Alternate action mechanism for pushbutton switch with flat-headed latching pin

Claim 1

In a push button switch comprising a housing with a plurality of fixed contacts, a push button slider movable within said housing, a cam track formed in a surface on the slider within the housing and extending in the direction in which the slider moves, contact means mounted on the slider and movable therewith to bridge selected pairs of the fixed contacts, means for biasing the slider outwards from the housing, the housing having a flat outer surface disposed parallel with said cam-track surface on the slider and having a slot in said surface extending transversely of the direction of reciprocating movement of the slider, a cam-follower extending through the said slot into operative engagement with said cam track in order to limit, on successive depressions of the slider against its biasing means, the extent of ingress of the slider into the housing and of subsequent egress thereof under the influence of the biasing means; the improvement wherein said cam-follower comprises a pin having a straight shank and an enlarged flat head at one end, the shank of said pin being slidable in said transverse slot with the adjacent side of said enlarged head resting substantially flush with the flat outer surface on the housing and having in combination therewith a retaining plate mounted on the housing for engagement with the opposite side of said enlarged head in order to maintain said head flush with said flat outer surface between said housing and retaining plate, such that the shank of said pin is held substantially perpendicular to said cam-track surface as said cam track slides said pin within said transverse slot.