M-blade actuated switch assembly

摘要

A switch assembly includes an M-blade snap spring, an actuation arm, and a switch. The M-blade snap spring exhibits snap-action movement between a first actuator position and a second actuator position. The switch is responsive to the snap-action movement of the M-blade to move between a first switch position and a second switch position. The actuation arm is configured to selectively cause the M-blade snap spring to move, via snap-action, between the first actuator position and the second actuator position, which in turn causes the switch to move between the first switch position and the second switch position, respectively.

主权项

1. A switch assembly, comprising:
an actuator housing; an M-blade snap spring disposed within the actuator housing and including a closed end, a double-loop end, a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a first inner leg, a second inner leg, and a cross member, the double-loop end disposed opposite the closed end and including a first loop and a second loop, the first outer leg coupled to the first inner leg to form the first loop of the double-loop end, the second outer leg coupled to the second inner leg to form the second loop of the double-loop end, the cross member coupled to the first outer leg and to the second outer leg to define the closed end, the first inner leg spaced apart from the second inner leg; an actuation arm disposed within the actuator housing and having a first end and a second end, the first end fixedly coupled to the actuator housing, the actuation arm extending in cantilever fashion from the actuator housing to the second end, the second end coupled to, and including a portion that extends between, the first and second inner legs, the portion dimensioned to distort the M-blade snap spring such that the first and second inner legs are out of coplanar alignment with the first and second outer legs and the cross member, whereby the M-blade snap spring exhibits snap-action movement between a first actuator position and a second actuator position; and a switch coupled to the cross member, the switch responsive to the snap-action movement of the M-blade to move between a first switch position and a second switch position, wherein:
the actuation arm is configured to selectively move the first and second inner legs between a first inner leg position and a second inner leg position, to thereby cause the M-blade snap spring to move, via snap-action, between the first actuator position and the second actuator position, respectively, which in turn causes the switch to move between the first switch position and the second switch position, respectively.