Delta Systems, Inc.

Thomas D Williams

Arthur James Harvey

Bryan A Pittman

Tonny B Wolfe

A switch apparatus having a switch housing supporting conductive switch terminals within a switch housing interior. A switch actuator is supported by the switch housing for movement along a travel path to control an actuation state of the switch by selectively shorting the conductive switch terminals. A structure allows the switch housing to be mounted into one of two different thickness mounting panels. The structure includes first and second retainer posts coupled to the switch housing at separate spaced locations along a longitudinal axis of the switch housing. Flexible first leg pairs and second leg pairs extend laterally from the respective retainer posts. The legs can be flexed away from a first position and, after insertion into a panel opening, return to the first position. Each of the legs have bottom portions that contact a mounting panel surface wherein a bottom portion of the first leg is spaced from a wall of the switch housing by a first gap and a bottom portion of the second leg is spaced from the wall of the switch housing by a second gap.

Snap-in mount for plunger switch

A switch housing having elongated side walls and an end wall that defines a housing interior. Conductive switch terminals supported within the housing interior extend outside the switch housing for connection to an external circuit. A switch actuator extends through the end wall of the switch housing and is supported by the switch housing for movement along a travel path to control an actuation state of said switch by selectively shorting the conductive switch terminals. A housing cover encloses the housing interior and includes openings to allow the terminals to extend from the housing interior to connect to the external circuit. The cover supports the switch housing in a selected one of two different orientations on a support surface. A retainer coupled to the housing cover has a retaining surface spaced from one wall of the housing cover by a gap that permits the retainer to slide over a tab coupled to the support surface to which the switch housing is mounted. A latch member attached to the retainer by a flexible connection permits the latch member to flex as the retainer is pushed over the tab. The latch member has a projection coupled to the latch member that fits into an opening in the tab for inhibiting further relative movement between the tab and the switch housing in one of said two orientations.

Switch mounting

A safety switch assembly for deactivating a motor vehicle if a user is not positioned on a vehicle seat. The assembly includes a base for mounting a switch, a cover that moves in response to the presence of a vehicle operator on the seat, and an actuator that moves with the cover to open and close switch contacts inside a switch housing. The base is constructed to pass through a cutout in a vehicle seat pan and includes extensions that also pass through the cutout. The projections are inhibited from movement back through the cutout after the base is rotated from an orientation that allows the projections to be inserted through the cutout to an orientation in which the projections overlie the seat pan.

Method of securing a quick-install seat switch

A switch comprises a plunger, a retainer, a pair of terminals and an electrically-conducting wiper contact having a curved or bent middle portion defining two oppositely directed legs on either side of the middle portion. The retainer cooperates with the plunger to carry the wiper contact as the plunger moves between a normal and an actuated position. The terminals have facing contact surfaces for biased engagement with the portions of the legs exposed by the plunger and retainer to form an electrical path between the terminals when the plunger is in the actuated position. The plunger and the retainer are coupled together by arms which project from either the plunger or the retainer. The wiper contact is secured between the plunger and retainer without the need for forming a central loop in the wiper contact for engagement by the plunger.

Plunger switch and method of manufacture

A safety switch assembly for de-activating a motor vehicle if a user is not positioned on a vehicle seat. The assembly includes a base for mounting a switch, a cover that moves in response to the presence of a vehicle operator on the seat, and an actuator that moves with the cover to open and close switch contacts inside a switch housing. The base is constructed to pass through a cutout in a vehicle seat pan and includes extensions that also pass through the cutout. The projections are inhibited from movement back through the cutout after the base is rotated from an orientation that allows the projections to be inserted through the cutout to an orientation in which the projections overlie the seat pan.

Quick-install seat switch

A key switch comprises a disc-shaped switch contact suspended above a number of stationary terminals. The switch contact includes one or more cut-outs which isolate individual terminals in different angular orientations of the contact. The signals conducted through each terminal vary as different combinations are bridged by the contact in different angular orientations. By changing the pattern of the cut-outs through the contact, the signals conducted through the switch are changed. The switch is efficient to produce because it can be adapted to different circuits without substituting physically different terminal pieces.

Ignition switch

Plunger switch

A switch for controlling the operation of a motor boat comprises a cylinder and a key. The key includes a grippable knob and a detachable key actuator which engages a key-receiving member in the cylinder. The knob is turned from a first stable angular orientation (that is, an off-position) to a second stable angular orientation (that is, an on-position) to operate the motor. The knob is also coupled by means of a lanyard to the operator. If the operator falls overboard, the knob will separate from the key actuator and springs located inside the cylinder return the switch to the off-position. The switch also permits the a choke signal to be sent to the motor by pressing inwardly on the knob.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, OH, United States of America

Thomas D Williams