Light load type push button switch

Claim 2

A small switch comprising a housing, a push button mounted therein, an actuator in the form of a leaf spring having a push button contacting section and a movable contact section at respective ends, said push button contacting section being provided with a spring section branched from the contacting section as a base and having a free end extending toward said movable contact section, a supporting metal member fixed within said housing, said actuator being fixed at said free end of the spring section to said supporting member, a turning spring member engaged with the actuator, movable contacts fixed to the contact section of the actuator, a normally closed fixed contact and normally open fixed contact mounted in the housing and opposed respectively to said movable contacts, the turning spring being interposed between the contact section of the actuator and a receiving part on the spring section of the actuator, the turning spring receiving part comprising an extension of the spring section of the actuator, said extension being branched from the free end of said spring section and directed toward the push button contacting section of the actuator.

Claim 3

A small switch of the micro type comprising. in combination, an actuator in the form of a generally flat leaf spring having a handle section at one end and a contact section at the other, the sections being interconnected by spaced integral side members definIng a central space, the actuator having an integral central spring in the central space extending from the handle section, a housing, a supporting member centrally positioned in the housing, the end of the central spring being secured to the supporting member, the housing providing closely spaced stops for limiting movement of the contact section in both directions, at least one of the stops being in the form of an electrical contact, a toggle spring member of C shape having one end engaged with the central spring and the other end engaged with the contact section so that force applied to the handle section moves the toggle spring over center for snapping of the contact section between its alternate positions.

Claim 4

A small switch of the micro type comprising. in combination, an actuator in the form of a generally flat leaf spring having a handle section at one end and a contact section at the other, the sections being interconnected by spaced integral side members definIng a central space, the actuator having an integral central spring in the central space extending from the handle section, a housing, a supporting member centrally positioned in the housing, the end of the central spring being secured to the supporting member, the housing providing closely spaced stops for limiting movement of the contact section in both directions, at least one of the stops being in the form of an electrical contact, a toggle spring member of C shape having one end engaged with the central spring and the other end engaged with the contact section so that force applied to the handle section moves the toggle spring over center for snapping of the contact section between its alternate positions.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which the supporting member is located at a level which is non-symmetrical with respect to the stops to establish a normal toggle angle causing the contact section to noramlly contact one of the stops and in which a push button is provided for pressing on the handle section to reverse the toggle angle for throwing of the contact section to its alternate stopped position.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which the central spring includes auxiliary leaf springs extending toward the handle section from adjacent the region of support, one end of the toggle spring engaging the ends of the auxiliary springs.

Claim 7

A small switch of the micro type comprising, in combination, an actuator in the form of a generally flat leaf spring having a handle section at one end and a contact section at the other, the sections being interconnected by spaced integral side members defining a central space, the actuator having a central leaf spring in the central space which extends from, and forms a continuation of, the handle section, a housing, a supporting member centrally positioned in the housing, the supporting member being secured to the end of the central spring, the housing providing closely spaced stops for limiting movement of the contact section in both directions, at least one of the stops being in the form of an electrical contact, the central spring having an integral extension extending reversely toward the handle section, a toggle spring member of C shape having one end engaged with the extension on the central spring and the other end engaged with the contact section, the support and the handle portions both being located non-symmetrically with respect to the stops so that the contact section normally bears against one of the stops to establish a normal toggle angle, and means for operating the handle member to reverse the toggle angle to throw the contact section to the alternate stop.

Claim 8

A small switch of the micro type comprising, in combination, an actuator in the form of a generally flat leaf spring having a handle section at one end and a contact section at the other, the sections being interconnected by spaced integral side members defining a central space, the actuator having a central leaf spring in the central space which extends from, and forms a continuation of, the handle section, a housing, a supporting member centrally positioned in the housing, the supporting member being secured to the end of the central spring, the housing providing closely spaced stops for limiting movement of the contact section in both directions, at least one of the stops being in the form of an electrical contact, the central spring having an integral extension extending reversely toward the handle section, a toggle spring member of C shape having one end engaged with the extension on the central spring and the other end engaged with the contact section, the support and the handle portions both being located non-symmetrically with respect to the stops so that the contact section normally bears against one of the stops to establish a normal toggle angle, and means for operating the handle member to reverse the toggle angle to throw the contact section to the alternate stop.