Abstract: A rotary switch for use with electrical circuits and including a housing having a cavity therein for receiving a rotatable disc. The housing supports a plurality of spaced apart electrical terminals each independently connected to an electric circuit and also supports a plurality of opposed resilient contacts selectively engagable with the electrical terminals. The rotor includes opposed planar surfaces, one of the surfaces parallel to and adjacent the resilient contacts, the rotor surface supporting a plurality of cams projecting from the surface and functional upon rotation of the rotor to force selected ones of the resilient contacts into engagement with the terminals to provide an electrical bridge between pairs of the electrical terminals. The rotary switch rotor can include cam members on both of its opposite surfaces and the housings are constructed such that they can be stacked.

Abstract: A multiple contact switch has a plurality of contact areas spaced across a base member, a plurality of cantilevered spring contact members mounted side-by-side on the base member with contact portions overlying the contact areas, and a rotary cam member extending over the spring contact members to push the contact members down to make contact. A cam surface is provided for each contact member. The cam member is actuated by a remove actuating member and in a line switch for a telephone set, the switch can be mounted on the base of the telephone set with the cam actuated by a flexible cable which in turn is actuated by means depressed when a hand set is replaced.

Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a housing with at least one fixed contact thereon and at least one resilient movable contact which has a fixed end secured on said housing and an opposite movable end with a contact portion which is held by the fixed end in a position spaced from the fixed contact. The housing includes a supporting member located between the movable and fixed ends of the movable contact and on the same side as the fixed contact. The movable contact is engageable by actuating means which includes a rotatable cam which first contacts an intermediate wave-shaped portion to cause an inwardly directed portion of the movable contact to move first into engagement with the support member and to subsequently cause the contact portion to move into engagement with the fixed contact.

Abstract: The invention comprises a combination electrical outlet and switch assembly characterized by a rocker-type actuator pivoted to the front of a wiring box, and a pair of sliding cam bars are pivoted to one end of the rocker and have non-linear or "programmed" surfaces which slide in biased relation across a pair of switch contacts to open and close same, these cam bars being arrangeable in several different ways, and being usable on two separate rockers to achieve several different switching modes in the same basic assembly. The outlet portion of the box includes three conductive elements adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug and having connector means comprising sleeves mounted within a casing of the wiring box by simply inserting stripped wires into the sleeve. The completed wiring box is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in a special bracket to permit aligning the front plane of the assembly flush with the exposed surface of newly installed wall board.

Abstract: Unusually long life and reliability in a selector switch are achieved by providing long-wearing components which, in turn, contribute to an essentially dust-free environment for the contact portions of the switch. Materials of all parts produce a minimum of abrasion dust and the conformation of the housing structure prevents the entry of exterior dust. A binary coded cam having multiple cam sections causes sliding contact between spring type contact elements and shorting bars. The rotary element and the two main housing portions are molded of a highly wear resistant, low friction material. The detent mechanism is separated from the contact elements and the metal housing clamp locks the housing portions in the mated position, and helps to seal the housing against exterior dust. All components provide maximum life expectancy and low wear properties.

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 multi-position switch comprising a housing which positions and generally encloses a rotator having a plurality of axially spaced cam tracks provided with collective, circumferentially staggered primary recesses for cooperating with detent portions of resilient conductors also positioned within the housing and in operational contact with the rotor so that the several circuits of the device may be selectively activated by the engagement of a selected conductor with a common contact. Each of the rotor cams is further provided with a plurality of intermediate, secondary recesses for resilient engagement with the remaining conductor detents so as to assure the switch will not become inadvertently positioned between contact positions thereof, and to further impart a more positive feel to the rotor as it is moved through its multiple positions by the appliance operator.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly of the type having a recessed base provided with a centrally rotatable contact member adapted to contact a plurality of spaced resilient contacts mounted in said base and spaced about the periphery of said contact member. The improvement resides in the use of an integral one-piece cover construction which serves to eliminate the need of a separate insulator sheet, a separate cover enclosure and a separate bushing element, thus not only eliminating the aforementioned separate components but furthermore eliminating the time and labor necessary to assemble and/or preassemble such components.

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 push button switch according to the invention comprises a push button, a press member operated by the push button, a stationary contact member secured to a substrate and a movable contact member operated by the press member. One end of the movable contact member is shaped to engage the stationary contact member with a line contact whereby positive and low resistance contact is ensured. Further, a cushion member in the form of a resilient pad or spring is interposed between the press member and the push button for alleviating the shock created when the push button is depressed.

Abstract: A reversible snap-action switch including a drive member and a switch-actuating driven member connected by a lost motion coupling. The relative position between the drive and driven members is shifted by substantially the lost motion distance as the drive member moves the driven member through a switching zone and then reverses its direction to return to its original position. In each direction of movement a bidirectional accelerating means imparts a snap-action motion to the drive member. This motion is coordinated with the position of the driven member so that switching occurs during the snap-action motion in each direction of movement, thereby inhibiting any hesitation in making or breaking the switch contacts. The invention also includes a cement-free mounting for the switch contacts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a single pole, single throw switch and more particularly to a switch having a redundancy of opposing contacts which are cammed into or out of engagement by a cam positioned between the contacts. The switch consists of a molded housing, molded cam means and two identical conductive means stamped and formed from flat metal stock. Preload cantilever beams provide biasing forces for the contacts.

Abstract: A miniature switch assembly comprising a base member having a plurality of parallel finned projections, a pair of contact members each having a plurality of contact terminals being fixed on both sides of the base member, respectively, a plurality of lever wheels being disposed between the adjacent finned projections, and a housing having a plurality of partition walls for accommodating the base member with the contact members and the lever wheels, wherein the lever wheels each having conductive plate perform the switching action in a manner that the conductive plate slides over the contact terminals. A locking member is also provided for locking the lever wheels. Preferably, a dust cover is provided for protecting the switch assembly from dust or mechanical injuries.

Abstract: An ignition switch for the selective ignition of a gas tap assembly that is controlled by a rotatable gas tap spindle is disclosed. The switch has an aperture which receives the gas tap spindle. Opening and closing of the gas tap is achieved by rotation of the spindle. Rotation of the spindle causes rotation of a cam in the aperture of the switch to control the making and breaking of a pair of electrical contacts. The contacts have relatively thick terminal portions that are secured in the housing with their outer ends extending into openings which receive insulated sockets. The contact members are L-shaped and have relatively thin contact portions which are positioned so that one portion overlies the other and both of them overlie the rotatable cam.

Abstract: A control device having a housing provided with a movable actuator and a rotatable selector shaft for positioning the actuator in relation to the rotational position of the shaft. An actuator driver is carried by the shaft and is operatively interconnected to the actuator to drive the same upon rotation of the driver by the shaft, the shaft and driver being axially movable relative to the actuator. The housing has a latching part cooperable with a latching part of the shaft when the shaft is in a certain rotational and axial position relative to the housing whereby the shaft cannot be rotated relative to the housing until the shaft is axially moved from that certain axial position thereof to another axial position thereof to clear the latching part of the shaft from the latching part of the housing and thereby unlock the selector shaft.

Abstract: A manually actuated momentary switch completes an electrical circuit for lighting a low voltage indicator light advantageously used for testing circuit continuity. The switch and indicator light are in combination within a miniature size housing having depending electrical terminals for pluggable connection on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A switch assembly provides a plurality of slide switches. Each switch employs a flexible guide rod cantilevered within a common housing providing a first contact. A second contact is biased into electrical contact with each guide rod and an insulative cam carried by a switch actuator is supported by each guide rod for rectilinear movement therealong in an interference path with the second contact to separate the second contact from the guide rod. The flexible guide rod is movable with respect to the second contact and provides the means to align the switch actuator and the cam in an interference path with the second contact. Each switch actuator provides a pair of side walls enclosing a respective guide rod and second contact suspended therebetween.

Abstract: An alternating current switch suitable for automatic assembly is provided having an insulating housing including an open top base and a cover to close the base. The base has side openings to expose screw terminals and may have bottom openings to admit wires to push in connectors. The terminals are integral parts of contact arms within the housing. The contact arms as well as a balance spring are held in place in the housing within side wall slots integral with the base of the housing and by bosses integral with the cover. The balance spring and a movable contact arm are shaped to bear against cam portions of a toggle.The cover is provided with bearings to hold the toggle at its trunions in pivoting relation and is provided with a top opening through which the trigger of the toggle extends to the switch exterior.