Switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10020130-B2
Application number	US-201615341111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2016
Priority date	Nov 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a switch with excellent operability. A switch is provided with a plunger, a lower torsion spring in which a biasing direction changes according to the movement of the plunger. The lower torsion spring biases the plunger in a returning direction when the plunger is in a reference position, and biases the plunger in a direction different from the returning direction when the plunger is in an operation position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch comprising:
an operation portion;
a plunger configured to linearly move from a reference position to an operation position in response to an operation performed on the operation portion;
a fixed contact;
a movable contact that is configured to move together with the plunger, is in contact with the fixed contact in the reference position, and is not in contact with the fixed contact in the operation position;
a return spring configured to bias the plunger in a returning direction from the operation position to the reference position; and
a contact pressure spring that abuts against the plunger, and in which a biasing direction changes according to movement of the plunger,
wherein the contact pressure spring biases the plunger in the returning direction when the plunger is in the reference position, and biases the plunger in a direction different from the returning direction when the plunger is located at a position between the operation position and a predetermined position, and
wherein the predetermined position is located between the reference position and the operation position.

2. The switch according to claim 1 ,
wherein the contact pressure spring abuts against a surface perpendicular to the returning direction when the plunger is in the reference position, and abuts against a side surface of the plunger when the plunger is located at a position between the operation position and the predetermined position.

3. The switch according to claim 2 ,
wherein the contact pressure spring is a torsion spring.

4. The switch according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a mechanism for moving, in response to the operation performed on the operation portion, the plunger to the operation position with a load that is unrelated to an operation load applied to the operation portion.

5. The switch according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a mechanism for moving, in response to the operation performed on the operation portion, the plunger to the operation position with a load that is unrelated to an operation load applied to the operation portion.

6. The switch according to claim 1 ,
wherein the contact pressure spring is a torsion spring.

7. The switch according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a mechanism for moving, in response to the operation performed on the operation portion, the plunger to the operation position with a load that is unrelated to an operation load applied to the operation portion.

8. The switch according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a mechanism for moving, in response to the operation performed on the operation portion, the plunger to the operation position with a load that is unrelated to an operation load applied to the operation portion.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Katsube Shinya
• Morita Kazuaki
• Otsuka Hiroyuki

Classifications

• H01H3/3042

  using a torsion spring · CPC title

• H01H13/52

  the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch · CPC title

• H01H2013/525

  using a return spring acting perpendicular to the actuating direction · CPC title

• H01H1/20

  Bridging contacts {(for circuit breakers H01H73/045)} · CPC title

• H01H1/50 Primary

  Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position · CPC title