Switching apparatus

Claim 2

An electrical switch for selectively opening and closing a plurality of contacts comprising: a base member formed of an electrical insulating material and having a first surface which defines therein a plurality of apertures, contact electrode means on said first surface for defining a plurality of circuit paths thereon each of which extends to at least one of said apertures and is normally open circuited at the location of said aperture, a contact element of elastomeric material of the type which becomes electrically conductive upon compression and being supported in each said aperture in said base member, and slider means movable laterally over said first surface between preselected positions, said slider means including at least one pressure imparting means which exerts a compression force in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said slider means, said force imparting means being so positioned relative to said apertures in said first surface that in at least one of said preselected positions of said slider means said force imparting means compresses a respective control element and closes a circuit path associated with said aperture.

Claim 3

The switch of claim 1 in which said first surface is planar.

Claim 4

The switch of claim 1 in which said slider means is movable in a switch casing which includes a click mechanism for stopping movement of said slider means at each of said preselected positions.

Claim 5

The switch of claim 3 wherein said click mechanism includes a click ball carried by said slider means and a plurality of ball engaging recesses formed in said switch casing.

Claim 6

The switch of claim 3 wherein said pressure imparting means includes a ball which is received in a bore formed in said slider means and which is urged toward said insulator base member by a spring.

Claim 7

The switch of claim 1 wherein a compression spring is interposed between said pressure imparting ball and said click ball in said click mechanism.

Claim 8

The switch of claim 1 wherein said pressure imparting means includes a projection formed as an integral part of said slider means.

Claim 9

A switching apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said contact electrodes in each pair are spaced apart from each other by a narrow gap portion, and the corresponding one of said contact elements is disposed to overlie said narrow electrode gap portion.

Claim 10

A switching apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a plurality of such narrow electrode gap portions are disposed on a straight line extending in the sliding direction of said slider.

Claim 11

A switching apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a thin flexible sheet of wear-resisting insulator having a smooth surface is disposed between said pressure imparting means and said contact elements.

Claim 12

A slide switch structure comprising a switch casing, an insulator base fixed to said switch casing, a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes printed on said insulator base to be connected to external circuits, a plurality of contact lements of elastomeric material of the type which becomes electrically conductive upon compression and disposed on said insulator base at suitable positions opposite to said contact electrode pairs, a holding member for holding said contact elements in predetermined position on said insulator base, and actuating means including pressure imparting means for imparting a compressing force to said contact elements and a slider for causing sliding movement of said pressure imparting means to a compressing position and a non-compressing position for said contact elements, whereby the switch is turned on when any one of said contact elements is compressed and turned off when none of said contact elements are compressed, and a click mechanism being provided between said slider and said switch casing so that said pressure imparting means can be stopped at a plurality of positions in which said pressure imparting means engages said contact elements.

Claim 13

A slide switch structure comprising a switch casing, an insulator base fixed to said switch casing, a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes printed on said insulator base to be connected to external circuits, a plurality of contact lements of elastomeric material of the type which becomes electrically conductive upon compression and disposed on said insulator base at suitable positions opposite to said contact electrode pairs, a holding member for holding said contact elements in predetermined position on said insulator base, and actuating means including pressure imparting means for imparting a compressing force to said contact elements and a slider for causing sliding movement of said pressure imparting means to a compressing position and a non-compressing position for said contact elements, whereby the switch is turned on when any one of said contact elements is compressed and turned off when none of said contact elements are compressed, and a click mechanism being provided between said slider and said switch casing so that said pressure imparting means can be stopped at a plurality of positions in which said pressure imparting means engages said contact elements.

Claim 14

A switching apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said click mechanism includes a click ball carried by said slider and a plurality of ball engaging recesses formed in said switch casing.

Claim 15

A slide switch structure comprising a switch casing, an insulator base fixed to said switch casing, a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes printed on said insulator base to be connected to external circuits, a plurality of contact elements of elastomeric material of the type which becomes electrically conductive upon compression and disposed on said insulator base at suitable positions opposite to said contact electrode pairs, a holding member for holding said contact elements in predetermined position on said insulator base, and actuating means including pressure imparting means for imparting a compressing force to said contact elements and a slider for causing sliding movement of said pressure imparting means to a compressing position and a non-compressing position for said contact elements, whereby the switch is turned on when any one of said contact elements is compressed and turned off when none of said contact elements are compressed, said pressure imparting means including a ball which is received in a bore formed in said slider and which is urged toward said insulator base by a spring.

Claim 16

A slide switch structure comprising a switch casing, an insulator base fixed to said switch casing, a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes printed on said insulator base to be connected to external circuits, a plurality of contact elements of elastomeric material of the type which becomes electrically conductive upon compression and disposed on said insulator base at suitable positions opposite to said contact electrode pairs, a holding member for holding said contact elements in predetermined position on said insulator base, and actuating means including pressure imparting means for imparting a compressing force to said contact elements and a slider for causing sliding movement of said pressure imparting means to a compressing position and a non-compressing position for said contact elements, whereby the switch is turned on when any one of said contact elements is compressed and turned off when none of said contact elements are compressed, said pressure imparting means including a ball which is received in a bore formed in said slider and which is urged toward said insulator base by a spring.

Claim 17

A switching apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a compression spring is interposed between said pressure imparting ball and said click ball in said click mechanism.

Claim 18

A slide switch structure comprising a switch casing, an insulator base fixed to said switch casing, a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes printed on said insulator base to be connected to external circuits, a plurality of contact elements of elastomeric material of the type which becomes externally conductive upon compression and disposed on said insulator base at suitable positions opposite to said contact electrode pairs, a holding member for holding said contact elements in predetermined position on said insulator base, and actuating means including pressure imparting means for imparting a compressing force to said contact elements and a slider for causing sliding movement of said pressure imparting means to a compressing position and a non-compressing position for said contact elements, whereby the switch is turned on when any one of said contact elements is compressed and turned off when none of said contact elements are compressed, said pressure imparting means including a projection formed as an integral part of said slider.

Claim 19

A slide switch structure comprising a switch casing, an insulator base fixed to said switch casing, a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes printed on said insulator base to be connected to external circuits, a plurality of contact elements of elastomeric material of the type which becomes externally conductive upon compression and disposed on said insulator base at suitable positions opposite to said contact electrode pairs, a holding member for holding said contact elements in predetermined position on said insulator base, and actuating means including pressure imparting means for imparting a compressing force to said contact elements and a slider for causing sliding movement of said pressure imparting means to a compressing position and a non-compressing position for said contact elements, whereby the switch is turned on when any one of said contact elements is compressed and turned off when none of said contact elements are compressed, said pressure imparting means including a projection formed as an integral part of said slider.