초록 ▼

A tilt switch includes an insulating switch body with top and bottom walls and an inner circumferential wall surrounding an upright central axis. An upright electric contact member is secured to the top wall, and extends along the central axis to form a first electric contact terminal outwardly of t

A tilt switch includes an insulating switch body with top and bottom walls and an inner circumferential wall surrounding an upright central axis. An upright electric contact member is secured to the top wall, and extends along the central axis to form a first electric contact terminal outwardly of the bottom wall. An annular electric contact member engages the inner circumferential wall, and has an inner peripheral wall, and an annular rolling surface forming with the inner peripheral wall at the juncture thereof an annular edge. A second electric contact terminal is integrally formed with the annular electric contact member, and extends downwardly and outwardly of the bottom wall. An electrically conductive ball member is disposed in the insulating switch body such that when the annular rolling surface remains in a horizontal plane, the ball member will be retained between the upright electric contact member and the annular edge to establish an electrical connection between the first and second electric contact terminals. Once the annular rolling surface is tilted from the horizontal plane, the change of gravity will move the ball member over the annular edge and away from the upright electric contact member so as to break the electrical connection.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A tilt switch adapted to be mounted on and in electric contact with a support in an upright position, said tilt switch comprising:an insulating switch body includingtop and bottom walls spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction when said tilt switch is in the upright

[ I claim:] [1.] A tilt switch adapted to be mounted on and in electric contact with a support in an upright position, said tilt switch comprising:an insulating switch body includingtop and bottom walls spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction when said tilt switch is in the upright position; andan inner circumferential wall extending from said top wall to said bottom wall in the longitudinal direction and spacedly surrounding a central axis parallel to the longitudinal direction;an upright electric contact member having an upper end secured to said top wall, and a lower end fixed on said bottom wall and extending along the central axis, said upright electric contact member defining with said inner circumferential wall of said switch body first radial lengths, said lower end further extending downwardly and outwardly of said bottom wall to form a first electric contact terminal adapted to be mounted on the support;an annular electric contact member disposed in said insulating switch body, and including an outer peripheral wall engaging said inner circumferential wall, an inner peripheral wall circumferentially opposite to said outer peripheral wall, and an annular rolling surface interposed between said outer and inner peripheral walls and defining a horizontal plane when said first electric contact terminal is mounted on the support, said annular rolling surface being spaced apart from said top wall with an upright length, said annular rolling surface forming with said inner peripheral wall at the juncture thereof an annular edge which defines with said upright electric contact member second radial lengths;a second electric contact terminal disposed beneath and integrally formed with said annular electric contact member, said second electric contact terminal extending downwardly and outwardly of said bottom wall, and being spaced apart from said first electric contact terminal in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction so as to be adapted to be mounted on the support; andan electrically conductive ball member disposed in said insulating switch body, and movable on said annular rolling surface, said ball member having a diameter smaller than both a shortest one of the first radial lengths and the upright length, and a radius smaller than a shortest one of the second radial lengths, whereby, when said annular rolling surface remains in a horizontal plane, said ball member will be retained between said upright electric contact member and said annular edge to establish an electrical connection between said first and second electric contact terminals, and once said annular rolling surface is tilted from the horizontal plane, the change of gravity will move said ball member over said annular edge and away from said upright electric contact member so as to break the electrical connection between said first and second electric contact terminals.