Abstract: Disclosed is a seesaw switch with a light emitting diode element in which a light emitting portion of the light emitting diode element is disposed on the surface of a seesaw button. The base of the light emitting diode element is attached to a holder, lead wires of the element extending along the outer surface of the holder. The holder is received by a receiving portion of a rockable member, which is rockably borne on a case. The rockable member is fitted with a spring-biased rod, which, accompanying the rocking of the rockable member, slides on a movable contact laid on two switching terminals and a common terminal fixed to the bottom portion of the case for seesaw motion. Also fixed to the bottom portion of the case are two terminals for supplying electric power to the light emitting diode element.

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: A method of and means for securing a toggle type operating lever in place in an electric switch or the like. The lever is provided with integral trunnions that are fitted into pivot sockets formed internally in a switch mounting bushing. Tab portions partially sheared out the bushing wall are bent inwardly to underlie the pivot trunnions to retain the latter in place.

Abstract: An electrically conductive annular elastic contactor is trapped in a cavity in a housing defined by a bottom wall and left and right side walls. A movable operator cammingly engages the contactor, compressively deforming it until an overcenter position is passed, after which the contactor snaps against the opposite side wall to make and/or break contact with stationary contacts mounted on at least one of the walls.The contactor acts both as the movable contact for engaging stationary contacts and as snap action biasing means for effecting switching operations. Due to the resilient deformation of the contactor, there is afforded a torsional shearing of contact welds.

Abstract: An electric on-off switch which may optionally include a thermal trip including a bimetal strip.The switch comprises a housing having therein a stationary contact which is engageable by a movable contact carried by a contact spring. The spring is actuated by a mechanism including a tiltable operating lever which carries a release lever. An operating cam is provided on the release lever for depressing the contact spring and causing the movable contact to engage the stationary contact.When the switch includes a directly or indirectly heated bimetal strip, the release lever is pivotally carried by the operating lever which carries a torsion spring. The torsion spring biases the release lever into contact with a set screw secured to the bimetal strip and also urges the cam into contact with the contact spring. A pivotally mounted, elongate lever is preferably disposed between the set screw and the release lever.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a manual switch having a lever positioned in opposition to a resilient coiled return spring anchored to a block which includes a projection engaging one of the coils of the return spring and thereby detaining either compaction or expansion of the spring until sufficient pivoting of the lever forces the detained coil to suddenly slidably traverse over the projection of the block to provide an audible noise and a tactile feel indicating sufficient pivoting of the lever.

Abstract: A movable switch contact of a switch for connecting in a circuit at least a pair of stationary contacts which may be the lands or terminal pads of a printed circuit on a printed circuit board includes an actuating member and a bridging portion. The actuating member is supported for movement in at least two directions and the bridging portion is attached for movement with the actuating member. The bridging portion includes a body of a deformable material having a capacity to conduct current and provide electrical continuity between the stationary contacts when the actuating member shall have been moved to a switch closed position. The actuating member may be adapted for movement toggle fashion as well as for sliding movement. Movement of the actuating member toggle fashion may be through snap action and momentarily whereby the return memory of the body causes the actuating member to return to a neutral or switch open position.

Abstract: Improved pivoting and sliding contactors and an operating member for lever and rocker operated electric switches are disclosed. A resiliently pivotally mounted forked operating member engages with the contactors adjacent opposite sides thereof and pivots and slides the contactors on a common contact terminal into and out of sliding engagement with contact terminals on either side of the common terminal. Separate contactor forms for maintained ON-OFF-ON and momentary ON-ON type circuit commutations are used.

Abstract: A stop tablet mechanism particularly suited for electric organs wherein a plurality of stop tablets lie in closely spaced apart side-by-side relation, the stop tablets being pivotally supported on a tablet rail and spring-biased to assume a neutral position from which they can be momentarily moved up or down against the action of the spring.

Abstract: An electric snap-action electric switch is disclosed which employs movable contact means having an inverted V-shaped cam surface. The movable contact means is spring biased into engagement along its cam surface with the end of a pivoted operator lever. Upon movement from one extreme position the lever cams and pivots the contact means inwardly of the switch until the end of the lever rides beyond the apex of the V-shaped surface, whereupon the contact means moves with snap action under spring action to change switch circuits. Contact wiping action occurs during inward pivotal movement of said contact means, and abutting stationary contact engagement results from its snap-action movement.

Abstract: A switch housing having a separate base attached to one end includes an electric end contact secured to each end of the base inside the housing, and central electric terminal means secured to the central part of the base between the end contacts. An elongated bridging contact engages the central terminal means and has end portions beside rigid dielectric members projecting from the base adjacent the end contacts for restricted lateral movement of the bridging contact. The end contacts have projections overlying the end portions of the bridging contact, and the base and all of the contacts and terminals together form a base unit in which the bridging contact is confined between the base and the overlying portions of the end contacts before the base is secured to the rest of the switch housing. Manually operable actuating means engage the bridging contact for rocking it on the central terminal means to electrically connect the latter with the overlying portions of either of the overlying contacts.

Abstract: A four terminal polarity reversing electrical switch. Two of the terminals each have a pair of contact surfaces so located as to form opposed pairs of contacts, each pair including one contact from each terminal, when the terminals are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other. The other two terminals provide bearing surfaces supporting rotatable arms which extend intermediate corresponding contact surface pairs and which contact one of the other surfaces of the pairs when the arms are rotated to opposed positions.

Abstract: A group of miniature switches particularly adapted for soldering and/or installation upon the surfaces of printed circuit boards in a manner similar to that employed in installing integrated circuit chips. The switches are commonly known in the art as DIP switches, and are of a variety of types of manual actuation. As a group, the switches are characterized by a minimization of parts, ease of fabrication and assembly, and improved reliability.

Abstract: The disclosed switch mechanism consists of two toggle arm type linkages connected to a switch actuator, powered by a dual torsion bar spring, each linkage working in opposition to the other. Thus, a net resultant force is exerted on the switch actuator locating the associated switch mechanism in either of two stable positions with the net resultant force being equal to the difference between the forces generated by the two torsion bar spring arms and applied by the two toggle arms to the switch actuator.

Abstract: A control lever for a machine or the like includes a grip or handle for a control member defining a housing for mounting a switch and includes a thumb actuated rocking actuator positioned on the top of the grip for ease of actuation by the thumb of an operator while grasping the handle of the control lever.

Abstract: A multi-function electrical switch assembly has body sections defining therebetween a chamber containing spaced fixed electrical contacts and spaced moveable electrical contacts carried by a plunger member which is resiliently restrained from moving the moveable contacts toward the fixed electrical contacts; a second set of electrical terminals are defined by a fixed terminal connected to a moveable deflectable arm carrying a first contact which, upon such arm being sufficiently deflected by the plunger, engages a cooperating second fixed contact.

Abstract: An improved self-retaining type of ball and socket mounting for pivotally mounting and securing a toggle lever switch operator in the mounting bushing of an electric switch. The bushing is formed of a resilient plastic material, and has semi-spherical socket into which a complementary formed but slightly smaller pivot portion is press fitted. The socket and pivot portion of the lever are designed to constrain the lever in desired directions of oscillatory movement while preventing withdrawal through the outer end of the bushing.

Abstract: A switching mechanism is disclosed which may be either a single pole or a multiple pole switch. Actuator means is provided to actuate first and second contact means between open and closed circuit conditions. This actuator means is shown as a lever which acts on an actuable portion of a contact blade or directly moves a contact portion into and out of engagement with an individual contact. For economy the actuator means lever may be unitary with a housing by means of a unitary hinge which not only permits movement of the lever but also provides a resilient force in first and second generally perpendicular directions. This resilient force is used to establish the contacts in a closed circuit condition and is also resisted by a detent so that the switch remains in that selected circuit condition. When the switching mechanism is constructed as a multiple pole switch, then a common conductor is provided which has individual contact portions actuated by a plurality of levers for an economically produced switch.

Abstract: A current switching device for use in printed circuit board application includes a terminal contact board sandwiched with respect to a foamed spring pad that supportingly receives a pivotal contactor plate in juxtaposed relationship therewith and wherein the switch includes a rotatable rocker engageable with the contactor plate and pivotal to cause the contactor plate to be shifted into electrical bridging engagement with the terminal board and wherein the foamed pad yields in both compression and shear to produce a bias on the contactor plate for return thereof to a spaced relationship with the terminal board when the rocker is in a neutral position.

Abstract: A rocker switch assembly for controlling at least one fluorescent lamp has a contact mounting block fitted in a housing, with a pair of normally closed contacts at one end of the block and at least one pair of normally open contacts at the other end. A rocker button is supported in an opening in the housing above the contacts on the mounting block for limited vertical and pivotal motion against spring biasing forces while being restrained against longitudinal movement. A preferred support means includes stub shafts extending laterally from each side of the rocker button that fit slidably in vertical bearing slots on each side of the opening in the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an omega type spring assembly and particularly the pivotal connection between the omega spring element and a bearing element. In a broad sense the invention involves replacing the conventional knife edge pivotal with a ball and socket connection in which the "socket" has the form of an elongated aperture with arcuately shaped edges. The "ball" has a tapered portion which engages the edges and the tapered portion may be spherical, conical or elliptical in shape. There are two contact points between the bearing element and the arcuately shaped edges of the aperture in the omega spring element.

Abstract: Electric switch apparatus comprises a housing containing first and second pairs of contacts, the separate contacts of each pair being held normally open by resilient means locally deformable to allow separate engagement of either pair. A rocker member pivotably supported in the housing has a pair of legs, one extending toward one contact of each pair and effective to push that contact into engagement with the other contact of the pair against the bias of the resilient means as the rocker member is reciprocated to one of two extreme positions. The housing further contains a pair of spring detents, each comprising a metallic strip having one end fastened to the housing adjacent one of the legs and another end spaced from the housing for engagement with the adjacent leg as it moves away from its associated pair of contacts, to hold the rocker member in the position in which the other leg produces engagement of the other pair of contacts.

Abstract: Multiple sets of parallel flat resilient conductive switch blades arranged side-by-side support opposed contact pairs and in turn are cantilever supported by engagement of each blade at a position remote from its contact area in an insulating wall of a relatively rigid support frame. One of the blades of each pair is moved by actuator means engaging the end remote from the point of support. The actuator means rotatably supported on the frame provides a slot which closely engages the ends of at least some of the blades essentially in the plane of the slot so that actuator rotation opens and closes supported contacts.

Abstract: A stop tablet mechanism particularly suited for electric organs wherein a plurality of stop tablets lie in closely spaced apart side-by-side relation, the stop tablets being pivotally mounted in a supporting frame by means of locating ears which are maintained in positive pivotal contact with the frame by pairs of wire springs, the wire springs engaging cam defining laterally projecting shoulders on the tablets and performing the additional function of maintaining the tablets in either of two positions of use, the spring elements being configured to provide flexibly mounted detent points which coact with the noses of the cam surfaces to maintain the tablet in its desired position of use.

Abstract: A rocker action switch is disclosed of dip configuration to be pluggably mounted in a printed circuit board or mounted to a panel with clips. A carriage having bridging contacts is slidably displaced within the housing to selectively engage the bridging contacts with selected switch poles. A pivotable control knob has a projecting lever that engages and slidably actuates the carriage. The switch may be constructed with interchangeable parts to perform various switching functions such as momentary, double-pole single-throw or double-pole double-throw with positive detent action. Assembly of the switch is simplified by vertically stacking the component parts within the housing.

Abstract: A slide switch designed for snap action operation thereof having a pivoted rocker arm engaging flexible elements of the insulated slide member of the switch. These flexible elements are formed of material, preferably such as moldable plastic, which has the inherent elastical power of recovering its initially produced durable shape when a deforming force or pressure causing it to be temporarily deformed is removed. The insulated slide member is provided with upwardly projecting lugs which embrace therebetween the pivoted lever arm by which they are outwardly deflected to store up energy for the snap action of the switch.

Abstract: A toggle lever for operating an electric switch and easily assembled, anti-rotation means for mounting the lever for limited pivotal movement within the mounting bushing of the switch. The toggle lever has an intermediate enlarged spherical portion including two short trunnions extending in opposite directions therefrom. The mounting means comprises a pair of interlocking semi-cylindrical molded insert halves having on their inner surfaces an annular socket for the spherical portion and each having a central hole to journal the corresponding trunnion when the two halves are placed therearound to form a subassembly.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a housing, and means is adapted to be selectively movable in the housing for operating the electrical switch. Means having a deflected portion therein is engaged between the housing and the operating means for yielding generally as a collapsible column to oppose the selective movement of the operating means.

Abstract: A manually actuated switch includes a pair of terminals forming switch poles and a knob which is manually actuated to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit across the poles. A pair of spaced contacts are embedded in the knob and resiliently grip therebetween a diode which controls current direction of the completed circuit.

Abstract: A molded plastic mounting base is provided for stop tablets on an organ or the like. Pivot shoulders are integrally molded on the mounting plate. Each stop tablet has complementary pivot recesses integrally molded therein. A single blade-type spring snapped on to depending structure on each stop tablet simultaneously operates as a retaining means for a respective stop tablet and as an overcenter biasing spring therefor.

Abstract: A captive pivot nut is fastened to a panel either by a separate bolt or, in the case of a toggle switch, by being threaded onto the switch and a rocker arm is pivotably snapped onto the captive nut and actuates the switch by being pivoted about the nut to depress the switch, or, in the case of a toggle switch, the rocker arm is mounted over the switch toggle arm.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism which can be adapted for use in devices such as a rocker type electrical switch assembly. The rocker can be inserted in a housing through an opening in one side thereof. The rocker is held for rotation about a fixed axis by the combination of the closure member for the housing opening and parts of the housing which engage the rocker.