Tactile feedback switch mechanism

Claim 1

A manually operated electrical switch comprising a switching mechanism, a housing coMprising a cavity and first and second pairs of retaining tabs, a plunger depressable along a first axis and comprising a cam, a return spring for said plunger, a unitary cam follower carrier comprising first and second spaced apart wing members, said first pair of retaining tabs being constructed to overlap said first wing member and said second pair of retaining tabs being constructed to overlap said second wing member, said cam follower carrier being displaceable with respect to said housing along a second axis that is substantially normal to said first axis and comprising a tongue which projects into said housing cavity and a resilient arm having a cam follower thereon, a coiled bias spring positioned in said cavity between said tongue and a wall of said cavity for biasing said cam carrier follower to an initial position and said cam carrier to a first point, said resilient arm being displaceable along a third axis that is substantially normal to both said first axis and second axis with said cam follower being in engagement with a first portion of said cam as said plunger is depressed to a breakaway point, said cam follower carrier being directed along said second axis against the force of said bias spring as said plunger is depressed beyond said breakaway point so that said cam follower is abruptly driven to a second point, said cam follower carrier being returned substantially to its initial position along said second axis as said plunger completes its return to its undepressed position aided by the force of said return spring with said cam follower completing its return to said first point over a second portion of said cam as a result of a deflection of said resilient arm along said third axis.