Abstract: Several individually operable push buttons are provided to initiate an OFF function, defrost, air conditioning and various air directions and other functions of an automotive heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. Each push button has a carriage adapted to be fitted on one side with an optional leaf spring contactor engageable with fixed contact members. The opposite side of the carriage is fixedly fitted with a compressible silicone rubber or other resilient valve member in sealing engagement with a port plate to carry out vacuum valving functions. Each carriage is guided by a tongue-and-slot guiding arrangement, whereby sealing pressure is applied between the valve member and the port plate. Each carriage has a rearwardly projecting tongue, slidably received in a slot formed in flange structure on the port plate. The front portion of each push button is also slidably guided to maintain the sealing pressure.

Abstract: Seven or some other number of individually operable push buttons are provided for selection of an OFF function and other control functions of an automotive heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. Each push button has a carriage member fitted on one side with an individual contactor and a contactor biasing spring affording contact pressure between the contactor and fixed contact members. Each carriage member is fitted on the opposite side with an individual silicone rubber or other soft resilient valve member having a slidable sealing engagement with a port member in which ports are provided whereby the valve members are adapted to carry out vacuum or other fluid valving functions. Each valve member is fixedly mounted on the corresponding carriage member. Each contactor spring performs the additional function of producing sealing pressure between the corresponding valve member and the port member.

Abstract: The disclosed pushbutton operated automotive air control unit incorporates a unique snap-action electrical switch in which the movable contactor has a combination of sliding and rocking movement. The contactor is rockably supported on a fulcrum member which is movably mounted on the slidable carriage. The fulcrum member includes a locating projection, loosely received in a slot formed in the contactor. A coil spring is interposed between the carriage and the fulcrum member for biasing the contactor toward a first fixed contact. There is also a second fixed contact having contactor rocking lugs for slidably engaging the contactor, as the carriage is moved between first and second positions. In the first position, the lugs engage a portion of the contactor which is on the remote side of the fulcrum member from the first fixed contact, whereby the contactor is rocked into electrical engagement with the first fixed contact.

Abstract: The disclosed pushbutton operated automotive air control unit incorporates a non-latching pushbutton switch for causing momentary switching of a control circuit, such switch being pre-assembled as a cartridge for easy insertion into the housing of the control unit. The switch comprises a pushbutton member which is telescopically engaged with a body member for sliding movement of the pushbutton member between extended and depressed positions. A return spring is interposed between the pushbutton member and the body member. The pushbutton member has a rearwardly projecting finger affording a switch carriage, slidably received in a guide channel in the body member. An electrically conductive contactor is mounted on the carriage and is selectively engageable with first and second fixed contacts mounted on the body member along such channel.

Abstract: The sealed toggle action switch comprises an operating lever having a front operating arm projecting out of the front component of the casing. The lever has a rear arm, projecting into the casing and carrying a contactor plate for relative sliding and swinging movement. A coil spring is received around the rear arm and is compressed between the contactor plate and the front sealing flange of a soft resilient sealing boot, such sealing flange being compressed against the operating lever. The boot has a rear, outwardly projecting sealing flange which is retained between the front and rear casing components. The contactor plate has a pair of J-shaped flanges which are slidably engageable with first and second fixed contacts having forwardly projecting protuberances, affording a detent action with the J-shaped flanges. In one position of the operating lever, the J-shaped flanges of the contactor plate engage both of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: The mechanism comprises a blower speed control lever for operating at least one electrical switch, supported by a mounting bracket which has a place for a second switch. The speed control lever has rearwardly facing rocker shaft elements which are pressed against forwardly facing semicircular bearing recesses on the switch mounting bracket. The pressure is developed by flexible flanges which project rearwardly from a mounting panel and are engageable with forwardly facing tapered shaft elements on the speed control switch. The flanges are flexed to produce a spring action. Additional guard flanges project rearwardly from the panel, into adjacent relation with additional shaft elements on the speed control lever.

Abstract: The switch includes a rotatable electrically insulating carriage having first and second contactors mounted thereon and facing in opposite directions from the path of the carriage, for a sliding engagement with first and second sets of fixed contacts. The contactors are biased in opposite directions, toward the contacts, by an electrically insulating switch assembly, mounted in a cylindrical opening in the carriage, and comprising a cup-shaped insulator having a cylindrical portion slidably mounted in the cylindrical opening. The insulator having a cup-shaped spring nest therein, for receiving one end of a coil spring. Biasing forces are exerted against the contactors by an end portion of the insulator and the opposite end of the coil spring. The cup-shaped insulator guides and locates the coil spring while obviating any electrical connection between the first and second contactors.

Abstract: The mechanism comprises a heat control knob, pivotally mounted on the front end of an operating lever which is pivotally and slidably supported by second pivot means, having its pivot axis parallel with but spaced from the axis of the first pivot means. The front portion of the operating lever has a follower which is guided by a guide track, so that the heat control knob is movable along a straight path. The operating lever has a pivot slot which is pivotally and slidably guided by the second pivot means. The operating lever also has a generally longitudinal coupling slot which receives a coupling pin projecting from a control lever, pivotally supported for swinging movement about the axis of the first pivot means.

Abstract: A series of manually depressible pushbuttons establish all of the operating functions for an automotive air control system. Latching and block-out mechanisms are provided to latch only one pushbutton at a time in the depressed position. The pushbuttons operate the first arms of spring-biased levers having second arms for selectively moving particular selector plates of a stacked set. The selector plates are adapted to operate single function control devices, including both vacuum valves and electrical switches having movable control members with knobs thereon projecting through large size and small size openings in the selector plates. The second arms of the levers extend through large size and small size slots in the selector plates. The small size slots and openings afford operating connections, while the large size slots and openings merely provide for idling movement.

Abstract: The sealed toggle action switch comprises an operating lever having a front operating arm projecting out of the front component of the casing. The lever has a rear arm, projecting into the casing and carrying a contactor plate for relative sliding and swinging movement. A coil spring is received around the rear arm and is compressed between the contactor plate and the front sealing flange of a soft resilient sealing boot, such sealing flange being compressed against the operating lever. The boot has a rear, outwardly projecting sealing flange which is retained between the front and rear casing components. The contactor plate has a pair of J-shaped flanges which are slidably engageable with first and second fixed contacts having forwardly projecting protuberances, affording a detent action with the J-shaped flanges. In one position of the operating lever, the J-shaped flanges of the contactor plate engage both of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: The switch comprises a hollow, generally rectangular casing, a generally rectangular pushbutton slidable rearwardly in such casing, and a terminal supporting block closing the rear end of such casing. All of such components are made of moldable resinous plastic materials. The block carries forwardly projecting contact points which connect with external electrical terminals. The pushbutton carries a cup-shaped contactor, slidably and rotatably mounted on a retaining pin which is pressed into a hollow post projecting rearwardly from the pushbutton. A compression coil spring is mounted around the pin and the post, between the contactor and the pushbutton. The contactor is fitted with an axial eyelet on which the contactor is freely rotatable. The contactor is movable into wiping engagement with the contact points, when the pushbutton is pushed rearwardly against the biasing force of a coil spring, compressed between the pushbutton and the terminal supporting block.

Abstract: A single rotary shaft connected to a single rotary carriage operates a vacuum selector valve and two rotary electrical switches, in a casing having rear and front components. The valve comprises a valve carriage, slidable along a linear channel in the rear component. A gear rack on the valve carriage meshes with a pinion gear on the rotary carriage. The valve carriage is slidably retained in the valve channel by the switch contact plates of the first rotary switch. Such contact plates have terminal portions retained between the front and rear casing components. The contactors of the two switches face in opposite directions on the rotary carriage and are biased by a single coil spring, insulated from one of the contactors by a cup-shaped insulating member. The contact plates of the second switch are mounted on the front casing component and have terminals extending outside of the rear casing component through slots therein.

Abstract: Compressible metal spring washers are mounted around the shank portions of terminal rivets and are clamped against thin conductor laminae of a flexible printed circuit having a resilient resinous plastic base lamina, clamped by the rivets against a relatively rigid plastic terminal supporting member. Each washer has a central dished portion, a reversely dished peripheral portion, and a smoothly rounded annular bulging portion therebetween for engaging one of the thin conductor laminae, without cutting into the laminae. The spring washers obviate any looseness of the terminal rivets due to dimensional variations, shrinkage with age, and temperature variations.

Abstract: A function selector knob is pivotally mounted on a function control lever which is pivotally and slidably supported by first pivot means. A pin and slot connection is provided between the lever and a vacuum electric selector switch. A convertible detent mechanism is provided for detaining the lever in either of two sets of detent positions, such sets having different numbers of positions, such as seven and five positions. Such convertible detent mechanism comprises a reversible detent carriage which is pivotally connected to the lever and is slidable along a guide channel having first and second sets of detent recesses on opposite sides thereof. The detent carriage has a detent ball or other member which is offset toward one side of the carriage, whereby the detent carriage is reversible between a first position, in which the detent member encounters the first set of detent recesses, and a second position, in which the detent carriage encounters the second set of detent recesses.

Abstract: The switch has at least one contact plate, mounted on the inner side of an insulating wall forming one side of a casing. The contact plate has a contact rail or some other contact element which is engageable by a contactor on a movable carriage within the casing. The contact plate has a mounting hole surrounded by a circular flange extruded from or otherwise formed in one piece with the contact plate. A terminal bar is mounted against the outer side of the insulating wall and is connected to the contact plate by a terminal rivet, extending through the circular flange with an interference fit to establish good electrical contact therewith. The rivet also extends through an opening in the insulating wall and a mounting hole in the terminal bar.

Abstract: An electrical switch is disclosed, including contact plates having fixed contact portions which are slidably engageable by at least one movable contactor. At least one plate has a submarining crossover portion bent into a U-shape and extending across an overlapping portion of another plate but in a different plane to obviate any electrical contact between the submarining crossover portion and the overlapping portion. The plates may be mounted on an insulating casing wall having a recess for receiving the submarining crossover portion. The plates may have first end portions formed as L-shaped hooks inserted into slots formed in the casing wall. At their opposite ends, the plates may have second end portions formed as L-shaped terminal portions including terminal flanges and terminal prongs. Such prongs may be received in notches formed in a casing end wall, and may be retained in such notches by tooth-like projections on a casing cover.

Abstract: In each of the two disclosed switches, an electrically conductive contactor plate is mounted on an insulating carriage, slidable in a casing along a path which is parallel with first and second parallel contact bars, mounted on an insulating wall of the casing. The contactor plate has first and second contact points for slidably engaging the contact bars during a portion of the movement of the contactor plate. During the remainder of such movement, the contact points slidably engage insulating boss portions which project from the insulating wall and are flush with the contact bars. The contactor plate has a third contact point projecting therefrom and slidable along an insulating ridge projecting from the insulating wall and disposed between the contact bars. The insulating ridge is flush with the contact bars for slidably supporting the third contact point while keeping it from engaging the contact bars. The insulating ridge is also flush with and connects with the insulating boss portions.

Abstract: A slide action electrical switch, comprising a casing, a carriage mounted in the casing for sliding movement along a predetermined path, an electrically conductive contactor mounted on the carriage, electrical contact means on the casing and selectively engageable by the contactor during movement thereof with the carriage along the path, such casing having a front wall with a rearwardly facing surface along which the carriage is slidable, such casing having a slot extending through the front wall and generally parallel with such path of the carriage, and an operating member slidable along the front surface of the front wall, such operating member comprising a rearwardly extending portion including a pair of prongs extending through and slidable along the slot, such carriage having a retaining slot for receiving the prongs, such prongs being flexible and resilient and having rear end portions with ratchet teeth thereon for deflecting the prongs toward each other as they are inserted through the retaining slot

Abstract: A combination blower and air conditioner switch is disclosed, comprising a blower switch and an air conditioner switch having respective first and second casings secured together, a blower control member movable along a path between an OFF position remote from the air conditioner switch and at least one ON position closer thereto, an air conditioner control member movable in the second casing between circuit opening and closing positions, a return spring for biasing the air conditioner control member toward its circuit opening position, a latching assembly including a latching element for latching the air conditioner control member in its circuit closing position, and an interlock mechanism movable between enabling and disabling positions and including a disabling member for engaging and disabling the latching element with the interlock assembly in its disabling position, the interlock mechanism including a link connected to the disabling member and operable by the blower control member for moving the disabli

Abstract: A vacuum control valve comprising a body having a valve surface with a plurality of valve ports extending through the body from such surface, a soft resilient valve member having a control surface slidable along the valve surface and formed with passage means for selectively establishing communication with the valve ports, a movable carriage for receiving and supporting the valve member, and means for moving the carriage along a path substantially parallel with the valve surface, the soft resilient valve member having a soft resilient compressible rear portion formed integrally with such valve member on the opposite side thereof from the control surface, the valve member being confined between the carriage and the valve surface with such soft resilient compressible rear portion in a compressed condition for exerting resilient pressure between the control surface of the valve member and the valve surface of the body, the soft resilient compressible rear portion comprising a pattern of fins alternating with rec