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Miniature sealed dual-in-line switch

  • US 4,311,884 A
  • Filed: 05/21/1979
  • Issued: 01/19/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An electrical switch comprising:

  • a base at least partially formed of dielectric material, said base being formed with a plurality of spaced, insulated, raised surfaces defining at least one cavity between adjacent ones of said raised surfaces, said raised surfaces having shoulders formed thereon;

    a plurality of spaced electrical terminals mounted to said base, each of said terminals having a land within said cavity and an end projecting outwardly from one side of said base;

    an electrically insulative deformable membrane disposed in sealing engagement with said peripheral shoulders, said membrane being continuous and extending between said peripheral shoulders to form an environmental seal around said terminal lands, said membrane being disposed on said raised surfaces in a spaced confronting relationship with said terminal lands and forming a chamber surrounding said terminal lands within said cavity;

    a unitary, elongated electrically conductive contact disposed closely adjacent said membrane within said chamber, said contact being normally in unsecured electrical connection with said land of one of said terminals in a first operative position;

    means for normally maintaining said contact in confronting, spaced relationship with respect to said land of others of said terminals;

    upper housing means disposed in spaced, confronting relationship with said membrane; and

    actuator means pivotally disposed outside of said chamber between said membrane and said upper housing means, said actuator means being operable upon the application of eccentric force in one direction to depress said membrane towards said land of one other of said plurality of terminals to urge an end of said contact into electrical connection with said land of said other of said plurality terminals to produce a bridging electrical connection between said one terminal and said other terminal in a second operative position;

    said actuator means being operable upon the application of an eccentric force in another direction to release said depressed portion of said membrane to permit said contact end to return to its normal first operative position.

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