Abstract: A push button switch including a case, a key top fastened to the case, an elastic member disposed between the case and the key top and acting to upwards urge the key top and a contact portioned so as to confront a spring member fastened to an operation member of the key top so that the contact portion is pressed by the spring member when the key top is depressed, the push button switch comprising: a movable member disposed between the operation member of the key top and a projection wall of the case whereby the operation member and the movable member can be moved with respect to each other and the movable member and the projection wall can be moved with respect to each other.

Abstract: The housing for an electric snap action switch has a front section with a frame having a surface serving to abut the front side of a mounting plate, and a coaxial rear section with a surface facing away from the surface of the frame and serving to abut or to be placed adjacent one side of a circuit board. A nut mates with an externally threaded tubular portion of the front section to maintain the surface of the frame in abutment with the mounting plate. The two sections are separably coupled to each other by resilient male detent elements which are provided on the front section and extend into complementary female detent elements of the rear section. The housing acts as a distancing element between the mounting plate and the circuit board, and its rear section has a recess for a switching unit which is secured to the circuit board and can be actuated by movable parts which are installed in the front section. The rear section is secured to the circuit board by screws.

Abstract: In a process of producing an electric or electronic component, particularly a key, a continuous track of a metal foil is machined into two metallic terminal components constituting links between two carrier strips. A base housing component is cast from a high temperature resistant material around the terminals and is connected to the carrier strips through two tags protruding outwards from opposite, outer side surfaces of the base housing component. In an inner recess of the base housing component a domed metal disc having an acoustically damping coating on the convex side surface thereof, an elastically compressible rubber component and a push button are arranged. On top of the base housing component, a top housing component preferably made from the same high temperature resistant plastics material is arranged. Within the recess of the base housing component, the terminals define electric contacts with which the domed metal disc cooperates.

Abstract: A key switch actuator includes a switching member supported on a resilient member and connected to a key cap and driven by it to slide in a locating member. The switching member has two opposite, curved side plates caused to slide in the locating member along two opposite sliding ways. The elastic member has a plurality of small raised portions supported on the PC board and a plurality of notches between the raised portions for exhaust of squeezed air.

Abstract: A push button switch has a stem having a thin flange without requiring fabrication of synthetic material, thereby realizing a push button switch having good productivity and high reliability.

Abstract: A ball bearing plunger actuator for a limit switch is provided with an insert between the ball bearing and the actuator. The insert is disposed into an opening in the distal end of the actuator before insertion of the sphere. After swaging the sphere is captivated within the opening of the actuator with the low friction insert disposed at the bottom of the opening between the sphere and the actuator. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low friction insert is made of a fluorocarbon, such as TFE. Several embodiments of the present invention incorporate inserts which are differently shaped to provide certain advantages in particular adaptations. Two of the embodiments utilized either a generally cylindrical insert with a conical concave part of the insert shaped at one end to receive the ball bearing or, alternatively, a generally flat circular disc of fluorocarbon material which conforms to the bottom of the opening and is inserted into the opening prior to insertion of the sphere.

Abstract: A pushbutton and cover combination for operating an electronic switching device, such as a telephone or keypad. The cover defines a number of button receiving apertures extending therethrough. Each button comprises a body having a first part which provides a contact surface and a second part which is slidably received through an individual one of the apertures, so that the contact surface of the button is accessible from a first side of the cover. Latches on the second part of the button body are cooperable with the cover so that the button is held captive in the cover, with the second part of the body being operable to move slidably within the aperture, for engaging a flexible barrier layer and operating the electronic switching device on an underlying circuit board. The subassembly of the cover with the captive buttons is removable intact from the circuit board and flexible barrier layer of the electronic switching device.

Abstract: A palm button switch apparatus includes a housing, a solid palm button fixedly mounted on the housing, a guard fixedly mounted on the housing and surrounding the periphery of the palm button. A bore extends through the housing and into the palm button. The bore has an open first end and a second end covered by the palm button. A proximity switch having a sensing end is mounted in the bore with the sensing end disposed in proximity with the palm button for detecting the presence of an operator's fingers on the palm button. The housing, the palm button and the guard are integrally formed as a one-piece unit from a molded plastic.

Abstract: A push button switch including a case, a key top fastened to the case, an elastic member disposed between the case and the key top and acting to upwards urge the key top and a contact portioned so as to confront a spring member fastened to an operation member of the key top so that the contact portion is pressed by the spring member when the key top is depressed, the push button switch comprising: a movable member disposed between the operation member of the key top and a projection wall of the case whereby the operation member and the movable member can be moved with respect to each other and the movable member and the projection wall can be moved with respect to each other.

Abstract: A key top, of the type utilized in keyboards, is disclosed, which minimizes the lateral stress encountered by the central engaging protrusion with respect to the underlying switch. Two T-shaped reinforcing rib structures are provided on bottom surface of the top plate of the key top, with the rib structures spaced apart from the engaging protrusion, thereby providing a gap between the reinforcing ribs and the engaging protrusion, and thus dispersing lateral stress on the engaging protrusion through increased flexure of the engaging protrusion. In addition, the base of the engaging protrusion is thickened to structurally resist lateral stress.

Abstract: A normally-closed pin switch mountable on a vertical wall and adapted to open only when actuated by a movable closure member. The switch includes a metal bracket defined by a generally-rectangular mounting plate having mounting holes adjacent either end thereof and a ledge cantilevered from the upper edge of the plate at its midsection whereby the bracket may be secured to the vertical wall to position the ledge in a horizontal plane. Integral with the ledge and projecting therebelow is a hollow metal cylinder whose upper end registers with a port formed in the ledge and whose lower end acts as the fixed contact of the switch. Slidably received in the cylinder is a plunger rod of insulation material, the lower section of the rod extending through the lower end of the cylinder and terminating in a contact acting as the movable contact of the switch. The rod is spring-biased to normally urge the movable contact into engagement with the fixed contact to close the switch.

Abstract: A keyboard switch capable of minimizing the number of parts to reduce manufacturing costs and giving an operator a light touch during its operation. The keyboard switch includes an actuator arranged in a frame for pressing a membrane switch. The actuator includes a key stem, a pressing member for forcedly pressing the membrane switch, a pair of leaf springs for forcedly pushing up the key stem. The key stem, pressing member and leaf spring means are integrally formed and joined together by a base member.

Abstract: A keyswitch operator includes a supporting bearing block and axially movable keytop and plunger. A cylindrical plunger is slidably guided between alternating flat and conical surfaces about a through bore in the bearing block. The flat surfaces provide constant bearing guides along multiple axial lines angularly spaced about the plunger. The conical surfaces provide draft to facilitate removal of a mold after forming of the through bore. Both "quiet tactile" and "click tactile" modes of operation are available when utilizing the keyswitch operator in conjunction with a yieldable dome overlying a membrane switch assembly. "Click tactile" operation requires the addition of a spring-biased piston to physically engage the underlying switch assembly when the plunger has been depressed.

Abstract: A switch device including a casing, a depressible operating member at least partially mounted within the casing and being movable between a protruding position and a depressed position, a cam member movable between an inoperative and operative position in response to the depression of the operating member, the cam member including a cam groove having a loop-like shape, a return spring for urging the cam member toward the inoperative position, an elongated engaging member having one end mounted on the casing and the other end movably disposed in the cam groove, the other end being lockingly engageable in the cam groove to hold the cam member in both inoperative and operative positions, a cushioning member mounted within the casing, the cushioning member being made of a material having elasticity and a high coefficient of friction, and disposed to abuttingly engage the operating member when the operating member is returned from the depressed position to the protruding position, the cushioning member having a ho

Abstract: A push button switch including a lower case, an upper case adapted to be coupled with the lower case to define a space therebetween, a fixed contact member having a fixed contact terminal, a movable contact member having a movable contact terminal, and a stem operable from the outside of the upper case, wherein the fixed contact member, the movable contact member and the stem are mounted in the space, and the lower case is formed with slots for inserting the fixed contact terminal and the movable contact terminal therethrough. The stem is slidably mounted to a stem sliding portion formed in the lower case, and a bottom portion of the stem sliding portion projects downwardly from the lower surface of the lower case less than a plurality of projections projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the lower case. The lower case is formed at its inside corners with curved surface. The bottom surface of the lower case is formed with cutouts in the vicinity of the slots.

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.