Multiple contact snap action slide switch

Claim 2

A multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing having a plurality of walls, said housing having an opening extending through one of said walls, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing for selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a slider having a handle extending outwardly through said opening, resilient means biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said resilient means permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with said two of said discrete contacts, and releasing means whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly actuates said releasing means and releases said contactor assembly from said restraining means thereby permitting said resilient means to move said contactor assembly to a position in engagement with another two of said discrete contacts at least one of which is different from said first two, saId releasing means comprising a pair of first cam surfaces and a pair of second cam surfaces, one of said slider and said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having diverging tapered end surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said first cam surfaces being positioned in said channel, said predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly causing one of said first cam surfaces to engage one of said second cam surfaces and move relative thereto.

Claim 3

The switch of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a plurality of notches in said housing, a projection on said contactor assembly selectively engages one of said notches.

Claim 4

The switch of claim 2 wherein a detent spring is positioned on said slider to engage the notches in said housing and prevent inadvertent movement of said slider.

Claim 5

The switch of claim 2 wherein said contactor assembly comprises a driver having a groove, and a conductive contactor positioned on said driver, said resilient means being a spring seated in said groove, a pair of legs on said slider extend over the ends of said groove for compressing said spring upon relative movement between said driver and said slider when said projection is positioned in one of the notches.

Claim 6

The switch of claim 1 wherein said contactor assembly comprises a driver and a conductive contactor, said predetermined movement pivoting said driver on the conductive contactor.

Claim 7

A multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing engaging said contact track and selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a slider mounted for movement relative to said contactor assembly, control operating means for moving said slider relative to said contactor assembly, resilient means for biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said resilient means permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means for releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with two of said discrete contacts, and releasing means for releasing said contactor assembly from said restraining means upon a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly, said releasing means comprising a cam having a pair of first cam surfaces on one of said slider and said contactor assembly and a pair of second cam surfaces on the other of said slider and said contactor assembly whereby said predetermined movement causes one of said first cam surfaces to engage one of said second cam surfaces and move relative thereto, said cam having downwardly converging tapered surfaces defining said first cam surfaces, and the other of said slider and said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having upwardly diverging tapered end surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said cam being positioned in said channel.

Claim 8

A multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing engaging said contact track and selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a slider mounted for movement relative to said contactor assembly, control operating means for moving said slider relative to said contactor assembly, resilient means for biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said resilient means permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means for releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with two of said discrete contacts, and releasing means for releasing said contactor assembly from said restraining means upon a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly, said releasing means comprising a cam having a pair of first cam surfaces on one of said slider and said contactor assembly and a pair of second cam surfaces on the other of said slider and said contactor assembly whereby said predetermined movement causes one of said first cam surfaces to engage one of said second cam surfaces and move relative thereto, said cam having downwardly converging tapered surfaces defining said first cam surfaces, and the other of said slider and said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having upwardly diverging tapered end surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said cam being positioned in said channel.

Claim 9

The switch of claim 6 wherein said restraining means comprises a plurality of notches in said housing, a projection on said contactor assembly selectively engages one of said notches.

Claim 10

The switch of claim 7 wherein said contactor assembly comprises a driver having a groove, and a conductive contactor positioned on said driver, said resilient means being a spring seated in said groove, a pair of legs on said slider extend over the ends of said groove for compressing said spring upon relative movement between said driver and said slider when said projection is positioned in one of the notches.

Claim 11

A multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing having a plurality of walls, said housing having a slot extending through one of said walls, a slider having a handle extending outwardly through said slot, a plurality of discrete contacts positioned within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing for selectively engaging two of said discrete contacTs to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a spring biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said spring permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with said two of said discrete contacts, a pair of first cam surfaces on said contactor assembly, a pair of second cam surfaces on said slider whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly causes one of said first cam surfaces and one of said second cam surfaces to matingly engage and release said contactor assembly from said restraining means thereby permitting said spring to move said contactor assembly into engagement with another of said discrete contacts, said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having upwardly diverging tapered end surfaces defining said first cam surfaces and said slider having a depending cam having downwardly converging tapered surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said cam being positioned in said channel.

Claim 12

A multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing having a plurality of walls, said housing having a slot extending through one of said walls, a slider having a handle extending outwardly through said slot, a plurality of discrete contacts positioned within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing for selectively engaging two of said discrete contacTs to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a spring biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said spring permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with said two of said discrete contacts, a pair of first cam surfaces on said contactor assembly, a pair of second cam surfaces on said slider whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly causes one of said first cam surfaces and one of said second cam surfaces to matingly engage and release said contactor assembly from said restraining means thereby permitting said spring to move said contactor assembly into engagement with another of said discrete contacts, said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having upwardly diverging tapered end surfaces defining said first cam surfaces and said slider having a depending cam having downwardly converging tapered surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said cam being positioned in said channel.

Claim 13

A snap action multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing having a plurality of walls, said housing having a slot extending through one of said walls, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a terminal electrically connected to each of said discrete contacts, said terminals extending outwardly from said housing for connection to an electrical circuit, a contactor assembly movable within said housing for selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a plurality of notches in said housing, a projection on said contactor assembly engaging one of said notches to maintain said contactor assembly in engagement with the two discrete contacts, a slider having a handle extending outwardly of said housing through said slot, a spring biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said spring permitting relative movement between said slider and said contactor assembly, engagement of said projection in said notch releasably restraining said contactor assembly against movement with said slider, a first cam surface on said contactor assembly, a second cam surface on said slider whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly causes said cam surfaces to matingly engage and move relative to each other to release said projection from said notch thereby permitting said spring to move said contactor assembly into engagement with another of said discrete contacts and move said projection into engagement with another of said notches, said contactor assembly having a groove and said spring being seated in said groove, a pair of legs on said slider extending over the ends of said groove for compressing said spring upon relative movement between said driver and said slider when said projection is positioned in one of said notches, said legs extending to the wall opposite the wall having said slot to restrain said driver from rocking.

Claim 14

A snap action multiple contact slide switch comprising a housing having a plurality of walls, said housing having a slot extending through one of said walls, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a terminal electrically connected to each of said discrete contacts, said terminals extending outwardly from said housing for connection to an electrical circuit, a contactor assembly movable within said housing for selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a plurality of notches in said housing, a projection on said contactor assembly engaging one of said notches to maintain said contactor assembly in engagement with the two discrete contacts, a slider having a handle extending outwardly of said housing through said slot, a spring biasing said contactor assembly to move with said slider, said spring permitting relative movement between said slider and said contactor assembly, engagement of said projection in said notch releasably restraining said contactor assembly against movement with said slider, a first cam surface on said contactor assembly, a second cam surface on said slider whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contactor assembly causes said cam surfaces to matingly engage and move relative to each other to release said projection from said notch thereby permitting said spring to move said contactor assembly into engagement with another of said discrete contacts and move said projection into engagement with another of said notches, said contactor assembly having a groove and said spring being seated in said groove, a pair of legs on said slider extending over the ends of said groove for compressing said spring upon relative movement between said driver and said slider when said projection is positioned in one of said notches, said legs extending to the wall opposite the wall having said slot to restrain said driver from rocking.

Claim 15

The switch of claim 10 wherein said contactor assembly comprises a driver and a conductive contactor, movement of said cam surfaces relative to one another pivoting said driver on the conductive contactor and releasing said projection from said notch.

Claim 16

In a multiple contact slide switch the combination comprising a housing, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a slider mounted for movement relative to said contactor assembly, control operating means for moving said slider, resilient means for permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means for releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with one of said discrete contacts, and releasing means whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contActor assembly actuates said releasing means and releases said contactor assembly from said restraining means, said releasing means comprising a pair of first cam surfaces and a pair of second cam surfaces, one of said slider and said contactor assembly having a depending cam having converging tapered surfaces defining said pair of first cam surfaces, the other of said slider and said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having end surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said cam being positioned between said pair of second cam surfaces.

Claim 17

In a multiple contact slide switch the combination comprising a housing, a plurality of discrete contacts mounted within said housing, a contactor assembly movable within said housing selectively engaging two of said discrete contacts to establish a closed circuit therebetween, a slider mounted for movement relative to said contactor assembly, control operating means for moving said slider, resilient means for permitting relative movement between the contactor assembly and the slider, restraining means for releasably maintaining said contactor assembly positioned in engagement with one of said discrete contacts, and releasing means whereby a predetermined movement of said slider relative to said contActor assembly actuates said releasing means and releases said contactor assembly from said restraining means, said releasing means comprising a pair of first cam surfaces and a pair of second cam surfaces, one of said slider and said contactor assembly having a depending cam having converging tapered surfaces defining said pair of first cam surfaces, the other of said slider and said contactor assembly having a channel formed therein having end surfaces defining said second cam surfaces, said cam being positioned between said pair of second cam surfaces.

Claim 18

The switch of claim 1 wherein the other of said slider and said contactor assembly has a depending cam having converging tapered surfaces defining said pair of first cam surfaces.

Claim 19

The switch of claim 4 wherein said legs extend to the wall opposite said one of said walls to restrain said driver from rocking.

Claim 20

The switch of claim 14 wherein a detent spring is positioned on said slider to engage the notches in said housing and prevent inadvertent movement of said slider.

Claim 21

The switch of claim 8 wherein said legs extend to the wall opposite said one of said walls to restrain said driver from rocking.

Claim 22

The switch of claim 9 wherein a pair of legs on said slider extend over the ends of said spring for compressing said spring upon relative movement between said driver and said slider, said legs extending to the wall opposite said one of said walls to restrain said driver from rocking.

Claim 23

The switch of claim 21 wherein said contactor assembly comprises a driver having a groove, and a conductive contactor positioned on said driver, said resilient means being a spring seated in said groove, a pair of legs on said slider extend over the ends of said groove for compressing said spring upon relative movement between said driver and said slider when said projection is positioned in one of the notches.

Claim 24

The switch of claim 18 wherein said restraining means comprises a plurality of notches in said housing, a projection on said contactor assembly selectively engages one of said notches.

Claim 25

The switch of claim 18 wherein said legs extend to a wall of the housing to restrain said driver from rocking.