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. 14, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 07, 1997
Steven R Hoskins, Walled Lake, MI (US);
Derrick Titus, Plymouth, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhrust, OH (US);
Abstract
A switch (10) for controlling flow of electric current includes a base (12) and a carrier (100) supported for movement on the base. An engagement surface (60, 80) disposed on the base (12) includes a ramp surface (66, 86) and a detent surface (64, 84) defining an opening (62, 82) disposed adjacent to the ramp surface. A detent member (130, 132) on the carrier (100) is engageable with the detent surface (64, 84) when in the detent opening (62, 82) and is engageable with the ramp surface (64, 84) when not in the detent opening. The switch (10) has a start condition in which the detent member (130, 132) is disposed in the detent opening (62, 82) and resists movement of the carrier (100) relative to the base (12). The switch (10) is movable under an actuation force from the start condition to an actuated condition in which the detent member (130, 132) is disposed on the ramp surface (66, 86). The switch (10) returns to the start condition in response to the release of the actuation force. First and second electrical contacts (120, 152) move between a first condition and a second condition upon movement of the switch between the start condition and the actuated condition.