Multiposition rotary switch with detent means

Claim 2

A multiposition rotary switch comprising in combination: a housing for supporting a plurality of fixed pairs of electrically conductive switch contacts disposed in a radial array about an axis of rotation, at least one electrically conductive roller adapted to be revolved about said axis to make contact with each pair of said switch contacts in sequence of rotation to provide an electrically conductive path between each switch contact of said pair of contacts, and non-rotatable means for resiliently supporting said roller, said non-rotatable means having means cooperating with said roller for indexing said roller relative to a selected pair of switch contacts to provide for an open or short circuit between the switch contacts of said selected pair.

Claim 3

A multiposition rotary switch comprising a board, a stationary spring retainer of elastic insulating material mounted on said board, a rotatable body of insulating material positioned to be rotated around a portion of said retainer, a plurality of conductive contact rollers captively maintained between said spring retainer and said board, said spring retainer formed to provide an elastic retention force for maintaining said rollers captive, said board having a plurality of pairs of electrical contact pads, said contact pads disposed arcuately on said board, each pad of said pairs respectively adapted to be connected to an electric circuit, means responsive to the rotation of said body for arcuately moving said rollers into bridging contact with said pairs of contact pads to provide an electrical conduction path between each pad of a respective pair, a plurality of detent means on said spring retainer cooperating with said rollers for indexing and selectively locking said rollers on and off said contact pads.

Claim 4

A multiposition rotary switch comprising a board, a stationary spring retainer of elastic insulating material mounted on said board, a rotatable body of insulating material positioned to be rotated around a portion of said retainer, a plurality of conductive contact rollers captively maintained between said spring retainer and said board, said spring retainer formed to provide an elastic retention force for maintaining said rollers captive, said board having a plurality of pairs of electrical contact pads, said contact pads disposed arcuately on said board, each pad of said pairs respectively adapted to be connected to an electric circuit, means responsive to the rotation of said body for arcuately moving said rollers into bridging contact with said pairs of contact pads to provide an electrical conduction path between each pad of a respective pair, a plurality of detent means on said spring retainer cooperating with said rollers for indexing and selectively locking said rollers on and off said contact pads.

Claim 5

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said means to move said rollers into bridging contact with said pads comprises a plurality of rectangular apertures formed through said body and dimensioned to receive said rollers with close clearances, said apertures formed to coincide substantially with the radial and angular positions of said contact pads.

Claim 6

A rotary switch according to claim 2 further comprising a lever formed on said body for actuating said switch, said lever having an extension to strike the edge of said board when said switch is actuated, said switch being mounted near the edge of said board, and said projection serving as a mechanical stop to prevent overtravel of said switch.

Claim 7

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said body is formed of transparent material to permit visual indication of bridging contact of said rollers on said pads.

Claim 8

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said material of said spring retainer is elastically deformable, low coefficient of friction, insulating material selected from the group consisting of nylon, delrin, and polycarbonate.

Claim 9

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said mounting of said spring retainer on said board includes screw means.

Claim 10

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said rollers are cylindrical.

Claim 11

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said rollers are spherical, said contact pads being dimensioned and arranged to cooperate with each of said spherical rollers to effect said conduction path.

Claim 12

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said board is a printed circuit board, said electric circuit, said pairs of contact pads and said connections from said pads to said electric circuit being etched on said printed circuit board.

Claim 13

A rotary switch according to claim 2, wherein said spring retainer is formed as a disc having a hub at its center and a lip at its rim, said rim being substantially coincident with said arcuate position of said pads, said plurality of detent means comprising a plurality of scallops formed in said rim, said scallops having a radial section formed to mate substantially with the diameter of said rollers, a portion of said scallops substantially coinciding with said contact pads and a portion of said scallops located intermediate said contact pads.

Claim 14

A rotary switch according to claim 11, further comprising a noncircular aperture formed through said board, a key on said spring retainer formed to mate with said noncircular aperture in said board to maintain said spring retainer in a fixed position with respect to said board, said scallops being oriented from said fixed position to provide stopping positions coincident with said contact pads and stopping position intermediate said contact pads, said noncircular mating thereby preventing rotational movement of said retainer and maintaining fixed relative positions.