Joystick operator for pushbutton switch

Claim 2

A mechanism for simultaneously actuating selected ones of a plurality of plungers comprising, in combination, a plurality of levers comprising first and second pairs of first and second levers each of which is rotatable for engagement with at least one corresponding plunger to actuate such plunger, an operating member, and a plurality of linkage members operable by movement of said operating member between a plurality of different positions to rotate a selected one of said levers of said first pair of levers and one of said levers of said second pair of levers.

Claim 3

A mechanism for simultaneously actuating selected ones of a plurality of plungers comprising, in combination, a plurality of levers comprising first and second pairs of first and second levers each of which is rotatable for engagement with at least one corresponding plunger to actuate such plunger, an operating member, and a plurality of linkage members operable by movement of said operating member between a plurality of different positions to rotate a selected one of said levers of said first pair of levers and one of said levers of said second pair of levers.

Claim 4

A mechanism for simultaneously actuating selected ones of a plurality of plungers comprising, in combination, a plurality of levers comprising first and second pairs of first and second levers each of which is rotatable for engagement with at least one corresponding plunger to actuate such plunger, an operating member, and a plurality of linkage members operable by movement of said operating member between a plurality of different positions to rotate a selected one of said levers of said first pair of levers and one of said levers of said second pair of levers.

Claim 5

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of linkage members comprises first and second linkage members, said first linkage member being disposed for rectilinear displacement in first and second opposite directions to rotate the respective first and second levers of said first pair.

Claim 6

A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second linkage member is mounted for pivotal displacement in first and second opposite directions to rotate the respective first and second levers of said second pair.

Claim 7

A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second levers of said second pair each comprise first and second arms, said respective first arms being adapted for engagement by said second linkage member to rotate said respective first and second levers of said second pair and said second arms being engageable with corresponding plungers whereby to actuate the plungers.

Claim 8

A mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plurality of linkage members comprises a third linkage member being a bell-crank, pivot means for said bell-crank and means connecting said bell-crank to said first linkage member to pivot said bell-crank about said pivot means in response to said rectilinear displacement of said first linkage member, and said first and second levers of said first pair each comprise first and second arms, said first arms being adapted for engagement by said first linkage member and said bell-crank respectively whereby to rotate said respective first and second levers of said first pair and said second arms being engageable with corresponding plungers whereby to actuate the plungers.

Claim 9

A mechanism as claimed in claim 5 comprising operating member pivot means wherein said operating member comprises an elongate joystick connected to said operating member pivot means between its ends, a bush movable with one end of saId joystick, first and second elongate slots formed in said first and second linkage members respectively, the major ones of said slots being disposed substantially at right angles in a plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said joystick, said bush being slidably engaged with said slots whereby pivotal movement of said joystick about an axis parallel with the major axis of said first slot produces said rectilinear displacement of said first linkage member and pivotal movement of said joystick about an axis parallel with the major axis of said second slot produces said pivotal displacement of said second linkage member.

Claim 10

A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 comprising index means to index said respective displacements and combinations of displacements of said linkage members wherein said first and second linkage members are provided with respective notches or pluralities of notches and said index means comprises first and second bias springs and first and second index members biased by the respective said bias springs into engagement with said first and second linkage members respectively so as to engage with said respective notches or pluralities of notches.