US 4,115,670 A · Electrical switch assembly

Abstract

An assembly of at least two single-pole, double-throw slide switches, with one of the switches being mounted 90.degree. with respect to the other switch. A movable plate is positioned above the two SPDT switches, and the movable plate has apertures or the like which engage the projecting arms of the two SPDT switches, whereby translating movement of the movable plate causes action of one or both of the SPDT switches. Appropriate springs are provided to bias the movable plate to a centered, rest position at all times. Hence, movement of the movable plate as a result of some manual force may affirmatively generate any one of eight distinct signals. The centered rest position of the movable plate may also be considered as a signal-generation position, such that nine distinct bits of information may be communicated through the manual manipulation of a single knob that is connected to only two SPDT slide switches.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Switching apparatus comprising:

(a) a fixed base;
(b) a first slide switch characterized as a single-pole, double-throw switch which is mounted at one end of said base, and a second single-pole, double-throw slide switch mounted at the other end of the base, and the second switch being mounted in a direction which is perpendicular to the first switch, and both of said slide switches having projecting arms by which the switches are activated;
(c) a movable plate juxtaposed over said base, said plate having two spaced recesses into which the projecting arms of the two slide switches are fitted, and said recesses being sized such that movement of the plate along one axis will activate one of the slide switches and movement along an orthogonal axis will activate the other slide switch;
and
(d) structural means against which a manual force may be applied to the movable plate, so as to slide the plate with respect to the base and thereby move at least one of the projecting arms, whereby at least one of the two slide switches will be activated.

2 more elements

A switch assembly, comprising:

(a) a base;
(b) a movable plate juxtaposed with the base for movement in a plane parallel to and very near the base;
(c) a pair of single-pole, double-throw switches mounted on the base with their posts protruding upward toward the movable plate, with said pair of switches being oriented approximately perpendicular to each other;
(d) said movable plate having a first slot positioned to receive the post of the first switch, with the slot being relatively narrow in a direction parallel to the excursion path of its associated switch and relatively wide in a direction perpendicular to said excursion path;
and
(e) said movable plate having a second slot positioned to receive the post of the second switch, with the slot being relatively narrow in a direction parallel to the excursion path of its associated switch and relatively wide in a direction perpendicular to said excursion path, whereby movement of the plate in a given direction may cause movement of the post of one of said switches but not the other switch.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical switch assembly

Life of this patent

Electrical switch assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14