Switch mechanism

A multiple pole switch mechanism comprising, in combination,

• a housing having a first reference plane,
• support means in said housing,
• a removable card supported on said support means transverse to said reference plane and having abutment means,
• first and second contact means,
• said first contact means including a plurality of contact blades each having a mounting portion, a movable contact portion and a movable actuable portion,
• said second contact means including a plurality of contacts one each for respective ones of said contact portions,
• first means relatively mounting said mounting portions said said housing with said actuable portions in said first reference plane and transverse to said card,
• second means relatively mounting said second contact means and said housing in a position for engagement of each of said contacts of said second contact means by respective ones of said contact portions to establish a plurality of switch pairs,
• said first and second mounting means establishing said plurality of switch pairs in predetermined positions,
• a first reference line on said card,
• and means to selectively actuate each switch pair between open and closed circuit conditions including said card and including first locator means establishing disposition of said card in said support means with said first reference line in said first reference plane,
• said selective actuating means including at least one abutment of said abutment means on said card on said first reference line at one of said predetermined positions to have the respective contact blade actuable portion engage said one abutment to establish the respective switch pair in a first of said two circuit conditions and including lack of an abutment on said card on said first reference line at another of said predetermined positions to establish the respective switch pair in a second of said two circuit conditions.

A programmable multi-pole switch mechanism including, a base,

• a housing assembly including a housing and a card insertable therein in support means,
• said card having abutment means thereon and at least one surface defining an alternative area for an absence of abutment means,
• means to secure said housing assembly on said base,
• first and second contact means,
• said first contact means including a common conductor memeber and a plurality of individual contact portions,
• said second contact means including a plurality of contacts one each for respective ones of said contact portions of said first contact means,
• means mounting said first and second contact means relative to said housing assembly and base to establish said contact portions in predetermined positions and one each of said plurality of contacts of said second contact means respectively in said predetermined positions to establish a plurality of switch pairs,
• said abutment means on said card including at least one abutment in one of said predetermined positions cooperating with a respective one of said switch pairs to establish a closed circuit condition thereof,
• and said at least one alternative area of said card in another of said predetermined positions cooperating with a respective one of said switch pairs to establish an open circuit condition of the respective switch pair.