US 2004/0000466 A1 · Multiple electrical switch arrangement

Abstract

An electrical switch arrangement includes a validation switch and four selection switches, all operated by an actuator (31) that can be pivoted about two horizontal axes and can be depressed. A dome center tripper (28) that can be depressed to operate the validation switch has a periphery engaged with an outer contact (44). The actuator has four feet (88) spaced in different horizontal directions from a vertical axis (33). A selection tripper (72) lying on top of the center tripper, has four branches (78) that each lies under one of the actuator feet. When the actuator is tilted, one of the feet depresses one of the branches against one of four selection contacts (56) to close a corresponding selection switch. When a selection switch is closed, current flows from the corresponding selection contact (56) through the selection tripper (72) and center tripper (28), to the outer contact (44), so only a single tail (58) (to be soldered to a circuit board) is required for each selection switch.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An electrical switch arrangement which includes a body that has a cavity with a cavity bottom, and an actuator mounted on said body and lying on a vertical axis, wherein:

said actuator has at least a first pair of selection feet lying on horizontally opposite sides of said axis;
a conductive selection tripper lying in said cavity and having at least a first pair of branches that each lies under one of said selection feet;
a first contact in continuous electrical connection with said selection tripper;
at least a first pair of selection contacts, each lying under one of said branches of said selection tripper;
said actuator being tiltable in opposite directions to lower a selected one of said first pair of selection arms to depress a corresponding one of said branches against one of said selection contacts.

2 more elements

An electrical switch arrangement which includes a body forming a cavity that opens upwardly along a primarily vertical axis and that has a cavity bottom wall, a center contact lying on said bottom wall at a first location on said axis and an outer contact lying on said bottom wall at a second location spaced from said axis, an actuator mounted on said body and moveable along said vertical axis, and a conductive snap center tripper lying in said cavity and having a peripheral portion in constant engagement with said outer contact, said center contact middle lying under a portion of said actuator, wherein:

said actuator includes at least two feet radially spaced in primarily opposite directions from said axis, said actuator being pivotable about at least one horizontal axis to lower a selected one of said two feet;
a conductive selection tripper lying in said cavity and being in electrical connection to said center tripper, said selection tripper having at least two branches projecting largely radially away from said axis, with each branch lying under one of said feet of said actuator;
at least two selection contacts, each lying under one of said branches of said selection tripper, so that tilt of said actuator to lower one of said feet causes the lowered foot to push a corresponding selection tripping branch against a corresponding selection contact.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple electrical switch arrangement

Life of this patent

Multiple electrical switch arrangement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16