Method and apparatus for an electrical switch assembly

An electrical switch assembly for momentary operation, the electrical switch assembly comprising:

• an electrical switch having a pair of normally open electrical contacts and a pair of normally closed electrical contacts, wherein the electrical switch may be actuated to close the normally open electrical contacts and open the normally closed electrical contracts, the electrical contacts of the switch connected to electrical contactpins matable with a contact pin connector;
• a module frame assembly having a channel with a latch spring hook, a cavity for receiving the electrical switch and a ribbed collar pivotally connected thereto;
• a switch actuator assembly disposed on a shaft for engaging and actuating the electrical switch upon depressing the shaft;
• a cap base assembly releasably connectable to the shaft of the switch actuator assembly and disposable in the ribbed collar for depressing the shaft to actuate the electrical switch, the cap base assembly including a cap module having an LED illuminatable display for indicating switch status;
• an electrical circuit interconnectable to the LED illuminatable display and the electrical contacts for providing electrical power to the LED illuminatable display;
• a latch spring guide disposed on the shaft and reciprocatingly receivable in the channel of the module frame assembly, the latch spring guide having a hook channel for receiving and guiding the latch spring hook when the shaft and the latch spring guide are moved into and out of the channel of the module frame assembly, said hook channel comprised of a first edge and a second edge wherein the electrical switch assembly emits audio and tactile indicators perceptible to an operator of the switch when the latch spring hook moves over the first edge to indicate that the electrical switch has been actuated and when the latch spring hook moves over the second edge to indicate that the electrical switch has been de-actuated, wherein the switch actuator assembly engages and actuates the electrical switch when the shaft and the spring latch are moved into the channel of the module frame assembly and the switch actuator assembly disengaging and de-actuating the electrical switch when the shaft and latch spring guide are moved out of the channel of the module frame assembly,
• wherein the electrical switch comprises a plurality of snap-action electrical switches interconnected by a flexible circuit board, the snap-action electrical switches disposable in cavities of the module frame assembly, the switch actuator assembly actuating the snap-action electrical switches upon depressing the cap module of the cap base assembly.

A method for operating an electrical switch assembly in an alternate on and off switch mode, the electrical switch assembly having an electric switch with a pair of normally open electrical contacts and a pair of normally closed electrical contacts, wherein the electrical switch may be actuated to close the normally open electrical contacts and open the normally closed electrical contacts, the electrical contacts of the switch connected to electrical contact pins matable with a contact pin connector, a module frame assembly having a channel with a latch spring hook and a cavity for receiving the electrical switch, and a switch actuator assembly and a latch spring guide disposed on a shaft for engaging and actuating the electrical switch upon depressing the shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the shaft and the latch spring guide into the channel of the module frame assembly;
• engaging the electric switch with the switch actuator assembly to actuate the electric switch, wherein a cap base assembly is releasably connected to the switch actuator assembly, the cap base assembly having a metal cap base platform with an edge for receiving an outer edge of a metal base on which an LED is disposed, the metal cap base platform serving as a heat sink for the LED to receive transferred heat from the LED, and a metal cap module having an inner edge for engaging the outer edge of the metal base when the metal cap module is disposed on the cap base platform;
• receiving and guiding the latch spring hook of the module frame assembly in a hook channel of the latch spring guide when the shaft and the latch spring guide are moved into the channel of the module frame assembly, said hook channel comprised of a first and second edge, wherein an audio and tactile indicators perceptible are emitted to an operator of the switch when the latch spring hook engages the first edge to indicate that the electrical switch has been actuated and latched and emitting audio and tactile indicators perceptible to an operator of the switch when the latch spring hook moves over the second edge to indicate that the electrical switch has been unlatched and de-actuated;
• engaging and retaining the latch spring hook on a first edge disposed in the channel of the latch spring guide to retain the latch spring guide in the channel and maintain the switch actuator assembly in engagement with the actuated electrical switch to latch the actuated electrical switch;
• and
• disengaging the latch spring hook from the edge to permit the shaft and the latch spring guide to move out of the channel of the module frame assembly and disengage the switch actuator assembly from the electrical switch to unlatch and de-actuate the electrical switch.

A method for operating an electrical switch assembly in a momentary on and off switch mode, the electrical switch assembly having an electric switch with a pair of normally open electrical contacts and a pair of normally closed electrical contacts, wherein the electrical switch may be actuated to close the normally open electrical contacts and open the normally closed electrical contacts, the electrical contacts of the switch connected to electrical contact pins matable with a contact pin connector, a module frame assembly having a channel with a latch spring hook and a cavity for receiving the electrical switch, and a switch actuator assembly and a latch spring guide disposed on a shaft for engaging and actuating the electrical switch upon depressing the shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the shaft and the latch spring guide into and out of the channel of the module frame assembly;
• engaging the electrical switch with the switch actuator assembly to actuate the electric switch when the shaft and the latch spring guide are moved into the channel of the module frame assembly, wherein a cap base assembly is releasably connected to the switch actuator assembly, the cap base assembly having a metal cap base platform with an edge for receiving an outer edge of a metal base on which an LED is disposed, and a metal cap module having an inner edge for engaging the outer edge of the metal base when the metal cap module is disposed on the cap base platform, the method comprising a further step of transferring heat from the LED to the metal cap module and the metal cap base platform which serve as a heat sink for the LED;
• receiving and guiding the latch spring hook of the module frame assembly in a hook channel of the latch spring guide when the shaft and the latch spring guide are moved into and out of the channel of the module frame assembly, said hook channel comprising a first and a second edge and then emitting audio and tactile indicators perceptible to an operator of the switch when the latch spring hook moves over the first edge to indicate that the electrical switch has been actuated and emitting audio and tactile indicators perceptible to an operator of the switch when the latch spring hook moves over the second edge to indicate that the electrical switch has been de-actuated;
• and
• disengaging the switch actuator assembly from the electrical switch to de-actuate the electrical switch.