Abstract: A towbar head for a towbar-guided industrial truck includes control elements located on the towbar head. The control elements control various functions of the industrial truck such as the propulsion and/or the controls for a lifting device. The control elements are effectively connected to signal generators (4, 5) to generate electrical control signals. The invention teaches that there are at least two signal generators (4, 5) which are preferably in the form of membrane switches located on a common circuit board (3). In one embodiment, at least-one membrane switch has a plurality of contact areas 4b, 5b) located on the common circuit board (3). The common circuit board (3) has at least one contact membrane (13) that can be electrically connected with a contact surface (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) or a resistance track by a pressure force exerted on the contact membrane (13). Preferably, all the signal generators located on the common circuit board (3) are in the form of membrane switches.

Abstract: A control device is provided for an industrial truck, in particular the towbar of a towbar-guided industrial truck, having a circuit element to generate a multi-stage electrical control signal. The invention teaches that the switching element has at least one contact membrane (6) which can be electrically connected by a pressure force exerted on the contact membrane (6) with at least one of a plurality of contact points (2) that correspond to the contact membrane (6). The contact points (2) are connected by electrical resistors (R1-8). The electrical resistors (R1-8) are preferably connected in series, whereby the connecting line between each two resistors is connected to a contact point (2). There are two sliders (8a, b), each of which exerts a pressure force on the contact membrane (6), as a result of which a contact point (2) can be connected to a contact area (3).