Abstract: A switch, typically one used as a wall switch for the control of lighting in residences and commercial establishments, has a handle which is operable between a full off position in which the switching circuit is completely disconnected from a source of electrical power, and a use position in which the handle, while remaining stationary, becomes a touch-type control for operating the switch circuit between its "on" and "off" modes.

Abstract: A switch assembly including a base member having a contact receiving cavity open at the top and defined by a floor that is laterally enclosed by side wall means, first terminal means in the cavity adapted for electrical connection to outside circuitry, second terminal means in the cavity adapted for electrical connection to outside circuitry having a resilient contact blade portion with an end above the first terminal means. The contact blade portion is moveable between a normally open position wherein the end is spaced from the first terminal means in a closed position wherein the end contacts the first terminal means. A thin, stretchable, resilient, impermeable sealing gasket is provided on the base member which ovelies the cavity. A cover engages the periphery of the gasket and includes interengaging means cooperating with the base member to lock the covering gasket to the base member to form a hermetic seal over the cavity.

Abstract: An on-off slide switch is arranged on a circuit board, preferably that of a battery-operated electronic clock, for actuating a stepping motor thereof. The slide switch can be moved to different positions and interacts with several electric paths of the circuit board. The switch is arranged movably along one edge of the circuit board and bears against such edge via guide elements. The switch carries at least one contact element for shunting a plurality of tracks of the board and a grip for its manual operation. The slide switch, together with all elements carried by it is designed in the form of a punched-out, flexible metal part and is easily installed on or removed from the circuit board without the need for separate fasteners.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly is shown as having a switch body slidably receiving a resiliently biased manually actuatable plunger which carries a resiliently deflectable member effective for engaging, when said plunger is suitably actuated, a related pivotally supported member which, in turn, is operatively connected to a movable electrical contact member effective for contacting cooperating relatively stationary electrical contacts.

Abstract: A nine position circuit board mounted switch is disclosed for encoding the frequency output of a remote transmitter. Each switch position includes a manual selector set to provide a voltage output selected from two available voltage levels. The nine positions thereby provide an encoded output selected from three to the ninth power possibilities.

Abstract: In a camera having a folding electronic flash unit, an improved dual actuator system for sequentially closing a flash charge switch to charge the flash unit's storage capacitor and operating a slider member that closes an internal switch to initiate an automatic cycle of camera operation. A charge switch actuator and slider actuator are mounted in telescoping relation for sequential operation with provisions made for optional independent operation of the slider actuator to bypass charging and operation of the flash unit. When the flash unit is folded, a detent thereon latches the charge switch actuator to inhibit inadvertent operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piano switch having a driving lever which can be operated without clattering. The driving lever is generally L-shaped and has one end engaging a recess formed in a sliding body. The lever is pivoted to an attaching arm for free rotation. A spring is stretched between a frame of the switch and the driving lever.

Abstract: A rear window washer wiper control comprising a first movable member and a second movable member, the movable members comprising a slide switch for a washer circuit and a slide switch for a wiper circuit. Both switches are incorporated in one case to energize a wiper motor by moving the second movable member to the right and also to push and move the second movable member accordingly when the first movable member is moved to the right, thereby working a washer motor and a wiper motor simultaneously.Once an operating piece of the first movable member is released, the first movable member is forced back to the original position thereof by virtue of a built-in spring for automatic resetting, thus resulting in the washer motor stopping. The wiper motor continues to work so long as the second movable member is not manually reset to the original state thereof.

Abstract: A slide-actuated switch of precision type including first and second housing elements defining a hollow casing, the first housing element having an elongated slotted opening therethrough with a manually engageable sliding member projecting through the opening. The sliding member includes a recess in an inwardly facing surface. A resilient cam means is positioned within the recess, and includes a wedge-shaped projection. The second housing element has an inwardly-extending septum thereon defining a plurality of detents selectively engaging said projection. A pair of contacts is disposed in overlapping relation within the housing, one of the contacts having cam follower means thereon slideably engaging the projection on the cam means.

Abstract: A push button switch having a plurality of fixed terminals and an inversion leaf spring member opposing the fixed terminals. The inversion leaf spring member is adapted to be actuated by an actuator lever pivotally supported by a switch block which is adapted to extend in parallel with the direction of movement of a switch lever. A coiled spring is disposed between the actuator lever and the switch lever.

Abstract: An improved electrical slide switch having a housing portion, a slidable actuator within the housing, and a resiliently engageable and removable cap which may itself be the actuator, the actuator having a pair of precisely spaced integral leaflike elements which form a trackway of predetermined length which slide over an integral centrally disposed fixed pin carried by the base, with the pin being adapted to repose at opposite ends of the trackway when terminals within the housing are properly engaged with selected slider elements carried by the actuator.

Abstract: A push-button actuated slide switch for a key board with noise suppression contacts arranged in the mounting area of the switch. These additional contacts are arranged perpendicular to the fixed contacts of the switch and bridged by a contact bridge which is indirectly actuated by the slider of the switch.

Abstract: A programmable, reciprocating, multiple electrical switch assembly contained within a waterproof housing. The assembly includes a plurality of discrete electrical switches arranged in a predetermined pattern on a fixed frame. The switches are triggered by projections strategically arranged on a sliding key-like finger which mates with the interior of the frame.

Abstract: A multiple-position slide switch having a detent member operative side-wise with respect to the path of movement of the sliding contact carrier of the switch to hold the carrier in a selected position. The detent member which is formed of material, preferably such as moldable plastic, having the power of recovering its initially produced durable or static shape when a deforming force or pressure causing it to be temporarily deformed is removed, is in the form of a flat member having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending flexible struts which embrace therebetween an upwardly projecting knob of the slidable carrier, the inner edges of the struts and the outer surfaces of the carrier knob being complementally shaped to provide coacting surfaces which coact upon deflection of the struts to snap the carrier into its selected position.

Abstract: An assembly of at least two single-pole, double-throw slide switches, with one of the switches being mounted 90.degree. with respect to the other switch. A movable plate is positioned above the two SPDT switches, and the movable plate has apertures or the like which engage the projecting arms of the two SPDT switches, whereby translating movement of the movable plate causes action of one or both of the SPDT switches. Appropriate springs are provided to bias the movable plate to a centered, rest position at all times. Hence, movement of the movable plate as a result of some manual force may affirmatively generate any one of eight distinct signals. The centered rest position of the movable plate may also be considered as a signal-generation position, such that nine distinct bits of information may be communicated through the manual manipulation of a single knob that is connected to only two SPDT slide switches.

Abstract: A three position switch which selectively interconnects isolated conductors on a printed circuit board is disclosed. In one embodiment, pressure sensitive conductive elastomer pads, disposed in the switch, are brought into contact with isolated conductors on a substrate. A sliding switch actuator, having a cam surface with indentations, is then used to selectively apply pressure to the conductive elastomer pads and thereby selectively connect the isolated printed circuit board conductors. In another embodiment, a three position switch is shown including a plurality of conductive pads, flexibly attached to a switch casing, which are positioned above printed circuit board isolated conductors and then selectively flexed downward into contact with the printed circuit board conductors by moving a sliding actuator arm having a cam surface.

Abstract: A switch assembly for a printed circuit board comprises fixed and movable contacts mounted on the circuit board and a separate switch housing mounted on the board which encloses the contacts. The housing has a slidable actuator cam therein which closes and opens the contacts, depending upon its position, and holds them in one condition or the other. The cam is actuated by an externally extending lever. An improved assembly method is also disclosed for assembling switches to circuit boards.

Abstract: The invention comprises a combination electrical outlet and switch assembly characterized by a rocker-type actuator pivoted to the front of a wiring box, and a pair of sliding cam bars are pivoted to one end of the rocker and have non-linear or "programmed" surfaces which slide in biased relation across a pair of switch contacts to open and close same, these cam bars being arrangeable in several different ways, and being usable on two separate rockers to achieve several different switching modes in the same basic assembly. The outlet portion of the box includes three conductive elements adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug and having connector means comprising sleeves mounted within a casing of the wiring box by simply inserting stripped wires into the sleeve. The completed wiring box is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in a special bracket to permit aligning the front plane of the assembly flush with the exposed surface of newly installed wall board.

Abstract: A miniature slide switch assembly in which a fixed base member, has a pair of opposite longitudinal side surface, molded out of any suitable insulating material. Each of the side surface is provided with a pair of recesses. At least two adjacent molded fixed contacts are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the base member. A movable casing member slidably rides on the base member in such a manner that it can slide in the direction of the array of the fixed contacts, each of opposite side surfaces of the movable casing member having a resilient detent bar. The resilient detent bar is provided with, at the top end thereof, a finger capable of being alternately snap fitted into the recesses, and an electrically conductive inversed U-shaped strip is accommodated in the cavity of the movable casing member.

Abstract: A slide switch having opposed contacts mounted on a base with a slider assembly moving over the base. A bridging conductor is included in the assembly whereby the positioning of the slider assembly determines the relationship of the bridging conductor to the opposed contacts to thereby provide the switching characteristic. The bridging conductor is held in assembly with the slider preferably by means of a resilient element pressing the conductor or a support therefor against a slider ledge so that this assembly remains intact when separated from the base. The base contacts comprise body portions receivable in slots defined by the base, the body portions defining recesses whereby the contacts can be press fit into engagement with the base.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical switch actuated by a longitudinally reciprocatable contact carrier and such reciprocation being brought about by tilting of a rocker actuator by means of a push button effect.

Abstract: A cross connect panel includes a base supply section and a plurality of load-connector modules mounted transverse the base supply section. The base supply section comprises a plurality of bus bars arranged side-by-side in spaced, parallel, mutually insulated relationship within a channel formed by approximately parallel side support members. Each of the transverse modules includes one or more slider assemblies adapted to interconnect, through electrical contacts, a bus bar with an external load. The length of the base section is determined solely by the number of transverse modules desired in the system and the length of the transverse modules is determined by the number of supply bus bars included in the system. The slider assemblies are self-contained, and when mounted, are captive in vertical, horizontal and lateral directions. Moreover, these assemblies are capable of effecting an "off" mode at any transverse location with respect to the bus bars.

Abstract: The switch includes a slide, mounted for movement along the housing between first, second and third positions, and carrying a depressable pushbutton. A flexible contact is movable by the pushbutton to a position wherein it is operatively connected to a fixed contact to complete the electrical circuit. The pushbutton and the flexible contact each have corresponding camming and non-camming surfaces thereon which respectively interact to move the flexible contact towards the fixed contact. The corresponding camming surfaces interact only as the slide is moved from the second to the third position. The corresponding non-camming surfaces interact only when aligned and the pushbutton is depressed. Since none of the surfaces operatively interact as the slide is moved from the first toward the second position, wearing of the interacting surfaces is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A switching apparatus in which at least one pair of contact electrodes is printed on an insulator base fixed to a switch casing, and a contact element of conductive elastomeric material is disposed at a suitable position opposite to these contact electrodes to be compressed by a compressing force imparted by a pressure imparting member. The switch is turned on when the contact element is compressed and turned off when the contact element is not compressed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a slide-operated switch having a pair of separate movable contacts which are normally biased away from a single stationary contact and are pressed against the stationary contact to energize the switch by a pair of ribs on a sliding toggle plate assembly. The ribs each have a relieved portion which when aligned with the respective movable contact, permits same to move away from the fixed contact and open the circuit. If the ribs are mounted on a single toggle plate, the movable contacts are closed and opened alternately or simultaneously depending on whether the relieved portions are aligned or staggered on the respective ribs. Two separate toggle plates can also be used for the independent operation of both switches, and outlet assemblies may be provided above and below the toggle plates. Wires are joined to the various contacts by means of unique screw-operated clamp terminals.

Abstract: A switch assembly provides a plurality of slide switches. Each switch employs a flexible guide rod cantilevered within a common housing providing a first contact. A second contact is biased into electrical contact with each guide rod and an insulative cam carried by a switch actuator is supported by each guide rod for rectilinear movement therealong in an interference path with the second contact to separate the second contact from the guide rod. The flexible guide rod is movable with respect to the second contact and provides the means to align the switch actuator and the cam in an interference path with the second contact. Each switch actuator provides a pair of side walls enclosing a respective guide rod and second contact suspended therebetween.