Elongate switch construction

Claim 1

A switch construction comprising an elongate base, an elongate resiliently flexible working member extending longitudinally of and in facing relation with said base, said working member being transversely concave toward said base and combining therewith to define a longitudinally extending internal hollow, an elongate base contact disposed longitudinally within said hollow and carried by said base facing toward said working member, a flexible tongue on said working member extending internally of said hollow toward and terminating short of said base contact, and an elongate tongue contact carried by said tongue in facing spaced relation and displaceable into engagement with said base contact upon flexure of said working member, said working member being of arcuate generally constant cross-section and comprising a pair of relatively thick longitudinal edge portions secured to said base and tapering in the direction away from said base to a pair of relatively thin longitudinally extending intermediate portions, said tongue being defined by a relatively thick longitudinally extending medial portion of said working member between said intermediate portions and isolated from said edge portions for relatively free movement of the tongue and tongue contact generally toward said base upon application of external force, by the initial flexing tendency of said relatively thin intermediate portions and the relative resistance to flexing of the edge portions.