Joystick-type controller

Claim 1

A controller for causing switch contact closures in response to X-Y coordinate movements, said controller comprising a housing, a substrate including an electrical circuit defined thereon supported in said housing, a handle having a longitudinal axis extending into said housing and having a lower annular flange extending radially therefrom, means in said housing supporting said handle thereon for pivotal movement radially of the axis of said handle, a plurality of switch contacts on said substrate and positioned in a predetermined angular pattern about the axis of said handle, said contacts being located on said substrate beneath said flange so that one of said contacts may be operated by said flange by tilt of said handle, a member having a plurality of cantilevered flexible arms extending between said contacts and said flange whereby tilting motion of said handle may cause said arms to engage one of said contacts, projections on said member, each projection associated with one of said arms and extending downwardly toward said substrate radially inwardly of the extremities of each of said arms, whereby when said handle is tilted to close one of said contacts after predetermined movement of one of said arms, the associated projection will bottom on said substrate and transfer force from said flange directly to said substrate through said projection.