Switch

{
  "publication_number": "US9812267B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Switch",
  "abstract": "A switch, with enhanced operability and capable of changing control circuits independently by one hand, has a printed circuit board, first and second wiring patterns provided on one surface of the printed circuit board, first and second crank members supported for rotation above the printed circuit board, a first switching slider configured to rotate with the first crank member as the first switching slider slides an the first wiring pattern; and a second switching slider configured to rotate with the first crank member as the second switching slider slides on the second wiring pattern. The first and second crank members are positioned at respective positions where they are driven by one hand of an operator.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A switch mechanism, comprising: a first switching member configured to reciprocally move straight in a direction; a second switching member configured to reciprocally move straight in the direction, the first switching member and the second switching member being disposed close to each other so that an operator can operate the first switching member and the second switching member by his or her one hand; a first crank member mounted for rotation about a first axis, the first crank member being engaged with the first switching member so that the first crank member reciprocally rotates about the first axis as the first switching member reciprocally moves straight; a second crank member mounted for rotation about a second axis, the second crank member being engaged with the second switching member so that the second crank member reciprocally rotates about the second axis as the second switch member reciprocally moves straight; a first slider mounted on the first crank member; a second slider mounted on the second crank member; a printed circuit board; a first wiring pattern printed on the circuit board, the first wiring pattern being disposed so that the first slider makes contacts with the first wiring pattern during the rotation of the first crank member; and a second wiring pattern printed on the circuit board, the second wiring pattern being disposed so that the second slider makes contacts with the second wiring pattern during the rotation of the second crank member.",
    "2. The switch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first slider includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion; and wherein the first wiring pattern comprises: a first wiring portion extending continuously in a first peripheral direction about the first axis so that the first contact portion is always in contact with the first wiring portion during the rotation of the first crank member; and a second wiring portion having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment being spaced away from each other to define therebetween a zone in which the second contact portion is in contact with neither the first segment nor the second segment.",
    "3. The switch mechanism of claim 2, wherein the second slider comprises a first contact portion and a second contact portion, wherein the second wiring pattern comprises: a first wiring portion extending continuously in a second peripheral direction about the second axis so that the first contact portion of the second slider is always in contact with the first wiring portion of the second wiring pattern during the rotation of the second crank member, and a second wiring portion comprising a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the second segment and the third segment of the second wiring pattern being disposed on opposite sides of the first segment of the second wiring pattern and spaced away from the first segment of the second wiring pattern in the peripheral direction about the second axis.",
    "4. A power tool, comprising the switch of claim 1.",
    "5. A power tool, comprising the switch of claim 3."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention generally relates to a switch and, for example, a trigger switch, which is incorporated in a power tool and allows an operator of the power tool to individually turn on and off control circuits mounted therein by one hand.\n\nExamples of the power tools capable of individually switching a plurality of control circuits include a power driver capable of fastening and loosing wheel nuts for the replacement of vehicle tires. The power driver has a reverse switch 15 which is mounted on a body housing 50, among others, a proximal end of the grip for exchanging rotational directions of the chuck 13. The power driver has a torque switch 59 for increasing and decreasing an output torque, which is mounted on a side portion of the operation panel housing 52 connected at the bottom end of the grip. See FIGS. 1 and 3 of Patent Document 1.\n\nPatent Document 1: JP2011-67910(A)\n\nThe torque switch 59 and the reverse switch 15 of the power driver are spaced away from each other. Then, the operator is unable to operate the reverse switch 15 and the torque switch 59 by one hand, namely, the operator needs to use his or her both hands for the operation of those switches, which may reduce an operability of the power tool. Accordingly, one or more embodiments of the present invention provide a single-hand operable switch with an enhanced operability, which allows the operator to switch on and off a plurality of control circuits by one hand.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01H 9/063",
    "B25B 21/00",
    "H01H 15/005",
    "H01H 15/22",
    "H01H 19/585",
    "H01H 2009/065",
    "H01H 2009/066",
    "H01H 3/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 21/00",
    "H01H 15/00",
    "H01H 15/22",
    "H01H 19/58",
    "H01H 9/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "OMRON TATEISI ELECTRONICS CO"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "HOZUMI AKIHIRO"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-04-29",
  "publication_date": "2017-11-07",
  "grant_date": "2017-11-07",
  "priority_date": "2015-05-29",
  "application_number": "US-201615142681-A",
  "family_id": "55967040",
  "citations": [
    "EP2589465A2",
    "JP2011067910A",
    "US2008251269A1",
    "US4313041A",
    "US5570777A",
    "US8193458B2",
    "US8653388B2",
    "US9373461B2"
  ]
}