Multimodal pressure switch

A switch mechanism comprising:

• a first portion having inner and outer ends and carrying a snap-action switch, said switch having a reciprocating operator positioned at said inner end and including a pair of conductive legs that project outwardly as terminals from said outer end;
• a movable member with a first side facing toward said inner end and the reciprocating operator, and a second side essentially opposite said first side;
• a biasing member which makes point contact with said first side of the movable member at a location that is offset from the reciprocating operator, and which is supported by said first portion for reciprocating movement along a line that includes its point of contact with the movable member and that extends generally transversely of the movable member;
• a second portion having inner and outer ends, and including at its inner end support means for supporting the movable member by making supporting contact with at least two support points on said second side that are offset from both the reciprocating operator and the point of contact between the movable member and the biasing member;
• spring means for biasing the biasing member toward the movable member and the movable member into contact with the support means and into a spaced relationship with the reciprocating operator;
• a load applying member which makes point contact with said second side of the movable member at a location spaced toward the reciprocating operator from both the biasing member and said support points, and which is supported by said second portion for reciprocating movement along a line that includes its point of contact with the movable member and that extends generally transversely of the movable member;
• and
• fulcrum means positioned on said inner end of said first portion to contact said first side of the movable member at a location spaced toward the reciprocating operator from the load applying member;
• with the relative spacing of the reciprocating operator, said support points, the point of contact between the biasing member and the movable member, the point of contact between the load applying member and the movable member, and the fulcrum means being such that a first movement of the load applying member toward the movable member will pivot the movable member in position about a first axis that includes said support points, to depress the biasing member, compress the spring means, and move the movable member into contact with the reciprocating operator to depress said operator and operate the snap-action switch, and a subsequent additional movement of the load applying member in the same direction will cause the movable member to pivot in position about the fulcrum means, to further depress the biasing member, further compress the spring means, and move the movable member out of contact with the reciprocating operator.