Contact spring and switch construction

Claim 2

A contact spring comprising: a dielectric spring member having a base portion and a generally linear cantilever portion extending from the base portion; and a generally linear discrete conductor mounted on the spring member in close proximity thereto, the conductor extending along the length of the cantilever portion, the conductor being so mounted on the spring member that the portion of the conductor extending adjacent to the free end of the cantilever portion is movable longitudinally relative to the cantilever portion when the cantilever portion is deflected.

Claim 3

A contact spring as in claim 1 wherein the cantilever portion of the spring member is shaped to form a beam of generally uniform strength.

Claim 4

A contact spring as in claim 2 wherein both the width and the thickness of the cantilever portion of the spring member tapers toward the free end thereof to form a beam of generally uniform strength.

Claim 5

A contact spring as in claim 1 wherein the cantilever portion of the spring member includes means for holding the conductor in close proximity to the adjacent surface of the spring member.

Claim 6

A contact spring as in claim 4 wherein the conductor comprises a conductive strip and the holding means comprises a pair of spaced fingers, each finger comprising an upstanding leg extending outwardly from the surface of the spring member and a holding leg extending toward the holding leg of the other finger, the holding legs being spaced from the adjacent surface of the spring member a distance approximately the same as the thickness of the conductive strip.

Claim 7

A contact spring as in claim 4 wherein the holding means also prevents lateral displacement of the conductor relative to the spring member.

Claim 8

A contact spring as in claim 6 wherein the conductor comprises a conductive strip and the holding means comprises a pair of spaced fingers, each finger comprising an upstanding leg extending outwardly from the surface of the spring member and a holding leg extending toward the holding leg of the other finger, the upstanding legs being spaced apart a distance approximately the same as the width of the conductive strip, and the holding legs being spaced from the adjacent surface of the spring member a distance approximately the same as the thickness of the conductive strip.

Claim 9

A contact spring as in claim 7 wherein the base portion of the spring member includes a stop against which the conductive strip is placed to locate it in the proper longitudinal position with respect to the fingers.

Claim 10

A contact spring as in claim 8 wherein the base portion of the spring member further includes a wedge-shaped boss, the thick end of the boss facing in the opposite direction to the surface of the stop against which the conductive strip is positioned, and the conductive strip includes an opening for accommodating the boss when the strip is positioned against the stop, the boss and stop cooperating to prevent the portion of the conductive strip adjacent to the base portion of the spring member from moving longitudinally relative to the spring member.

Claim 11

A contact spring as in claim 9 wherein the base portion further includes a tapered stud on one face thereof and a tapered cavity on the other face thereof in alignment with the stud and of a configuration to accommodate the stud, the cavity having slightly smaller dimensions than the stud whereby when a plurality of spring members are positioned in engagement with one another the stud of one engages the cavity of another and the interference fit therebetween serves to secure the spring members together.

Claim 12

A contact spring as in claim 7 wherein the adjacent surface of the spring member includes a recess for accommodating the conductive strip, the width of the recess being generally coextensive with the facing surfaces of the upstanding legs and the depth of the recess being approximately the same as the thickness of the conductive strip.

Claim 13

A contact spring as in claim 4 wherein the conductor comprises a conductive strip and the adjacent surface of the spring member includes a recess for accommodating the conductive strip and preventing lateral displacement of the conductive strip relative to the spring member.

Claim 14

A contact spring as in claim 4 wherein the conductor comprises a conductive strip and the base portion of the spring member includes a stop against which the conductive strip is positioned when properly located with respect to the holding means.

Claim 15

A contact spring as in claim 13 wherein the base portion of the spring member further includes a wedge-shaped boss, the thick end of the boss facing in the opposite direction to the surface of the stop against which the conductive strip is positioned, and the conductive strip includes an opening for accommodating the boss when the strip is positioned against the stop, the boss and stop cooperating to prevent the portion of the conductive strip adjacent to the base portion of the spring member from moving longitudinally relative to the spring member.

Claim 16

A contact spring as in claim 14 wherein the base portion further includes a taPered stud on one face thereof and a tapered cavity on the other face thereof in alignment with the stud and of a configuration to accommodate the stud, the cavity having slightly smaller dimensions than the stud whereby when a plurality of spring members are positioned in engagement with one another the stud of one engages the cavity of another and the interference fit therebetween serves to secure the spring members together.

Claim 17

A switch comprising: a plurality of contact springs, each contact spring including a dielectric spring member having a base portion and a ribbon-like cantilever portion extending from the base portion; and a generally linear discrete conductor mounted on the spring member in close proximity thereof, the conductor extending along the length of the cantilever portion and having a width less than the width of the cantilever portion, the conductor being so mounted on the spring member that the portion of the conductor adjacent to the free end of the cantilever portion is movable longitudinally relative to the cantilever portion when the cantilever portion is deflected, the contact springs being positioned adjacent to one another in a column with the cantilever portions of the spring members in general alignment with and extending generally parallel to one another, the cantilever portion of at least one contact spring being movable and the side edges of the cantilever portion of each movable contact spring having a pair of opposed notches therein, a unitary flexible ring-like actuator disposed about the contact springs, the actuator having a pair of facing inside surfaces spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the side edges of the movable contact springs in the vicinity of the notches, in addition the inside surfaces having a pair of opposed grooves therein for each movable contact spring, each of the opposed grooves having a width approximately the same as the thickness of the associated movable contact spring and having a tongue extending transverse to the width of the groove, the sides of the grooves embracing the associated movable contact spring and the tongues extending into the notches thereof.

Claim 18

A switch comprising: a plurality of contact springs, each contact spring including a dielectric spring member having a base portion and a ribbon-like cantilever portion extending from the base portion; and a generally linear discrete conductor mounted on the spring member in close proximity thereof, the conductor extending along the length of the cantilever portion and having a width less than the width of the cantilever portion, the conductor being so mounted on the spring member that the portion of the conductor adjacent to the free end of the cantilever portion is movable longitudinally relative to the cantilever portion when the cantilever portion is deflected, the contact springs being positioned adjacent to one another in a column with the cantilever portions of the spring members in general alignment with and extending generally parallel to one another, the cantilever portion of at least one contact spring being movable and the side edges of the cantilever portion of each movable contact spring having a pair of opposed notches therein, a unitary flexible ring-like actuator disposed about the contact springs, the actuator having a pair of facing inside surfaces spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the side edges of the movable contact springs in the vicinity of the notches, in addition the inside surfaces having a pair of opposed grooves therein for each movable contact spring, each of the opposed grooves having a width approximately the same as the thickness of the associated movable contact spring and having a tongue extending transverse to the width of the groove, the sides of the grooves embracing the associated movable contact spring and the tongues extending into the notches thereof.

Claim 19

A switch as in claim 16 wherein the side edges of the movable contact springs include flared surfaces leading to the notches, and the lower surface of each tongue is inclined toward the upper surface thereof.

Claim 20

A switch as in claim 16 wherein the base portion of each spring member includes means for properly locating the spring member with respect to the adjacent spring member and for frictionally securing adjacent spring members together.

Claim 21

A switch as in claim 16 wherein the base portion of at least one spring member includes a lip extending outwardly from each side edge thereof and the base portion of at least one spring member includes a bearing surface facing opposite to the under surfaces of the lips and located between the lips.

Claim 22

A switch as in claim 19 further including a rectangular enclosure for accommodating the column of contact springs, each of two opposed interior sides of the enclosure having a flexible latch finger extending therefrom toward the other, each latch finger having a lip extending toward the lip of the other latch finger, the tips of the latch finger lips being normally spaced closer together than the distance between the tips of the base portion lips, the enclosure further including a depending rib in between the latch fingers for engaging the base portion bearing surface, the spatial relationship between the latch fingers and the rib being such that the upper surface of the latch finger lips engage the under surfaces of the base portion lips when the rib is positioned in engagement with the base portion bearing surface.