Spring switch for mounting on a circuit board substrate

Abstract

A spring switch for mounting on a circuit board substrate includes a spring contact element formed from a strip of metal having spring-like characteristics and comprising a convex or curved portion with support legs at each end thereof. The convex spring portion is monostable in nature but capable of assuming two states, one state being stable and the other state being unstable. Upon application of pressure thereto the convex spring portion will deform from its stable state to its unstable state, and thereby make contact with an underlying second contact element. Upon removal of the pressure, the convex portion snaps or springs back to its original, stable convex position. A pair of spades are attached to the legs, to be insertable in and through holes in the circuit board substrate, to secure the spring element to the substrate. A key of insulating material rides normally above the convex portion to enable downward pressure to be applied to said convex portion to deform it to the contacting posture.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.