Motorola Corporation

Richard Costantino

Stephen P Kopish

A pushbutton switch assembly having a hand-insertable snap-in subassembly comprising the switch chassis and the switch actuator is disclosed. Dome switch electric contacts are contained within a chassis having a plastic wall with a through opening therein. The chassis has a pair of integral flexible retaining tangs projecting into the through opening. A plastic switch actuator having recesses thereon is hand-inserted into the through opening, and the flexible tangs and recesses cooperate to provide a snap-in subassembly. The flexible retaining tangs bias the actuator into a first predetermined position in which an actuating plunger on the actuator is maintained out of contact with the electrical dome switch contacts. The flexible tangs permit inward movement of the switch actuator into the opening such that the actuating plunger can contact and actuate the dome switch electrical contacts. Stop projections are provided on the switch actuator which cooperate with guide channels and end mating surfaces in the chassis wall to limit the amount of inward movement of the switch actuator while also guiding the actuator movement.

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Rolling Meadows, IL, United States of America

Richard Costantino