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US5158172A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2011/0043
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A toggle switch includes a toggle lever with a spherical portion that is held against a partially spherical surface by a retaining ring or a pin to permit the toggle lever to swivel. A coil spring coaxial with the toggle lever and enclosing a portion of the lever forces a plunger against an actuator that rocks to place a blade in contact with a terminal to operate the switch. Terminals are molded into the case of the switch to maintain the terminals in a desired position. The actuator may be shaped in one of several ways to provide maintained contact, momentary contact, or a combination of these. Electrical contacts are formed by placing spherical balls or similar shapes made of a contact material into holes in the terminals and then forming the balls or other shapes to produce a contact surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.