EP2057652B1 - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical switch according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such designed in the manner of a micro and / or snap switch switch find a variety of uses and can be suitable both for switching power and signal currents. For example, these switches can be used for various applications in motor vehicle locks.

From the DE 195 12 277 A1 is known as a snap-switch electrical switch known. The switch has a housing in which a contact system consisting of a movable switching contact and at least one fixed contact is located. A movable actuator protrudes out of the housing for switching the contact system. To reset cooperates with the switching contact and / or the actuator an elastic element. Furthermore, the contact system can have two fixed contacts. As a result, the switching contact to the one fixed contact according to a first switching position and to the other fixed contact according to a second switching position when switching the contact system is movable.

In the recovery serving elastic element of this switch is a tension spring. It has now been found that the tension spring is difficult to assemble, especially when the assembly of the switch is to be performed automatically.

In addition, the contact system is elaborately designed and consists of a variety of items, which in turn results in a complex assembly and a high cost. Furthermore, the switch for switching signal currents appears slightly oversized.

Next is from the DE 23 59 971 A1 a key switch with a contact system consisting of fixed contacts and a movable switch contact and with a movable actuator for switching the contact system known. The switch has a printed circuit board on which the fixed contacts as contact surfaces and conductor tracks are located as electrical connections for the contact surfaces. With the actuator acts in an approximately V- or M-shaped folded leaf spring together, which serves as an elastic element for returning the actuator and as grinding on the circuit board switching contact. By pressure on the actuator, the leaf spring spreads due to the folds, so that the sliding on the circuit board part of the leaf spring bridges the contact surfaces of the fixed contacts. Thus, in this switch, the switching contact as a slider and the fixed contact configured as a contact surface, so that the slider interacts with the contact surface when switching. In this case, the contact system is switched by the grinder is moved to the contact surface and / or moved away from the contact surface. Further, the elastic member is configured as a leaf spring coupled with the wiper for cooperation by integrating the wiper into the leaf spring.

Furthermore, in the DE 44 26 350 A1 a switch assembly shown in which a slider is arranged for bridging contact surfaces on a serving as an actuator key. Finally, in the US 4,816,662 A. an electrical switch with existing balls or rollers switching contacts for bridging conductor-shaped fixed contacts shown.

The invention is based on the DE 23 59 971 A1 the task of further designing the contact system of the switch. In particular, a switch is to be provided with a contact system in which the number of individual parts is reduced, and the switch should be suitable for applications in the signal voltage range.

This object is achieved in a generic electrical switch by the characterizing features of claim 1.

When switch according to the invention, the leaf spring is configured in approximately L-shaped. The leaf spring is for attachment and making an electrical connection at one end, namely on the shorter leg of the L's, by means of contact pads on a contact bearing, which is located on the further electrical connection. The switching contact is arranged on the longer leg of the L's. Advantageously, the switch has approximately the switching behavior of a snap-action switch, although the contact system is greatly simplified compared to a conventional snap-action switch. A particular aspect of the invention is also that the designed as a wiper switch contact is integrated into the leaf spring. It results from a novel microschleifer switch with a grinder leaf spring as a central component of the contact system, wherein the slider and / or the leaf spring is integrated into the component. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims

The switch has a housing which can be produced in a conventional manner from plastic by injection molding, and consists of a housing upper part and designed as a base housing lower part. Inside the housing, the contact system is arranged. The electrical connections for the contact system protrude from the base of the housing. The trained in the manner of a pusher actuator projects at an opening in the upper housing part movable out. To seal the inside of the housing on the upper housing part, the actuating member is provided with a bellows-shaped seal covering the opening. For example, the bellows-shaped seal may be made of silicone.

In a compact arrangement, the contact surface for the fixed contact can be formed integrally with the one electrical connection. The switching contact in turn is in electrical connection with the further electrical connection. In manufacturing and assembly technology simple way the connections and the contact surfaces are made in the manner of a stamped grid. This allows the electrical connections as punched grid in be easily injected into the socket during its manufacture. Advantageously, thus a good seal in the housing interior is achieved at the base.

The fixed contact made of a sheet metal strip as a stamped grid may have an approximately rectangular cross section with a wide side and a narrow side. In order to achieve a good contact, the contact surface is to interact with the grinder on the wide side. If the switch is designed in the manner of a change-over switch in that the contact system has two fixed contacts, the switching contact between the two fixed contacts can be moved to switch over the contact system. Advantageously, then there is a spacer made of insulating material between the fixed contacts, so that the contact surfaces of the fixed contacts and the spacer form a flat path for the grinder. By means of the spacer, the contact surfaces of the fixed contacts are electrically isolated from each other and optionally mechanically fixed, on the one hand so that an improved and reliable switching behavior of the contact system is achieved and on the other hand, an improved stability of the fixed contacts. The material for the spacer is expediently plastic, in particular the plastic from which the base also consists. Then, in a simple manufacturing manner, the spacer can be produced simultaneously during injection of the connections in the base and / or during injection molding of the base.

Preferably, the leaf spring has two resiliently formed contact pads, so that the leaf spring is mounted in the manner of a spring clip on the contact bearing. In addition, there is the advantage that due to the two contact pads redundancy in the electrical connection is achieved.

The leaf spring is provided at the other end, on the longer leg of the L's, with an actuating surface for cooperation with the actuator. As a result, the longer leg of the L's is pivotable about the connection of the two legs of the L's upon movement of the actuating member. The switching contact is on the longer leg of the L's between the connection of the two legs of the L's and the actuating surface, namely expediently arranged in the vicinity of the actuating surface. Consequently, the switching contact is indeed decoupled from the actuator and yet correspondingly movable by means of the actuator for switching.

Conveniently, there is an approach to the base to support the connection of the two legs of the L's in the manner of a pivot bearing, whereby the life of the leaf spring is increased. The approach can be mitspritzitzen simultaneously in the production of the base.

The leaf spring can be made of metal. For this steel, stainless spring steel, copper beryllium o. The like. Suited. For cost manufacturability, the leaf spring is designed as a stamped and bent part, which has a broad and a narrow side. The leaf spring is then arranged after mounting in the contact system such that the broad side of the leaf spring is aligned approximately perpendicular to the wide and narrow side of the contact surface of the fixed contact. A grinder is punched free as a switching contact on the leaf spring and bent at about 90 ° relative to the broad side of the leaf spring, so that the grinder rests against the broad side of the contact surface with a contact pressure. Again, it is due to the improvement in reliability through redundancy to form the grinder as a double grinder, wherein the one grinder rests on the front and the other grinder on the back of the contact surface. To further To improve the switching behavior, the wiper can be provided with an impressed contact lug.

The leaf spring may have a latching hook, so as to fix the leaf spring in addition to the base, and preferably at the base of the base. Such a fixation of the leaf spring on the base is particularly advantageous during the assembly process for the switch. In a simple manner, the latching hook can be punched free at the shorter leg of the L's. To increase the life of the leaf spring can be embossed on the broad side of the longer leg of L's at least one bead for stiffening. The bead is located opposite the actuating surface and near the grinder where higher stresses can occur in the leaf spring.

To increase the contact reliability, especially in the signal voltage range, it makes sense to coat the contact pad and / or the bump on the leaf spring, the contact surface of the fixed contact o. The like. With precious metal. Suitable for this purpose is silver, gold o. The like., Or a precious metal alloy, such as gold-cobalt. Of course, it is sufficient to coat only the corresponding contact points instead of the entire leaf spring.

In order to further improve the protection of the switch against the ingress of pollutants into the housing interior, attaching a potting to the base for sealing the housing in the region of the connections is advisable. For this purpose, the upper housing part has a socket facing the protruding edge for receiving the sealing compound. The potting compound may consist of a one-component, light-curing plastic material. If necessary to increase the adhesion, the surfaces facing the potting at the base and on the protruding edge can be activated by introducing plasma gas plasma before introducing the potting compound. Such a molded switch is suitable for use under harsh conditions, for example in motor vehicles.

In a further embodiment, the electrical switch without costly soldering on a circuit board, a carrier o. The like. Be placed. The electrical connection of this switch has a receptacle, such that a corresponding to the recording, a electrical voltage for the contact system feeding plug element to the electrical connection in the manner of a solder and / or weld-free electrical connection is plugged.

The switch according to the invention is also suitable for the equipment with a contact system, which has three switch positions in the manner of a center-zero wiper switch. Such a switch can be used particularly well for door locks in motor vehicles. For this purpose, the slider is movable to the contact surface of a fixed contact according to a first switching position and to the contact surface of the other fixed contact according to a second switching position when switching the contact system. In addition, the switching contact in a further third, located between the two fixed contacts switching position is movable. In this third switching position, the grinder abuts against the electrically insulating spacer. Advantageously, such a switch is a compact, durable and cost-effective switch despite its enhanced functionality.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that the switch has fewer parts compared to conventional micro-switches and consequently a high functional integration. It is a simple switching system with few moving parts. As a result, the switch, due to the simplification of the assembly process due to the reduced number of process steps, also significantly cheaper than comparable previous switch produced. The inventively designed switch allows the production by means of a simplified manufacturing concept that allows higher mounting clock rates than before. In addition, the manufacturing concept leads to a shorter set-up time of the assembly machine and thus allows a small batch size per order and Fertigungslos.

The switch according to the invention has a comparable to a snap and / or microswitch switching behavior, however, allows a noiseless operation, because the grinder system eliminates the otherwise typical click of a snap-action system operating with a spring. It is also advantageous that the contact force is constant over the entire path of the grinder. The high contact safety that the switch possesses, supports the switching of signals. The large total path of the grinder results in a long overtravel on the closer, which in turn allows large installation tolerances.

Further, the contact system also allows smaller dimensions for the switch than conventional microswitches. Due to the reduction results in a material and thus cost savings. The switch provides a high level of protection against harmful environmental influences, by an improved tightness between the base and housing or socket and punched grid is realized. Thus, the switching system is protected against contamination and its reliability increased.

Further progress results from the longer service life and the lower manufacturing costs compared to previous comparable switches. When used as a center-zero slider switch the previously required two snap-action switches are replaced by a single switch, which halves the cost of the switching elements.

Finally, the leaf spring used in the contact system simultaneously fulfills several functions. Firstly, the leaf spring ensures a uniform contact force over the entire stroke of the grinder. On the other hand, the leaf spring also exerts the reset function for the example designed as a pusher actuator. Finally, the leaf spring also provides for the contact to the terminals, wherein the switching system can be equipped with double connections corresponding to two fixed contacts.

• Fig. 1 einen elektrischen Schalter in perspektivischer Ansicht,
• Fig. 2 den Schalter aus Fig. 1 mit aufgeschnittenem Gehäuse,
• Fig. 3 den Sockel mit Kontaktsystem des Schalters,
• Fig. 4 einen Längsschnitt durch den Sockel mit Kontaktsystem aus Fig. 3,
• Fig. 5 die Blattfeder als Einzelteil in perspektivischer Ansicht,
• Fig. 6 den Sockel des elektrischen Schalters mit einem lötfreien Anschluß,
• Fig. 7 das Anbringen einer Steckverbindung für den lötfreien Anschluß und
• Fig. 8 den Sockel mit Kontaktsystem entsprechend einer weiteren Ausgestaltung.

An embodiment of the invention with various developments and refinements is shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

• Fig. 1 an electric switch in perspective view,
• Fig. 2 the switch off Fig. 1 with cut case,
• Fig. 3 the socket with contact system of the switch,
• Fig. 4 a longitudinal section through the socket with contact system Fig. 3 .
• Fig. 5 the leaf spring as an individual part in perspective view,
• Fig. 6 the socket of the electrical switch with a solderless connection,
• Fig. 7 the attachment of a connector for the solderless connection and
• Fig. 8 the socket with contact system according to another embodiment.

A formed in the manner of a micro and / or snap switch electrical switch 1 is in Fig. 1 to see closer. The switch 1 has a housing 2 in the interior of which a contact system 3 is arranged, as further described in FIG Fig. 2 is shown. The contact system 3 consists of a in Fig. 3 visible, movable switching contact 4 and at least one fixed contact 5. A movable actuator 7 is used to switch the contact system 3. An elastic element 8 cooperates with the switching contact 4 and / or the actuator 7 to the provision.

How to do that very well Fig. 3 can be seen, the switching contact 4 are configured as a slider and the fixed contact 5 as a contact surface, so that the slider 4 cooperates with the contact surface 5 when switching. For this purpose, the grinder 4 is moved by means of the actuating member 7 on the contact surface 5 and / or moved away from the contact surface 5. The elastic element 8 is configured as a leaf spring coupled to the wiper 4 and thus cooperating.

The housing 2 is made of plastic, for example a thermoplastic material, and is produced by injection molding. In detail, the housing 2 according to Fig. 2 from an upper housing part 9 and a lower housing part 10 designed as a base. Electrical connections 11, 12 for the contact system 3 protrude from the housing 2 at the base 10. The actuator 7 protrudes in the manner of a pusher at an opening 14 in the upper housing part 9 sealed movable out and is described in the Execution in turn actuated by means of a shift lever 17. The shift lever 17 may have the application for the switch 1 according to an angled or other configuration. To seal the opening 14, the actuator 7 is provided with a bellows-shaped seal 15, which consists for example of silicone. The seal 15 is fixed to the upper housing part 9 by means of a kind of caulking, for example by means of a knife plastic chips are pressed at the edge around the opening 14 in the upper housing part 9 inwardly to the seal 15 during assembly of the seal 15. To further improve the sealing effect of the foot of the bellows-shaped seal 15 may be provided with sealing tips 34. In the region of the seal 15 are located on the upper housing part 9 four dome 16 as a stop for the external actuation of the actuator. 7

In the present case, the contact system 3 accordingly Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 two fixed contacts 5, 6, so that the switching contact 4 between the two fixed contacts 5, 6 for switching the contact system 3 is movable. The contact surface for the fixed contact 5, 6 is integrally formed with one electrical connection 11, 13. The switching contact 4 is in electrical connection with the further electrical connection 12. The terminals 11, 12, 13 and the contact surfaces 5, 6 are made in the manner of a stamped grid. The electrical connections 11, 12, 13 are injected as a stamped grid in the base 10 during its manufacture, which also on the base 10 a substantial tightness is achieved in the interior of the housing 2.

To further improve the sealing of the housing 2, a casting 18 is additionally attached to the base 10 in the region of the terminals 11, 12, 13, as the Fig. 2 can be seen. For this purpose, a base 10 facing the protruding edge 19 is located on the upper housing part 9 for receiving the potting compound. The potting compound may consist of a one-component, light-curing plastic material. If necessary, the surfaces facing the potting 18 can be activated on the base 10 and on the protruding edge 19 prior to introduction of the potting compound by means of plasma radiation.

How farther Fig. 4 can be seen, the fixed contact 5, 6 has an approximately rectangular cross-section with a wide side and with a narrow side. The Contact surface 5, 6 is according to Fig. 3 for cooperation with the grinder 4 on the wide side. A spacer 20 made of insulating material, of plastic, is located between the fixed contacts 5, 6, so that the contact surfaces 5, 6 of the fixed contacts and the spacer 20 form a flat path for the grinder 4 and the fixed contacts 5, 6 electrically from each other isolated and mechanically fixed. The spacer 20 is made at the same time when injecting the terminals 11, 12, 13 in the base 10 and / or during injection molding of the base 10. The spacer 20 has a width of about 2/10 to 3/10 mm in order to achieve a substantially instantaneous switching between the two fixed contacts 5, 6 as in a conventional snap-action switch. However, if necessary, the width for the spacer 20 can be increased.

The designed as a wiper switch contact 4 is integrated into the leaf spring 8. The leaf spring 8 is configured approximately L-shaped, as in Fig. 5 you can see. The leaf spring 8 is located at one end, namely on the shorter leg 21 of the L's, by means of a contact pad 23 at a in Fig. 4 visible, located at the other electrical connection 12 contact bearing 25 at. Preferably, the leaf spring 8 has two resiliently formed contact pads 23, 24 in the manner of a spring clip, so that the leaf spring 8 is both attached to the contact bearing 25 and has a redundant electrical connection to the contact bearing 25. The leaf spring 8 is provided at the other end, namely on the longer leg 22 of the L's, with an actuating surface 26 for cooperation with the decoupled from the switching contact 4 actuator 7. As a result, the longer leg 22 of the arm is pivotable on movement of the actuating member 7 about the connection 27 of the two legs 21, 22 of the L's. To support the connection 27 of the two legs 21, 22 of the L's in the manner of a pivot bearing, there is a projection 28 on the base 10, as the Fig. 4 can be seen. The switching contact 4 is on the longer leg 22 of the L's between the connection 27 of the two legs 21, 22 of the L's and the actuating surface 26, in the vicinity of the actuating surface 26, respectively.

The leaf spring 8 is made of metal, such as steel, stainless spring steel, copper beryllium o. The like., And is as a broad and a narrow side exhibiting stamped and bent part designed. The broad side of the leaf spring 8 is arranged approximately perpendicular to the wide and narrow side of the contact surface of the fixed contact 5, 6. The grinder as a switching contact 4 is punched free on the leaf spring and bent at approximately 90 ° with respect to the broad side of the leaf spring 8. As a result, the grinder 4 is applied by means of an impressed contact lug 29 on the broad side of the contact surface 5, 6 with a pressing force, as shown in FIG Fig. 3 can be seen. For reasons of redundancy of the grinder is designed as a double grinder 4, 4 ', so that according to Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 a grinder 4 at the front and the other grinder 4 'at the back of the contact surface 5, 6 is present.

How to get by Fig. 4 sees, the leaf spring 8 has a latching hook 30. The latching hook 30 is punched free at the shorter leg 21 of the L's. With the help of the latching hook 30, the leaf spring 8 during the assembly process on the base 10, namely at the base 28 of the base 10, can be fixed. On the broad side of the longer leg 22 of the L's at least one bead 31 is embossed for stiffening, as in Fig. 5 you can see. The bead 31 is disposed opposite the actuating surface 26 and is located in the vicinity of the grinder 4. The contact pad 23, 24 and the contact 29 on the leaf spring 8, the contact surface 5, 6 of the fixed contact o. The like. For the purpose of improved contact properties with precious metal coated. As a coating are silver, gold o. The like., Or a noble metal alloy, such as gold-cobalt.

In a further embodiment, in Fig. 8 can be seen, the contact system 3 has three switch positions. The wiper 4 or 4 'is movable to the contact surface of a fixed contact 5 according to a first switching position and to the contact surface of the other fixed contact 6 according to a second switching position when switching the contact system 3. Furthermore, the switching contact 4 in a further third, located between the two fixed contacts 5, 6 switch position movable. The grinder 4 or 4 'is in the third switching position on the electrically insulating spacer 20 at. For this purpose, the spacer 20 has a sufficient width, for example about 9/10 mm. Due to the spring characteristics of the leaf spring 8, the switch contact 4 is in the starting position in contact with the fixed contact 6 according to the second switching position. In the third switching position, the switching contact 4 is in contact with the spacer 20 and is to be held in this switch position by appropriate, but not further shown embodiment of the articulation of the actuating mechanism on the actuator 7. The same applies to the first switching position in which the switching contact 4 is in contact with the fixed contact 5. It is in accordance with this switching sequence to an opener with subsequent zero position and another closer, so a switch in the manner of a "center-zero switch".

In a particular embodiment, the in Fig. 6 is visible, the electrical connection 11, 12, 13, a receptacle 32 which is cut approximately in a cross shape. A corresponding to the receptacle 32, an electrical voltage for the contact system 3 feeding plug 33 is according to Fig. 7 to the respective electrical connection 11, 12, 13 attachable, wherein the elements formed in the receptacle 32 due to the cross-shaped section deform accordingly for electrical contacting by the plug-in element 33. It is thus a solder and / or weld-free mountable electrical connection.

The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiment. Rather, it also encompasses all expert developments within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Thus, the contact system described can be found not only in snap-action and / or micro-switches but also in other electrical switches, such as device switches, use.

Reference numeral list:

1:

(electrical) switch

2:

casing

3:

Contact system

4, 4 ':

Switch contact / grinder

5,6:

Fixed contact / contact surface

7:

actuator

8th:

elastic element / leaf spring

9:

Housing top

10:

Housing base / base

11,12,13:

(electrical) connection

14:

Opening (in the upper part of the housing)

15:

poetry

16:

cathedral

17:

gear lever

18:

casting

19:

(protruding) edge (on the upper part of the housing)

20:

spacer

21:

(shorter) leg (the leaf spring)

22:

(longer) thigh (the leaf spring)

23.24:

Contact pad

25:

Contact camp

26:

actuating surface

27:

Connection (of the two legs)

28:

Approach (at the base)

29:

bump

30:

latch hook

31:

Beading

32:

Recording (at the connection)

33:

plug-in element

34:

sealing tip

Claims (10)

1. An electrical switch, particularly of the type of a micro and/or snap-action switch, having a contact system comprising a displaceable switch contact (4) and at least one fixed contact (5), having a displaceable actuating element (7) for switching the contact system (3), having electrical connections (11, 12, 13) for the contact system (3), and having an elastic element (8) cooperating with the switch contact (4) and/or the actuating element (7) for the reset, wherein the switch contact (4) is configured as a sliding contact, and the fixed contact (5) is configured as a contact surface such that the sliding contact (4) cooperates with the contact surface (5) during switching, in that the sliding contact (4) is displaced onto the contact surface (5), and/or away from the contact surface (5), and wherein the elastic element (8) is configured as a leaf spring (8) coupled to the sliding contact (4), in that the sliding contact (4) is integrated into the leaf spring (8), characterized in that the leaf spring (8) is configured in an approximately L-shaped manner with a shorter leg (21) as well as a longer leg (22), that the leaf spring (8) abuts on the one end, which is located on the shorter leg (21) of the L, by means of a contact connection surface (23, 24) on a contact bearing (25) located at the electrical connection (12), such that the leaf spring (8) is both mounted on the contact bearing (25) as well as has an electrical connection to the contact bearing (25), and that the switch contact (4) is arranged on the longer leg (22) of the L.
2. An electrical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact system (3) is arranged in a housing (2), which is produced in particular from plastic, that preferably the housing (2) consists of a housing top (9) and a housing bottom (10) configured as a base, that further preferably the electrical connections (11, 12, 13) for the contact system (3) on the base (10) protrude from the housing (2), and that still further preferably the actuating element (7) in the form of a push button provided on an opening (14) in the housing top (9), in particular, protrudes displaceably sealed by means of a bellows-shaped, seal (15) consisting, for example, of silicon.
3. An electrical switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact surface for the fixed contact (5, 6) is integral with the one electrical connection (11, 13), that preferably the connection (11, 12, 13) as well as the contact surface (5, 6) are produced in the form of a punched grid, and that further preferably the electrical connections (11, 12, 13), in particular as punched grids, are injected into the base (10) during their production.
4. An electrical switch according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the fixed contact (5, 6) has an approximately rectangular cross section with a wide side as well as with a narrow side, that preferably the contact surface (5, 6) is located for interaction with the sliding contact (4, 4') on the wide side, that further preferably the contact system (3) has two fixed contacts (5, 6), such that the switch contact (4, 4') is displaceable between the two fixed contacts (5, 6) for the switching of the contact system (3), that still further preferably a spacer (20) made of insulating material, in particular, made of plastic, is located between the fixed contacts (5, 6), such that the contact surfaces (5, 6) of the fixed contacts as well as the spacer (20) form a level path for the sliding contact (4, 4'), wherein, in particular, the spacer (20) insulates the contact surfaces (5, 6) of the fixed contacts electrically from each other as well as, if necessary, fixes them, and that once more further preferably the spacer (20) is produced during the injection of the connections (11, 12, 13) into the base (10) and/or during the injection molding of the base (10).
5. An electrical switch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the contact connection surface (23, 24) has two elastically configured contact connection surfaces (23, 24) in the form of a spring clamp, that preferably the leaf spring (8) on the other end, particularly on the longer leg (22) of the L, is provided with an actuating surface (26) for interaction with the actuating element (7) decoupled from the switch contact (4, 4'), such that the longer leg (22) of the L during the movement of the actuating element (7) can be pivoted about the connection (27) of the two legs (21, 22) of the L, wherein in particular a nose (28) is located on the base (10) for supporting the connection (27) of the two legs (21, 22) of the L in the form of a swivel bearing, and that further preferably the switch contact (4, 4') is arranged between the connection (27) of the two legs (21, 22) of the L and the actuating surface (26), in particular, in the vicinity of the actuating surface (26).
6. An electrical switch according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the leaf spring (8) consists of metal, such as steel, stainless spring steel, copper- beryllium or the like, that preferably the leaf spring (8) is configured as a punched bent part having a wide as well as narrow side, wherein in particular the wide side of the leaf spring (8) is arranged approximately perpendicular to the wide as well as the narrow side of the contact surface (5, 6) of the fixed contact, that further preferably a sliding contact (4, 4') is freely punched as a switch contact on the leaf spring (8) as well as bent over approximately by 90° relative to the wide side of the leaf spring (8), such that the sliding contact (4, 4'), in particular by means of a contact lug (29), abuts on the wide side of the contact surface (5, 6) with a contact pressure, and that still further preferably the sliding contact (4, 4') is configured as a double sliding contact, such that the one sliding contact (4) abuts on the front side as well as the other sliding contact (4') abuts on the back side of the contact surface (5, 6).
7. An electrical switch according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the leaf spring (8) has an engagement hook (30), which in particular is freely punched on the shorter leg (21) of the L, such that the leaf spring (8) can be fixed on the base (10), specifically preferably on the nose (28) of the base (10), that preferably at least one ribbing (31) for stiffening is impressed on the wide side of the longer leg (22) of the L, wherein preferably the ribbing (31) is located opposite the actuating surface (26) as well in the vicinity of the sliding contact (4, 4'), and that still further preferably the contact connection surface (23, 24) and/or the contact lug (29) on the leaf spring (8), the contact surface (5, 6) of the fixed contact or the like, is coated with a precious metal, like silver, gold, or the like, or with a precious metal alloy, for example, gold-cobalt.
8. An electrical switch according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a casting (18) is applied to the base (10) for sealing the housing (2) in the area of the connections (11, 12, 13), that preferably a protruding edge (19) facing the base (10) is located on the housing top (9) for receiving the casting compound, that further preferably the casting compound consists of a single-component, light-curing plastic material, and that still further preferably the surfaces facing the casting (18) on the base (10) as well as on the protruding edge (19) are activated before introducing the casting compound by means of plasma radiation.
9. An electrical switch according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the contact system (3) has three switch positions, that preferably the sliding contact (4, 4') of the switch contact on the contact surface of a fixed contact (5) corresponding to a first switch position as well as on the contact surface of the other fixed contact (6) corresponding to a second switch position is displaceable during the switching of the contact system (3), that further preferably the sliding contact (4, 4') of the switch contact is displaceable into a further third switch position located between the two fixed contacts (5, 6), and that still further preferably the sliding contact (4, 4') in the third switch position abuts on the, in particular, electrically insulating, spacer (20).
10. An electrical switch according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electrical connection (11, 12, 13) has a receptacle (32), such that a plug element (33) corresponding to the receptacle (32), feeding an electrical voltage for the contact system (3) is pluggable into an electrical connection (11, 12, 13) in the form of a solderless and/or weld-free electrical connection.

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