Abstract:
An integral multi-switch comprises a switch box, conducting plates and switches. The switch box comprises at least two troughs to receive the conducting plates and switches therein. A first conducting plate is an one piece plate which inputs electric power, a second conducting plate outputs the power, and is connected to the first conducting plate by the switch. A third conducting plate is a ground connection. Each conducting plate has a conduct point in each trough which constitutes the multi-switch device, the switch box has a pushing plate which slides vertically to active the switches. The second and third conducting plates extend various clips which provide multi-contact for conduction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an integral multi-switch, and more particularly to a switch box requires little or no soldering method. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     The multi switches currently on the market are mostly used as an extension cord or a single switch to a multi switch box, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. A receptacle A comprises a number of receptacle moldings A 1 . Each molding A 1  is controlled by a single switch A 2  which has a various types, such as a light indicator within the switch or an overload protector which shots off the power when overload is detected,) to be conducted or disconnected from electric power. The first connecting point A 12  of each switch A 2  is connected in series to each other by means of a copper wire A 6  and to one end A 31  of an overload protector A 3  the other end A 32  of the overload protector A 3  is connected to the incoming electric power source, the connecting points A 22  of the switch A 2  are connected by separate copper wire A 5  and connected to the connecting point A 11 , the groundings A 23  from the second switch A 2  and thereafter, are connected to the groundings A 12  of each receptacle molding A 1 , and the grounding of the first switch A 1  is connected to the groundings A 12  of the receptacle molding A 1  by another copper wire A 4  which is also connected to the grounding of an incoming power circuit., this design has some shortcomings one is that the soldering has to be perfect, if any parts loosen, the switch box will be short circuit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an integral multi-switch which is more reliable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-switch receptacle which uses no soldering, and saves manufacturing cost. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an integral multi-switch which is easy to operate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the present invention, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the present invention, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG. 4, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of FIG. 6, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of FIG. 9, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 11 is a top sectional view of a prior receptacle; 
     FIG. 12 is a top sectional view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a top sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the prior art multi switch box. 
     FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective of the prior art multi switch box. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a top sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 19 is an exploded view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 20 is a side perspective view of the eighth of the present invention, partially sectioned; 
     FIG. 21 is a side perspective sectional view of the eighth of the present invention, in operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An integral multi-switch of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a switch box  1 , conducting plates,  2 ,  3  and  4 , switch  5 , receptacle molding  6  and case  8 . 
     The switch box  1  is a rectangular hollow case with several isolated troughs  11  in the hollow body, each trough  11  has a first, a second and a third conducting troughs  12 ,  13  and  14 . 
     The first conducting plate  2  is an integral plate to conduct electric power, the plates corresponds to each trough  11  has formed with several long side plates  21 , each of which has extended a short side plate  22  inwardly, the second conducting plate  3  is for electric power output and is in isolated pieces, each piece has a notch  31  at its top edge, the third conducting plate  4  is also integral and is a grounding terminal which has extending a locator  41  vertically with a notch  411  on the edge, and is corresponding to the trough  11 . 
     The switch  5  which is a known prior art, and will not be described hereinafter, has a conductive post  51  (having one end connected to the indicative light through a spring), and spring  53 , the post  51  presses a spring plate  53  to control the circuit in open or closed status. The spring plate  53  has a pair of holes  521  at respective sides. 
     The receptacle molding  6  which is also a known art, corresponds in number to the trough  11  of the box  1 , please refer to FIG. 3, all receptacle moldings  6  are mounted on a case  8 , and each receptacle molding  6  comprises at least two holes  61  and  61 ′ which are extending a pair of wires  62  and  62 ′, with one wire  62  connected to the positive end of the electric power, while wire  62 ′ is grounded, respectively 
     To assemble, please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, insert the long side plates  21  of the first conducting plate  2  and the locator  41  of the third conducting plate  4  into the first and the third conducting troughs  12  and  14 , respectively. This leads the first and the third conducting plates  2  and  4  closed to the outer edge of the switch box  1 , insert the second conducting plate  3  into the second trough  13 , thus the short side plate  22 , the locator  41  and the second conducting plate  3  are the switch point, wherein the short side plate  22  is the first electric power end, the second conducting plate  3  is the second electric power end and the locator  41  is grounded. Secure the holes  521  of the spring plate  52  to the notch  31  of the second conducting plate  3 , so that the second conducting plate  3  is always in contact. Secured the switch  5  to the top portion of the trough  11  of the switch box  1  with the post  51  at its bottom end engages with the spring plate  52 , so as to control the spring plate  52  to be engages or disengages with the short side plate  22  of the first conducting plate  2 , as a switch to turn the power ON/OFF. Since the first conducting plate  2  and the third conducting plate  4  are all in one piece, a one time installation solves all problems. 
     Upon mounting the switch box  1  into the case  8 , each switch  5  exposed from an individual hole  81 , as shown in FIG. 3, the conducting plate  62  of the receptacle molding  6  and the second conducting plate  3  are connected by a copper wire  7 , whereas the conducting plate  62 ′ is connected to the third conducting plate  4 , the first conducting plate  2  is connected to the incoming power that forms the entire circuit, (an overload protector may be connected in series). 
     A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 which has the second conducting plate  3 ′ formed in a vertical shape and has a notch  31 ′ at top end, thus when the second conducting plate  3 ′ placed in the second trough  13 ′, it stands as a support to the spring plate  52 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     A third embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 in which switch box  1  is formed by a trough seat  15  and a lower cap  16  separate from each other. The trough seat  15  has at least two troughs  11 , the lower cap  16  is a flat plate with its two sides rising upward in a 90 degrees angle to form two ribs  161  which have plural protuberances  162  extending inwardly, and a number of gaps  163  on the rib and equally spaced from the protuberances  162 . The lower cap  16  has a locating ridge  164  at a side edge. The trough seat  15  has one end formed with two slots  151  corresponding to each other, the respective sides corresponding to the locating ridge  164  are formed with locating holes  152 , the first conducting plate  2  being in a one piece form with plural short side plates  22  extending from the plate edge in a horizontal direction and corresponding to the trough, the second conducting plate  3  being formed by a number of plates, each plate having a hole  32 , the third conducting plate  4  being formed as an integral plate having a number of ribs  42  extending upwardly corresponding to the troughs  11 . 
     To assemble, insert the first conducting plate  2  and a third conducting plate  4  through the gaps  163  of the rib  161  of the lower cap  16 . The second conducting plate  3  is secured by inserting the protuberances  162  of the lower cap  16  into the hole  32 , and inserting the lower cap  16  from the bottom upwards into the trough  15 , with the locating ridge  164  inserting in the locating hole  152 . Thus, the lower cap  16  is secured to the trough seat  15 , and the first conducting plate  2  and the third conducting plate  4  are inserted with one end through the slot  151  and extending outward. The second conducting plates  3  and the spring plates  52  will be seating in the trough seats  15  along with the lower cap  16 . Place the switch  5  on the trough  11  with the post  51  engaging the spring plate  52  which is supported by the second conducting plate  3  to be driven by the post  51  to engage or disengage with the short side plate  22  of the first conducting plate  2 . 
     A third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8 is to have the second conducting plate  3 ′ formed with several vertical pieces, with notch  31 ′ on top of each plate  3 ′ for receiving a corresponding spring plate  52  thereon. The lower cap  16  has a pair of second conducting plates  13 ′. When assembling, place the first and the third conducting plates  2  and  4  on the two ridges of the lower cap  16 , and the second conducting plate  3  inserted into the second conducting plates  13 ′. When closing the lower cap  16  to the trough seat  15 , the first conducting plate  2 , the third conducting plate  4 , and the second conducting plates  13 ′ in the lower cap  16  are seating in the trough seat  15 , wherein the short side plate  22  of the first conducting plate  2  and the ribs  42  of the second and the third conducting plates are seating in the trough  11  and forming contact points controlled by the switch  5 . 
     Other than the vertical trough  11 , there are horizontal direction designs, as shown in FIG. 9 in which switch box  1  is formed with the trough seat  15  and the lower cap  16 . The trough seat  15  is able to receive at least two troughs  11 , and the first conducting plate  2  is integrally formed. The plate  2  has a number of long side plates  21  corresponding to the trough  11 , and each long side plate  21  has extending therefrom a number of short side plates  22  with contact points thereon. The second conducting plate  3  is formed by a number of plates, each plate having a notch  31  at the top. The third conducting plate  4  is also formed integrally in one piece with a number of locators  41  corresponding to the trough  11 , each locator having a notch  411  on top for receiving the spring  53 . The lower cap  16  has a number of ribs  161  to secure the first, the third, and the fourth conducting plates  2 ,  3 , and  4 . To assemble, secure the first, the third, and the fourth conducting plates  2 ,  3 , and  4  to the lower cap  16 , as shown in FIG.  10  and place the spring plates  52  on the dents  31  of the second conductive plate  3 . Thus, when connecting the lower cap  16  to the trough seat  15 , the spring plates  52  are controlled by the switches  5 . 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 have shown the contact points of a prior art and the present invention, wherein the contact points A 21  and A 22  of the switch A 2 , and the receptacle molding A 1  and the grounding contact point A 23  are connected by copper wire A 6 , A 4 , A 41 , and A 5 , and are soldered at each contact point “a” disregards the overload protector A 3  and incoming grounding. The switch A 2  and the receptacle molding A 1  have more than 20 soldering points which increase by 20 times the number of bad connections, whereas the grounding  62 ′ of the receptacle  6  and the first and the third conducting plates  2  and  4  of this invention utilizes integrally formed, one-piece modules, such that the soldering points are limited to the conducting plate  62  of the receptacle  6  and the conducting plate  3  of the switch box. 
     A fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, has depicted the first conducting plates  2  and the third conducting plates  4  been formed with male and female hooks,  24  and  43  that correspond to each other, the male and female hooks  24  and  43  may be in barrel shape, in post shape, or in hook shape, and may be formed as much or less as possible in corresponding to the switch box  1 . For instance, if a six sets of receptacle moldings  6  are adapted, two sets of switch box  1  with three switches  5  are matching with the male and female hooks  24  and  43  of the first and the third conducting plates  2  and  4 , to form a switch box  1  with six switches  5 . Whereas, the conducting plate  62  of the receptacle molding  6  has also formed with a hook  621  which is connected to a corresponding hook  621  of the conducting plate  62 ′ of the receptacle molding  6 , the present invention has also introduced extending sleeves on the ends of the first conducting plates  2 , the third conducting plates  4  and the conducting plate  62 ′. 
     The switch box  1  of the above design includes the first, second and third conducting plates  2 ,  3  and  4 , wherein the third conducting plate  4  is to control illumination of the indicator in the switch  5 . If there is no require to use the indication, the third conducting plate  4  may be eliminated, likewise, it is capable of built a fourth or more conducting plate in an integral one piece or in several independent pieces, as required. 
     The switch box  1  of this invention is lined up in series, and comprises at least two or more troughs  11 . Each trough  11  may be lined up in series or in parallel or even in a circling arrangement. This multi-trough structure facilitates the installation procedure and minimizes the number of required soldering spots. If the conducting plates are not in one piece, then a pre-soldering will also save time of installation later on. Further, the case  8  may be formed integrally, in one piece to save more time. 
     A non-soldering multi-switch box is derived from the above mentioned structure, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the second conducting plate  3  and the third conducting plate  4  are both extending outwards to form second clips  33  and third clips  43 , the second clips  33  connect to the positive end while the third clips  43  are grounded connection. Each clip  33  and  43  are so formed by bending to a U-shaped which correspond to the terminal of a plug, it is to be noted the shape is not limited to U-shape, any other shape, such as single plate, is fisible so long as they are capable of contact with the terminal of the plug. In this example, each clip  33  or  43  is formed with no soldering spot. 
     FIG. 18 has shown a further design which uses no indicator in the switch  5  and has only two contact points in each trough  11 , one contact point is formed by the first conducting plate  2 , and the other is formed by the second conducting plate  3 . The grounding connection of the third conducting plate  4  is not included in this. Each second conducting plate  3  of the switch box  1  has extending outward to form the second clip  33  which is connected to the positive terminal of the plug  9 , and the negative terminal of the plug  9  is a one piece plate  91  which has extending a clip  92  which corresponds to the clip  33  of the second conducting plate  3  and form a contact point. 
     FIG. 19 has shown a further embodiment which uses a special switch  5 ′ to turn the power on and off. This design is to place a push plate  54  in each of the switch  5  and  5 ′, a number of push block  541  are equally located in between the push plate  54 , each push block  541  has an open space at one side and a hole  543  at one end thereof, corresponding to the hole  543 , the switch box  1  has a support  56  at its end with a notch  561  at the top portion. To assemble, insert the posts  55 ′ at the bottom end of the switch  5 ′ through the hole  543  of the push block  54 , as shown in FIG.  20  and controlled by the push plate  54  to go forward and rearward. In practice, when any of the switch  5  is pushed and conducted, as shown in FIG. 21, the post  55  of the switch  5  pushes the push block  541  of the push plate  54  to slide, thus the hole  543  of the push plate  54  is driven to push the special switch  5 ′ to a conducting status. The indicator built within the special switch  5 ′ will light up at this time. The post  55  of the switch  5  is free to move in the open space or the push plate  54 , thus any other switch  5  will not affect the particular switch  5  however, when pressing the special switch  5 ′ to shut down the power, the post  55 ′ will push the push plate  54  to slide horizontally which then brings the push blocks  541  to push the posts  55  of all turned on switches  5  to off status. 
     If the push plate  54  is installed in reverse, the simultaneous turned off design of the switches will be changed to simultaneous turned on, or if a twin push plates are installed and are in reverse direction, the switches  5  can be turned on and off simultaneously.