Electrical switch

Claim 2

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of spaced electrIcally insulated contacting surfaces, a shuttle member, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element, a tapered projection on one of said shuttle member and said contacting element, means on the other of said shuttle member and said contacting element engaged on said tapered projection to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lashfree unitary movement therewith and for limited rocking movement relative thereto in two opposite directions about an axis of said shuttle member through said tapered projection, and resilient means operable to bias said contacting element in one of said two opposite directions of rocking movement, said resilient means with said shuttle member mounted on said base maintaining said contacting element in sliding engagement with said base and said contacting element upon lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.

Claim 3

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of spaced electrically insulated contacting surfaces, a shuttle member, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element, a tapered projection on one of said shuttle member and said contacting element extending generally perpendicularly thereto and being generally circular in cross section, means on the other of said shuttle member and said contacting element engaged on said tapered projection to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member and for rotary and limited rocking movement relative to said shuttle member respectively about a first axis defined by said tapered projection and perpendicular to said shuttle member and a second axis extending generally perpendicularly to said first axis, means on said shuttle member and said contacting element operable to substantially restrict said rotary movement of said contacting element relative to said shuttle member, and resilient means operable to bias said contacting element in one direction of rocking movement, said resilient means with said shuttle member mounted on said base maintaining said contacting element in sliding engagement with said base, and said contacting element upon said lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.

Claim 4

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of spaced electrically insulated contacting surfaces, a shuttle member, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element, a tapered projection on one of said shuttle member and said contacting element extending generally perpendicularly thereto and being generally circular in cross section, means on the other of said shuttle member and said contacting element engaged on said tapered projection to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member and for rotary and limited rocking movement relative to said shuttle member respectively about a first axis defined by said tapered projection and perpendicular to said shuttle member and a second axis extending generally perpendicularly to said first axis, means on said shuttle member and said contacting element operable to substantially restrict said rotary movement of said contacting element relative to said shuttle member, and resilient means operable to bias said contacting element in one direction of rocking movement, said resilient means with said shuttle member mounted on said base maintaining said contacting element in sliding engagement with said base, and said contacting element upon said lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.

Claim 5

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination a base having a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of spaced electrically insulated contacting surfaces, a shuttle member having a generally conical tapered projection extending perpendicularly thereto, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element having a generally circular convexly flanged aperture therein, said conical projection on said shuttle member being captured by said circular aperture generally on said convex flange thereof to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member and for rotary and limited rocking movement relative to said shuttle member respectively about the axis of said conical tapered projection and an axis extending generally perpendicularly thereto, means on said shuttle member and said contacting element operable to substantially restrict said rotary movement of said contacting element relative to said shuttle member, and resilient means operable to bias said contacting element in one direction of rocking movement, said resilient means with said shuttle member mounted on said base maintaining said contacting element in sliding engagement with base, and said contacting element upon lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.

Claim 6

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination a base having a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of spaced electrically insulated contacting surfaces, a shuttle member having a generally conical tapered projection extending perpendicularly thereto, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element having a generally circular convexly flanged aperture therein, said conical projection on said shuttle member being captured by said circular aperture generally on said convex flange thereof to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member and for rotary and limited rocking movement relative to said shuttle member respectively about the axis of said conical tapered projection and an axis extending generally perpendicularly thereto, means on said shuttle member and said contacting element operable to substantially restrict said rotary movement of said contacting element relative to said shuttle member, and resilient means operable to bias said contacting element in one direction of rocking movement, said resilient means with said shuttle member mounted on said base maintaining said contacting element in sliding engagement with base, and said contacting element upon lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.

Claim 7

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of raised surfaces and carrying a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of electrically insulated contacting surfaces situated in generally coplanar relationship with said raised surfaces, a shuttle member having a recess therein and a generally conical tapered projection extending perpendicularly to said shuttle member, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element having a generally circular convexly flanged aperture therein at one end thereof and an upturned tab at the other end thereof, said conical projection being captured by said circular aperture on said convex flange of the latter to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member and for rotary and limited rocking movement relative to said shuttle member respectively about the axis of said conical tapered projection and an axis extending generally perpendicularly thereto, said upturned tab on said contacting element being closely received within said recess on said shuttle member to substantially restrict said rotary movement of said contacting element relative to said shuttle member, and a spring bearing at one end against said shuttle member and at the other end against said contacting element at a location on the latter between said convexly flanged circular aperture and said upturned tab, said spring biasing said contacting element in one direction of rocking movement so that with said shuttle member mounted on said base said contacting element is resiliently maintained sliding engagement with said raised surfaces, said contacting element upon said lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.

Claim 8

An electrical switch assembly comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of raised surfaces and carrying a plurality of electrical terminals defining a plurality of electrically insulated contacting surfaces situated in generally coplanar relationship with said raised surfaces, a shuttle member having a recess therein and a generally conical tapered projection extending perpendicularly to said shuttle member, means mounting said shuttle member on said base for movement relative thereto in two opposite directions between a plurality of spaced positions corresponding to the spacing of said contacting surfaces, a contacting element having a generally circular convexly flanged aperture therein at one end thereof and an upturned tab at the other end thereof, said conical projection being captured by said circular aperture on said convex flange of the latter to thereby mount said contacting element on said shuttle member for lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member and for rotary and limited rocking movement relative to said shuttle member respectively about the axis of said conical tapered projection and an axis extending generally perpendicularly thereto, said upturned tab on said contacting element being closely received within said recess on said shuttle member to substantially restrict said rotary movement of said contacting element relative to said shuttle member, and a spring bearing at one end against said shuttle member and at the other end against said contacting element at a location on the latter between said convexly flanged circular aperture and said upturned tab, said spring biasing said contacting element in one direction of rocking movement so that with said shuttle member mounted on said base said contacting element is resiliently maintained sliding engagement with said raised surfaces, said contacting element upon said lash-free unitary movement with said shuttle member between said plurality of spaced positions being operable to contact and electrically connect various ones of said contacting surfaces.