US2927988A - Push button switch - Google Patents

Description

D. G. POWELL PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed July 11, 1958 March 8, 1960 f I I I II/ 48 50 l4 l6 I0 36 Dom/.0 G. POWLL 9 INVENTOR L an /ps8 PUSH BUTTON swrrcn Application July 747,911

2 Claims. {0. 200 -159) This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to push button switches of the type adapted to be operated by closure of a door.

An object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch of the single pole, double throw type which is readily adapted to be economically assembled from inexpensive components capable of being mass produced.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a push button switch of the single pole, double throw type adapted for simplified installation in a wall or panel aperture of an automotive vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following description.

taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention and mounted upon part of a panel shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the switch and panel;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the push button being shown in a different position of operation.

Referring to the drawings, a single pole, double throw switch embodying the present invention is shown sup- Operation of the switch is controlled by a generally cylindrical push button 54 'of insulatingmaterial'such as nylon which is slidable inaperture 32 ofbezel 30.Push button 54 is provided at one end with a circumferentially disposedannular groove 56 in which the small diameterend ofconical coil spring 58 is fixedly held by its resiliency. The opposite end ofspring 58 engages ported in opening 10 of a supportingpanel 12. The

switch includes ahousing 14, preferably of molded insulation material such as nylon.Housing 14 is formed with a recess 16 extending from one end and terminating short of the other end to provide anend wall 18 having anopening 20. The end of thehousing 14opposite end wall 18 is slotted at several places along its length for a suitable distance to form a plurality of peripherally spacedarms 22 andresilient fingers 24. To facilitate insertion and retention of the switch inaperture 10 of thepanel 12,fingers 24 extend outwardly from the housing at a suitable angle therewith.

The open end of thehousing 14 is closed by abezel 30 of conductive metal which has acentral aperture 32 with an inwardlycurled edge 34. Thebezel 30 is attached to thehousing 14 bytongue portions 36 which are bent over integral outwardly extendinglugs 38 at the ends ofarms 22. The inwardlytapered surfaces 40 offingers 24 cooperate withbezel 30 to secure the switch inaperture 10 with the bezel being in electrical contact with thepanel 12.

Aterminal 42 is mounted against the external surface ofwall 18 by means of ahollow eyelet 44 through which which extends aninsulated conductor 46.Conductor 46 is suitably attached as by soldering to amovable contact 48 having an enlargedbody portion 50 slidably mounted in the recess 16 ofhousing 14 for movement toward and away fromeyelet 44 which serves as a stationary contact. Disposed between the enlargedbody portion 50 ofcontact 48 and theend wall 18 is return,

spring 52 which surroundseyelet 44 but is out of contact therewith.

body portion 50 of contact 48rto bias it againstthe force ofreturn spring 52 to an intermediate position within the recess 16 as illustrated in Fig. 3L, In this position, thesprings 52 and 58 urge thepush button 54 to the right of Fig. 3 with the small diameter end ofspring 58 engaging thecurled edge 34 ofbezel 30 and making electrical connection therewith. When thepush button 54 is forced inwardly against the force ofsprings 52 and 58, the contact engagement betweenspring 58 andbezel 30 is interrupted andcontact 48 will be pressed againsteyelet 44 as shown in Fig. 4.Spring 58 exerts a greater bias than the opposing bias ofspring 52 so thatcontact 48 is urged into engagement witheyelet 44 before the end ofpush button 54 can touchcontact 48.

As shown thebezel 30 forms one terminal of the switch whereby when the switch is inserted into theaperture 10 ofpanel 12, it is connected with the ground circuit of a power source (not shown). It will be apparent thatbezel 30 andterminal 42 are the stationary contact terminals of a single pole, double throw switch andconductor 46 is the movable contact terminal. In the push button position shown in Fig. 3, an electrical circuit is completed throughconductor 46,contact 48,spring 58,bezel 30, andpanel 12. As illustrated in Fig. 4 when a force is applied against the external end ofpush button 54 such as by a door (not shown),spring 58 is moved away frombezel 30 to interrupt the circuit fromconductor 46 tobezel 30, and a second circuit is completed throughconductor 46,contact 48,eyelet 44, andterminal 42.

In assembling the switch,terminal 42 and theend wall 18 ofhousing 14 are positioned upon theeyelet 44 which is then spun over.Conductor 46 is attached to contact 48 andspring 58 is secured to pushbutton 54 after whichspring 52,conductor 46 with attachedcontact 48, andspring 58 with securedpush button 54 are inserted into thehousing 14. Thebezel 30 is secured to the housing by spinning overtongue portions 36 againstlugs 38 ofarms 22 to complete the assembly.

In installing the switch in an aperture-of a panel or wall,conductor 46 with any attached terminals is first inserted into the aperture after which the switch housing is pushed in the aperture. As the switch is pushed into the aperture, theresilient fingers 24 are sprung toward each other as they ride on the edge of the aperture. When the switch is fully inserted,bezel 30 engages one side of the panel or wall while the inwardlytapered surfaces 40 offingers 24 bear against the edge of the aperture on the other side to firmly retain the switch in p ace.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical switch: a housing of insulating material having a recess extending from one end terminating short of the other end to provide an end wall having an opening therein; a metal bezel secured against said one end of the housing and having a central aperture with an inwardly curled edge; a push button of insulating material having one end extending into the housing through the aperture provided with a circumferentially disposed annular groove; a stationary contact assembled in the opening of the end wall; a movable contact slidable in the recess upon movement of the push button and adapted to engage the stationary contact; spring means within the housing urgingthe movable contact away from the stationary contact; aconical coil sprin'gof conductive materialfixedly held at its smalldiameter end inthe groove of the push button and engaging the movable contact to urge the push button away from-the movable Contact and to urge the'small diameter end of theconical vcoil spring into electrical engagement with thecurled edge of bezel aperture. 7

V 2, The electric switch as defined in claim 1 wherein -said housing is slotted alongits length at said;oneend opposite the end wall to provide a plurality of-cireumferventially spaced legs; some of the legs having outwardly extending lugs on the ends "thereof to which said bezel is attached; others of the legs extending outwardly from the housing to provide resilient spring retainers having inwardly'tapered ends; and said tapered ends of the spring retainers cooperating with the bezel for fixedly holding the switch in an opening fofiii'd iii supporting panel.

References Cited :in the-file of this patent

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