Slide switch contact having plural flexible slats providing make before break contact engagement

An electric slide switch comprising a row of at least three fixed electric contacts, a slide movable back and forth along said row and having a recess therein facing the contacts and extending lengthwise of said row, and a shorting contact disposed in said recess and movable by the slide along the row of fixed contacts, said shorting contact being formed from a spring metal strip having an elongated central body between a pair of end portions, said body having a contact surface for sliding engagement with the fixed contacts and being long enough to bridge three fixed contacts simultaneously, said end portions extending toward the back wall of said slide recess and toward each other to form legs inclined to said body with their free ends pressing against said back wall to press said contact surface against the fixed contacts, said central body being provided with at least one slot extending the full length thereof and into said legs to separate said body into laterally spaced contact bands integrally connected at said free ends of said legs, and said bands being bowed lengthwise toward said legs before the shorting contact is inserted in the slide recess.