Convertible alternate action/momentary pushbutton switch

A pushbutton switch mechanism selectively capable of either momentary or alternate-action operation, the pushbutton switch mechanism comprising:

• a housing including first and second generally parallel side walls, a bottom, and a top which define a longitudinal slider cavity which is open at a first end of the housing;
• the housing further including a lower tongue portion which extends outward from the first end;
• the top including an upper tongue which extends outward from the first end, which is generally parallel to and is spaced above the lower tongue, and which carries a vertical pivot hole which extends through the upper tongue;
• the top cover further including a longitudinally extending top opening which communicates with the cavity and which is connected to the pivot hole;
• and the top further including a raised cover connected to the upper tongue and covering a portion of the top opening;
• an elongated slider adapted for actuating a switch, the slider extending between the upper and lower tongues and into the longitudinal slider cavity and being slidable along a longitudinal axis defined by the longitudinal slider cavity, the slider having an outer portion located outside the cavity and having an inner portion located within the cavity;
• the outer portion of the slider having a shoulder which is normally longitudinally spaced from the first end of the housing;
• inner portion of the slider having a heart-shaped cam groove in an upper surface of the slider which defines a pair of rest positions of the slider, the heart-shaped cam groove being located on the upper surface of the inner portion of the slider so that at least a portion of the heart-shaped cam groove is normally positioned below the top opening;
• a removable alternate-action stop member having an upturned pivot leg, a downturned detent leg parallel to the pivot leg, and a crosspiece extending between and connecting the pivot leg and the detent leg;
• wherein the stop member is positioned with the pivot leg extending upward through the vertical pivot hole so that an upper end of the pivot leg is above the upper tongue and so that the stop member is permitted to pivot about a vertical pivot axis defined by the pivot hole, with the detent leg extending downward so that a lower end of the pivot leg extends into and cooperates with the heart-shaped cam groove, and with the crosspiece movable in a side-to-side arc in the top opening as the slider moves along the longitudinal axis and the lower end of the detent leg follows the heart-shaped cam groove;
• and wherein the stop member is selectively removable to permit momentary operation of the pushbutton switch mechanism;
• and
• a helical compression spring surrounding the slider and extending between the shoulder on the slider and the first end of the housing to provide a longitudinal slider bias force tending to bias the slider outward, the helical compression spring having a first end which surrounds at least a portion of the upper and lower tongues and which abuts the upper end of the pivot leg to apply a generally longitudinal stop member bias force tending to bias the lower end of the detent leg of the stop member into engagement with the heart-shaped cam groove.