Abstract: A push button switch comprising a noncircular push button, a casing having a noncircular guide opening for the push button, a push button return spring, a carriage member projecting in one lateral direction from the push button and carrying a contactor facing in a transverse lateral direction and selectively engageable with contact means, a contactor spring acting in the transverse lateral direction between the carriage and the contactor and tending to cause twisting rotation of the push button, the noncircular push button and its noncircular opening tending to stabilize the push button against such twisting rotation, and an additional stabilizing member slidably backing up the carriage for taking up the force of the contactor spring and preventing such twisting rotation of the push button. The additional stabilizer member may be a slide rail on the casing or a flange on a second parallel push button, which may have a second carriage slidably backed up by a slide rail on the casing.

Abstract: A switch is disclosed having improved contact structure to avoid any detent action between the movable and fixed contact elements, and to afford an enhanced break-before-make action. The switch includes a contactor having a cylindrically curved rider which is slidable across a gap between first and second coplanar contact plates. One plate has a projection or finger, extending across the gap for smoothly carrying the rider across the gap while avoiding any detent action. The other plate has a notch therein opposite the projection for maintaining spacing between the projection and the other plate. The projection and the notch are generally centered relative to the width of the rider. In another aspect, the contactor is movable alternatively into bridging relationship between a second contact plate and first and third contact plates, and the contactor has a pair of cylindrically rounded riders which are slidable along the plates.

Abstract: A push button switch is disclosed comprising first and second spring returned push buttons movable in a resinous plastic casing along parallel paths, switching contacts in the casing and operable by the first push button, a flexible resilient latching spring arm molded in one piece with the casing and extending between the push buttons, cooperative latching elements on the first push button and the latching spring arm for causing deflection of the spring arm followed by latching of the first push button in its depressed position, and cooperative unlatching elements on the second push button and the spring arm for deflecting the arm and thereby causing disengagement of the latching elements in response to depression of the second push button.

Abstract: A combination blower and air conditioner switch for vehicles, comprising a blower speed control switch component including a blower control member movable from an OFF position to a series of ON positions to provide different blower speeds, an air conditioner switch component including a push button control member movable between OFF and ON positions against the biasing action of a return spring, latching means including a latching element for latching the push button control member in its ON position, and an interlock member movable by the blower control member to a disabling position for disabling the latching means when said blower control member is in its OFF position, such interlock member being movable to an enabling position for enabling such latching means when the blower control member is moved away from its OFF position to any of its ON positions, whereby the push button air conditioner control member cannot be latched in its ON position when the blower control member is in its OFF position.

Abstract: A vacuum control valve, comprising a wall having a vacuum supply port and a utilization port therein, a valve member movable along such wall, and means guiding the valve member for movement along a predetermined path along such wall, such valve member having a sealing member with sealing enclosure means for selectively producing communication between such ports, each of such ports comprising an opening with a tapered portion extending into such wall at the intersection between such opening and such wall to avoid the formation of any burr at such intersection.

Abstract: A combined electrical and fluid control switch is disclosed, comprising a casing, at least one operating carriage movable in the casing, and valve means in the casing and operable by the movement of the carriage. The valve means may comprise a valve wall along which a control member is movable. The valve wall is formed with at least one vacuum supply port and at least one vacuum utilization port. The control member includes a sealing member having first and second sealing dam enclosures which provide a double seal to prevent leakage between the atmosphere and the vacuum supply port as the control member is moved between a first position in which the support port and the utilization port are connected together, and a second position in which the utilization port is connected to the atmosphere. Each port preferably has a tapered portion at the intersection between the port and the valve wall.

Abstract: The combined electrical and fluid control switch comprises a casing, a carriage movable therein for operating electrical switching means and fluid control means in the casing, valve ports in the rear casing wall and connecting with nipples thereon, a rearwardly projecting connector locating post on the rear wall adjacent the nipples, detent recesses alternating with detent bumps on the rear side of the carriage, a detent ball engageable with the detent recesses and bumps and guided in a bore in the post, and a coil spring compressed in the bore behind the wall. The front casing wall may have a guide slot for slidably receiving a pair of guide tabs projecting forwardly from the carriage, a gap being provided between the tabs for receiving an operating member, the front casing wall being formed with a notch along the guide slot for entry of the operating member.

Abstract: The electrical switch comprises a resinous plastic casing, a carriage slidable in the casing, at least one contactor mounted on the carriage and movable therewith, contact means in the casing and selectably engageable by the contactor, a resinous plastic rocker plate rockably mounted on the front of the casing and having a lever arm swingable with the rocker plate for causing sliding movement of the carriage in response to rocking movement of the rocker plate, the carriage having a slot for receiving the lever arm, a pair of spaced parallel side walls on the casing and having pivot receiving openings, a pair of flexible resilient generally parallel pivot support tabs projecting rearwardly from the rocker plate and having pivot elements pivotally received in the openings for rockably supporting the rocker plate, the pivot elements being insertable into said openings by flexure of the pivot support tabs, a pair of oppositely inclined stop surfaces on the casing and engageable by the rocker plate at the opposite

Abstract: The switch comprises two contactors movable along two rows of four contacts, to an "OFF" position in which each contactor bridges the second and third contacts in each row, a first "ON" position in which each contactor bridges the first and third contacts in each row, and a second "ON" position in which each contactor bridges the second and fourth contacts in each row. An inner crossover conductor extends between the first contact in the first row and the fourth contact in the second row and is disposed between the first and second rows. A second crossover conductor is on the outer side of the contact supporting board and is connected between the second contact in the first row and the third contact in the second row. A flat Z-shaped insulating member is held captive between the board and the inner crossover conductor.

Abstract: The disclosed combined fluid power and electrical control device comprises a casing having an operating lever extending through an opening in the casing between the front and rear sides thereof, means at the rear of the casing pivotally supporting the rear portion of the lever so that it is swingable in the opening, the lever having a front manually operable portion at the front of the casing, and fluid power and electrical control means in the casing and operatively connected to the lever for operation in response to swinging movement thereof. Preferably, the control device includes a carriage movable in the casing, mechanical coupling means between the lever and the carriage for moving the carriage in response to swinging movement of the lever, electrical switching means operable by movement of the carriage, and fluid power control valve means operable by the carriage. The switching means may include fixed electrical contact means mounted on the rear wall of a lamp housing secured within the casing.