Low force multi-direction multiple switch assembly

• US 5,536,911 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Madill, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US08/497,308
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/6 A, 200/275, 200/512-517, 200/86 R, 200/302.1-302.3, 345/150-185
• US Class Current: 200/6.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A low force, multiple switch, multidirectional switch assembly for electronic games handsets or remote controls. The assembly comprises a housing having an opening, a first support and a second support having a opening. At least two spaced apart switches are provided, each comprising two spaced apart stationary contacts on the first support and a correspondingly aligned moveable contact on the second support. When closed, the moveable contact electrically connects the two stationary contacts. Bumper pads, corresponding in number and shape to the moveable contacts, are provided at a predetermined distance between adjacent moveable contacts. A spring, located between the second support and the first support and extending about the periphery of the second support, holds the second support apart from the first support and each switch open. A switch actuation is positioned between the housing and the second support with a first portion passing through the housing opening and a second portion keeping the switch actuator in the housing. The spring also holds the second portion against the housing when the switches are open. A third portion of the switch actuator passing through the second support opening remains spaced apart from the first support when the switches are open and when a switch is closed using normal closing force. With a switch closed, as movement of the switch actuator continues due to excessive force being applied, the end of the third portion and the bumper pads seat against the first support ensuring that adjacent switches are not closed due to the excessive applied force. Four switches and bumper pads or eight switches and bumpers pads can be used. Alternately the spring may be integrally molded in the second support.

Claims

1. A multiple switch assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening therethrough;

a first support positioned in the housing;

a second support having a opening therethrough;

at least two spaced apart switches, each switch having an open position and a closed position and comprising;

two stationary contacts mounted on the first support and comprising at least two spaced apart electrically conductive members;

a moveable contact mounted on the second support and aligned with the corresponding stationary contacts such that when the switch is in the closed position the moveable contact electrically connects the two electrically conductive members of the respective stationary contact;

bumper pads corresponding in number and height to the moveable contacts and mounted on the second support at a predetermined distance between adjacent moveable contacts;

a spring positioned between the second support and the first support and extending substantially about the periphery of the second support, the spring holding the second support in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first support and each switch in the open position;

actuation means for acting against the spring and positioned between the housing and the second support, the actuation means having a first portion passing through the opening in the housing and a second portion having a dimension that is larger than the opening in the housing with the spring acting to hold the second portion of the actuation means against the housing when the switches are in the open position, the actuation means further having a third portion having a length sufficient to pass through the opening in the second support and beyond the moveable contacts but remain spaced apart from the first support when the switches are in the open positions whereby a switch is moved to the closed position by applying force to the portion of the actuation means adjacent the moveable contact of such switch acting against that portion of the spring adjacent that moveable contact causing that switch to move from the open position to the closed position with the adjacent bumper pads moving toward the first support ,and, as further excess force is applied the end of third portion of the actuation means and the adjacent bumper pads acting singly or in combination depending on the magnitude of the excess force being applied seat against the first support preventing adjacent moveable contacts on the second support from closing with their respective stationary contacts.

2. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the second support further comprises:

a base having the opening therethrough and on which the bumper pads and moveable contacts are positioned; and

,

an outwardly curved wall depending from the periphery of the base toward the first support, having a thickness that is less than that of the base forming the spring and with the end of the wall seating against the first support.

3. The switch assembly of claim 2 wherein the base is substantially circular with the opening positioned at the center thereof and the moveable contacts and bumper pads being substantially equidistantly and radially spaced apart from one another.

4. The switch assembly of claim 3 wherein second support has a substantially U-shaped cross section and is formed from an elastomeric material.

5. The switch of claim 4 wherein the bumper pads and moveable contacts are integrally formed in the base of the second support.

6. The switch assembly of claim 3 wherein four switches are provided with the moveable contacts thereof positioned substantially along a first circle centered about the opening in the base and four bumper pads are positioned substantially along a second circle centered about the opening in the base, where the diameters of the first and second circles are substantially equal.

7. The switch assembly of claim 6 wherein the diameter of the second circle is less than the diameter of the first circle.

8. The switch of claim 2 wherein the second support member and the actuation means are integrally molded as one piece.

9. The switch assembly of claim 3 wherein the second support member and the actuation means are integrally molded as one piece.

10. A multiple switch assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening therethrough;

a first support positioned in the housing;

a second support comprising;

a base having a opening therethrough; and

,

an outwardly curved wall depending substantially about the periphery of the base toward the first support forming a spring for holding the base in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first support, the wall having a thickness that is less than that of the base;

at least two spaced apart switches, each switch having an open and a closed position and comprising;

two stationary contacts mounted on the first support and each comprising at least two substantially planar, spaced apart, electrically conductive fingers;

a moveable contact mounted on the base of the second support intermediate the opening and the wall and aligned with the corresponding stationary contacts such that when the switch is in the open position the moveable contact is held apart from the stationary contacts by the spring of the second support and when the switch in the closed position the moveable contact electrically connects the two electrically conductive fingers of the respective stationary contacts;

bumper pads corresponding in number to and height as the moveable contacts, the bumper pads being mounted on the base at a predetermined distance between adjacent moveable contacts;

actuation means for acting against the spring when a force is applied thereto and positioned between the housing and the second support, the actuation means having a first portion passing through the opening in the housing and having sufficient length to remain in the opening in the housing when any of the switches are moved from its open position to its closed position, the first portion having a number of indicia thereon corresponding and aligning with the switches, the actuation means having a second portion having a dimension that is larger than the size of the opening in the housing with the spring acting to hold the second portion of the actuation means against the housing when the switches are in the open position, the actuation means having a third portion having a length sufficient to pass through the opening in the base and extend beyond the height of the moveable contacts but remain spaced apart from the first support when the switches are in the open positions, whereby a switch is moved to the closed position by applying force to the portion of the actuation means adjacent the indicia acting against that portion of the spring adjacent that moveable contact causing that switch to move from the open position to the closed position with the adjacent bumper pads moving toward the first support ,and, as further excess force is applied the end of third portion of the actuation means and the adjacent bumper pads acting, singly or in combination, depending on the magnitude of the excess force being applied, seat against the first support preventing adjacent moveable contacts on the second support from closing with their respective stationary contacts.

11. The switch assembly of claim 10 wherein the base is substantially circular with the hole therethrough being centered therein and the moveable contacts and bumper pads are equidistantly spaced from one another in a radial arrangement about the center of the base.

12. The switch of claim 10 wherein the second support formed of the base and wall has a substantially U-shaped cross section and is formed from an elastomeric material.

13. The switch of claim 10 wherein the bumper pads and moveable contacts are integrally formed in the base.

14. The switch of claim 12 wherein the bumper pads and moveable contacts are integrally formed in the base.

15. The switch assembly of claim 12 wherein four switches are provided with the moveable contacts thereof positioned substantially along a first circle centered about the opening in the base and four bumper pads are positioned substantially along a second circle centered about the opening in the base, where the diameters of the first and second circles are substantially equal.

16. The switch assembly of claim 12 wherein the diameter of the second circle is less than the diameter of the first circle.

17. The switch of claim 12 wherein the second support and the actuation means are integrally molded as one piece.

18. The switch assembly of claim 13 wherein four switches are provided with the moveable contacts thereof positioned substantially along a first circle centered about the opening in the base and four bumper pads are positioned substantially along a second circle centered about the opening in the base, where the diameters of the first and second circles are substantially equal.

19. The switch assembly of claim 13 wherein the diameter of the second circle is less than the diameter of the first circle.

20. The switch of claim 13 wherein the second support and the actuation means are integrally molded as one piece.

21. A multiple switch assembly comprising:

a housing having a circular opening therethrough;

a first support positioned in the housing;

a second support formed of an elastomeric material comprising;

a substantially circular, planar base having a opening therethrough positioned at the center thereof; and

,

an outwardly curved wall depending substantially about the periphery of the base toward the first support forming a spring for holding the base in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first support, the wall having a thickness that is less than that of the base with the base and wall having a substantially U-shaped cross section;

at least two spaced apart switches, each switch having an open and a closed position and comprising;

two stationary contacts mounted on the first support with each contact comprising at least four triangular, substantially planar, spaced apart, electrically conductive fingers with four fingers of one stationary contact being alternately positioned between and spaced apart from the four fingers of the other stationary contact and all fingers radially arranged in a circle with the spacing therebetween occurring approximately every 45 degrees;

a substantially planar, moveable contact integrally molded on and depending from the base of the second support intermediate the opening and the wall and aligned with a corresponding stationary contact such that when the switch is in the open position the moveable contact is held apart from its respective stationary contact by the spring and when the switch in the closed position the moveable contact electrically connects the two electrically conductive fingers of its respective stationary contacts;

bumper pads corresponding in number to and substantially the same height as the moveable contacts, the bumper pads being mounted on the base at a predetermined distance between adjacent moveable contacts

actuation means for acting against the spring and positioned between the housing and the second support, the actuation means having a substantially cylindrical first portion passing through the opening in the housing and having sufficient length to remain in the opening in the housing when any of the switches are moved from its open position to its closed position, the first portion having a number of indicia thereon corresponding in number and aligned with the switches, the actuation means having a substantially cylindrical second portion having a diameter that is larger than the size of the opening in the housing with the spring acting to hold the second portion of the actuation means against the housing when the switches are in the open position, the actuation means having a substantially cylindrical third portion having a diameter sized to be closely received but slidable in the opening in the base and having a length sufficient to pass through the opening in the base and extend beyond the moveable contacts but with the end remaining spaced apart from the first support when the switches are in the open positions.

22. The switch assembly of claim 21 wherein four switches are provided with the moveable contacts thereof positioned substantially along a first circle centered about the opening in the base and four bumper pads are positioned substantially along a second circle centered about the opening in the base, where the diameters of the first and second circles are substantially equal.

23. The switch assembly of claim 21 wherein the diameter of the second circle is less than the diameter of the first circle.