Normally open extended travel dual tact switch assembly with sequential actuation of individual switches

A method of providing an extended travel tactile feedback pushbutton switch comprising the steps of:

• providing an insulated housing having an inner bottom surface and a plurality of walls;
• providing a conductive contact on approximately the center of said inner bottom surface of said housing;
• disposing an elastomeric dome in said insulated housing having a conductive means attached to a bottom surface of said dome for making an electrical contact when a pushbutton is activated;
• disposing a switching element between said conductive contact and said elastomeric dome conductive means which provides a first switch state of no contact;
• pressing said pushbutton a first distance in a direction toward said bottom surface of said housing wherein said conductive means of said elastomeric dome makes electrical contact with said switching element which provides a second switch state;
• pressing said pushbutton a second distance in the direction of said bottom surface of said housing wherein said conductive means of said elastomeric dome electrically contacts said switching element which contacts said conductive contact, thereby providing a third switch state;
• providing said pushbutton having a plurality of legs disposed above said elastomeric dome;
• disposing a collar around said elastomeric dome, said collar having an opening for a top portion of said dome to extend therethrough;
• and
• extending said pushbutton through an opening in a frame, said frame having a pair of sides, each side having an opening which snaps over a tab on the outside of said housing.

A tactile pushbutton switch comprising:

• an insulated housing having an inner bottom surface and a plurality of walls;
• a pair of opposite walls of said housing, each of said walls having a pair of integral right angle appendages extending inward and disposed a predetermined distance from each other;
• a first conductive contact disposed on approximately the center of said inner bottom surface of said housing;
• a first switch element having an upper elastomeric portion and a lower portion comprising conductive means for making an electrical contact when said pushbutton is activated;
• second conductive contacts on said bottom surface of said housing, each disposed between said right angle appendages for making electrical contact with said lower portion of said first switch element on two opposite sides of said switch;
• a second switch element, disposed between said first conductive contact on said inner bottom surface of said housing and said conductive means of said first switch element, having a first state of no contact with said first switch element, having a second state of making electrical contact with said conductive means of said first switch element, and having a third state of said conductive means of said first switch element electrically contacting said second switch element which electrically contacts said first conductive contact, as a pushbutton of said switch is being pressed in a direction toward said bottom surface of said housing;
• said pushbutton, disposed above said elastomeric element, comprises a plurality of legs for limiting the travel of said pushbutton within said housing;
• retainer means, inserted between each of said right angle appendages on said opposite sides of said switch resting on top of the outer feet of said first switch element, for forcing said lower portion of said first switch element to make electrical contact with said second conductive contacts;
• and
• a frame having an opening for said pushbutton to extend therethrough, said frame having a pair of sides which secure said frame to said housing.

A method of providing an extended travel tactile feedback pushbutton switch comprises the steps of:

• providing an insulated housing have an inner bottom surface and a plurality of walls;
• providing right angle appendages extending inward from a pair of opposite walls of said housing, said right angle appendages being disposed a predetermined distance from each other on each of said pair of opposite walls;
• disposing a first conductive contact on approximately the center of said inner bottom surface of said housing;
• providing a first switch element having an upper elastomeric portion and a lower portion comprising conductive means for making an electrical contact when said pushbutton is activated;
• and
• placing a pair of second conductive contacts on said bottom surface of said housing, each located between said right angle appendages for making electrical contact with said lower portion of said first switch element on two opposite sides of said switch;
• positioning a second switch element between said first conductive contact on said inner bottom surface of said housing and said conductive means of said first switch element having a first state of no contact with said first switch element, having a second state of contacting said conductive means of said first switch element, and having a third state of electrically contacting said conductive means of said first switch element and contacting said first conductive contact, as a pushbutton of said switch is being pressed in a direction toward said bottom surface of said housing, said pushbutton being positioned above said first switch element;
• inserting retainers between each of said right angle appendages on said opposite sides of said switch wherein said retainers rest on top of the outer feet of said first switch element, thereby forming said lower portion of said first switch element to make electrical contact with said second conductive contacts;
• and
• extending said pushbutton through an opening in a frame, said frame having a pair of sides which secure said frame to said housing.