The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 29, 1987
Filed:
Mar. 21, 1986
Joseph L Lockard, Harrisburg, PA (US);
AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A rocker switch has within a housing, a two-position actuator which moves a spring-loaded plunger from a first position to a second position of engagement with a bar, moving the bar over a fulcrum and wedging a second conductive end of the bar into bridging engagement between a second pair of spring contact terminals while simultaneously forcing the first conductive end out of engagement with a first pair of terminals. During moving from the first position to the second position the plunger disengages from contact with the bar at a first position proximate a first end of the bar and rides over a peaked camming surface which substantially compresses the spring while the bar remains stationary, bridging the first pair of terminals. When the plunger reaches the peak of the camming surface, the plunger is released to impact on the bar at a second position proximate the second end of the bar, suddenly forcing the second end downward into bridging the second pair of terminals. The bar may be a metal mass to perform as a heat sink. The terminals may be mounted in a contact assembly which also pins the bar in a pivotable state against the fulcrum. A latching system is disclosed which allows pivotal movement of the actuator within the housing.