Electrical switch

US6635832B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Leopold KOSTAL GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Christoph Oster · Bergneustadt, DE
• Martin Wagner · Nattheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 26, 1999
• Grant date: Oct 21, 2003
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05G9/047
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An electrical switch including a housing, four fixed contact elements fixed with respect to the housing, and four movable contact elements movable with respect to the housing. Each of the movable contact elements is positioned directly opposite from a respective fixed contact element. An actuating member is movable from a neutral position into four actuating positions. In each actuating position the actuating member actuates a respective movable contact element causing the respective movable contact element to contact a respective fixed contact element for enabling a corresponding switching function. An auxiliary frame surrounds the actuating member and is positioned within the housing. A first pair of opposed connecting elements connects the actuating member to the auxiliary frame. The first pair of opposed connecting elements form a first pivot axis. A second pair of opposed connecting elements connect the auxiliary frame to the housing. The second pair of opposed connecting elements are disposed offset by 90° with respect to the first pair of opposed connecting elements. The second pair of opposed connecting elements form a second pivot axis. The actuating member moves from …