Low profile switch

An electromechanical switch comprising:

• a contact assembly located at least partially between a pushbutton, and a base;
• the contact assembly including a contact arm, first and second spacers, and a pivot post;
• the pushbutton operative to select from among a plurality of contact arm states;
• the first spacer pivotally engaging the pivot post and the contact arm;
• the second spacer pivotally engaging the pivot post and the contact arm;
• the second spacer including a spacer spring, a spacer spring insert, and a piston;
• the piston for moving in an elongated cavity of the spacer spring insert;
• the pushbutton operable to store energy in and to withdraw energy from the spacer spring while moving the contact arm between first and second equilibrium states;
• a linkage assembly including a link operable to transfer forces between a contact arm and an actuator lever;
• the linkage assembly further including a retainer operable to transfer forces between the actuator lever to the pushbutton;
• an actuator lever biasing spring tending to resist depression of the pushbutton;
• a cam adjacent to the link;
• a cam follower extending from the link;
• the cam follower operable to engage a curvilinear surface of the cam;
• interaction between the cam follower and the cam curvilinear surface creating a plurality of pushbutton equilibrium states;
• wherein operation of the pushbutton causes the link and cam to move, the link moving in a direction about perpendicular to the cam's direction of motion;
• wherein the spacer spring is a compression spring and the actuator lever biasing spring is a torsion spring;
• and,
• a retainer curved surface for engaging the actuator lever, rolling contact between the retainer curved surface and an actuator lever surface being caused by depression of the pushbutton.