Touch-Action Electric Switch With Pre-Load Stroke

A touch-action electric switch comprising:

• a housing made of insulating material and comprising a base defining a seat open vertically upwards;
• a plurality of fixed, separate, electrical contacts which are arranged on a surface of the base directed vertically upwards and which comprise at least a first, fixed, electrical contact and a second, fixed, electrical contact;
• a movable electrical contact which is arranged above the surface of the base and which comprises:
• a first non-movable portion positioned to make electrical contact with the first, fixed, electrical contact,
• a second movable portion that is movable, vertically downwards, towards the second, fixed, electrical contact,
• a single-piece actuating body made of elastic material, arranged in the base and comprising:
• (i) a top central part comprising:
• a bottom bearing portion which is directed downwards towards the second movable portion of the movable electrical contact, and
• a top force-receiving actuating portion designed to receive an actuating force directed generally vertically downwards,
• (ii) a bottom peripheral part supporting the elastic actuating body in relation to the housing, and)
• (iii) a wall part connecting together the top central part and the bottom peripheral part;
• and
• a pushbutton having a central actuating surface for acting on the top force-receiving portion;
• wherein the movable electrical contact is arranged so that:
• in a normal rest state, the second movable portion of the movable electrical contact is spaced from the second, fixed, electrical contact, and
• when the movable electrical contact is subjected to an actuating force in a vertically downwards direction, the second movable portion of the movable electrical contact will make contact with the second, fixed, electrical contact so as to connect electrically the first, fixed, electrical contact and second, fixed, electrical contact;
• and wherein:
• the actuating body made of elastic material comprises a top lateral part surrounding said top force-receiving portion of the top central part of the actuating body, which is positioned to receive an actuating force directed vertically downwards,
• the pushbutton comprises a lateral actuating surface for acting on the top lateral part of the actuating body,
• so that when operated, successively:
• during a first phase of an operating stroke of the pushbutton, the central actuating surface of the pushbutton will act on the top force-receiving portion and elastically deform the wall part, and
• during a second phase of the operating stroke of the pushbutton, the lateral actuating surface of the pushbutton will act on the top lateral part.