IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0482223
(1990-02-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Dalebout, William T.
- Ashby, Kent
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Proform Fitness Products, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A switch apparatus for an electrical machine comprises a keyway and a removable key. A spring-loaded protrusion on the key prevents direct insertion of the key into an "ON" position, and communicates with a guideway for movement of the key between the "OFF" and "ON" positions. The key is directly re
A switch apparatus for an electrical machine comprises a keyway and a removable key. A spring-loaded protrusion on the key prevents direct insertion of the key into an "ON" position, and communicates with a guideway for movement of the key between the "OFF" and "ON" positions. The key is directly removable from both the "ON" and "OFF" positions simply by pulling, to deactivate the machine in an emergency or accident. Unauthorized and accidental operation of the machine may be prevented by control of the key.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for activating and deactivating an electrically powered machine, comprising: a keyway adapted to receive a safety key, said keyway having a keyway housing with a base, side walls, a curved rear wall and a cover, said keyway having a key-insertable portion defining an "off" positio
1. An apparatus for activating and deactivating an electrically powered machine, comprising: a keyway adapted to receive a safety key, said keyway having a keyway housing with a base, side walls, a curved rear wall and a cover, said keyway having a key-insertable portion defining an "off" position, and a non key-insertable portion defining an "on" position, said keyway having an arcuate guideway to guide said safety key between an "OFF" position and an "ON" position; an electrical switch having actuator means adapted to be actuated by said safety key when in said "ON" position; and a safety key having a proximate end for operation by the user and an arcuate distal end for insertion in said key insertable portion of said keyway whereby said arcuate distal end pivots within said curved rear wall of the safety keyway housing between said "OFF" position in which said electrical switch is deactivated and said "ON" position in which said electrical switch is activated, said safety key including protrusile means for movement in said guideway wherein said protrusile means engages said guideway to hold said safety key in one of said "ON" or "OFF" positions and said protrusile means prevents said safety key being inserted into said non key-insertable portion. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a dimension of said keyway is enlarged in said key-insertable portion to permit insertion of said key therein and wherein a dimension of said non key-insertable portion is reduced to block insertion of said key therein. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said dimension of said key-insertable portion permits passage of said protrusion therethrough, and said dimension of said non key-insertable portion obstructs passage of said protrusion thereinto while permitting removal of said key therefrom. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said dimension of said key-insertable portion decreases with insertion distance to communicate with said protrusion and compress said protrusion toward said key. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said key includes means for attachment to a user of said machine, wherein movement of said user removes key from said keyway to deactivate said machine without hand manipulation of said key. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said attachment means comprises a lanyard having one end attached to said key and the opposite end having means attachable to said user. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said key is movable from said "OFF" position to said "ON" position by rotation about said distal end of said key. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guideway comprises a groove having depressions therein for retaining said protrusion in said "OFF" and said "ON" positions. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said key is formed of plastic by one-piece molding. 10. An apparatus for activating and deactivating an electrically powered machine, said apparatus comprising: a keyway adapted to receive a safety key, said keyway having a keyway housing with a base, side walls, and a cover, said keyway having a key-insertable portion defining an "OFF" position, and a non keyinsertable portion defining an "ON" position, and said keyway guides said safety key between an "OFF" position and and "ON" position; an electrical switch having actuator means adapted to be actuated by said safety key when in said "ON" position; and a safety key having a proximate end for operation by the user and a distal end for insertion in said key-insertable portion of said keyway, said keyway having a guideway extending between said "ON" and "OFF" positions, said safety key including protrusile means comprising resilient means with a protrusion positioned to extend normally away from said safety key and adapted to flex with said resilient means to prevent said safety key from being inserted into said non key-insertable portion and permit said safety key to be inserted into said key-insertable portion, said protrusile means positioned to move in said guideway between said "OFF" position in which said electrical switch is deactivated and said "ON" position in which said electrical switch is actuated when said safety key is inserted in said keyway and retain said key in one of said "ON" or "OFF" positions. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the key has a thickness and said thickness is selected to provide substantial rigidity thereof, and said resilient means comprises an elongate arm portion of said key, said arm portion having a proximate end fixedly connected to said key and a distal end having a protrusion extending normally away from said key, said arm portion being of reduced thickness for increased flexibility for compressional movement of said protrusion towards said key. 12. A safety switch apparatus for activating and deactivating an electrical machine, comprising: a keyway housing having a first keyway opening for insertion of a key to a fully inserted "OFF" position, and a second keyway opening wherein insertion of said key is blocked, said keyway housing including a guideway for guiding said key between said "OFF" position and an "ON" position; a key insertable in said first keyway opening and movable between said "OFF" position and said "ON" position; and means for directly retracting said key through said second keyway opening from said "ON" position without passing through said normal "OFF" position. 13. An apparatus for activating and deactivating an electrically powered machine, comprising: a keyway adapted to receive a safety keyway, said keyway having a keyway housing with a base, side walls, and a cover, said keyway having a key-insertable portion defining an "OFF" position and a non keyinsertable portion defining an "ON" position, and said keyway guides said safety key between an "OFF" position and an "ON" position; an electrical switch having actuator means positioned for actuation by said safety key when in said "ON" position; and a safety key having a proximate end for operation by the user and a distal end for insertion in said key-insertable portion of said key said keyway having a guideway extending between said "ON" and "OFF" positions, said safety key including protrusile means in communication with said guideway for movement in said guideway from said "OFF" position in which said electrical switch is deactivated to said "ON" position in which said electrical switch is activated to operate said actuator means against a first resistance wherein said protrusile means engages said guideway to hold said safety key in one of said "ON" or "OFF" positions, said safety key being capable of removal from said keyway through said non key-insertable portion from said "ON" position against a second resistance without passing through said "OFF" position. 14. An exercise treadmill including: an electrically powered endless belt; a support console supported above said endless belt; and apparatus carried by said console for activating and deactivating said electrically powered endless belt, said apparatus comprising; a keyway adapted to receive a safety key, said keyway having a keyway housing with a base, side walls, a curved rear wall, and a cover, said keyway having a key-insertable portion defining an "OFF" position and a non key-insertable portion defining an "ON" position and said keyway having a guideway to guide said safety key between an "OFF" position and an "ON" position; an electrical switch having actuator means positioned for actuation by said safety key when in said "On" position; a safety key having a proximate end for operation by the user and an arcuate distal end for insertion in said keyinsertable portion of said keyway whereby said arcuate distal end pivots within said curved rear wall of the safety keyway housing between said "OFF" position in which said electrical switch is deactivated and said "ON" position in which said electrical switch is activated, said safety key including protrusile means for arcuate movement in said guideway when said arcuate distal end of said safety key is pivoted against the curved rear wall of the keyway wherein said protrusile means engages said guideway to hold said safety key in one of said "ON" or "OFF" positions and said protrusile means prevents said safety key from being inserted into said non key-insertable portion; a flexible tether sized to extend from said support console to a user positioned on said exercise treadmill, said tether having a first end secured to the proximate end of said safety key; and a second end secured to the user positioned on said exercise treadmill.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.