Abstract: An actuator mechanism for alternate action switching devices having at least two states includes a housing structure and an actuator member slidably engaged therewith. In order to move the switching device between states, the actuator member has a contoured surface that moves along and remains in constant sliding engagement with a correspondingly contoured surface on the housing. A biasing member urges the actuator surface into the housing surface throughout operation. This provides noiseless operation of the switching device.

Abstract: A push lock switch having a lock mechanism for use as a hazard switch or a rear defogger switch on an instrument panel of an automobile. The switch has first and second stationary members assembled together which define a space into which a movable member is slidably fitted. A push button fits over the movable member. A coil spring is mounted between the movable member and the first stationary member. The coil spring has first and second compression parts in a one piece construction with each other and urges the movable member toward the push button. A movable contacting strap is fixed to the movable member. The movable contacting member includes movable contacts and a retainer. The movable contacts slide into or out of contact with fixed contacts on the second stationary member when the movable member is pushed by the push button. The first stationary member has a bottom wall in which a recess is formed and on which a plurality of ribs are formed on the recess.

Abstract: A switch module for connection to an electrical circuit comprises a manually actuated ON/OFF switch mechanism mounted on a molded plastic case and two or more bus bars built integrally into the structure of the case, as by an insert molding process. The bus bars project out of the case at their ends, the exposed ends serving as terminals for electrical connection with the circuit and as spring contacts within the switch mechanism. The push button switch mechanism is an improvement over prior switches, having a single spring controlling both the push button and the shorting bar, and having positive alignment of the shorting bar and bus bar ends achieved by the pre-positioning of the bus bar ends in direct lateral sliding contact with the push button sidewall and sidewall-mounted shorting bar.

Abstract: A switch in one embodiment includes a knob slidable through an aperture in a bezel. The knob is guided within a post mounted on a carrier and is biased to an outward position with respect to a carrier. A latch movably mounted on the carrier is rotated between two positions by a member carried on the knob on each successive depression of the knob. In one position, a projection on the latch extends through aligned bores in the post and a stem carried on the knob to lock the knob in a second position. Movement of the latch in an opposite direction, on the next depression of the knob, releases the projection from the aligned bores enabling the knob to biasingly move outward to the first position. Preferably, the carrier is rotatable relative to a support. The knob is keyed to the post on the carrier such that when the knob is in the second position, rotation of the knob causes rotation of the carrier. In another embodiment, two pushbuttons are disposed side-by-side for independent and/or simultaneous movement.

Abstract: An actuator converts an input movement to a control movement with a bistable action. The actuator is operable to provide a first control movement in response to a first input movement and a second control movement immediately upon the second input movement. The actuator is embodied in a foot switch and in an air switch.

Abstract: An electric iron has a printed circuit board mounted to a rear wall in the iron's housing. An operating switch is mounted on the circuit board. The operating switch connects the iron to a source of electrical power when moved by a first manual force and disconnects the iron from the source of electrical power when moved by a second manual force or moved responsive to energization of a solenoid winding.

Abstract: A push button switch including a moving member movably disposed inside a housing, a movable contact provided on the moving member, a fixed contact disposed inside the housing, a main spring for urging the moving member toward the fixed contact, and a push button disposed in an opening in the housing so as to engage the moving member. When the push button is pushed toward the fixed contact, the moving member is moved by the main spring by a preset distance toward the fixed contact so that the movable contact contacts the fixed contact. An auxiliary spring urges the push button in a direction away from the fixed contact by a force that is larger than a force of the main spring. The auxiliary spring has a larger diameter than the main spring, is substantially coaxial with the main spring, and can overlap the main spring.

Abstract: A cam follower assembly for use in a latching switch assembly comprises a case having opposed walls with a slot in one of the walls. A cam follower disposed in the case has a post movable within the slot. A spring adjacent the cam follower biases the cam follower toward a longitudinal axis of the case. The cam follower assembly cooperates with a cam in the latching switch assembly to operate an electrical switch. In a preferred embodiment, the cam follower assembly moves in a plane parallel to the plane of the cam surface. When an operator depresses the latching switching in the latching switch assembly, the cam follower rides along the cam to an "on" position where the latching switch is held in place. Upon depressing the latching switch once more, the cam follower moves out of the first position and into its original "off" position. The slot guides the cam follower for proper desired movement. The spring is preferably a C-shaped spring with two arms positioned on each side of the cam follower.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch is provided comprising a pushbutton having its lower portion inserted in a pushbutton housing section and being formed in its lower end with a pin accommodating hole; a pin having its upper end portion resiliently held in the pin accommodating hole by a coil spring; and a movable contact support having a movable contact piece therein and held in a switch housing section for seesaw motions by the lower end of the pin, whereby electric connection of the common contact is switched between two fixed contacts. A spring retainer plate to which the lower end of the coil spring is fixed is housed in the switch housing section for vertically upward and downward sliding movements. The spring retainer plate is formed at its opposite ends with legs depending therefrom for always maintaining the posture of the spring retainer plate parallel to the bottom panel.

Abstract: An electric iron has a printed circuit board mounted to a rear wall in the iron's housing. An operating switch is mounted on the circuit board. The operating switch connects the iron to a source of electrical power when moved by a first manual force and disconnects the iron from the source of electrical power when moved by a second manual force or moved responsive to energization of a solenoid winding.

Abstract: A switching apparatus has a cylindrically shaped hollow insulated body with first and second parts that sealingly engage each other at longitudinal abutting surfaces. The first part has a longitudinal recess. The body is formed with a radial button retaining passage. A conducting unit is disposed in the recess and includes elongated first and second conducting elements with a respective first end portion contacting a corresponding one of two input terminals of a driven element, and a respective second end portion. The second end portion of the first conducting element contacts one of two output terminals of a power source. A third conducting element has a first end portion extending out of the body and contacting the other output terminal of the power source, and a second end portion spaced apart from the second end portion of the second conducting element. A button unit is movably disposed in the button retaining passage.

Abstract: A push button switch, particularly a master switch, has housing-affixed contacts (4, 7) and at least one contact bridge (8, 9) movable by a spring plunger (10). A spring-switching mechanism (24, 25, 26) is operatively coupled between the spring plunger and a manually-movable sliding switch, or switch actuator, (22). A guiding, or sliding, locking linkage apparatus for the sliding switch (22), which includes two locking parts, a first of which is a track (27) and a second of which is a follower lever (28) for engaging the track. Upon alternate depressions of the sliding switch, the sliding switch alternately moves between "on" and "off" positions. In order to prevent damage to the locking apparatus upon a pulling of the sliding switch in a direction opposite to a direction of depression of the sliding switch, the first and second locking parts release from the housing to follow movement of the sliding switch.

Abstract: A switch is disclosed comprising a casing member within a carriage member movable therein between first and second positions, the carriage member having a pushable operating member extending outside the casing member. A spring is operative between the casing member and the carriage member for resiliently returning the carriage member to the first position. A cooperative switch is provided on the casing member and the carriage member to perform at least one switching function in response to movement of the carriage member. A latching cam is provided on one of the members. A spring latch is provided on the other member for cooperatively engaging the latching cam.

Abstract: An ON/OFF push button switch is disclosed which includes a housing, a fixed contact fixedly mounted on the housing, and a movable contact adapted to be brought into and out of contact with the fixed contact. An operating portion of the disclosed switch is supported in the housing in which the movable contact is to be movable in a direction towards the fixed contact. A contact connect spring located between the housing and the movable contact is provided to urge the movable contact towards the fixed contact. A contact release spring is located between the housing and the operating portion to urge the operating portion away from the fixed contact with an urging force greater than that of the contact connect spring. A coupling arrangement is provided for releasably coupling the movable contact and the operating portion together with the movable contact being inhibited from being moved away from the operating portion towards the fixed contact.

Abstract: An electrical switch (1) is proposed on the actuator (4) of which, which can be moved in a housing (2), there are arranged contact bridges (8) which can be brought into contact with break contact surfaces (11) which are located, in turn, in a base (5) secured to the housing (2). Two guide curves (14, 15), which have different configurations and in which a pin (19, 20) respectively engages, are located on two mutually opposite surfaces of the actuator (4) which extend parallel to the direction of actuation. The two pins (19, 20) serving the purpose of the notching are coupled to one another by means of a connecting element (21) which is elastically deformed in sections during the movement by the different guidance of the two pins (19, 20).

Abstract: A push button switch, particularly a master switch, has housing-affixed contacts (4, 5) and a contact bridge (8) for bridging the contacts, with the bridge being moved by a spring plunger (10). A spring-switching mechanism (24, 25, 26) is operatively coupled between the spring plunger and a manually-movable sliding switch, or switch actuator, (22). The sliding switch (22) is engaged by a guiding, or sliding, locking linkage (27, 28) to be alternately moved between "on" and "off" positions upon being pushed in.

Abstract: A push-button switch is provided which includes a base plate having terminals extending therethrough and solderable in a p.c. board. A housing is subsequently snap-assembled with the base plate and carries a push-button member which is reciprocable when manually pushed. Cam tracks are provided in the housing and a cam follower lever is pivotally mounted on the push-button member. The lever is accessible through an aperture in the housing for engagement with either of the cam tracks. One of the cam tracks produces momentary action, while the other produces alternate action.

Abstract: A foot switch comprising a base covered with an upper cover to hold a pressure-contact switch, a rotary type actuating member, a compression spring and a press member. The press member is supported by the compression spring to protrude beyond the center hole of the upper cover. Once the press member is pressed down, the pressure-contact switch is electrically connected by the operation of the acutating member, and the press member is forced by the compression spring to move back to original position after release of pressure force therefrom. Once the press member is pressed down again, the pressure-contact switch is electrically disconnected.

Abstract: An operating switch has a push button provided in a housing of a switch body for operation when depressed by an operating lever pivoted on the housing. The operation of the push button causes a switch arrangement to be turned by a turning arrangement so that a movable contact is engaged with or disengaged from a stationary contact. The turning arrangement includes a sliding cam disposed along the interior face of the push button and having cam parts engageable with engaging projections of a pivotable actuator coupled resiliently to the switching arrangement upon performing a sliding movement in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the push button.

Abstract: A telephone junction box has two or more switches each of which comprises two resilient conductors that can be sprung between a first configuration in which they are in electrical contact and a second configuration in which they are separated. The conductors preferably include insulation displacement means.

Abstract: A switch actuator includes a base and a plunger mounted for movement on the base. An electrical contact is mounted for relative movement on the base to establish an electrical connection. An actuator includes a head portion and a pair of spring arms. The spring arms extend into a bore in the plunger for frictionally grasping the plunger by spring biased forces against the interior walls of the bore. The actuator has a head portion exposed from an open end of the plunger bore for effecting movement of the electrical contact to alter the state of the electrical connection. The frictional engagement between the spring arms and the plunger provide overtravel or relative movement therebetween and the affect of the spring arms substantially eliminates any affect from wear between the plunger and the actuator.

Abstract: A compact switch device of the present invention includes a casing having a depressible operating member mounted thereon for slidable movement between an inoperative and an operative position. A switch is mounted on the casing and opens and closes in response to the movement of the operating member. The switch device is spring biased to the inoperative position. A cam is mounted on either the casing or the operating member. A locking pin is mounted on the casing or the operating member not already supporting the cam. A closed loop cam groove includes a retaining portion of a generally V-shape and a convex guide portion spaced from and opposite to the retaining portion. The distal end of the lock pin is engageable in the retaining portion to hold the operating member in the operative position.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch which is convertible to operate as a momentary switch or as a latching switch has a tubular housing for a reciprocable plunger which is movable between an extended and a depressed position and is biased to extended position. The plunger carries a cam which is tracked by a pendulum-type follower coupled to a leaf spring which is shiftable in the housing between a first position and a second position. When the leaf spring is held in the first position, the follower cooperates with the cam to ensure that the switch acts as a momentary switch, namely the plunger is free to reassume its extended position as soon as the force which has caused depression of the plunger is terminated or relaxed. If the leaf spring is shifted to the second position, the follower holds the plunger and the cam in or close to the depressed position. It is then necessary to depress the plunger a second time before the plunger can return to the extended position.

Abstract: A push button switch with a simultaneous locking preventing function which can attain its miniaturization while realizing a sure single action. The switch includes a core mounted for sliding movement in each of a pair of sliders mounted for up and down movement in a casing. A heart-shaped cam groove having a plurality of regions of varying height is formed either on an end face of each core or with the locking region of the cam groove formed on an end face of each core and with the remaining regions formed on a contiguous wall face of the corresponding slider. An actuator pin is provided for each slider and traces the cam groove to lock the slider at its depressed position when the slider is depressed. When the sliders are depressed simultaneously, a simultaneous locking preventing member prevents the sliders from being locked at the depressed positions.