Negative rate snap-acting switch apparatus and method

A switch apparatus, comprising:

• a plunger associated with an actuating lever, a stationary anchor, a moveable contact, and at least two stationary contacts, wherein one of said at least two stationary contacts comprises a normally open contact and another of said at least two stationary contacts comprises a normally closed contact;
• and
• a snap-spring assembly reactive to said actuating lever, wherein said snap-spring assembly is assembled into said stationary anchor and said actuating lever to form a spring-anchor-lever assembly thereof including a central spring member loaded into an axial compression and persuaded to bend into a post-buckled elastic mode shape thereof to form a switch apparatus in which said moveable and said at least two stationary contacts are responsive to an actuating force derived from said snap-spring assembly;
• and
• wherein a downward depression of said plunger causes said actuating lever via an actuating force to move a hinged portion of said actuating lever upward along an arc thereby causing compression of said central spring member, resulting in a snap-action contact between said moveable contact and said at least two stationary contacts for completion of an electrical circuit thereof.