Push-button switch

Claim 1

A snap acting switch comprising a stationary bushing, a drum mounted for sliding movement upon said bushing, a pair of fixed contact members mounted exteriorly of said drum, a pair of movable contact members mounted on one end of said drum and positioned to engage said fixed contact members when said drum is moved toward said fixed contact members, a plurality of radial bores in said drum, a ball movably contained in each of said bores, a pair of longitudinally-spaced ball seats on the surface of said bushing in alignment with each of the respective bores, drive means coupled to said drum for moving the latter longitudinally upon said bushing in one direction to a first position in which said balls are seated in the first ball seat of said pair and the movable contact members are pressed against said fixed contacts, and in the opposite direction to a second position in which said balls are seated in the other seat of said pair and said movable contact members are spaced from said fixed contact members, and biasing means on said drum urging said balls radially inward through the respective bores into firm seated positions in said seats, whereby said drum is releasably maintained in its respective first and second positions, said bushing being a hollow tube having at least one elongated slot therein, said drive means including a shaft slidably mounted in said bushing, and a pin connecting said shaft and said drum through said elongated slot.