Push-button switches

Abstract

Push-button switches include a housing which defines an interior space and an opposed pair of longitudinally oriented recessed channels. At least upper regions of the recessed channels are open to said defined interior space. A pair of elongate fixed contact strips are each positioned within a respective one of the defined recessed channels, the fixed contact strips being of a sufficient length so that a terminal end portion thereof is disposed in the open upper region of the recessed channel to thereby be exposed to the interior space of the housing. In this regard, the housing preferably includes interior cover walls covering a major extent of the recessed channels so that the terminal end portions of the fixed contact strips positioned therewithin are exposed to the defined housing interior space. A push-button assembly is received within the interior space of the housing for reciprocal movements between extended and retracted positions, with a spring urging the push-button assembly into the extended position. The push button assembly includes a slide contact member which is movable with the push-button assembly between the extended and retracted positions thereof. The slide contact member has a pair of resilient contact legs each contacting a respective one of the exposed terminal end portions of the fixed contact strips when the push-button assembly is in the extended position, whereby an electrical circuit is made, and is spaced from the respective one of the fixed contact strips when the push-button assembly is in the retracted position, whereby an electrical circuit is broken.