Steering column mounted, multiple circuit controller operating means with slide-type multi-switch assembly

Claim 1

An electrical switch comprising a housing, first and second groups of terminals in said housing, a contact carrier slidable in said housing, a first contact member mounted on said contact carrier, a resilient member between said first contact member and said carrier urging said first contact member towards said first group of terminals so that said first contact member interconnects selected terminals of said first group upon sliding movement of said carrier, recesses in said housing on the opposite side of said contact carrier to said first group of terminals, projection means on said carrier for resiliently engaging said recesses so as to retain releasably said first contact member in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said first group of terminals, a second contact member slidable in said housing transversely of the direction of movement of said first contact member to interconnect selected terminals in said second group of terminals, operating means for sliding each of said contact members, each operating means projecting externally of said housing, a plate, an operating lever, and a pair of pivots mounting said operating lever for movement relative to said plate about two mutually transverse axes, said housing being carried by said plate and arranged so that said operating means projecting externally of said housing can be selectively operated by said operating lever upon movement thereof relative to said plate about said two mutually transverse axes.