Plunger switch and method of using same

A switch assembly for use with a lawn tractor comprising:

• a multi-action plunger arrangement having first and second moveable plungers in axial alignment such that said first plunger is centrally located about said second plunger;
• the second plunger having an annular wall for supporting at least one conductive wiper contact;
• first and second biasing members axially aligned such that said first biasing member extends through the center of said second biasing member, the first and second biasing members having differing spring constants, such that said first and second plungers are actuated at different loads during use;
• a plurality of terminals for communicating an electrical path;
• and
• a housing having a central opening for supporting said plunger arrangement;
• the second plunger and second second biasing member cooperate with said conductive wiper contact such that compressing of said second biasing member from a normal position to a first actuated position results in a change of state of said switch assembly;
• wherein continued compressing of said second biasing member results in compression of said first biasing member from said first actuated position to a second actuated position allowing change of state in said switch assembly to remain unchanged.

A method of operating a multi-action plunger switch, the method comprising the following steps of:

• providing a first plunger that is at least partially retractable and substantially located within a second plunger;
• supporting at least one conductive wiper contact along an annular wall formed about said second plunger;
• engaging said first plunger with a first biasing member and engaging said second plunger with a second biasing member, said first and second biasing members having differing load constants such that said first and second plungers translate toward a support housing at different loads that are applied to said plunger during use;
• and
• structuring said biasing members within said support housing such that engaging a first end of said first plunger with a first load causes said first and second plungers to translate from a normal position toward said support housing such that said second plunger translates at least partially inside of said housing to form a first actuated position;
• and
• structuring said biasing members within said support housing such that engaging said first end of said first plunger with a second load greater than said first load causes said first plunger to translate from said first actuated position to a second actuated position where said first plunger is at least partially inside of said second plunger.