Twist mount rotary selector switch

A method of assembling a selector switch comprising

• providing a printed circuit board having a bottom surface, a top surface, and a mounting hole extending through the printed circuit board;
• providing a contact piece having post hole formed therein, a first arm having a first contact, and a second arm having a second contact, the first arm being integrally formed with the second arm;
• providing a hub having at least one engaging surface for engaging with the contact piece and a mounting post having an outer surface, an oblong bottom end, and at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the mounting post, the at least one protrusion having a retainer surface for engaging with the bottom surface of the printed circuit board;
• orienting the contact piece relative to the hub such that the at least one engaging surface of the hub will engage the contact piece when the switch is assembled;
• inserting the oblong bottom end of the mounting post through the post hole of the contact piece;
• orienting the printed circuit board such that the oblong bottom end will pass through the mounting hole;
• inserting the oblong bottom end of the mounting post through the mounting hole;
• and
• rotating the hub and contact piece such that the retainer surface of the at least one protrusion engages with the bottom surface of the printed circuit board.

A switch comprising:

• a contact piece having
• a first contact;
• a second contact;
• a printed circuit board having
• a top surface;
• a power input contact formed into the top surface;
• a power output contact formed into the top surface;
• a noncontact area of the top surface;
• and
• a plurality of signal contacts disposed at a plurality of predetermined positions as part of the top surface;
• wherein the power input contact and the plurality of signal contacts are disposed on the top surface of the printed circuit board such that, upon movement of the first contact from the noncontact area to a signal contact, the second contact will align with the power input contact prior to the first contact aligning with the signal contact.

A method of manufacturing a switch comprising:

• providing a printed circuit board having a top surface, the top surface having a noncontact area;
• forming at least one signal contact as part of the top surface of the printed circuit board along a path of travel over the top surface;
• forming a power input contact as part of the top surface of the printed circuit board along the path of travel;
• providing a first contact operable to make a first electrical connection with the at least one signal contact;
• providing a second contact operable to make a second electrical connection with the power input contact;
• wherein the power input contact is offset from the signal contact along the path of travel such that, upon simultaneously moving the first and second contacts along the path of travel from the noncontact area toward the at least one signal contact, the second contact makes the second electrical connection with the power input contact before the first contact makes the first electrical connection with the at least one signal contact.

A rotary switch, comprising:

• a contact piece integrally formed from a conductive material and having a pivot point, the integrally formed contact piece comprising:
• a first arm including a first contact;
• a second arm including a second contact, the second contact being electrically connected to the first contact;
• and
• a third arm having a first portion of the positioning mechanism;
• and
• a printed circuit board comprising:
• a top surface;
• a power input contact formed into the top surface;
• a noncontact area disposed on the top surface;
• electrically isolated signal contacts formed into the top surface;
• and
• a second portion of the positioning mechanism, the second portion being defined by the top surface and being mateable with the first portion;
• wherein:
• the integrally formed contact piece is rotatable about the pivot point to be parallel to the printed circuit board between a first position and a second position;
• the integrally formed contact piece biases the first contact and the second contact to the top surface of the printed circuit board;
• when the integrally formed contact piece is in the first position, the first and second portions of the positioning mechanism are disposed to maintain the integrally formed contact piece in the first position, such that the second contact is electrically isolated from the power input contact and the first contact is electrically isolated from the signal contacts;
• and
• when the integrally formed contact piece is in the second position, the first and second portions of the positioning mechanism are disposed to maintain the integrally formed contact piece in the second position, such that the second contact is electrically connected to the power input contact and the first contact is electrically connected to a signal contact.