Binary codable, cam operated, pivoted contact switch assembly

Claim 2

A selective switch assembly comprising: a. an insulating housing having an opened compartment therein; b. a first contact member stamped and formed from a coplanar sheet of conductive material and comprising i. an intermediate portion extending along a sidewall of said housing, ii. a post at one end of and integral with said intermediate portion and depending from said housing, iii. an inner portion integral with said intermediate portion and extending into the space above said opened compartment of said housing, said inner portion forming one fixed contact; c. 2 second contact member stamped and formed from the same coplanar sheet of conductive material as said first contact member and comprising, i. an intermediate portion extending along another sidewall of said housing, ii. a post integral with said intermediate portion and depending from said housing, iii. an inner portion integral with said intermediate portion and extending across said opened compartment of said housing toward said fixed contact, said inner portion being swaged adjacent said intermediate portion to extrude the free end thereof into an overlapping relation to said fixed contact, said inner portion forming a movable contact arm; d. cam means in said compartment for moving said movable contact arm into and out of engagement with said fixed contac; and e. insulatIng cover means for covering said opened comartment.

Claim 3

The selective switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly includes: a. a stamped and formed third contact member comprising an intermediate portion extending along a sidewall of said housing in parallel relation to said intermeditate portion of said first contact member, a post integral with said intermediate portion and depending from said housing, and an inner portion integral with and normal to said intermediate portion and extending into the space above said opened compartment of said housing, said inner portion having a tab thereon forming a second fixed contact, said second fixed contact extending laterally over and spaced above said one fixed contact, with said movable contact arm being positioned thereinbetween; and b. said cam means includes means thereon for moving said movable contact arm from said one fixed contact to said second fixed contact.

Claim 4

The selective switch assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes: a. a detent surface on said cam means; and b. a stamped and formed fourth contact member comprising an intermediate portion extending along a sidewall of said housing in parallel relation to said intermediate portion of said second contact member, a post integral with said intermedate portion and depending from said housing, and an inner portion integral with said intermediate portion and extending into said opened compartment into biasing engagement with said detent surface on said cam means, said inner position on said fourth contact member forming a detent spring.

Claim 5

A switch assembly comprising a. a base member having sidewalls having spaced vertical grooves, endwalls having U-shaped slots therein, a mid-wall intermediate said endwalls and parallel thereto, said mid-wall having a U-shaped slot therein, two open compartments defined by said sidewalls, endwalls and mid-wall; b. a camshaft rotatably positioned in said base member, said camshaft having, end bearing surfaces received in said endwall U-shaped slots, a middle bearing surface intermediate said end bearing surfaces and received in said mid-wall U-shaped slot, four detent surfaces, each being positioned immediately adjacent an end bearing surface and two being one on either side of said middle bearing surface, four cams having lobes thereon, two of said cams positioned between one of said end bearing surfaces and said middle bearing surface and another two cams positioned between another of said end bearing surfaces and said middle bearing; c. 16 contact members stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material, said contact members being formed into two groups in tandem fashion with each group having two sets and with each set comprising four contact members, each contact member having an intermediate portion received in one of said vertical grooves on said sidewal s, a post portion integral with and extending from said intermediate portion and depending below said base member, and an inner portion integral with another end of said intermediate portion and extending over said opened compartment, a first of said inner portions including a short projection thereon forming a first fixed contact, a second of said inner portions positioned adjacent said first inner portion and having a tab thereon forming a second fixed contact, said second fixed contact extending laterally across and spaced above said first fixed contact, a third inner portion positioned opposite said first fixed contact and having a movable arm with a free end positioned between said first and second fixed contacts, said arm forming a movable contact arm, and engageable by one of said cams so that as said camshaft rotates, said cam moves said movable contact arm from one fixed contact to another, and a fourth inner portion positioned adjacent said movable contact arm and opposite said second fixed contact, said inner portion having an elongated arm with a convex surface thereon iN biasing engagement with one of said detent surfaces on said camshaft, said elongated arm forming a detent spring; and d. a housing cover adapted to fit down over said contact members and said base member.

Claim 6

A switch assembly comprising a. a base member having sidewalls having spaced vertical grooves, endwalls having U-shaped slots therein, a mid-wall intermediate said endwalls and parallel thereto, said mid-wall having a U-shaped slot therein, two open compartments defined by said sidewalls, endwalls and mid-wall; b. a camshaft rotatably positioned in said base member, said camshaft having, end bearing surfaces received in said endwall U-shaped slots, a middle bearing surface intermediate said end bearing surfaces and received in said mid-wall U-shaped slot, four detent surfaces, each being positioned immediately adjacent an end bearing surface and two being one on either side of said middle bearing surface, four cams having lobes thereon, two of said cams positioned between one of said end bearing surfaces and said middle bearing surface and another two cams positioned between another of said end bearing surfaces and said middle bearing; c. 16 contact members stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material, said contact members being formed into two groups in tandem fashion with each group having two sets and with each set comprising four contact members, each contact member having an intermediate portion received in one of said vertical grooves on said sidewal s, a post portion integral with and extending from said intermediate portion and depending below said base member, and an inner portion integral with another end of said intermediate portion and extending over said opened compartment, a first of said inner portions including a short projection thereon forming a first fixed contact, a second of said inner portions positioned adjacent said first inner portion and having a tab thereon forming a second fixed contact, said second fixed contact extending laterally across and spaced above said first fixed contact, a third inner portion positioned opposite said first fixed contact and having a movable arm with a free end positioned between said first and second fixed contacts, said arm forming a movable contact arm, and engageable by one of said cams so that as said camshaft rotates, said cam moves said movable contact arm from one fixed contact to another, and a fourth inner portion positioned adjacent said movable contact arm and opposite said second fixed contact, said inner portion having an elongated arm with a convex surface thereon iN biasing engagement with one of said detent surfaces on said camshaft, said elongated arm forming a detent spring; and d. a housing cover adapted to fit down over said contact members and said base member.