SLIDE SWITCH WITH INDIVIDUAL SLIDE OPERATORS

• US 3,849,610 A
• Filed: 07/19/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph Larue Lockard, William Henry Rose
• Original Assignee: Joseph Larue Lockard, William Henry Rose
• Inventors: Lockard, Joseph Larue, Rose, William Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/380,922
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 200/6R,6B,6BA,6BB,6C,16R,153L,153LA,168R,168B,168C,172R,11D,5R
• US Class Current: 200/5.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/005 adapted for connection with printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/102 comprising cam devices

Abstract

A slide switch with first and second rows of contacts molded directly into a dielectric housing, with portions of the contacts protruding externally of the housing for forming electrical leads for pluggable connection of the housing to a printed circuit board. Internally of the housing the contacts are initially in spaced relationship with a plurality of slide elements mounted slidably on the housing and enclosing the contacts internally of the housing. Each slide element has a protruding cam surface for deflecting one of the contacts of one row into electrical engagement with one of the contacts of the second row to form an electrical conducting path therebetween. Each slide element is resiliently latched to the housing utilizing a sliding keyway arrangement.

Claims

1. A slide switch, comprising:

a housing, a plurality of first contacts in a first row mounted in said housing with portions of the first contacts protruding from the housing to form first electrical terminals for pluggable connection externally of said housing, a plurality of second contacts in a second row mounted in said housing with portions of the second contacts protruding from the housing to form second electrical terminals for pluggable connection externally of said housing, said second contacts each having an end portion overlying one of said first contacts, said housing having a plurality of spaced partitions, a plurality of dielectric slide elements each slidably supported on corresponding pairs of partitions, each said slide element having a portion protruding into said housing and engageable against a portion of one of said second contacts for deflecting one of said second contacts into engagement with one of said first contacts to complete an electrical circuit therebetween.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, each slide element includes grooved keyways on opposite sides of its protruding portion, and further including:

said plurality of partitions in said housing having inverted shoulders providing keys, each slide element being received between a pair of partitions with the inverted shoulders thereof received into the grooves of corresponding slide elements for slidable displacement therein as said slide elements are slidable over said corresponding pairs of partitions.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said second contacts each is latchably engaged against a cam portion of one of said slide elements when engaged with one of said first contacts to complete said electrical circuit.

4. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said first and said second contacts are molded directly in opposed sidewalls of said housing and are initially in spaced relationship with said slide elements in first positions, and wherein said slide elements are individually displaceable to bias one of said second contacts into electrical engagement with one of said first contacts.

5. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, each slide element includes a projecting arcuate cam surface slidably displaceable over the surface of one of said second contacts upon deflection of one of said second contacts into engagement with one of said first contacts.

6. The structure as recited in claim 5, wherein, an end portion of one of said second contacts is arcuately formed to provide an arcuate cam follower surface traversable over the surface of said arcuate cam portion and latchable against the arcuate surface of said cam portion with said switch in a second position deflecting one of said second contacts and one of said first contacts while in mutual engagement.

7. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said partitions are connected together by spaced sidewalls, said first contacts are mounted to a first of said sidewalls, said second contacts are mounted to a second of said sidewalls, said slide elements are slidable between said first and said second sidewalls, and said first and said second sidewalls define stops engageable agsinst said slide elements and defining the limit to sliding displacement of said slide elements over said partitions.