Amf Gmbh

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ronald H Arthur

Richard J Dykinga

Stephen A Tirone

A multiposition rotary switch including a detent mechanism wherein a resilient plastic ring having radially extending detent bumps engage cam surfaces on the inside walls of the switch casing. The detent ring is mounted on the contact carrier by means of downwardly projecting tabs which fit into corresponding radial slots in the contact carrier so that the detent ring is keyed thereto and rotatable with the contact carrier. An arcuate formed spring metal contact-wiper is keyed to the contact carrier for corresponding rotation therewith.

Rotary switch

The invention relates to an adapter for permitting a snap-in insertion of a small slide switch into an aperture in a mounting panel. The adaptor is a molded plastic member comprised of a rectangular frame having downwardly extending legs at each corner. Each leg has two outwardly and upwardly extending arms at each side of the leg. The free ends of the first arms at each end of the aperture are resilient and capture a tab on a metal housing of the slide switch thereby releasably holding the switch to the adapter. The free ends of the second arms at each end of the aperture face the periphery of the aperture and snap under the edge of the aperture to hold the plastic adapter in the frame.

Panel mount adapter for switches

A snap action slide switch concludes an improved spring detent means including resilient spring means on the contact carrier which stores energy and releases the energy at such position of the contact carrier to enhance rapid movement of the contact carrier to its different switching position.

Snap action slide switch

A momentary pushbutton switch has a circular actuating button with a downwardly extending center post. The post is in continuous contact with a center cantilevered leg of a spring contact member. The spring contact member also has side arms that are joined at opposite ends to respective end portions. One end portion is fixed to one terminal on a base member and the opposite end portion is free and spring biased above a stationary contact on the base. Depression of the actuaing button forces the cantilevered leg and free end downwardly toward a stop on the base. The free end then engages the stationary contact, closing the switch contacts. The base and contacts are specially formed to make assembly simple and error free.

Push button switch

A momentary contact switch is comprised of an insulator base member having a plurality of aligned dome shaped contacts extending upwardly from the top face. First and second pairs of notches or voids extend through the base member beyond opposite ends of the aligned stationary contacts. An elongated plastic actuator is disposed above the stationary contacts and extends both transversely and longitudinally beyond the aligned contacts. The actuator has four yieldable legs at or adjacent its four corners which extend downwardly and each leg is inserted through a respective notch. One pair of legs is shorter than the other pair. Each leg has a barb or wedge shaped element at its bottom for releasably engaging the under side of the base member to maintain the actuator and base member in operative relationship. A movable spring contact member is disposed between the base member and actuator. The spring contact member is an elongated strip of thin, yieldable, conductive material that has a reverse bend intermediate its two ends to form long and short legs. The short leg has a seat or pocket formed therein which fits over and in contact with an end one of the stationary contacts. The reverse bend of the spring contact member is located closer to the pair of short legs of the actuator.

Momentary contact switch having pivoting actuator mounted on switch base

A cylindrical button to be fitted on the end of the push rod of a push-push switch. Outer end of button has lens for viewing indicator having thereon two indicia representing respective switching positions of switch. Indicator is pivotally held on support means and is spring biased to indicate one switching position. Plunger extends from interior of cylindrical button through end of cylinder and is engagable with pivotally supported indicator. When switch push rod is activated to change switch to second switching position, plunger contacts switch housing and is moved further into the cylindrical button to pivot the indicator and expose second indicia through lens.

Position indicating button for push-push switch

A simple inexpensive slide switch is disclosed having a unitary plastic slide member serving the dual function as a switch housing and actuator. The plastic member is slidably mounted to the insulator base member by flexible side skirts having barbs extending inwardly and disposed in sliding engagement with the base member undersurface. The flexible side skirts and base member have complementary boss means and boss receiving means to provide detent type operation.

Growing community of inventors

Lauderhill, FL, United States of America

Ronald H Arthur