Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter for permitting a snap-in insertion of a small slide switch into an aperture in a mounting panel. The adaptor is a molded plastic member comprised of a rectangular frame having downwardly extending legs at each corner. Each leg has two outwardly and upwardly extending arms at each side of the leg. The free ends of the first arms at each end of the aperture are resilient and capture a tab on a metal housing of the slide switch thereby releasably holding the switch to the adapter. The free ends of the second arms at each end of the aperture face the periphery of the aperture and snap under the edge of the aperture to hold the plastic adapter in the frame.

Abstract: A fastening device which permits snap-in assembly of a switch to a panel or receiving member includes a resilient latching member connected to the switch housing and adapted to engage a shoulder of the receiving member. A second resilient member serves to urge the resilient latching member into contact with the shoulder. In one embodiment of the invention, the switch housing is inserted into a receiving portion of a control panel and a connector carries at least one resilient latching member adapted to engage a shoulder on the receiving portion. In this embodiment, the connector and panel cooperate to retain the switch.

Abstract: Self adhering tape switch or ribbon switch assembly is provided including a tape switch strip. A layer of deformable material bonds to the underside of said tape switch. A layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the underside of the deformable material layer. A removable strip of paper adheres to the underside of the pressure sensitive adhesive. It is notched to permit coiling.

Abstract: A steering column switch assembly includes a carrier housing mounted on a steering column adjacent a steering wheel thereon. A plurality of switches, each in a housing, is detachably mounted in the carrier housing between a respective one of a plurality of pairs of parallel carrier faces on the carrier housing and extending parallel to the axis of the steering column. Resilient means on each switch housing engage stop surfaces on the respective pair of carrier surfaces to retain said switch housing in said carrier housing.

Abstract: A rectangular slide switch housing has a top wall with a longitudinal slot in it, the wall being provided with integral tabs projecting lengthwise from its opposite ends. Inside the housing is a contact-actuating slide provided with a button projecting out through the slot and movable lengthwise thereof. A switch holder for mounting the switch in a rectangular opening in a panel includes a face plate overlying the top wall of the switch and projecting laterally from the sides and ends of the housing. The plate is provided with a longitudinal slot, through which the slide button extends, and with a pair of laterally spaced resilient legs extending downwardly at each end of the housing, the upper ends of the legs being joined to the plate close to the ends of the housing but spaced inwardly from the ends of the plate. Each leg has an intermediate shoulder underlying the adjoining end of the switch for holding it against the plate.

Abstract: A shielded contact slide switch is disclosed having two plastic dielectric parts, one of which parts houses the fixed electrical contacts, and the other of which parts moves relative to it and houses the bridging contact. Mating surfaces of the two parts are designed to seal off the contacts from environmental effects, and the actuator is defined on the movable part and has projecting portions to overlie a cavity or recess in the fixed part housing the fixed contacts regardless of switch position. The movable part also has projecting ears extending laterally into the side walls of the fixed part to restrict the sliding part to movement as dictated by the relative locations for the fixed and movable bridging contact. A spring return single pole double throw switch is disclosed but in place of the return spring another pole might be provided.

Abstract: An integrated combination pedestrian sign and push button is provided for use particularly with respect to the mounting of pedestrian actuated switches for controlling traffic lights. A saddle is formed with a semi-cylindrical, longitudinally extending, concave rear face conforming to the contour of a cylindrical post to which the unit is normally mounted and a front face formed with raised letters presenting pedestrian information. The upper and lower ends of the saddle are formed wtih arcuate grooves on the front face thereof for engagement by metal banding straps employed to secure the saddle to an appropriate post. A manually operated push button switch for pedestrians is mounted to the lower front face of the saddle for connection with traffic signal control circuits.

Abstract: A pedal stopper incorporating a parking switch therein, which can be actuated by the release of the compressed deformation of a resilient material constituting the proper portion of the pedal stopper deformable by compression due to an urging action of the pedal and able to regulate the rotative movement of the pedal. It enables mounting of both the pedal stopper and the parking switch on a single bracket. It has improved the durability of the parking switch as well as the absorbability of impact from the pedalling operation.

Abstract: In an arrangement for front mounting of pushbutton switching devices by means of a front ring screwed by means of its internal thread onto an external thread of a collar, the diameter of the disc shaped pushbutton is larger than the diameter of the external thread of the collar. The front ring has inward protruding extensions and the pushbutton itself has cut-outs at its circumference corresponding to the extensions.The pushbutton has a large actuating area without increase in the thread diameter.

Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker having a raised escutcheon case portion through which its operating handle protrudes and a mounting shoulder at each end is accommodated in an enclosure having a removable frontal cover in which an opening is provided. An elongated sheet metal bracket is slideably mounted within the enclosure and has a hook for engaging one of the breaker mounting shoulders and resilient latch releaseably engaging the other breaker mounting shoulder. The breaker and bracket are slideably positioned as a unit to register the breaker escutcheon case portion with the cover opening for protrusion therethrough in close fitting relation.

Abstract: One or more mercury displacement switches are positioned against a plate-shaped mounting bracket and interlocked to the plate by means of a strap extending around each switch and through the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A toggle switch having a molded insulating frame mounting a snap-in bushing secured thereto for snap-in mounting of the switch in a hole in a mounting pane. This bushing pivotally retains the toggle lever for operating the switch contacts within the base. This frame includes a pair of depending legs between which the insulating switch base is snap-in mounted and retained. This frame has integrally molded therewith a pair of oppositely disposed resilient back-up elements for pressing against the back of the panel, these elements having at their ends ramped riser bars for accommodating a range of different panel thicknesses while retaining the switch against significant movement on the panel during toggle lever operation.

Abstract: An actuator for pushbutton type switches comprising a single molded plastic unitary structure. The actuator provides for operation of both locking and nonlocking switches and for actuation of switches mounted both parallel to and perpendicular to the plane of operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A coil is wound on a hollow plastic bobbin and mounted in a U-shaped ferromagnetic frame, there being a pair of aligned bosses on opposite sides of the bobbin bore at one end thereof fitting into cooperating slots in the frame. A ferromagnetic core is axially movable within the hollow bobbin and is urged away from the bottom of the frame by a leaf spring. A compact plastic housing covers the bobbin, coil, and the upper portion of the frame, and electric terminals, mounted in pockets at the top of the bobbin, project through slots in the housing to the exterior. Portions of the bobbin are extruded into openings in the base of the terminals to hold them in place, and a pair of tabs on the bobbin interact with slots in the housing, and posts on the inside corners of the housing form abutments to prevent over-insertion of the tabs in the slots. A hook on the bottom of the frame is shaped to be engageable with an opening in external support elements of differing thickness to facilitate installation.

Abstract: Two embodiments of industrial grade trigger switches are disclosed. Each has an on-off switch and a resistor controlled speed control circuit operated by trigger depression and a reversing switch provided with an operating lever overlying the trigger, and characterized by modular construction with snap-in coupling of reversing switch and base to the frame, a large heat sink area for the solid state current control elements for continuous service, higher current rating double-pole contacts having sufficient wiping action to effect good electrical contact, and the capability of being mounted also in consumer grade tools. The first embodiment has a horizontally disposed substrate that supports the speed control circuit thereby providing a large amount of space within the base for the on-off and shunting contacts. The second embodiment has a large vertically disposed substrate affording a large area for the speed control circuit.

Abstract: A miniature manually actuated switch is grippingly received over an edge of a printed circuit board or card and has a selector for selectively bridging circuit paths on opposite sides of the card. Electrical contacts with the selector captivated there between are resiliently biased into positive gripping relationship on the card.

Abstract: An electric master switch including an actuating member which is fastened to a mounting wall and is coupled to a housing containing the switching elements of the switch by means of resilient locking arms disposed in engagement with the actuating member. Wedge-shaped slide members are disposed between the locking arms and the housing for disengaging the locking arms from the actuating member.

Abstract: A toggle switch having a snap-in bushing for mounting in a hole in a panel. A one-piece foldable housing has slots for the switch parts. These parts are assembled in one housing half and the other housing half is folded over and sonically bonded to the first half. Quick-connect terminals are provided by a hinged door on one housing half that allows the terminals to be pivoted up, an insulated conductor pair inserted therebelow and the door pinched shut by pliers or the like whereby the connectors pierce the insulation to make the connections. Resilient stationary contacts and a spherical movable contact provide snap-action closing and opening of the contacts.

Abstract: The snap-in arrangement includes a resilient locking flange and a resilient skirt located on the outer end of and extending from the opposite sides of a bushing which extends from a switch frame mounted on a switch base of an electrical toggle switch assembly and pivotally supports a toggle lever for actuating switch contacts housed on the switch base. The locking flange, which terminates in a lip, is first inserted through a square or rectangular support panel mounting hole and is hooked over one edge of the hole. The lip abuts the front of the panel and cooperates with a ridge provided on the bushing body and adapted to abut the back of the panel to secure one side of the bushing on the panel. The switch assembly is thereafter rotated relative to the back of the panel so that the outer portion of the skirt can be squeezed through the mounting hole and the skirt thereafter returns toward an undeflected condition.

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: One embodiment of the herein disclosed switching arrangement comprises a printed circuit board having two parallel slots formed therein with a plurality of contact points disposed between the slots; and a housing mounted so as to allow its movement along the slots and including at least one electrically conductive member mounted within a cavity in the housing such that for different positions of the housing along the slots in the printed circuit board different ones of said contact points are shorted together.

Abstract: The assembly includes a dielectric base having molded structural portions for receiving and mounting a manually operated switch, and for receiving and mounting a plurality of electrical connection terminals that serve to connect lead wires to the switch contacts. The switch contacts and electromechanical switching mechanism are mounted in a preassembled switch body, from which a plurality of substantially rigid electrical connection prongs extend. The base includes a honeycomb-like cluster of terminal receiving recesses and a plurality of prong receiving apertures, one for each recess. The prong receiving apertures extend inwardly of the base from a surface thereof defining a recess for seating the body of the switch, with each aperture opening into a separate one of the terminal receiving recesses through an interior recess sidewall.

Abstract: A means is disclosed for holding an instrument having a knob, in a projected operative position from an instrument panel of a vehicle. The instrument holding means comprises at least one projection, a plurality of bolts screwed into each projection. The bolts have shank portions, respectively, which extend in parallel with each other. A flange is secured to the instrument. Springs mounted around the shank portions are compressed to bias the flange into abutting engagement with the projections.

Abstract: A momentary contact push switch comprising a thin terminal board having spaced stationary contacts on a narrow intermediate region thereof. A bridging contact is positioned on the underside of a unitary plastic housing member. The housing member includes integral yieldable side skirts that extend downwardly from opposite sides and below opposite side edges of the intermediate region of the terminal board. Inwardly extending barbs or latch elements on the bottoms of both side skirts snap under the edges of the terminal board and hold the housing on the terminal board. Spring means extending between the terminal board and the bridging contact hold the bridging contact and housing member above the stationary contacts. A downward force on the housing member overcomes the spring force and brings the bridging contact into contact with spaced stationary contacts.

Abstract: A wafer switch includes a printed circuit board having etched thereon a common ring and a desired number of contacts having parallel sides at an angle to a radius of the common ring, and includes a rotor. The rotor has mounted on one side a blade that bridges between a contact and the common ring accomplishing a switching function. The switch further includes a spacer ring and a wave washer that establish a bearing distance between the rotor and the printed circuit board. Finally, the improved wafer switch includes a snap-in bushing intended to pass through an aperture in the board and an aperture in the rotor. The aperture in the rotor is smaller in diameter than the bushing so that the bushing is frictionally mounted within the aperture.

Abstract: A rocker switch assembly for controlling at least one fluorescent lamp has a contact mounting block fitted in a housing, with a pair of normally closed contacts at one end of the block and at least one pair of normally open contacts at the other end. A rocker button is supported in an opening in the housing above the contacts on the mounting block for limited vertical and pivotal motion against spring biasing forces while being restrained against longitudinal movement. A preferred support means includes stub shafts extending laterally from each side of the rocker button that fit slidably in vertical bearing slots on each side of the opening in the housing.

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 simple inexpensive slide switch is disclosed having a unitary plastic slide member serving the dual function as a switch housing and actuator. The plastic member is slidably mounted to the insulator base member by flexible side skirts having barbs extending inwardly and disposed in sliding engagement with the base member undersurface. The flexible side skirts and base member have complementary boss means and boss receiving means to provide detent type operation.

Abstract: A rocker action switch is disclosed of dip configuration to be pluggably mounted in a printed circuit board or mounted to a panel with clips. A carriage having bridging contacts is slidably displaced within the housing to selectively engage the bridging contacts with selected switch poles. A pivotable control knob has a projecting lever that engages and slidably actuates the carriage. The switch may be constructed with interchangeable parts to perform various switching functions such as momentary, double-pole single-throw or double-pole double-throw with positive detent action. Assembly of the switch is simplified by vertically stacking the component parts within the housing.

Abstract: Universal keyboard with individually removable switch modules each adapted particularly for use with a printed circuit switch, although also adapted to close or actuate other types of switch contacts, which has maximum reliability at minimum cost, satisfies the "best feel" tactile responses desired in a keyboard, while fully protecting the module components and the electrical conducting members against any excessive finger depression impact forces, assures uniformity of forces being applied to switch contacts regardless of variations in forces which may be applied to the key buttons or stems, reduces electric contact bounce, and maximizes the time the switch contacts are held closed during a key stroke.

Abstract: A molded plastic cover fastens to the front of a disconnect switch and encloses elements of each switch pole. The cover includes a cap section which is hinged to swing downward and allow access to the input line terminals of the switch, and it includes a panel section which is hinged to swing downward and allow access to the switch contacts and modular arc chutes.

Abstract: Slide switch in which sliding member which retains sliding contact has side skirts with barbs at bottom edge. Barbs engage and slide on bottom surface of insulator strip on which stationary contacts are mounted.

Abstract: A manually disassemblable push-button and switch unit assembly for a merchandising machine in which an elongated frame is formed with a plurality of spaced recesses open at the top and at the side of the frame and with a plurality of openings extending through the frame from the top to the bottom and disposed between the respective recesses to permit respective switch units to be inserted into the recesses through the side openings thereof with their actuating elements accessible through the top openings of the recess and with the switch units held in position by laterally extending spring fingers on the frame. Resilient fingers on a push-button extend through the frame openings at the sides of the recess so as to mount the push-buttons over the top openings of the recesses and for limited movement toward and away from the switch units to operate the actuating elements thereof.

Abstract: An electric switching apparatus of the type including a base fabricated of electrical insulation material and a switching mechanism cage which includes at least two side plates. Outwardly extending projection members are disposed at opposite ends of at least one edge of each of the side plates, and each include a hook portion at the end thereof which extends outwardly from the lateral edges of the plates. The apparatus base includes recesses extending therethrough which receive the projection members, and the hook portions project therefrom when the projection members are disposed in the recesses. Spring clips are disposed between the hook portions of the plate projection members and the apparatus base for fastening the cage side plates to the base.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch mechanism includes a two-piece housing, a plurality of terminals positioned in the housing, a plurality of contact arms and a pivotally movable latch member within the housing. One of the housing sections has integrally molded pushbuttons mounted on integrally molded spring arms with the other housing section including integrally molded blockout members.

Abstract: A round plastic bushing and frame for an electric switch wherein the bushing has a flared collar that is radially squeezed when it is pressed through a round hole from the back of a mounting panel and spreads out in front so that its edge locks the bushing to the panel for great strength retention. A pair of integral spring fingers press against the back of the panel to keep the collar tight against the front of the panel. The integral frame has a pair of parallel arms that hug the switch base and are terminated in hooks that engage notches on opposite sides thereof to secure the integral bushing and frame to the base.In a first version where the bushing and frame cannot be molded integrally into final form, the collar is molded as a radial flange on the projecting end of the bushing and, after removal from the mold, is formed into a frusto-conical collar around the tip of the bushing for snap-in mounting.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard has a chassis with keys each utilising a parallel motion linkage to permit movement of an operating member towards an electric circuit element. The main structure of the keys and linkage may be formed as a unitary plastics moulding.

Abstract: A keyboard switch arrangement mounted on a base plate and having a plurality of key stem holder blocks, each of which protects a key stem from slipping out and has coupling portions of ridges and grooves on the outer side walls coupled in contiguous relation to one another in a manner that one ridge in one block is fitted in one groove of the adjacent block.