Miniature lighted pivoted actuator switch with integral lock

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Miniature lighted switches as well as switches with integral off-locks have been known heretofore. For example, Shigeo Ohashi U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,441, dated Dec. 7, 1976, shows a miniature lighted double-pole rocker switch having a rocker actuator and a lamp bulb mounted in the switch base and extending partway up within the actuator to provide an indication through the actuator. Also, Francis J. Rosenthal, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,162, dated Aug. 10, 1971, shows a switch interlock wherein a spring strip normally is in the path of the switch operating lever but when a key is inserted into an aperture in the switch housing, it pushes the spring strip out of the way to allow operation of the rocker lever. Furthermore, Leonardus J. Josemans U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,472, dated Nov. 13, 1979, shows a pivoted actuator switch with integral off-lock have a spring-biased pivotal lug mounted within the switch contact actuator so as to normally stick out and catch on the switch frame, but when the removable operating lever is inserted in place, it cams the lug out of the way to allow free operation of the switch. While these prior switches have been useful for their intended purposes, this invention relates to improvements thereover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an improved miniature lighted switch with integral lock.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a miniature pivoted actuator switch with an improved lock.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an electric switch with a lock that is simple in construction and economical to assemble.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved miniature removable-lever switch having an off-lock that allows actuation from on to off when the lever is removed but requires reinstallation of the lever to allow operation from off to on.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an electric switch with a one-piece lock that affords push-in assembly.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an electric switch with a remove-to-lock operating lever and an improved lock that is effectively concealed to avoid defeating the locked state except by reinstallation of the operating lever.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through one pole of a double-pole switch of the miniature lighted pivoted actuator type showing also the lock mechanism in its unlocked state;

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 but with the operating lever removed, taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 3, and showing the lock in its locked state.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 showing the two poles of the switch, the lamp bulb therebetween and the lock; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 3 showing the lamp bulb and its connector terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown a miniature lighted pivoted actuator switch with integral lock constructed in accordance with the invention. As shown therein, the switch is provided with a molded insulating base 2 having a compartment 2a therein for housing the switch contacts, actuator block and indicator lamp. A snap-on bezel 3 of a selected color is mounted to the upper rim of the base. This double-pole switch has two sets of switch contacts or poles 4 and 6 as shown in FIG. 3, there being three contacts in each set as shown in FIG. 1. These contacts in each set are provided by three contact-terminals including a left contact terminal 8, a higher central contact terminal support or contactor support 10, and a right contact terminal 12 as shown in FIG. 1. These contact terminals extend through holes in the bottom of the base and are staked to rigidly secure them to the bottom of the base so that the upper ends thereof form stationary contacts within the base compartment and the lower ends thereof provide terminals to connect the switch to an external circuit. Epoxy 14 may be placed around these contact terminals if necessary to fix them to the bottom of the base.

This double-pole switch also has a pair of contactors 16 and 18, one for each set of stationary contacts or pole of the switch as shown in FIG. 3. To support this contactor, it has a pair of notches 16a, FIG. 3, on its opposite edges at the center for retention on the U-shaped upper end 10a of contactor support 10. This construction keeps the contactor from excessive sliding left or right in FIG. 1 but allows it to be rocked by the contact actuator 20 to bridge the center contact terminal to either the left or right contact terminal.

There are provided means for pivotally supporting actuator 20 within base 2. For this purpose, the base is provided with a pair of round holes 2b and 2c, one in each of the opposite walls of the base, and the actuator is provided with a pair of short trunnions 20a and 20b, one on each side, as shown in FIG. 3, these trunnions having beveled lower sides that act as cams to allow the actuator to be pressed down into the base compartment so that the trunnions snap into holes 2b and 2c to support the actuator for pivotal movement in the base. Since the base is molded of plastic material, it will flex enough to allow the actuator including its trunnions to enter between the walls thereof.

This actuator is provided with resilient means for actuating the contactors. This means comprises a pair of spring-biased plungers 22 and 24 retained in upwardly-extending blind holes at opposite ends of the actuator as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. These spring-biased plungers resiliently press down on the contactors and slide therealong when operating lever 26 is swung from one position to another. This actuator 20 is also provided with means for accommodating an indicator lamp 28 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This means comprises a rectangular hole 20c extending up through the middle of the actuator. This lamp is mounted in a socket 2d in the bottom of the base and extends up through rectangular hole 20c to light the operating lever. Hole 20c is longer in the rocking direction of the actuator than it is wide so that the lamp will not impede the rocking movement of the actuator.

As shown in FIG. 4, socket 2d has a pair of wing sockets 2e and 2f extending therefrom in opposite directions to accommodate lamp terminals 30 and 32. These lamp terminals extend through holes in the bottom of the base and are retained therein by locking tabs. Terminal 30 extends up within wing socket 2e and is bent back down along the lamp bulb and is provided with a bump 30a that engages a groove 28a around the lamp bulb base to make electrical contact with one terminal of the lamp bulb and to hold it in place. Terminal 32 extends up within wing socket 2f and then back down to pinch the lamp bulb between the two terminals and beneath the lamp bulb base to make electrical contact with the other, center terminal of the lamp bulb.

This switch is also provided with means for locking the actuator in its off position. This means comprises a lock spring 34 mounted to the actuator and a shoulder or catch 2g within the base on which the lower end of the lock spring catches or abuts to lock the switch against operation to the other position. While this lock has been characterized as an off-lock, it will be apparent that it may be used to lock the switch in one of two operating positions. The base is molded with another shoulder 2h on the other side as shown in FIG. 2 so that the actuator may be assembled in either direction and the lock will be effective.

The actuator is provided with means for mounting the lock spring so that it will automatically become effective when the operating lever is detached and will be defeated or rendered ineffective when the operating lever is snapped back on. Also, the lock spring is mounted so that it is concealed from view at all times and thus is not likely to be defeatable by a pin or other tool when the operating lever has been removed. For snap-on retaining the operating lever, the actuator is provided with a pair of ledges 20d and 20e, one on each side. For retaining the lock spring, a slot 20f is provided under ledge 20d. Lock spring 34 is provided with bent back portion 34a at one end that may be squeezed to press it in the slot 20f. To retain this lock spring in its slot, the extreme end portion 34b of this bent back end is bent outwardly so that it bites into the actuator and prevents it from coming out of its slot.

The other end portion of this lock spring is provided with a knee bend 34c that will stick out unnoticeably slightly beyond and below ledge 20d when the operating lever is removed as shown in FIG. 2. Also, under such condition, the extreme end 34d of this locking spring will have swung out over shoulder 2g whereby this shoulder provides interference to prevent operation of the actuator. In other words, end 34d of the spring will abut the shoulder if attempt is made to operate the switch so as to prevent operation thereof.

While a single lock spring is normally sufficient to provide the switch locking feature, a second lock spring 36 may be used as shown in FIG. 3. The double-pole actuator 20 is provided with two spring slots 20f and 20c as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, one such slot opposite each plunger 22 and 24. Lock spring 34 is in slot 20f and spring 36 is in slot 20g. Use of a second lock spring 36 insures that the switch cannot be forcibly operated to its other position.

Operating lever 26 is provided with combined snap-on retention means and lock release means. As shown in FIG. 1, this operating lever is provided with a pair of wide hooks 26a and 26b, one on each side thereof extending downwardly. These hooks are wide enough to extend substantially all the way across ledges such as ledge 20d shown in FIG. 3. Each such hook is provided with a beveled tip such as 26c in FIG. 1 leading to a ridge 26d that snaps below the lower corner of ledge 20e to rigidly secure the operating lever to the actuator. The upper corners of these ledges on the actuator are provided with bevels such as bevel 20h in FIG. 1 to facilitate snap-on of the operating lever. To this end, when the operating lever is placed over the actuator and pressed down, lever bevels 26c engage actuator bevels 20h to resiliently spread the hooks outwardly so as to slide down the actuator ledges whereafter ridges 26d thereof snap below the lower corners of these ledges to retain the operating lever on the actuator as a handle for switch operation.

For lock release purposes, the ridge on hook 26a engages knee 34c of the lock spring to bias it inwardly into shallow groove 20j in the actuator. In this position, tip 34d of the lock spring is clear of shoulder 2g of the base to free the actuator for operation.

Operating lever 26 is preferably provided with two spaced apart vertical slits (not shown) on its hooks 26a and 26b to enhance their resiliency and facilitate snap-on assembly of the operating lever and snap-off removal while still retaining sufficient stiffness for good retention in place on the actuator.

To remove the operating lever, it is rocked laterally as distinguished from forward and rearward movement thereof in operating the switch. Such lateral rocking to the left or right, with reference to the switch orientation shown in FIG. 3, releases ridges such as 26d gradually from beneath the actuator ledges and makes it easier to remove the operating lever. On the other hand, during forward or rearward movement of the operating lever, the latter remains rigidly secured in place.

While the apparatus hereinbefore described is effectively adapted to fulfill the objects stated, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be confined to the particular preferred embodiment of miniature lighted pivoted-actuator switches with integral lock disclosed, inasmuch as it is susceptible of various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.