Electric switch

Claim 2

A switch comprising, in combination, two switch members, a plurality of contact elements thereon, at least one contact element supported on one switch member and a plurality of contact elements supported on the other said member, the said switch members relatively displaceable between an off position where the contact elements or surface of the respective members are separated and an on position where the said elements or surfaces are in contact, a gasket of rubbery material disposed between the two switch members to surround and protect the area between the contact elements from damp penetration, said gasket compressed between the switch members to act as a return spring biassing the members to the off position, holes in the gasket to receive said contact elements so that each element is separately sealed by the gasket material, the shape of the gasket conformed to allow the contact elements of the respective switch members to make contact when the switch is moved to its on position against the spring bias of the gasket.

Claim 3

A switch according to claim 1 which includes a bridging contact element which is supported on said one switch member to bear against one face of the gasket and wherein said plurality of contact elements project through said holes to engage said bridging contact element when the switch is in the on position.

Claim 4

A switch comprising, in combination, two switch members disposed one within the other, an outer switch member comprising a recessed socket and an inner switch member which is slidable therein, contact elements located on each switch member whereby the two switch members are relatively displaceable between an off position where the contact elements of tHe two respective switch members are separated and an on position where the said elements are in contact, resilient gasket means of rubbery material disposed at the inner end of the recessed socket between the two switch members, assembly elements provided on the inner and outer switch members, said elements registrable with each other to engage when the members are assembled so as to hold the inner switch member in the socket and wherein the resilient means is compressed to act as a return spring biassing the members to the off position, said resilient means shaped to allow the contact elements of the respective switch members to make contact when the switch is moved to its on position against the bias of the resilient means.

Claim 5

A switch comprising, in combination, two switch members disposed one within the other, an outer switch member comprising a recessed socket and an inner switch member which is slidable therein, contact elements located on each switch member whereby the two switch members are relatively displaceable between an off position where the contact elements of tHe two respective switch members are separated and an on position where the said elements are in contact, resilient gasket means of rubbery material disposed at the inner end of the recessed socket between the two switch members, assembly elements provided on the inner and outer switch members, said elements registrable with each other to engage when the members are assembled so as to hold the inner switch member in the socket and wherein the resilient means is compressed to act as a return spring biassing the members to the off position, said resilient means shaped to allow the contact elements of the respective switch members to make contact when the switch is moved to its on position against the bias of the resilient means.

Claim 6

A switch, comprising in combination, two switch members disposed one within the other, an outer switch member comprising a recessed socket and an inner switch member which is slidable therein, a plurality of contact elements on the switches and wherein at least one contact element is supported on each switch member, the said members relatively displaceable between an off position where the contact elements of the switches are separated and an on position where the said elements are in contact, resilient means of a rubbery material disposed at the inner end of the socket between the two switch members and said resilient means compressed thereby to act as a return spring biassing the members to the off position, apertures in the two switch members extending axially of the recess and being mutually aligned, a Bowden cable engaged with the said switch members at said apertures whereby the application of an operating force to the cable causes said relative movement of the members to compress the rubbery resilient means against its bias and to bring the two switch members to the on position.

Claim 7

A switch, comprising in combination, two switch members disposed one within the other, an outer switch member comprising a recessed socket and an inner switch member which is slidable therein, a plurality of contact elements on the switches and wherein at least one contact element is supported on each switch member, the said members relatively displaceable between an off position where the contact elements of the switches are separated and an on position where the said elements are in contact, resilient means of a rubbery material disposed at the inner end of the socket between the two switch members and said resilient means compressed thereby to act as a return spring biassing the members to the off position, apertures in the two switch members extending axially of the recess and being mutually aligned, a Bowden cable engaged with the said switch members at said apertures whereby the application of an operating force to the cable causes said relative movement of the members to compress the rubbery resilient means against its bias and to bring the two switch members to the on position.

Claim 8

A switch according to claim 4 wherein the resilient means is a gasket that surrounds and protects the area between the switch contact elements from damp penetration.

Claim 9

A switch according to claim 3 wherein the resilient means is a gasket that surrounds and protects the switch contact elements from damp penetration.

Claim 10

A switch according to claim 3 wherein a plurality of contact elements are supported on at least one of the two switch members and which includes discrete holes in the gasket to receive respective ones of the said plurality of contact elements so that each contact element is completely surrounded by gasket material.

Claim 11

A switch according to claim 3 including a bridging contact element supported on one of the switch members to bear against one face of the gasket, spaced apertures located in the gasket through which apertures correspondingly spaced contact elements supported on the other of the switch members projects to engage the bridging element when the switch is in the on position.

Claim 12

A switch according to claim 1 wherein the switch members are disposed one within the other, the switch comprising an outer member comprising a socket recess and an inner member, the inner member slidable within the outer member and a resilient gasket means disposed at the inner end of the socket recess in the outer member.

Claim 13

A switch according to claim 1 which includes assembly elements provided on the inner and outer switch members and said elements are registerable with each other to engage when the members are assembled so as to hold the inner member in the socket recess of the outer member with the resilient means compressed.

Claim 14

A switch according to claim 1 which includes apertures in the switch members, which apertures extend axially of the socket recess and are mutually aligned, a Bowden cable engaged with the switch members at said apertures whereby the application of an operating force to the cable causes relative movement of the switch members to compress the resilient means against its bias.

Claim 15

A switch according to claim 4 which includes annular shoulders located around each of the apertures directed away from each other, the outer sheath of the Bowden cable is interrupted to form spaced end faces bearing on said annular shoulders, the inner wire of the cable passing through the apertures to extend continuously between the switch members.

Claim 16

A switch according to claim 1 wherein the switch members are disposed one within the other, the outer switch member comprising a socket recess within which the inner switch member is slidable, a gasket disposed at the inner end of the socket recess and which includes respective apertures in the switch members extending axially of the socket recess and mutually aligned, a Bowden cable engaged with the switch members at said apertures whereby the application of an operating force to the cable causes relative movement of the switch members to compress the gasket against its bias, and a further discrete aperture provided in the gasket for the passage of the Bowden cable.

Claim 17

A switch according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional form of the resilient gasket means varies in the direction of compression whereby the said means offers an increased resistance to unit displacement against its bias after an initial deformation has been imposed upon it.