Rectilinear potentiometer and switch

Claim 2

A combination linear potentiometer and switch comprising: a. a housing, b. apertures in opposed ends of said housing, c. a collector strip and a resistance strip carried in said housing in spaced substantially parallel relationship, d. a slider extending through said apertures and movable between said collector and resistance strips and having lugs engaging walls of said housing to limit the travel thereof, e. electrical contact means carried by said slider engaging said collector and resistance strips, and f. an electrical insulating means cooperating with at least one of said collector and resistance strips to provide a substantially continuous sliding surface for said electrical contact means, engagement of said electrical contact means with said electrical insulating means providing said switch.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said electrically insulating means comprises a member in juxtaposition with said collector strip at one end thereof.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said member comprises a portion of a wall of said housing.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said slider comprises a thin bar, substantially rectangular in cross-section.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4 wherein there is an aperture in said bar and said electrical contact contact means includes a plurality of fingers carried by said bar, a number of said fingers engaging one of said collector and resistance strip, the other of said fingers extending through said aperture to engage the other of said strips.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a cup-shaped member and a cover closing same.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said cup-shaped member includes slots provided in walls thereof trapping said collector and resistance strips, said apertures comprise slots, and said cover further traps said slider in said slots and further traps said collector and resistance strips in said slots.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 1 further including posts extending from said housing for pivotly mounting said housing to a frame.

Claim 10

In a rectilinear potentiometer wherein an electrical contact means slideably engages spaced parallel collector and resistance strips, a rectangular shaped housing comprising: a. a rectangular cup-shaped member molded of electrically insulative material as a single unit to include: slots receiving said collector and resistive strips, ribs supporting at least one of said collector and resistance strips along a side thereof, open ended slots at opposed ends of said cup-shaped member receiving a slider carrying said electrical contact means, a groove in the bottom of said cup-shaped member maintaining alignment of said slider as it slides between said collector and resistance strips, apertures in the bottom of said cup-shaped member through which electrical terminals, connected to said collector and resistance strips extend, and posts extending from edges of walls of said cup-shaped member at its open end, b. a cover having apertures engaging said posts, said cover adapted to close said cup-shaped member and aid in trapping said collector and resistance strips and said slider in place.

Claim 11

In a rectilinear potentiometer wherein an electrical contact means slideably engages spaced parallel collector and resistance strips, a rectangular shaped housing comprising: a. a rectangular cup-shaped member molded of electrically insulative material as a single unit to include: slots receiving said collector and resistive strips, ribs supporting at least one of said collector and resistance strips along a side thereof, open ended slots at opposed ends of said cup-shaped member receiving a slider carrying said electrical contact means, a groove in the bottom of said cup-shaped member maintaining alignment of said slider as it slides between said collector and resistance strips, apertures in the bottom of said cup-shaped member through which electrical terminals, connected to said collector and resistance strips extend, and posts extending from edges of walls of said cup-shaped member at its open end, b. a cover having apertures engaging said posts, said cover adapted to close said cup-shaped member and aid in trapping said collector and resistance strips and said slider in place.

Claim 12

In a rectilinear potentiometer according to claim 9 wherein said cup - shaped member further includes a land in juxtaposition with and cooperating with said collector strip to provide a continuous sliding surface for said electrical contact means whereby a switch is provided in combination with said variable resistor.