Pushbutton electrical switch having a flairing contactor loosely

Abstract

The switch comprises a hollow, generally rectangular casing, a generally rectangular pushbutton slidable rearwardly in such casing, and a terminal supporting block closing the rear end of such casing. All of such components are made of moldable resinous plastic materials. The block carries forwardly projecting contact points which connect with external electrical terminals. The pushbutton carries a cup-shaped contactor, slidably and rotatably mounted on a retaining pin which is pressed into a hollow post projecting rearwardly from the pushbutton. A compression coil spring is mounted around the pin and the post, between the contactor and the pushbutton. The contactor is fitted with an axial eyelet on which the contactor is freely rotatable. The contactor is movable into wiping engagement with the contact points, when the pushbutton is pushed rearwardly against the biasing force of a coil spring, compressed between the pushbutton and the terminal supporting block. The casing has a pair of latching fingers with latching teeth which are slidable along guide grooves in the block. The latching teeth are spread apart by outward flexure of the latching fingers, until the latching teeth snap into latching recesses at the rear end of the grooves. The casing also has a pair of locating fingers, projecting rearwardly in a rectangular relationship with the latching fingers, and receivable in locating channels formed in the terminal supporting block. The casing and the block are easily assembled by pushing them together until the latching teeth snap into the latching recesses.