Importance

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Abstract

The multi-position electrical switch includes a printed circuit (PC) board arranged in a casing and supporting an array of stationary contacts encircling a light emitting element fixed on the PC board. A resilient rubber sheet covers the PC board and supports an array of movable contacts arranged opposite the stationary contacts. A control knob having a central opening rests on the rubber sheet in the region of the movable contacts. The bottom of the knob is formed with a tubular projection communicating with the central opening of the knob and extending to the level of an opening in the rubber sheet around the light emitting element. The bottom of the knob is provided with four pin-shaped stoppers which delimit the tilting movement of the knob in four directions and the pressing surface portions of the bottom are inclined such as to evenly engage a depressed region of the rubber sheet when the knob is tilted in one of the four directions and the corresponding movable contacts are lowered and pressed against the opposite stationary contacts. The annular end face of the tubular projection has four inclined sections oriented according to the four tilting directions. In a tilted position of the knob, a corresponding inclined section fully engages the flat surface of the PC board thus safeguarding the actuation of the selected contacts only.

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First Claim