Magnetic reed switch

Abstract

A reed switch which comprises a first reed of conductive material and a second reed of conductive non-magnetic material mounted in cooperating spaced relation to said first reed. The first reed comprises a body of conductive material having a contact section, an intermediate spring section and a support section, with the intermediate section being foil thin and the contact section being substantially rigid and non-flexible and being substantially thicker than said intermediate section. The intermediate section comprises a leaf spring having a flexibility permitting one end of said leaf spring to flex a substantial distance through an arc with respect to the other end of said leaf spring without exceeding the elastic limits of said spring. The intermediate section is cold-worked to a point where said conductive material assumes a substantial change in physical characteristics and is substantially harder, less ductile and more dense than said contact section and has a substantially higher tensile strength than said contact section. This invention also includes a magnetic operator mounted in cooperating spaced relation to said first and second reeds, whereby cooperative operation of said magnetic operator with said magnetic reed causes said magnetic reed to move into or out of contact with said non-magnetic reed.