Convertible switch

Claim 1

A convertible switch structure comprising a push button actuator, and at least two contact blocks stacked in end-to-end surface abutment; each contact block having a dielectric housing including opposite end walls and opposite side walls forming a contact compartment, each block having stationary and movable contacts; each block also having movable contact operating means including a guided reciprocable plunger, the opposite end walls of each contact block having plunger-receiving openings; the openings of each contact block being aligned, the plungers of adjacent contact blocks being in end-to-end abutment, one plunger being operatively connected to the push button actuator, each movable contact operating means also comprising a bridging contact member upon which the movable contacts are mounted, said means also comprising spring means for biasing the plunger toward the push button operator, the stationary contacts being mounted in the compartment adjacent one end wall thereof, the push button actuator comprising a casing having a bottom wall in abutment with the end wall of a contact block, the casing and housings having interlocking means for holding the actuator and switch blocks together; the interlocking means comprising similar latching hooks, one hook at one corner of the block and another hook only at a diagonally opposite corner of the block, each block also having cooperating in-turned latching surfaces only at other diagonally opposite corners, the hooks being detachably engaged with the latching surfaces, the casing also having latching hook means on one side and cooperating in-turned latching surface means on the other side which latching means engage corresponding interlocking means on the adjacent contact block, the opposite walls of each contact block being reversely mounted with respect to an adjacent block or casing to effect conversion of said block between normally open and normally closed contact modes, and the movable contact operating means being reversible within the compartment when the corresponding contact block is reversely mounted.