Tilt Action Switch

This invention relates to electric switches and more specifically to a tilt action switch utilizing a ball bearing as a movable contact.

The invention disclosed herein is directed at a tilt action switch having an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The upper body portion and the lower body portion are attached together to provide a cavity within which a ball bearing movable contact is positioned. The upper and lower body portions are spaced from each other and each has its facing surface partially covered by an insulating spacer.

Further details are explained below with the help of the example(s) illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a section of the tilt action switch, actuated, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section of the tilt action switch, not actuated, according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section of a perspective view of the tilt action switch, not actuated, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tilt action switch shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tilt action switch shown in FIG. 3 with the upper body portion sectioned.

There is shown in the drawings a tilt action switch 10 comprising an upper body portion 12a and a lower body portion 12b which may be of varying configuration such as spoon, spherical or conical, for example, a movable contact or ball bearing 14 and a spacer 16. Each of the body portions 12a, 12b is formed of a non ferrous metal, such as brass. The movable contact or ball bearing 14 is formed of a non ferrous metal, such as brass which is externally silver plated. The spacer 16 is formed of a non conductive plastic. The operation of the switch 10 depends on the shape of the upper and lower body portions 12a, 12b, the diameter of the movable contact 14 and the width of the spacer 16. The upper and lower body portions 12a, 12b are, in this embodiment, partially hemispherical in configuration providing arced portions 23a, 23b respectively, which are in opposed relation to form a spherical cavity 22. A support portion 25a extends from the edges of the arced portion 23a in integral, right angle relation thereto to the edges of the body portion 12a and a support portion 25b extends from the edges of the arced portion 23b in integral, right angle relation thereto to the edges of the body portion 12a.

The spacer 16 is planar and fits between the upper body portion 12a and the lower body portion 12b. The spacer 16 also includes a centrally positioned through aperture 26 which has a diameter slightly greater than either of the arced portions 23a, 23b thereby providing a circumferential lip 28 on each of the arced portions 23a, 23b in relation to the aperture 26 of the spacer 16. Four studs 30 extend from each planar surface of the spacer 16 which are adapted to be passed through four holes 32a, 32b formed in the support portions, 25a, 25b respectively. The inner surfaces of the arced portions 23a, 23b are silver plated.

The switch 10 is assembled by positioning the spacer 16 on either the upper body portion 12a, or the lower body portion 12b. The studs 30 extend through the holes of, for example, the body portion 12b. The movable contact or ball bearing 14 is positioned in the arced portion 23b. The upper body portion 12a is positioned on the spacer 16 with the second set of studs 30 extending through the holes of the upper body portions 12a trapping the ball bearing 14 in the cavity 22. The planar portions of the spacer 16, and the upper and lower body portion support portions 25a, 25b are in parallel relation with each other.

In operation, if the planar portions of the spacer 16, and the upper and lower body portions 12a, 12b are maintained on a horizontal plane the ball bearing 14 will rest in the center of the arced portion 23b, for example, and no circuit will be completed. If the switch should be moved to a slightly vertical plane, the ball bearing 14, which has a diameter greater than the thickness of the spacer 16, will bridge the circumferential lips 28 of the arced portions 23a, 23b activating the circuit. Each of the upper and lower body portions 12a, 12b has a terminal extension 34a, 34b respectively as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 providing a means of electrically engaging a circuit. The terminal extensions 34a, 34b project outwardly from and are integral parts of the planar support portions 25a, 25b, of the upper and lower body portion 12a, 12b.

The tilt action switch 10 can be mounted in a horizontal or vertical position. The switch 10 may be utilized on any equipment that it is desirable to sense specific movement, picking the equipment up, for example. The switch 10 is capable of detecting motion or to a lesser extent vibration. Obviously the switch 10 can be used as an element in a security system to protect products in a store. Each of the upper and lower body portions 12a, 12b is connected to a line of a circuit and when the movable contact (i.e. ball bearing 14) bridges the lips 28 of the upper any lower body portions 12a, 12b an electrical circuit may be completed.