Center biased joystick type actuator in a four-way switch assembly

Claim 1

A four-way electrical switch comprising, in combination, a support base having a first side and a second side, a threaded mounting boss defined on said base extending from said first side, a control lever receiving bore defined in said base concentrically extending through said boss and base, a spherical bearing-receiving socket defined in said base concentric with said bore and intersecting said second side, a control lever having a spherical bearing received within said socket, a handle affixed to said bearing extending through said bore and extending from said first side and a switch actuator defined on said bearing in substantially diametrically opposed relation to said handle and extending from said bearing adjacent said base second side, four similar electric switches mounted upon said base engaging said second side, each switch having a casing, an actuating button, mounting means, and terminals, and base mounting means defined on said base extending from said second side engaging said switch mounting means positioning said casings upon said second side at 90* with respect to each other about said socket, said casings partially overlying and engaging said bearing maintaining said bearing in said socket and said buttons being disposed adjacent said switch actuator at 90* with respect to each other about said switch actuator for engagement thereby upon pivoting said lever, and resilient means engaging said control lever and biasing said control lever to a neutral position coincident with the axis of said bore.