Importance

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Abstract

A push button switch assembly has a housing, a switch mechanism mounted within the housing, a plurality of push rods extending through the housing and a plurality of elongate sliders movably mounted within the housing. The switch mechanism includes a plurality of paired electrical contacts. A first end of the push rods is formed to have an enlarged cross-section, and terminates within the housing. The push rods are axially movable relative to the housing between extended and depressed positions. The ends of the push rods interact with cam surfaces on the movable sliders to cause the sliders to move within the housing in response to movements of the push rods. Cam surfaces on opposing edges of the sliders interact with the switch mechanism to open and close selected ones of the switches. The axial displacement of the push rod required to actuate the switch is relatively short (approximately 1/16 inch). A flexible membrane may be disposed adjacent the push rod ends and the switch may be actuated by pressing on the surface of the flexible membrane. In one embodiment, two sliders are moved in opposing directions by one push rod to cooperatively interact with an electrical contact. In this embodiment, the lateral displacement of each slider (and the force required to cause the displacement) is reduced. In either embodiment, the cam surfaces on the sliders are designed to reduce or eliminate 'teasing' of the electrical contacts.

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First Claim