Push button multiple circuit switch assembly with laminated sliders and membrane

An electrical switch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• switch means mounted within said housing, said switch means having at least one pair of electrical contacts selectively movable to open and closed positions;
• at least one push rod extending through said housing and having a first end which terminates within the housing, and a second end which terminates exteriorly of the housing, said push rod being axially movable relative to the housing;
• and
• at least one generally elongate slider movably mounted within the housing, said slider having a first edge and a first cam surface on said first edge for interacting with at least one of the paired electrical contacts of the switch means to selectively open and close the contacts as the slider moves between first and second positions within the housing, said slider having a second edge and a second cam surface on said second edge for interacting with the first end of the push rod as said push rod is axially moved so as to cause the slider to move within the housing;
• wherein said cam surface on said second edge of the slider has a first portion having a first angle, relative to an axial centerline of a push rod, selected so as to require that a first predetermined level of force be applied to the push rod to cause the slider to begin to move away from said first position, and a second portion having a second angle selected so as to require a second, substantially lower level of force be applied to the push rod to cause the slider to continue to move to said second position.

An electrical switch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• switch means mounted within said housing, said switch means having at least one electrical contact selectively movable to open and closed positions;
• at least one push rod extending through said housing, and having a first end which terminates within the housing, and a second end which terminates exteriorly of the housing, said push rod being axially movable relative to the housing;
• and
• a pair of generally elongate sliders movably mounted within the housing, each of said sliders having a first edge and a cam surface on said first edge for interacting with the paired electrical contacts of the switch means to selectively open and close the contacts as the sliders move between first and second positions within the housing, and each of said sliders having a second edge and a cam surface on said second edge for interacting with the first end of the push rod as the push rod is axially moved, so as to cause the sliders to move in opposite directions within the housing;
• wherein said cam surfaces on the second edges of the pair of sliders cooperatively interact with the electrical contact so as to cause the switch means to open and close in response to the concurrent and opposing movements of the sliders.

An electrical switch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• switch means mounted within said housing, said switch means having at least one electrical contact selectively movable to releasably secured open and closed positions;
• at least one push rod extending through said housing, and having a first end which terminates within the housing, and a second end which terminates exteriorly of the housing, said push rod being axially movable relative to the housing;
• means camingly engaging the electrical contact for moving the electrical contact to at least one of said releasably secured open and closed positions in response to axial movements of said push rod;
• and
• a flexible membrane having first and second surfaces and being disposed such that the second ends of the push rods lie immediately adjacent the second surface of the membrane such that the push rods can be actuated by a force applied to an opposing portion of the first surface of the membrane.

An electrical switch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• switch means mounted within said housing, said switch means having at least one electrical contact selectively movable to open and closed positions;
• at least one push rod extending through said housing, and having a first end which terminates within the housing, and a second end which terminates exteriorly of the housing, said push rod being axially movable relative to the housing;
• means for moving the electrical contact to at least one of said open and closed positions in response to axial movements of said push rod;
• and
• a flexible membrane having first and second surfaces and being disposed such that the second ends of the push rods lie immediately adjacent the second surface of the membrane such that the push rods can be actuated by a force applied to an opposing portion of the first surface of the membrane;
• wherein said means for moving the electrical contact comprises at least one generally elongate slider movably mounted within the housing, said slider having a first edge and a first cam surface on said first edge for interacting with at least one of the paired electrical contacts of the switch means to selectively open and close the contacts as the slider moves between first and second positions within the housing, said slider having a second edge and a second cam surface on said second edge for interacting with the first end of the push rod as said push rod is axially moved so as to cause the slider to move within the housing.

An electrical switch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• switch means mounted within said housing, said switch means having at least one electrical contact selectively movable to open and closed positions;
• at least one push rod extending through said housing, and having a first end which terminates within the housing, and a second end which terminates exteriorly of the housing, said push rod being axially movable relative to the housing;
• means for moving the electrical contact to at least one of said open and closed positions in response to axial movements of said push rod;
• and
• a flexible membrane having first and second surfaces and being disposed such that the second ends of the push rods lie immediately adjacent the second surface of the membrane such that the push rods can be actuated by a force applied to an opposing portion of the first surface of the membrane;
• wherein said means for moving the electrical contact comprises at least one generally elongate slider movably mounted within the housing, said slider having a first edge and a first cam surface on said first edge for interacting with at least one of the paired electrical contacts of the switch means to selectively open and close the contacts as the slider moves between first and second positions within the housing, said slider having a second edge and a second cam surface on said second edge for interacting with the first end of the push rod as said push rod is axially moved so as to cause the slider to move within the housing;
• and
• wherein said cam surface on said second edge of the slider has a first portion having a first angle, relative to an axial centerline of a push rod, selected so as to require that a first predetermined level of force be applied to the push rod to cause the slider to begin to move away from said first position, and a second portion having a second angle selected so as to require a second, substantially lower level of force be applied to the push rod to cause the slider to continue to move to said second position.