with an opening 10c in the rear wall of the grip, the shaft extending therethrough and terminating a push-button 23.

Shaft 22 is of cylindrical shape and has formed therein adjacent the inner end a section 22a of restricted diameter flanked by tapered cam surfaces 22b and 220. When the shaft is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the section 2211 is in alignment with roller 21, whereby the roller nestles therein and the leaf spring 19 is disengaged from the actuator pin. When push-button 23 is depressed to shift shaft 22 to the left, the roller 21 rides down cam surface 220 to contact the surface of shaft 22 which is of large diameter relative to section 22a whereby the leaf spring is caused to engage the actuator pin 15 to operate the microswitch.

The vertical forces developed through depression of the leaf spring and the actuator pin along with the frictional forces prevalent in the shaft provide a relatively large locking force. It will be noted that the spring forces are vertical, whereas the frictional forces are horizontal.

Thus the depression of button 23 effects actuation and locking of the switch. To unlock and de-actuate the switch, it is necessary to push shaft 22 to the right to an extent limited by a stop ring 24 secured to the shaft and abutting flange 14b. This is effected by separate control means in the form of a trigger member 25 projecting through the front wall of grip 10. Trigger member 25 is included in a trigger switch assembly 12. Assembly 12 is supported on a mounting bracket 26 having a side flange 26:: from which projects a post 27 on which trigger member 25 is pivotally mounted. The trigger switch is provided with an actuator button 28 in operative relation with the heel 25a of the trigger member, such that when the member is rocked about its pivot, the button 28 is depressed to operate the switch and when the trigger member is released, the button 28 reverts to its initial position to de-actuate the switch.

Attached to the underside trigger member 25 at the upper end 25b thereof and extending thereabove is a plate 29 which is engageable with the lower leg 30a of a step-shaped link 30. Link 30 also includes an upper leg 3% and a cross arm 30c connecting the legs, the upper leg being engageable with the end of shaft 22. Arm 300 is pivotally connected to a fulcrum 31 projecting from the flange 14a of the mounting plate 14 such that the link 30 acts as a class A lever. Thus when the trigger member 25 is operated, plate 29 engages the lower leg 30a of the link to swing same about fulcrum 31 and cause the upper leg 30b to engage shaft 22 and to push it to the right. Since the force developed by the link is horizontal, it will override the horizontal frictional forces and because of the wedge effect on the shaft and roller, the shaft will shift axially to the right to unlock the microswitch.

It will be seen therefore that when the trigger switch 12 is actuated by depressing the trigger member 25, the microswitch 11, if previously actuated and locked, will be unlatchedanddeactuated. Push-button 18 whichprojects from the rear wall of thegrip housing b is .best manipulated by the thumb of the user whose fingers encircle the handle 10a of the grip. The trigger member is best operated by the trigger finger of the hand. Thus it is possible for the user in rapid succession to operate one and then the other switch, as desired. 7

While there has been shown what .is considered to be apreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be manife t tha many changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential spirit of the invention. Itis intended, therefore, in the annexed claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the:true scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A switching assembly comprising a first switch element provided with a depressible actuator pin to operate said switch, a shaftaxially shiftable from a first position to a second position and .having a section of restricted diameter, means operatively coupling said shaft and said pin and including a member which when said shaftis-in its first position nestles in said section whereby said pin isunactuated and in the second position of said shaftbears against the larger portion of said shaft thereby to depress said pin, operator means adapted to engage one end of said shaft to shift'same from said first position tosaid second position, separate operator means adapted to-engage the otherend of said shaft to shift samefrom said second position to said first position, and a second switch-element operatively coupled tosaid separate operator means and actuated thereby whereby, when said second switch element is actuated, the pin of said first element is unactuated.

'2. A switching assemblycomprising a firstswitch element provided with an actuator pin and a leaf spring having a roller supported at one endthereof, said roller being adapted when flexed downwardly to depress said pin to operate said switch, a shaft axially shiftable from a first position to a second position, said shaft being operatively disposed relative to said roller and having a section of restricted diameter so disposed that when said shaft is in its first position it nestles said roller to effect disengagement of said spring from said pin, said roller in the second position of said shaft bearing against the larger portion of said shaft thereby to flex said spring to depress said pin, first operator means adapted to engage one end of said shaft to shift same axially from said first'position to said second position, second and separate operator means adapted to engage the other end of said shaft to shift samefrom said second position to said first position, and a second switch element operatively coupled to said separate operator means and actuated thereby whereby, when said second switch element is actuated, the pin of said first element is unactuated.

3. A switching device comprising a grip, a switch assembly disposed within said grip and including a first switch element provided with an actuator pin and a leaf spring having a roller supported at one end thereof and adapted when flexed downwardly to depress said pin to operate said switch, a shaft axially shiftable from a first position to a second position, said shaft being operatively disposed relative to said roller and having a section of restricted diameter which when said shaft is in its first position accommodates said roller to effect disengagement of said spring and saidpin,;said roller in the second position .of said shaft bearing against the enlarged portion ofsaid shafttherebyto flexusaid spring to depresssaidpin,operator meansbn one .walLof said adapted to shift said shaft axially from said first position to said second position, separate operator means on another wall of said grip adapted to engage the other end of said shaft to shift same from said second position to said first position, and a second switch element operatively coupled to said separate operator means and actuated thereby whereby, when said second switch element is actuated, the pin of said first element is unactuated. 7 V

4. A switching device comprisingp grip provided with front and rear walls and having an handle portion and a housing portion, a switch assembly disposed within said housing portion and including .a first switch element provided with an actuator pin anda leaf spring having a roller supported at one end thereof and adapted when flexed downwardly to depress said pin to operate said switch, a shaft axially shiftable from a first position to a second position, said shaft .being operatively glisposed relative to said rollerrand having a section of restricted diameter which when said shaft is in its first position accommodates said roller to effect disengagement of said spring and said pin, said roller in the second position of said shaft bearing against the enlarged portion of said shaft therebyto'fiex said spring todepress said pin, one end of said shaft projecting through the rear wall of said grip, apush'button attached to said one end of said shaftto shift same .from said first position to said second position, operator means mounted on the front end of said grip adapted to engage theother end of said shaft to shift same from said second position to said first position, and a second switch element operatively coupled to said separate operator means and actuated thereby whereby, when said second switch-element is actuated, the pin of said first elementis unactuated.

5. A switching device comprising a grip provided with front-and rear walls and having a handle portion and a housingportion, a switch assembly disposed within said housing portion and including a switch element pro vided with an actuator pin and-a leaf spring having a roller supported at one end thereof and adapted when flexed downwardly'to depress said pin to operatesaid switch, a shaft axially shiftable from a first position to a second position, said shaft being operatively disposed relative to said roller and having a section of restricted diameter which when said shaft is in its first position accommodates said roller to effect disengagement of said spring and said pin, said roller in the second position of said shaft bearing against the enlarged portion of said shaft thereby to flex said spring to depress said pin, one end of said-shaft projecting through the rear wall of said grip, a push bottom attached to said one end of said shaft to shift same axially from said first position to said second position, whereby the upward pressure of said spring against said shaft locks said switch, a trigger member pivotally mounted on the front end of said grip, lever means operated by said trigger member adapted to engage the other end of said shaft to shift same from said second position to said first position, and a second switch assembly supported within said housing and including an actuatorbutton in operative relation ,with said trigger member.

6. A device, as set forth in claimj, wherein said trigger has a pusher plate attached to the underside thereof, and said lever means is constituted by a pivotally mounted step-shaped element having .an upper leg adapted to engage said other end of said shaft, the pusher plate being engageable with thelower leg of said lever element to cause said upper leg to engage said shaft.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,232 Krieger Aug. 10, 1943 2,504,331 ,;,Bordelon s s r Apr. 18, 1950

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