Folded circuit switch apparatus having multiple contacts

• US 4,297,542 A
• Filed: 12/19/1979
• Issued: 10/27/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Duraswitch Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Anthony G. Shumway
• Inventors: Shumway, Anthony G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US06/105,261
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 A, 200/6 A, 200/159 B, 200/292, 200/5 R
• US Class Current: 200/6.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04785 the controlling member being the operating part of a switch arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/038 Folding of flexible printed circuit

Abstract

Folded circuit switch apparatus includes multiple contacts responsive to a single switch capable of making contacts selectively with one or two switch elements at any particular time.

Claims

1. Switch apparatus for providing a plurality of output signals, comprising, in combination:

a first flexible insulative layer;

first conductive means disposed on the first flexible insulative layer including a plurality of arcuate conductive segments disposed symmetrically on the first flexible insulative layer;

a second insulative layer;

a second conductive means disposed on the second insulative layer and including a circular conductive segment disposed adjacent the plurality of arcuate conductive segments of the first conductive means;

a third insulative layer disposed between the first and second insulative layers;

opening means in the third insulative layer to allow electrical contact selectively between one conductive segment or with two adjacent conductive segments, of the first conductive means and the circular conductive segment of the second conductive means; and

switch actuation means to provide flexing of the first flexible insulative layer to cause electrical contact between the first and second conductive means through the opening means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the switch actuation means includes a pressure plate disposed adjacent the first flexible insulative layer and movable to flex the first flexible insulative layer to provide electrical contact between the second conductive means and at least one segment of the first conductive means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the switch actuation means includes a pressure plate selectively movable to provide electrical contact between the second conductive means and either one segment of the first conductive means or two adjacent conductive segments of the first conductive means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the switch actuation means includes a pressure plate disposed adjacent the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive means and a control stick pivotable to selectively cause the pressure plate to contact the first flexible insulative layer to cause the first flexible insulative layer to flex to provide contact between the first conductive means disposed on the first flexible insulative layer and the second conductive means disposed on the second insulative layer through the opening means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the opening means includes a ring aperture extending through the third layer adjacent the plurality of arcuate conductive segments and the circular conductive segment through which the circular conductive segment makes contact selectively with one conductive segment or with two adjacent conductive segments of the first conductive means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the switch actuation means includes a switch actuator disposed adjacent the first conductive means and movable to flex the first flexible insulative layer and the first conductive means through the ring opening to provide electrical contact between the first and second conductive means.