Abstract: A switch operator, such as a manual push button, mounts a latch onto which are mounted up to four cartridges. A pair of laterally opposed arms of the latch receive each cartridge between them, and lock the cartridge to the latch. Each cartridge has four lips, two for each arm, which engage a pair of spaced apart locking surfaces on each arm. Each arm fits between the two lips it engages, and each cartridge has a pair of feet which fit into a pair of pockets in the latch. A contact cartridge has a follower, and the follower and feet are both positioned to one side of the cartridge, and the feet cooperate with the pockets to insure proper orientation of the cartridge in its position on the latch.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch operator assembly including concentrically arrayed tubular members permitting dual action of an actuator to release switch contacts from a first maintained position to a second maintained position either by a rotative manual operation of a tubular actuator or by manual axial "push-pull" actuator operation. This dual action is provided by longitudinal movement of a switching member having a cam profile acting against spring bias of a detent member, and wherein this longitudinal movement is obtained by said manual "push-pull" operation or by a camming action provided by mating ramp surfaces during rotation of the actuator with respect to a stationary supporting member.

Abstract: An electrical switch is provided with a switch operator having a resilient pad on its distal end, the operator being mounted for axial movement in an operator housing to actuate contacts deposited in a double spiral pattern on a substrate coupled to the operator housing. The operator tip is moved first to contact the front side of a flexible membrane which is separated from the contacts by a spacer. The operator pad is then moved further to deflect the membrane and close the gap formed between the shorting patch and the switch contacts, the travel of the operator and the action of the pad providing a sensation of feel to the user. The switch is constructed in single units and in arrays.

Abstract: An electrical switch is provided with a switch operator having a resilient pad on its distal end, the operator being mounted for axial movement in an operator housing to actuate contacts deposited in a double spiral pattern on a substrate coupled to the operator housing. The operator tip is moved first to contact the front side of a flexible membrane which has a conductive shorting patch on its back side, and which is separated from the contacts by a spacer. The operator pad is then moved further to deflect the membrane and close the gap formed between the shorting patch and the switch contacts, the travel of the operator and the action of the pad providing a sensation of feel to the user. The switch is constructed in single units and in arrays, and a lighting circuit is added by forming a bulb socket in the switch operator with spring tipped contact members that engage lighting terminals in an individual switch on lighting contact areas on the front side of a membrane used in the array.

Abstract: A push button switch has an operator that is mounted for axial movement within a bezel towards its exit end. A contact assembly is disposed across the exit of the bezel. The contact assembly includes a pair of termination areas formed on a substrate and a shorting patch disposed on a flexible membrane, the shorting patch being separated from the termination areas by a spacer to provide a switch air gap. A second spacer is disposed on the other side of the substrate and forms an air reservoir that communicates with the switch air gap through an aperture in the substrate. When the operator is moved against the membrane to close the switch air gap, air is circulated into the air reservoir increasing the pressure therein, and returns to break the contact of the termination areas with the shorting patch when the operator is retracted.