Abstract: Contact holders accommodated in defined regions are elastically returned to initial positions on the side of a wall. At the initial positions, stoppers are formed integral with a wall which defines the regions, in such a manner that the stoppers are in parallel with the wall and spaced a distance from the wall. Those stoppers are each in the form of a thin plate, and have protrusions which are extended towards the contact holders, respectively. Hence, when returning to the initial positions, the contact holders and strike against the protrusions of the stoppers, so that the latter are bent towards the wall while reducing the distance, thus decreasing the impact thereon when the contact holders strike against the stoppers.

Abstract: A combination switch for performing various functions comprises a fixed substrate having an output contact assembly which has a common output contact and other output contacts which are electrically insulated from the common output contact. The switch also comprises a movable substrate having a switch contact assembly which has a common contact and other contacts which are electrically connected to the common contact. A switch lever is for moving the movable substrate with respect to the fixed substrate to shift the switch contact assembly relative to the output contact assembly, thereby selectively connecting the common output contact to the output contacts through the switch contact assembly to supply from the output contact assembly a pattern signal indicative of one of different conductive patterns. A processor judges, in response to the pattern signal, to which function the conductive pattern corresponds and producing an operational signal for performing the indicated function.

Abstract: A switch unit has at least a pair of switches and a pair of push buttons arranged corresponding to the pair of switches. A lock member is arranged between the pair of the push buttons to engagingly lock the movement of one of the push buttons at the time of an operation of the other of the push buttons, whereby an unexpected concurrent operations of the adjoining push buttons may be effectively prevented.

Abstract: A switching mechanism is provided including a control member and a switching element which is coupled to the control member and by means of a coupling element can be moved between a first and a second position. The switching mechanism includes two coupling elements which are arranged in series in the switching direction, each coupling element being constituted by a hinging V-shaped member, a point of intersection of a V-shaped member being alternately located within range for action thereon by the control member.

Abstract: A switch includes two casings engaged together. Four shafts are extendible through the upper casing. Four pairs of ribs are formed in the lower casing. A contact arm is received in the lower casing. Three conductors are provided in the lower casing. A retaining plate and a control plate are slidably provided between the protrusions and the ribs. Each conductor is caused to contact the contact arm when the shaft is depressed downward. Two or more shafts are prevented from being fully depressed by the control plate. A projection of each shaft slides between the ribs so that the shaft will not be distorted when two or more shafts are depressed simultaneously.

Abstract: Seven or some other number of individually operable push buttons are provided to carry out control functions of an automotive heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. The push buttoms are movable between extended and depressed positions and are biased toward their extended positions by individual return springs. A latching mechanism is provided for latching any selected push button in its depressed position while unlatching the other push buttons. An array of slidable lockout blocks prevents simultaneous depression of more than one push button, by providing only enough clearance space in the array to accept one lockout penetrating member on one push button at a time. The array is lightly spring biased to prevent rattling of the lockout blocks. Two biasing springs are compressed between the endmost pairs of lockout blocks at the opposite ends of the array.

Abstract: An electrical switch device has a casing with a viewing aperture therein, and switch actuating means is pivotally movable in the casing between an at-rest position and a switch actuating position. A toggle spring is movable with the switch actuating means for resiliently opposing its pivotal movement from both the at-rest and switch actuating positions. The toggle spring includes visual indicating means conjointly movable therewith for disposition in a viewable position at the viewing aperture in response to the pivotal movement of the switch actuating means from its at-rest position to its switch actuating position.

Abstract: A control button unit with a block element design includes an actuator (1) having a manually operable plunger (6), which is preferably cylindrical and hollow for the purpose of interior illumination, and a coupling piece (9) having several plug-in locations for receiving electrical block elements (10 and 12) parallel and next to one another. The block elements may include a pair of switching elements (10, 12) with differing contact arrangements and a lighting element (11) to illuminate the interior of the plunger. The block elements have movable members (15, 19) contained therein so that they can be coupled to one another and moved in unison when the plunger is actuated. To provide such coupling the movable members (15, 19) have recesses and/or projections which cooperate to interlock the movable member of different block elements.

Abstract: A multiple pushbutton switch comprising a lower insulative housing; a cover member mounted over the housing to form an accommodating space; a plurality of equally spaced selecting contact plates retained by the housing; a plurality of equally spaced J-shaped contacting springs accommodated by the housing and a second arm of each contacting spring is in alignment with the selecting contact plate; an L-shaped contact plate positioned in the housing with a first plate contacted with the first arms of each J-shaped contacting springs; a plurality of pushbuttons positioned within the housing to cause the closing and/or opening of one or more pair of contacts when any of the pushbuttons are depressed in their downward positions and an interlock engaging mechanism movably fixed within the accommodating space is capable of latching the depressed pushbutton in a downward position and prevent the simultaneous depression of more than one pushbutton.

Abstract: A mechanism for inhibiting simultaneous locking of switches in a plurality of rows in a multi-row switch device has a member for inhibiting simultaneous locking of switches in two rows. The member has a plurality of receiving portions projectingly formed in a spaced relationship by a fixed distance and an alternate relationship on both edges thereof and located corresponding to the keys in the two rows. When one of the switches in one row is operated, the member is moved to a position in which the receiving portions thereof will inhibit the corresponding keys in the other row from being depressed. The switch device also includes bar-like locking cams extending between every two adjacent switches in each row for preventing simultaneous locking of two switches in the same row.

Abstract: An electrical control unit has specific application to central heating systems in which a plurality of electrical connections are to be made to the unit. The unit includes a backplate to which electrical connections may be made at a plurality of positions. A housing, containing control circuits and contacts for making connection between the circuit and the backplate connections, is removably attached to the backplate. Access to the electrical connections on the backplate for testing purposes may be achieved with the housing attached and electrically connected to the backplate, but a cover on the backplate may be positioned to prevent such access during normal operation of the unit. The unit also includes two control switches of which one is operable independently of the other or of which both are independently operable upon release of an interlock. The control circuits include a printed circuit board on which one side is printed.

Abstract: A unique interlock mechanism for two pushbuttons or other linearly operated devices, requiring no mechanical linkages or complex assemblies. The interlock mechanism essentially comprises an interlock member having first and second restraining portions disposed within a housing so that when one of the pushbuttons is operated, the interlock member rotates positioning itself under the second pushbutton, interfering with and making it impossible to be operated.

Abstract: A switch suitable for use in the remote control of electrically driven rearview mirrors of a motor vehicle. The switch is adapted to close and open a plurality of switch elements by means of a single or divided operation member. The switch occupies only a small space in an instrument panel, etc. of a motor vehicle because the switch is thin and small. Fixed contact pairs (3a, 4a) to (3f', 4f') forming fixed contact components are printed approximately point symmetrically around a specific center on an insulating base plate. Movable contact means is disposed on top of the fixed contact components, said movable contact means being adapted to electrically connect each of the fixed contact pairs (3a, 4a) to (3f', 4') when said means is pushed.

Abstract: A shock and vibration sensitive switch includes two E-shaped electrodes mounted on opposite sides of a cavity. Two inertia weights are supported by the electrodes in an electrical parallel arrangement to provide redundant current paths. The redundant current paths allow proper switch operation in the event of failure of one of the current paths. The switch is hermetically sealed to prevent moisture and the contaminants outgassed by the switch lead wires from entering the interior of the switch.

Abstract: In a pushbutton switch or pushbutton-actuated slide switch having a detent mechanism designed to have the shape of a heart cam, an individual latching and a mutual unlatching is made possible in that, according to the invention, the heart cam is provided with a further, center curved path for the unlatching (disengaging) purpose. Within this area of the position of the detent pin, the latching is accomplished by a cross slide which, during the off-switching process, can be pressed via a limit stop and by the detent pin into the unlatching (disengaging) position.

Abstract: An electrical switch with low profile and small button motion has a button close to a pivot and includes a ring like structure with bearing areas to open and close contacts. The actuating button is situated in an aperture and covered with a flexible membrane which seals the switch, prevents entry of dirt and gives an indication of the switch.

Abstract: A ganged push button switch comprises at least two modular push button switches each of which includes a push button formed with a cam surface. A plate member is arranged in a manner so as to be laterally movable between the two switches and has oblique edges adapted to abut upon the respective cam surfaces. The plate member is provided at its center with elastic engaging portions, and slots are formed in the sides of the cases of the respective switches and serve to hold the plate member slidably. The plate member is attachable to the assembly by deforming one of the elastic engaging portion and inserting it through one of the slots. After attachment, the engaging portions abut against the cases of the respective switches to prevent the plate member from coming off.

Abstract: A keyboard in which pressing of a key displaces balls in a row and in a column of ball filled channels in a flat member, is further provided with a printed circuit board on which are mounted contact springs and the circuit pattern on the PC-board connects the contacts to an output cable. The PC-board is mounted to the keyboard case as bottom to thereby place the contact springs into the operating range of the displaced balls.

Abstract: An interlocking apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced elements each of which is controllably movable to an extended position upon actuation, and control means having a plurality of positions which are alterable for the extension of only respectively determined ones of said elements, said control means being prevented from altering its position while a said element is in its extended position.

Abstract: A multiple pushbutton switch is disclosed in which each pushbutton actuator has a rotatable cam mounted thereon that interacts with one or more lockout members positioned alongside of the actuator in the same plane as the cam. The interaction between the cam and the lockouts is such that one group of the pushbutton actuators can be depressed simultaneously while a second group of the actuators are blocked from simultaneous depression with the first group. Furthermore, a pushbutton actuator can be shifted from one group to the other merely by rotating the cam thereon to a different position.

Abstract: A keyboard has column channels and row channels filled with displacement balls and having trough-like, semicircular cross-sections; this bottom contour of the channels is continued right into the intersection so that balls when displaced by key depressing will be retained in the respective channel, and not be deflected into any intersecting channel, so that the each key is positively identifiable by two switch closings, the switches being disposed for actuation at one end each of these channels.

Abstract: Particular keys are provided with locking arms that may or may not enter a duct filled with balls and being displaceable in the duct only if a locking element is not inserted. That element will be inserted when keys having said locking arms must not be depressed. The locking element is either electromagnetically or mechanically actuated, particularly for retracting it when the lock is to be released, e.g., following actuation of a legal key. The arrangement is explained with reference to a telephone in which handset lifting and replacing perform initialization and/or restauring functions. The unlocking may be initiated by pressing a legal key having actuation arms which will displace balls in another duct for displacing a pin which controls the actuator. That second duct with balls serves also as a lock against dual key depressing.

Abstract: The selection console of the present invention affords a plurality of finger-actuated push buttons which move a short distance to actuate the item-selecting mechanism of a vending machine. The console utilizes a single solenoid to unlock the selector mechanism in response to the energization of the coin accumulator and price mechanism and actuation of a selection price switch. Further, the machine permits the items in the vending machine to be priced at different values without the necessity of separate mechanisms, except for a switch to be actuated by each price bar. Once a price has been selected, the locking mechanism of the console of this invention prohibits one from changing to a different item.

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: An electrical switch apparatus has a pair of first switches and a second switch each with a spring-loaded part for actuating its contacts. The switches are arranged in a casing in which two slides are movable against springloading in convergent paths. Each slide has first and second cams to engage with and move the actuators of a respective first switch and the second switch, the arrangement being such that when one slide has commenced to move in the switch-actuating direction, it blocks the path of the other slide, with the result that each slide can be moved to actuate a respective first switch and thereafter the second switch, but it is impossible for both of the first switches to be actuated at the same time.