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:
Oct. 27, 1992
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1992
Thomas H Bowder, Coventry, RI (US);
Michael F Donais, Swansea, MA (US);
Elmwood Sensors, Inc., Pawtucket, RI (US);
Abstract
A thermostatic switch has a contact arm which is adapted for reducing contact pressure and maximizing wiping action between fixed and movable contacts. The switch includes a housing, a pair of terminals mounted in the housing, a resilient contact arm connected to one of the terminals, a movable contact on the contact arm, a stationary contact connected to the other terminal, and an actuator assembly for opening and closing the switch. The contact arm is integrally struck from a resilient, electrically conductive metal and it includes a base portion, and a pair of supporting members extending outwardly and upwardly from the base portion and then bending back thereover merging into a main portion. The main portion includes a peripheral edge portion having a contact area, and a plurality of finger portions which converge inwardly therefrom and merge into an actuator portion. The actuator assembly communicates with the actuator portion of the contact arm for moving the contact arm from a normally biased open position, wherein the contacts are in spaced relation, through an intermediate position, wherein the contacts are in initial engagement, to a closed position, wherein the contacts are in at least slightly pressurized engagement and the actuator portion and the finger portions are deflected upwardly relative to the main portion, whereby a transverse wiping action is achieved between the contacts as the contact arm is moved from the intermediate position thereof to the closed position thereof.