U.S. patent number 3,655,925 [Application Number 05/133,602] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-11 for thumbwheel switch structure with improved u-shaped fasteners for multiple gauged switch housing assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Becton Dickinson Electronics Company. Invention is credited to Thomas C. Lincoln, Andrew Voge.
United States Patent |
3,655,925 |
Lincoln , et al. |
April 11, 1972 |
THUMBWHEEL SWITCH STRUCTURE WITH IMPROVED U-SHAPED FASTENERS FOR
MULTIPLE GAUGED SWITCH HOUSING ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A switch structure or assembly that includes one or more modular
switch units is formed with a recess around its top wall, bottom
wall, and end plates. Two ridges are formed on each end plate,
which ridges extend the full width of the recess but which are
narrow compared with the height of the end plates. Two identical
U-shaped bands lie within the recessed portion and together embrace
the switch structure or assembly. One leg of each band is shorter
than the other leg of each band, the longer leg of each band being
adapted to extend over both ridges of one end plate and the shorter
leg being adapted to extend over only one ridge of the opposite end
plate. Tongues are lanced near the ends of the longer legs of each
band and slots are lanced near the ends of the shorter legs of each
band. The tongue of a first band engages the slot of the second
band on one side of the switch structure or assembly while the
tongue of the second band engages the slot of the first band on the
other side of the switch structure or assembly. The bands are
securely hooked together by engagement of their respective tongues
and slots and thereby hold the switch structure together.
Inventors: |
Lincoln; Thomas C. (Arcadia,
CA), Voge; Andrew (Arcadia, CA) |
Assignee: |
Becton Dickinson Electronics
Company (Pasadena, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22459419 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/133,602 |
Filed: |
April 13, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/11TW;
200/295; 200/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
19/04 (20130101); H01H 19/001 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
19/04 (20060101); H01H 19/00 (20060101); H01h
019/58 (); H01h 009/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/11TW,168K |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scott; J. R.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A switch structure comprising:
a case having walls defining an electrical parts chamber;
relatively fixed first electrical contact means mounted adjacent to
said electrical parts chamber;
relatively movable second electrical contact means mounted adjacent
to said electrical parts chamber in cooperative relation with said
relatively first contact means for making and breaking
circuits;
a rotary switch wheel having a drum with indicia printed on the
periphery of the drum;
actuating means adapted to rotate the wheel;
means coupling said relatively movable second contact means to said
wheel for driving said second contact means with respect to said
relatively fixed first contact means; and
fastening means for holding parts of the switch structure together,
said fastening means embracing the switch structure and having a
tongue formed in one end thereof, said tongue extending away from
said switch structure, said fastening means having an aperture
formed in the other end thereof, said tongue being adapted to
engage said aperture thereby holding the ends of the fastening
means together around said switch structure.
2. A switch structure as comprised in claim 1 wherein said case has
top and bottom walls, said switch structure further comprising:
a pair of side walls; and
stabilizing means adapted to aid in aligning the front and rear
portions of the case and side walls with each other and to prevent
movement of the switch case and side walls with respect to each
other about a horizontal axis through said case and parallel to the
front of said case.
3. A switch structure comprising:
a case having walls defining an electrical parts chamber;
relatively fixed first contact means mounted adjacent to said
electrical parts chamber;
relatively movable second contact means mounted adjacent to said
electrical parts chamber in cooperative relation with said
relatively fixed first contact means for making and breaking
circuits;
a rotary switching wheel having finger engaging means to rotate the
wheel and having a drum with indicia printed on the periphery of
the drum;
said switch case having a front wall structure providing an
aperture through which said finger engaging means project and
providing a window for viewing a selected indicium;
means coupling said relatively movable second contact means to said
wheel for driving said second contact means with respect to said
relatively fixed first contact means;
said switch case having top, bottom, and side walls, said walls
having a recessed portion extending around the outside of the
switch case; and
a band for holding the parts of the switch unit together, said band
embracing the switch structure and having a tongue formed in one
end thereof, said tongue extending away from said switch structure,
said band having an aperture formed on the other end thereof, said
tongue being adapted to engage one side of said band aperture
thereby holding the ends of the band together around said switch
structure.
4. A switch structure comprising:
a case having top, bottom and side walls and a recessed portion
extending around the outside of said walls;
two ridges formed on each side wall of said case in said recessed
portion and spaced from the ends of said side walls, said ridges
extending the full width of said recessed portion but being narrow
compared with the height of said side walls;
two identical U-shaped bands adapted to lie within said recessed
portion and together to encircle said switch structure case, one
leg of each band being shorter than the other longer leg, the
longer leg of each band being adapted to extend over both ridges on
one side of said case and the shorter legs being adapted to extend
over only one ridge on the opposite side of the case;
said shorter legs having their ends sloped away from said case in
order that the longer leg of the other band may be easily inserted
under said sloped end of the shorter leg;
the shorter legs having slots lanced near the ends of said
legs;
each said longer leg having an outwardly extending tongue portion
lanced near the end of said longer leg, one end of said tongue
portion being raised from said band by an amount at least equal to
the thickness of said band and which ramp slopes towards the end of
said longest leg;
said slot of one band providing an edge for hooking engagement by
said tongue of the other band; and
said hands being mounted on the switch structure case in said
recessed portion so that the longer leg of the first band slides
under the shorter leg of the second band on a first side of the
case and so that the longer leg of the second band slides under the
shorter leg of the first band on the second side of the case, said
longer and shorter legs being securely hooked together by
engagement of their respective tongues and slots thereby holding
the switch structure and its parts together.
5. A switch structure comprising:
a case having front, top, and bottom wall members and defining an
electrical parts chamber;
relatively fixed first contact means mounted adjacent to said
electrical parts chamber;
relatively movable second contact means mounted adjacent to said
electrical parts chamber in cooperative relation with said
relatively fixed first contact means for making and breaking
circuits;
at least one of said first and second contact means including
resilient contact means maintained in compression during said
circuit making and breaking;
a rotary switching wheel having finger engaging means to rotate
said wheel and having a drum with indicia on the periphery
thereof;
rotatable shaft means coupling said relatively movable second
contact means and said wheel for driving said second contact means
with respect to said relatively fixed first contact means;
said case front wall providing an aperture through which said
finger engaging means project and providing a window for viewing a
selected indicium;
said switch structure having a pair of end plates closing the two
sides of said switch structure, said top and bottom walls in said
end plates having a recessed portion extending around the outside
of said switch structure;
two ridges formed spaced from each end plate in said recessed
portion, said ridges extending the full width of said recessed
portion but being narrow compared with the height of said end
plates;
two identical U-shaped bands adapted to lie within said recessed
portion and together to encircle said switch structure, one leg of
each band being shorter than the other leg of each band, the longer
leg of each band being adapted to extend over both ridges of one
end plate and the shorter leg being adapted to extend over only one
ridge of the opposite end plate, the corners of the bands being
spaced from the corners of the switch structure;
said shorter legs having their ends sloped away from the end plates
in order that the longer legs may be easily inserted under the
sloped ends of said shorter legs;
the shorter legs having slots lanced near their ends, a portion of
each shorter leg between the slot and the cross member being in the
form of a ramp raised in the direction away from the case by an
amount at least equal to the thickness of the band and which ramp
slopes away from the end of said shorter legs;
each said longer leg having an outwardly projecting tongue lance
near the end of said longer leg, said tongue being in the form of a
ramp which is raised in the direction away from said case by an
amount at least equal to the thickness of the band and which ramp
slopes towards the end of the longest legs, the ramps on the long
legs being narrower than the ramp on the short legs; and
said bands being mounted on the switch structure in said recessed
portion so that the edges of the bands bear against the edges of
the recessed portion and so that the longer legs of the first band
slide under the shorter leg of the second band on a first side of
the switch structure and so that the longer leg of the second band
slides under the shorter leg of the first band on the second side
of the switch structure, said slot of each band providing an edge
for hooking engagement by said tongue of the other band, and said
ramps of said longer legs nesting within the ramps of said shorter
legs, said longer and shorter legs being securely hooked together
by engagement of the respective tongues and slots thereby holding
the switch structure together.
6. A switch structure assembly comprising a plurality of switch
units, each switch unit comprising a stationary switch structure
and a rotary switch structure, said stationary switch structure
comprising:
a case having front, top, rear, and bottom wall members and a
transverse wall member extending between the aforementioned four
wall members, said five wall members of said case constituting a
unitary rigid structure;
interengaging members being formed in each switch unit which are
designed to mate with corresponding interengaging members formed in
the adjacent switch units in the assembly in order to accurately
align all of the units of the assembly and to prevent movement of
the switch units with respect to each other about a horizontal axis
parallel to said front wall;
said transverse wall member providing a recessed well on one side
thereof and a corresponding cylindrical protrusion on the other
side thereof;
said front wall member having an open window section opposite said
cylindrical protrusion;
a bore in the center of said well;
a printed circuit plate composed of insulating material mounted
opposite said well and having first electrical contacts formed
thereon, said plate and first contacts projecting rearwardly from
said front wall;
said rotary switch structure comprising:
a rotatable brush wheel mounted in said well and bearing second
electrical contacts facing and engaging the first contacts on said
plate;
a rotatable indicia wheel encircling said cylindrical protrusion,
said indicia wheel being connected to said brush wheel by shaft
means extending through said bore whereby said indicia wheel and
said brush wheel are adapted to rotate together;
said indicia wheel bearing different symbols on its periphery
corresponding respectively to different switch positions, a
selected one of said symbols being registered in an indicia
indicating position where it is visible through said window when
the indicia wheel is moved to one of said different positions;
said indicia wheel also bearing a plurality of radially extending
finger lugs on its periphery, successive ones of which are spaced
apart by an amount sufficient to receive the distal portion of an
operator's finger, at least one lug of said wheel projecting at any
one time radially outward through said open window whereby said lug
is accessible from the front of said switch for operation by a
finger of the user;
said assembly of units having end plates mounted on each end of the
assembly to close the sides of the units at opposite ends of the
assembly;
the top and bottom walls of each unit and the end plates having a
recessed portion extending around the outside of the assembly;
two ridges formed on each end plate in said recessed portion, said
ridges being spaced from the end of each plate and extending the
full width of said recessed portion but being narrow compared with
the height of said end plates;
two identical U-shaped bands adapted to lie within said recessed
portion and together to encircle all the units and the end plates
of the said switch assembly, one leg of each band being shorter
than the other leg of each band, the longer leg of each band being
adapted to extend over both ridges of one end plate and the shorter
leg being adapted to extend over only one ridge on the opposite
side of the assembly, the corners of the bands being spaced from
the corners of the assembly;
said shorter legs having their ends sloping away from the end
plates of said assembly in order that the longer legs may be easily
inserted under the sloped ends of the shorter legs;
the shorter legs having slots lanced near their ends, a portion of
the short legs between the slots and the cross member being in the
form of a ramp raised in a direction away from the case by an
amount at least equal to the thickness of said band and which ramp
slopes away from the end of said shorter legs;
each said longer leg having an outwardly projecting tongue lanced
near the end of said longer leg, said tongue being in the form of a
ramp which is raised in a direction away from said case by an
amount at least equal to the thickness of the band and which ramp
slopes towards the end of the longest leg, said ramps on said
longer legs being narrower than the ramps on the shorter legs;
and
said bands being mounted on the switch assembly in said recessed
portion so that the edges of the bands bear against the edges of
the recessed portion and so that the longer leg of the first band
slides under the shorter leg of the second band on a first side of
the switch assembly and so that the longer leg of the second band
slides under the shorter leg of the first band on the second side
of the switch assembly, said slot of one band providing an edge for
hooking engagement by said tongue of the other band and said ramps
on said longer legs nesting within the ramps on the shorter legs,
said longer and shorter legs being securely hooked together by
engagement of the respective tongues and slots thereby holding the
switch assembly together.
7. A switch structure having detachable parts, said switch
structure comprising fastening means for holding said detachable
parts together, said fastening means comprising a pair of flexible
members which together embrace said switch structure, said flexible
members each having a tongue lanced in one end thereof in the form
of a three-sided ramp, which tongues protrude away from said switch
structure, and each flexible member having a three-sided ramp
lanced in the other end thereof to form an aperture, each of said
tongues being adapted to engage one side of one of said apertures
thereby hooking said flexible members together and holding the
flexible members together around said switch structure, one of said
flexible members being adapted to bear against the side of the
switch structure and to hold the switch structure together while
the other flexible member is being assembled on the switch
structure.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 133,279, filed Apr. 12, 1971.
U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 133,633, filed Apr. 13, 1971.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns means for securing an assembly of modular
switch units and, more particularly, means for fastening together
the detachable parts of a switch structure or an assembly of
modular switch units.
Previous methods of securing together the parts of a single switch
structure of the switch units of a switch assembly have employed
screws inserted through the corners of the parts to be secured
together. Such a construction may be seen in U.S. Pat. No.
3,566,049, issued Feb. 23, 1971. A more recent method of securing
the switch units of a switch assembly together involves two
identical elongated U-shaped bands which have outwardly turned
hooks on each end thereof. The legs of each band are slanted
inwardly prior to assembly so that, when assembled, the cross
member bows inwardly at its mid-section and engages the walls of
the recessed portions formed in top and bottom walls of the case.
These identical bands each encircle less than one-half of the
switch structure assembly, one band extending from one side of the
assembly across the top of the assembly to the other side while the
other band extends in a similar manner across the bottom of the
assembly. In that prior art structure, each side wall of the switch
assembly includes a pair of parallel spaced apart U-shaped bars
which extend outwardly from the side wall of the switch assembly
and have their ends secured to the side walls. One end of each band
passes between the cross member of one U-shaped bar and the side
wall and then engages the cross member of this bar with the
outwardly turned hooked portion at the end of the band. Thus, the
bands are secured at their ends to bars on the side walls of the
switch assembly.
Both of the above mentioned methods of securing together switch
assemblies or the parts of a switch structure are relatively
difficult to assemble. Furthermore, the disassembly of such a
configuration is difficult and time consuming. In the latter prior
art method, the bands must be formed to close tolerances in order
to function at all. All of this increases the cost, both of the
parts of the switch structure itself and of the labor which is
required to assemble and to disassemble the switch structure.
We have invented an improved means for securing a switch structure
or a switch assembly together which is easy to assemble and to
disassemble and which does not require close tolerances and
therefore which is more economical than prior devices of this
type.
In our invention, a pair of identical U-shaped bands are provided
which hook onto each other at their ends rather than hooking onto
any other part of the switch structure. A tongue is lanced at one
end of each band and a slot is lanced at the other end of each
band. These tongues and slots are adapted to engage each other and
are easily engaged and disengaged. The bands lie in a recessed
portion provided around the exterior of the switch structure. A
pair of ridges are formed in the recessed portion on each end plate
of the switch structure. The shorter legs of each band extend over
only one of the ridges while the longer legs of each band extend
over both ridges. The cooperation of these ridges with the short
legs of each band introduces a spring resilience which aids in
accepting variations in the lengths of the bands. Therefore, these
bands do not require close tolerances in the lengths of the bands.
Also, differences in the thermal expansion and contraction of the
metal bands and the plastic case are provided for by the spring
resilience of the short leg and long leg acting in cooperation with
the ridges. This compensation for differences in thermal
coefficients of expansion and contraction reduces distortions in
the appearance and alignment of the switch structure parts. This
construction also allows the use of low strength plastics, such as
acronitrile butadiene styrene -- 89140 (ABSON) which has a heat
distortion temperature of 175.degree. F. at 264 psi, for the case
material rather than higher strength plastics, such as
polycarbonate plastics which typically have a heat distortion
temperature of 270.degree. F. at 264 psi.
The longitudinal edges of the bands bear against the sides of the
recessed portion. Also, the parts of the switch structure are
provided with mating or interlocking protrusions and recesses, such
as corresponding pins and holes, which are adapted to engage each
other. The engagement of the edges of the band with the sides of
the recessed portion and the engagement of the mating portions of
the parts of the switch structure with each other provide, when the
bands are in place and secured together, a very rigid assembly or
structure that is of relatively low manufacturing cost and that is
easily assembled and disassembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides fastening means for securing together the
detachable parts of a switch structure. The switch structure
comprises a case having walls which define an electrical parts
chamber. Fixed first electrical contacts are mounted adjacent to
the electrical parts chamber. Movable second electrical contacts
are mounted adjacent to the electrical parts chamber in cooperative
relation with the first contacts for making and breaking circuits.
A rotary switch wheel, having a drum with indicia on its periphery,
is provided. Actuating means are adapted to rotate the wheel. The
wheel is coupled to the second contacts for driving the second
contacts with respect to the first contacts. The fastening means
embraces the switch structure. The fastening means has a tongue
formed in one end thereof, which tongue extends away from the
switch structure. The fastening means also has an aperture formed
in the other end thereof. The tongue and aperture are adapted to
engage each other thereby holding the fastening means together
around the switch structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The presently preferred form of the invention is disclosed in the
accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly of modular switch
units held together by the bands of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a switch
structure with the bands of this invention in exploded
relation;
FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 3--3 of
FIG. 2 but with the bands in engaging relation with each other;
and
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional perspective view showing the bands in
engaging relation with each other.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1 there is shown an assembly of modular switch units 10 and
11 adapted to be mounted on a switch panel and to form a switch
structure assembly. The switch structure assembly includes end
plates or backets 12 which close the two ends of the switch
assembly.
As may be seen in FIG. 1, the switch securing or fastening means of
this invention may be employed with various types of switch units.
In FIG. 1 a lever-type switch unit 11 and two thumbwheel type
switch units 10 are represented. A rotary switch axis X--X extends
through each switch unit of the switch assembly, as will be more
fully explained hereinafter. A lever-type switch unit 11 is
described and shown in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 855,226,
filed Sept. 4, 1969. A thumbwheel-type switch unit 10 is described
and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,993, issued Feb. 28, 1967. The
interior mechanism of another type of thumbwheel switch, described
and shown more fully in copending U.S. Pat. applications Ser. Nos.
133,279, filed Apr. 12, 1971, and Ser. No. 133,633, filed Apr. 13,
1971, will be described briefly hereinafter in connection with FIG.
3. Only the switch unit 10 will be referred to hereinafter in the
description of this invention.
As may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the fastening or securing
means of this invention is composed of two identical U-shaped bands
22. Each of the bands 22 is composed of a resilient flexible
material, such as stainless steel or the like. In the best
embodiment of this invention, the band 22 is about three-eighths of
an inch wide and about one sixty-fourth of an inch thick. The
length of each band will depend upon the size of the switch
structure or the length of the assembly to be secured together by
the two bands.
Each U-shaped band 22 comprises a short leg 30, a long leg 40, and
a cross member 50. Each short leg 30 of each band 22 has a slot 32
lanced near the end of the short leg 30. The lanced portion of the
short leg 30 forms a three-sided ramp 34 which slopes outwardly
away from the end of the short leg 30. The highest part of the ramp
above the short leg 30 is equal to or greater than the thickness of
the band 22. The end 36 of the short leg 30 beyond the ramp 34 is
bent outwardly.
As may be seen in FIG. 2, prior to assembly of the bands 22, the
short leg 30 of each band 22 is bent inwardly towards the switch
structure and bears against one side wall of the switch structure
to form a spring which holds the switch structure parts together
when only one band is assembled on the switch structure. As is
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when assembled, the short leg 30 of each
band 22 is bent so that it is approximately perpendicular to the
cross member 50. In this position, the ends 36 of the bands 22
slope outwardly away from the switch structure so that the long
legs 40 may be inserted under the ends 36 as will be explained more
fully hereinafter.
The long legs 40 are also bent inwardly prior to assembly. When the
bands are assembled on the switch structure, they are about
parallel to each other, thus causing the cross member 50 to bow
inwardly at its central part or mid-section. The edges of the
inwardly bowed section of the cross member 50 engage the walls 62
of the recessed portion 60 of the switch case, as will be explained
hereinafter.
A portion near the end of each long leg 40 of each band 22 is also
lanced. This lanced portion forms a tongue or a three-sided ramp 42
which projects outwardly and which slopes inwardly towards the end
of the long leg. The distance between the top of the ramp and the
band is equal to or greater than the thickness of the band
itself.
The ramp 34 is wider than the ramp or tongue 42 in order that the
tongue 42 may easily fit or rest underneath the ramp 34 when the
ends of the bands engage each other, as will be explained more
fully hereinafter. The ramps 34 and 42 also provide for an easy
assembly of the bands by providing a sloping surface on which the
short legs ride up over the long legs. The cross member 50 forms a
tie between the short leg 30 and the long leg 40 of each band
22.
In order to hook the bands 22 onto each other and to secure the
switch structure together, one band is mounted on the switch
structure with its cross member 50 on the top or bottom side of the
switch structure. In this position, the long leg of this first band
will extend almost the full length of one end plate while the short
leg of this first band will extend about one-third of the way down
the opposite end plate. The end of the short leg will bear against
end plate 12. The second band is then mounted on the other side of
the switch structure with the legs of the second band oppositely
positioned to the legs of the first band, as may be seen in FIGS. 2
and 3. That is, the second band is positioned on the switch
structure so that the end of the long leg 40 of one band 22, when
mounted on the switch structure, projects under the sloped portion
36 of the short leg 30 of the other band. The ramp or tongue 42
will nest within the ramp 34 when the bands are pushed together
(see FIG. 4). The tongue 42 of the long leg snaps into and engages
the edge of the slot 32 of the short leg of the other band. A
similar relationship exists on the opposite side of the switch
structure. This nesting engagement of tongues in slots secures the
two bands together at their ends and thus holds the switch
structure together.
In order to disassemble the fastening means and the switch
structure, the outwardly sloped portion 36 of the short leg 30 of
one band is pried up and away from the switch structure, thus
disengaging the tongue 42 from the edge of the slot 32 on one side
of the switch structure. The long leg and the short leg are then
moved slightly apart in a vertical direction. A similar operation
is performed on the other side of the switch structure. The two
bands are then removed entirely from the switch structure.
Thus, two identical bands are employed which hook onto each other
around the switch structure and hold the switch structure and its
parts together.
The case 54 of each switch unit 10 has a top wall 56 and a bottom
wall 57. Angular end brackets or end plates 12 are provided to
close each end of the switch structure or an assembly of switch
units. A recessed portion 60, shown in FIG. 2, is formed in the top
and bottom walls and end plates of the switch structure. The
recessed portion 60 thus extends around the entire switch structure
or assembly. Walls or flanges 62 of the recessed portion 60 also
extend around the entire switch structure. The walls 62, in
cooperation with the bands 22, give extra horizontal stability and
rigidity to the switch structure, as will be explained more fully
hereinafter.
A pair of ridges 66 are formed on each end plate 12. Each ridge 66
is formed near one end of the end plate 12 and extends the full
width of the recessed portion 60. The ridges 66 are about one
sixty-fourth of an inch high and are positioned about one-sixteenth
of an inch from the ends of the end plates.
As may be seen in FIG. 3, the long leg 40 of each band 22 extends
over and rests upon both ridges 66 of one end plate 12. The short
leg 30 of each band 22 extends over upon only one ridge 66 of one
end plate 12 and rests on the long leg 40 underneath the short leg.
The positioning of the legs 30 and 40 on the ridges 66, together
with the inward bend of the legs 30, provides a spring tension
which holds the switch assembly together while at the same time the
legs 30 or 40 bear only on the ends of the switch end plates. This
eliminates pressure on the central portion of the end plates which
could bind the interior mechanism of the switch by bowing the end
plates inwardly against the interior mechanism.
As may be seen in FIG. 3, hollow spaces or cavities 68 are formed
between the corners of the bands 22 and the corners of the end
plates 12. These cavities 68, together with the distance provided
between a ridge 66 and the end of a short leg 30, provide bands 22
which accept variations in the lengths of the bands so that the
tolerances in the length of the bands are not as exacting as they
would be if the corners of the bands 22 bore directly on the
corners of the end plates 12. That is, the bands may be elongated
somewhat by bending them at the corners and over the ridges 66
instead of by attempting to stretch the bands longitudinally.
Furthermore, this construction of the bands 22, with an inwardly
bent short leg and a long leg, provides a band which when mounted
on the switch structure will temporarily hold the switch structure
or assembly together by itself while the other band is being
mounted in place.
Interengaging members, such as mating pins 70 and holes 72, shown
in FIG. 2, are provided on the sides of the case walls and on the
interior of the end plates. These pins and holes provide for easy
alignment of adjacent switch units into a switch assembly, as is
shown in FIG. 1, and for easy alignment and mounting of end plates
on a switch unit to form a switch structure, as is shown in FIG. 2.
Pins 70 and holes 72 also prevent any substantial horizontal or
vertical motion of switch units with respect to each other and of
the end plates with respect to the switch unit about the X--X axis.
The pins and holes cooperate with the interlocked band members to
provide a very rigid switch structure or switch assembly.
More particularly, the switch structure or assembly is held against
bending in the horizontal direction by the coaction of the web of
the bands 50 with the walls 62 of the recessed portion 60, which
web and walls bear against each other. Any such bending is also
resisted by the web of the band itself. At the same time, the
alignment of the switches about the rotary axis X--X of the switch
is preserved by the interengaging pins 70 and holes 72.
Thus, a low cost means of fastening the parts of a switch structure
or switch structure assembly together is provided which is easily
assembled and disassembled so that the user may have ready access
to the individual switch units for repair, replacement, or the
like. Furthermore, since the ridges 66 provide a spring resilience
and the bands 22 engage each other rather than the case and are
free to bend at the corners of the switch assembly, the tolerances
for the lengths of the bands are less rigid and therefore the cost
of the switch fastening means is reduced. Since the two bands 22
are identical, tooling costs are also reduced.
The interior mechanism of one type of switch unit which may be
employed in this invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Switch unit 10 comprises a case 54, preferably cast or molded of an
electrically insulating material, such as any appropriate
well-known thermosetting plastic resin. Case 54 is molded with a
top wall 56, bottom wall 57, a back wall 58, and a front wall 59. A
transverse partition wall 130 is formed between these four
walls.
An electrical parts chamber or well 132 is formed in the transverse
partition wall 130 and a corresponding cylindrical protrusion 136
is formed on the opposite side of the partition wall 130. A rotary
brush holder 154, is positioned in the well 132. Rotary electrical
contacts or fingers 156 are mounted on brush holder 154 and engage
the fixed electrical contacts 146 on printed circuit board 141,
thereby providing for circuit making and breaking. Printed circuit
board 141 is mounted adjacent to well 130 with contacts 146 facing
the well 130. The electrical contacts 146 are connected to
terminals (not shown) at the back end of the printed circuit board
141 which extends rearwardly beyond the back wall 58 of the case
54. Fingers 156 are resiliently compressed against circuit board
141, thereby maintaining brush holder 154 against partition wall
130.
Cover plate 138 is secured over the outside of printed circuit
board 141 so that the printed circuit board 141 is held in position
against the partition wall 130.
Bore 150 is provided in the center of the well 132 and receives
shaft 158. Brush holder 154 is mounted on one end of the shaft 158
for rotation with shaft 158 in well 132. Axis X--X is parallel to
the front wall 59 of the case and forms the rotary axis for the
wheel 160, shaft 158, and brush holder 154.
The operation of brush holder 154 is effected through shaft 158 by
indicia carrying wheel 160 which is mounted on the other side of
transverse wall 130 about cylindrical protrusion 136. Wheel 160 is
mounted on the other end of shaft 158. Indicia wheel 160 includes a
peripheral radially extending flange 162 which has arcuate notches
164 providing finger lugs 165 to be engaged by the operator's
finger for rotation of the wheel 160 by a tangential finger
movement.
The inner side of wheel 160 is provided with a concentric inwardly
directed cylindrical rim or flange 166 which carries various
digits, such as 0 to 9 of the decimal system, or other indicia. The
front wall 59 of the unit 10 is provided with a window 168 through
which various indicium on the cylindrical rim 166 of the wheel 160
may be viewed from the front of the switch. The finger lugs 165
extend beyond the front wall through aperture 170 formed in front
wall 59 for engagement by the finger of an operator.
Although only one specific embodiment of the invention has been
described herein, it will be obvious that the invention is not
limited thereto but is capable of being embodied in many other
forms. Various changes which will suggest themselves to those
skilled in the art may be made in the material, form, and details
of the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing
from the invention. Similarly, the invention may be applied to
switches incorporating other modifications and to switches of
various types. It is therefore understood that the invention is
applicable to numerous modifications, all within the scope of the
appended claims.
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