Integral multiswitch display panel

Claim 1

A manually-operated integral multiswitch control and display panel comprising: an open top housing; a multiswitch panel closing the top of said housing and having a plurality of openings therein; a plurality of pushbutton switches, each having an insulating base within said housing and a pushbutton extending up through one of said openings; a control circuitry printed circuit board within said housing common to said switches and having a plurality of holes therein, one for each of said switches; each said switch having stationary and movable contact means mounted on the rim of the associated hole and connected to the printed circuit on said board and actuator means within said base comprising an actuating member extending from the associated pushbutton down through said hole for closing and opening said contact means when said pushbutton is actuated; an electrically energizable multicharacter display mounted within said pushbutton so as to be visible from the top thereof; a display drive printed circuit board beneath said panel common to said switches and having a plurality of apertures therein, one for each of said pushbuttons; each said switch having sliding connector means comprising stationary contacts mounted on the rim of the associated aperture and connected to the display drive printed circuit on said board and movable contacts mounted on said pushbutton and connected to said display; and means whereby said display is controlled through said display drive printed circuit board and said control circuitry printed circuit board in response to operation of said pushbutton switches.