Switch operated axially or rotatably
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsShiro Kondo, Yoshinori Watanabe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch suitable for use in digital clocks for automobiles comprises a case and a plurality of fixed terminals secured within the case. A contact member movable axially or rotatably by a shaft has a plurality of contact elements. A first spring member operates to return the contact member to its initial position after it has been rotated to effect a switching function and a second spring returns the contact to its initial axial position after the contact member has been moved axially to effect a switching function. The switch can thus provide any of these switching functions by being operated by rotating the shaft in either of two directions, or by axially moving the shaft.
Claims11
A switch operable to interconnect electrically selected various fixed terminals to a common terminal, comprising:
- a case having a plurality of fixed terminals and a common terminal secured therewithin;
- a sliding contact member movable axially and rotationally within said case and including a plurality of contact elements extending outwardly therefrom;
- means including an operation shaft for moving said sliding member axially or rotationally for bringing selected ones of said contact elements into engagement with said common terminal and at least one selected fixed terminal;
- a spring member operatively associated with said moving means for returning said sliding member to its initial rotational position after rotary movement thereof;
- and
- a second spring operatively associated with said moving means for returning said sliding member to its initial axial position after axial movement thereof;
- whereby at least one fixed terminal will be electrically interconnected with said common terminal upon rotation of said shaft in a first direction and at least one of the other fixed terminals will be electrically interconnected with said common terminal upon rotation of said shaft in a second direction, and further at least one of the remaining fixed terminals will be electrically interconnected with said common terminal upon axial movement of said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.