초록 ▼

A jerking-initiated switch includes first and third shank members secured to an insulating frame and spaced apart from each other, and at least one second shank member interposed therebetween. Each of the shank members has a contact terminal extending outwardly of the frame to electrically contact a

A jerking-initiated switch includes first and third shank members secured to an insulating frame and spaced apart from each other, and at least one second shank member interposed therebetween. Each of the shank members has a contact terminal extending outwardly of the frame to electrically contact a substrate. Two limb members are integrally formed and are connected to the second shank member, and extend towards the first and third shank members, respectively, so as to form guideways that an electrically conductive ball is rollable thereon. Each guideway has idle and threshold regions at different heights such that the ball is caused to displace from one of the idle and threshold regions to the other of the idle and threshold regions in response to a jerking action, thereby placing the switch in one of the first and second switching states.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A jerking-initiated switch mountable on and to be disposed in electric contact with a substrate, said jerking-initiated switch comprising: an insulating frame which includes a base wall that has first and second lateral sides opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and front

I claim: 1. A jerking-initiated switch mountable on and to be disposed in electric contact with a substrate, said jerking-initiated switch comprising: an insulating frame which includes a base wall that has first and second lateral sides opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear sides opposite to each other in a first transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and first and second upright walls extending respectively from said first and second lateral sides in a second transverse direction transverse to both the first transverse direction and the longitudinal direction to define therebetween a rolling path; an electrically conductive ball disposed to be rollable along said rolling path between first and second switching positions where said switch is in first and second switching states, respectively; a first interconnecting member which is disposed adjacent to said first lateral side, and which extends in the first transverse direction to terminate at front and rear first joining ends; front and rear first shank members which are made from an electrically conductive material, which are respectively connected to said front and rear first joining ends, and which extend in the second transverse direction to respectively terminate at front and rear first contact terminals that extend outwardly of said frame to electrically contact the substrate; at least one second shank member which is made from an electrically conductive material, and which is secured to said base wall, said at least one second shank member being disposed to extend in the second transverse direction to terminate at a second contact terminal that extends outwardly of said frame to electrically contact the substrate, and at a second joint that is opposite to said second contact terminal; and at least one first limb member which is integrally formed with and which extends from said second joint in the longitudinal direction to form a first guideway along said rolling path such that said ball can slidably contact said at least one first limb member, and which extends towards said front and rear first shank members to terminate at a first threshold region, said first threshold region being spaced apart from said front and rear first shank members, and corresponding to the first switching position, said at least one first limb member having a first idle region which is configured to correspond to the second switching position such that once said ball is caused to displace from one of said first idle and threshold regions to the other of said first idle and threshold regions in response to a jerking action, said switch is placed in one of the first and second switching states. 2. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 1, wherein said first interconnecting member is in a form of a plate and is integrally formed with said front and rear first shank members. 3. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 2, further comprising: a second interconnecting member which is disposed adjacent to said second lateral side such that front and rear second shank members are disposed between said first and second interconnecting members, and which extends in the first transverse direction to terminate at front and rear second joining ends; front and rear third shank members which are made from an electrically conductive material, which are respectively connected to front and rear second joining ends, and which extend in the second transverse direction to respectively terminate at front and rear third contact terminals that extend outwardly of said frame to electrically contact the substrate; and at least one second limb member which is integrally formed with and which extends from a second joint in the longitudinal direction and away from said at least one first limb member so as to form a second guideway along said rolling path such that said ball can slidably contact said at least one second limb member, and which extends towards said front and rear third shank members to terminate at a second threshold region, said second threshold region being spaced apart from said front and rear third shank members, and corresponding to the first switching position, said at least one second limb member having a second idle region which is configured to correspond to the second switching position such that once said ball is caused to displace from one of said second idle and threshold regions to the other of said second idle and threshold regions in response to a jerking action, said switch is placed in one of the first and second switching states. 4. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 3, wherein said base wall has a pair of first through holes and a pair of third through holes formed therethrough in the second transverse direction for extension of said front and rear first contact terminals and said front and rear second contact terminals, respectively, and at least one second through hole formed therethrough for extension of said second contact terminal. 5. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 4, wherein each of said first and third shank members has a shoulder portion which is disposed to abut against said base wall when a respective one of said first and third contact terminals is extended through a corresponding one of said through holes. 6. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 3, wherein each of said first and second guideways is configured to descend from a respective one of said first and second idle regions to a respective one of said first and second threshold regions in the longitudinal direction such that said ball is rested on one of said first and second threshold regions to place said switch in the first switching state, where an electric connection between said first and second contact terminals or between said first and third contact terminals is established through said ball, and such that the jerking action causes said ball to displace from one of said first and second threshold regions to said first and second idle regions so as to place said switch in the second switching state, where the electric connections between said first and second contact terminals and between said third and second contact terminals are cut off. 7. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 3, wherein each of said first and second guideways is configured to ascend from a respective one of said first and second idle regions to a respective one of said first and second threshold regions in the longitudinal direction such that said ball is rested on said first and second idle regions to place said switch in the second switching state, where said first and third contact terminals are not electrically connected to said second contact terminals, and such that the jerking action causes said ball to displace from said first and second idle regions to one of said first and second threshold regions so as to place said switch in the first switching state, where said first or third contact terminals are electrically connected to said second contact terminals through said ball. 8. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 3, wherein said switch comprises two of said second shank members, which are secured to said front and rear sides, respectively, and which are spaced apart from each other in the first transverse direction such that said first limb members extend from said joints of said second shank members, respectively, said switch comprising two of said second limb members which respectively extend from said joints of said second shank members away from said first limb members. 9. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 8, wherein said second joint of each of said second shank members has a bent connecting portion which is bent to extend in the first transverse direction such that respective ones of said first and second limb members extend from said bent connecting portion in the second transverse direction. 10. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 3, wherein said at least one second shank member is secured to a middle region of said base wall between said first and second lateral sides, said first and second limb members being integrally formed with each other, each of said first and second limb members extending in the first transverse direction to confront respective ones of said first and third shank members in the longitudinal direction. 11. The jerking-initiated switch of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second contact terminals has a bent contact end which extends in the first transverse direction and which is abuttable against the substrate.