US3592983A - Improved detent means for slide switch and printed circuit structure - Google Patents

Improved detent means for slide switch and printed circuit structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3592983A
US3592983A US30876A US3592983DA US3592983A US 3592983 A US3592983 A US 3592983A US 30876 A US30876 A US 30876A US 3592983D A US3592983D A US 3592983DA US 3592983 A US3592983 A US 3592983A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
slide
circuit board
switch
detent
resilient
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US30876A
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English (en)
Inventor
Heinz E J Kroll
Rolf J Falkner
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Alcatel Lucent NV
Original Assignee
International Standard Electric Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3592983A publication Critical patent/US3592983A/en
Assigned to ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS reassignment ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
    • H01H1/40—Contact mounted so that its contact-making surface is flush with adjoining insulation
    • H01H1/403—Contacts forming part of a printed circuit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H15/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
    • H01H15/005—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch adapted for connection with printed circuit boards

Definitions

  • Hemminger, Charles L. Johnson, Jr. and Thomas E. Kristofferson ABSTRACT A slide switch of low profile particularly adapted for use with printed circuits.
  • the terminals of the switch are stationary conductor pattern elements of the printed circuit and the movable contact parts are carried by a slider of insulating material.
  • the slider is mounted in a circuit board slot which serves as a track for axial slider action.
  • a caliper type mechanism resilient detent arm engages detent slots in the circuit board or provides the coupling means for ganging multiple switch stages to each other.
  • the present invention relates to switches and more particularly to slider type switches adapted for use on printed circuit boards in electronic equipment.
  • the contact springs are actuated by'a slider of insulating material which is guided in a recess of the printed circuit board as described in German Petty Pat. No.
  • the general object of the invention to provide a modular slide switch of particularly low profile design,.which can; be rnounted on a printed circuit board as an. independent pa'i't br'included in a multiple switch.
  • the said slider is slideably inserted in the guide slot of said printed circuit board and, at one .of its ends, provided with at least one resilient detent arm which slides along .said board their use is difficult where minimum space is availa-' when the switch is actuated, and engages with one ofa plurality of detent recesses (slots) in said board for each intended switching position.
  • the slide switch according to the invention is of particularly small height (profile). Smearing of the contacts during the insertion of the slider into the recess of the plate cannot occur because the movable contact parts are carried by the slider.
  • the engaging (positioning) problem is solved in an especially simple manner which is characterized in that a detent arm capable of engaging with recesses in said insulating plate (circuit board) is provided at said slider.
  • this detent arm is designed in the form of a caliper consisting'of two symmetrical parts of equal length, which are molded to said slider. This caliper slides above and below, applying a nominal biting pressure to said board. The jaws of this caliper jointly engage the recess in said board corresponding to a discrete position.
  • a one-piece detent arm would be sufficient to afford a secure detent, however, with a one-piece detent arm, a certain degree of canting and, consequently, jamming of the sliding contact can occur.
  • the locking pressures of the two parts of the caliper" (twopiece) detent arm, (normal to the plane of the circuit board) on the slider are cancelled if the twocaliper parts are exactly arranged in a mirror-inverted arrangement, i.e., symmetrically. This also results in a degree of mechanical stress relief for the printed circuit board, the latter normally not being designed to resist wear producing pressures to any great extent.
  • the problem of guiding the slider along the plate of insulating material circuit board is, for the slide switch according to the present invention, solved in an especially simple-manner by providing for guidance of said slider along the edges of said guide slot.
  • at least two resilient tongues lying on opposite slot sides from each other can be molded to said slider. These tongues engage said slot with barblike noses and, during a switching movement, slide along the edges of said slot.
  • Such a snap attachment of the slider permits an especially simple assemblage of the slide switch on the printed circuit board.
  • an advantageous feature of the invention is characterized in that at the slider two pairs of such spring tongues lying opposite each other are provided. In the direction of actuation they can simultaneously form the two end stops for the limitation of the switching movement in both directions.
  • the slide switch is, according to a further feature of the invention, designed so that it can be used both individually and ganged.
  • the slider is (at its end opposite the detent arms) provided with a recess into which the detent arms of a second slider placed behind it (having the same shape) can be en-. gaged for the formation of a mechanical connection between both sliders.
  • the same detent arm design not only fulfills the required detention function but also will act as a connecting element between two sliders.
  • a plurality of sliders, arranged one behind the other can be interconnected in this manner.
  • each slider has such a recess, and therein a head portion having an undercut neck where it joins the resilient detent arms, so that, when placing the individual sliders one behind the other, the detent arm'of the following slider engages the head member and detents over the said neck and thus provides a connection for transmitting the switching movement directly tothe next slider.
  • FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a slide switch according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sideview of the slide switch of Figure I mounted on a printed circuit board.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view ofa multiple switch mounted on a printed circuit board and consisting of two slide switches of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, arranged one behind the other.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on patting line 4-4 of Figure
  • FIG. 5 is a partial flat view ofa circuit board useable in the structure of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a section taken along the parting line 6-6 of the slide switch shown in Figure I after this switch has been mounted on a printed circuit board.
  • the reference character 1 designates the printed circuit board on which the stationary contact parts 2, 2, 2" of the slide switch are provided as components of the printed circuit.
  • These contact parts are appropriately designed as two-armed double springs and undetachably mounted on the sliders 4 and 5. Electrical continuity between the spring pairs on each side of the slot 6 is provided within the slider body 4 (or 5) so that they are capable of connecting the stationary contacts 2 with 2 in one switching position of the slider 4.
  • the contact parts 2 with 2" are interconnected in the other position, thereby effecting a swtich-over or single-pole double-throw switching logic.
  • the slider 4 is axially slideably seated in a slot 6 of the insulating plate 17
  • the slider 4 is guided along opposite edges of the slot 6 and portions of the slider protrude through the plate.
  • Spring tongues 7 and 7 molded to the slider 4 hold the slideable engagement and prevent separation of 4 from slot 6. It will be seen that four such spring tongues with their barblike noses are used, and are arranged by twos transversely with respect to the direction of actuation, see FIG. 6 and FIG. 1 where the barblike noses 8 through 8" are shown.
  • the slider 4 is mounted on the insulating plate 1 simply by being pressed into the slot 6. After the pressing-in operation, the resilient tongues 7, 7 of the slider 4 spread out' and prevent the slider from falling out of the printed circuit board I by the under-grip the said barbs provide.
  • the resilient tongues 7, 7 simultaneously act as an end stop for the limitation of the switching movement in one direction.
  • the other end stop is formed by the connecting element 12 of the detent arm portion 9 against 10.
  • the sliders 4 and 5 are provided with molded resilient detent arms 9 and 10, respectively, which slide along the board I when the switch is actuated to engage recesses 11, ll of the board 1 in the corresponding switching positions,
  • the detent arms 9 and 10 in two pieces, e.g., in the shape of a caliper.
  • both parts 9' and 9" and 10' and 10', respectively, of the detent arms 9 and 10 can, when the switch is actuated, slide along above and below the board 1 and jointly engage by means of a biting" action with the recesses 11 and ll of the board in the switching positions.
  • the two portions 9 and S" plus 10' and 10', respectively, of the detent arms 9 and 10 each have, at their free ends, a semicircular engaging nose 9" and 9"" plus 10" and 10"", respectively. These engaging noses are adapted to the detenting recesses 11 and 11' ofthe circuit board 1.
  • Eyelets 4" and 5" are molded to the sliders and provide connections for actuating each individually or to actuate the assembled sliders 4 and 5 as a unit. It will be noted that the detent arms of a switch module ganged to another module are spread laterally more than when they engage de-' tent slots in the circuit board (see FIG. 3). Accordingly, the engagement retention forces between 4 and 5 are significantly greater than the detent force against the circuit board.
  • a slide switch or multiple switch according to the invention can perform a great variety of switching functions. Production and assembly costs are extremely low.
  • the insulating plate carrying the conducting pattern need only be provided with stationary contact parts 2, 2', 2", a slot 6 for the reception of the slider fourfifths, and engaging recesses 11 and 11' for the engagement of the detent arm nine-tenths, while on the side of the insulating plate opposite the stationary contact parts, other printed connections for the various circuit components may be arranged.
  • the printed circuit board By suitably designing the printed circuit board, it is thus possible to carry out a multitude of switching operations without the requirement for wiring in a separate switch assembly during equipment manufacture.
  • special means for mounting the slider on the printed circuit board and for ganging sliders are no longer necessary when the present invention is used.
  • a slide switch in which the stationary contacts are parts of the printed conductors of a printed circuit board and the movable contact parts are carried by a slide member of insulating material comprising the combination of:
  • slide mounting means for holding said slide in place with substantially only translational freedom in the direction of said actuation and with said movable contact parts in position to contact said stationary contacts, at least some parts associated with said slide protruding from the side of the board opposite said stationary contacts;
  • detent means including at least one resilient detent arm having a nose engageable in one of said detent slots and being attached to said slide, said detent arm extending toward said detent slots and being adapted to exert lateral contact pressure on said board thereby to facilitate engagement of said nose into one of said detent slots in response to actuation of said switch to effect a corresponding switch position.
  • said detent means is defined as a substantially identical caliperlike pair of said resilient arms extending from said slide toward said detcnt slots on opposite surfaces of said circuit board, whereby the corresponding noses of said resilient arms engage the same one of said detent slots from opposite sides of said circuit board to position said switch to a corresponding switch posi tion.
  • said slide includes a head member having an undercut extending oppositely from the direction of extension of said resilient arms, whereby the resilient arms of a second one of said slides may be ganged thereto by sliding the resilient arms of said second slide over said head member until the noses of said resilient arms engage said undercut.
  • said resilient means extending through said slot comprise a plurality of resilient tongues extending substantially normal to said circuit board through said mounting slot, and means are included at the extreme end of each of said tongues for engaging the edges of said mounting slot to provide said contact pressure of said movable contact parts against the surface of said circuit board.

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  • Slide Switches (AREA)
US30876A 1969-04-24 1970-04-22 Improved detent means for slide switch and printed circuit structure Expired - Lifetime US3592983A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691920784 DE1920784A1 (de) 1969-04-24 1969-04-24 Schiebeschalter fuer Geraete mit einem von einer Isolierstoffplatte getragenen Leiternetz

Publications (1)

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US3592983A true US3592983A (en) 1971-07-13

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ID=5732148

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US30876A Expired - Lifetime US3592983A (en) 1969-04-24 1970-04-22 Improved detent means for slide switch and printed circuit structure

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3592983A (xx)
BE (1) BE749450A (xx)
CH (1) CH521015A (xx)
DE (1) DE1920784A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR2046390A5 (xx)
GB (1) GB1252096A (xx)
NL (1) NL7005970A (xx)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3749872A (en) * 1970-04-01 1973-07-31 Sumlock Anita Electronics Ltd Switch mounted on printed circuit board
US3983341A (en) * 1975-06-03 1976-09-28 Amf Incorporated Simplified slide switch
US4013855A (en) * 1975-03-17 1977-03-22 Tektronix, Inc. Modular pushbutton switch
US4016378A (en) * 1976-03-09 1977-04-05 Amf Incorporated Detent means for simplified slide switch
US4025743A (en) * 1975-09-05 1977-05-24 Bright Star Industries, Inc. Three position flashlight switch
US4052580A (en) * 1975-06-03 1977-10-04 Amf Incorporated Momentary contact pushbutton type switch having flexible, mounted housing
US4057520A (en) * 1976-10-05 1977-11-08 Rite Autotronics Corporation Slide switch assembly having flexible housing with movable contacts mounted on printed circuit board
US4075442A (en) * 1976-02-26 1978-02-21 Matsu Kyu Kabushiki Kaisha Miniature slide switch assembly having flexible detent on movable actuator or fixed housing
US4180712A (en) * 1978-07-13 1979-12-25 Switchcraft, Inc. Slide switch
EP0028069A1 (en) * 1979-10-25 1981-05-06 Brunswick Corporation Button actuating device
US4642427A (en) * 1983-11-16 1987-02-10 Televerkets Huvudrontor Contact arrangement
US4713499A (en) * 1986-08-04 1987-12-15 Nikko Co., Ltd. Operation contact system of transmitter for the radio-controlling toy
US4739138A (en) * 1985-10-30 1988-04-19 Braun Aktiengesellschaft Rotary electrical switch
US4778965A (en) * 1986-09-19 1988-10-18 Judco Manufacturing Company Switch construction with integral mounting clips
US5365027A (en) * 1992-11-03 1994-11-15 Motorola, Inc. Slide switch assembly
US5587886A (en) * 1995-05-04 1996-12-24 Kinpo Electronics Structure for contact points of a shift switch used in a computer

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3525828A (en) * 1969-05-19 1970-08-25 Bendix Corp Slide switch for use with printed circuits

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3525828A (en) * 1969-05-19 1970-08-25 Bendix Corp Slide switch for use with printed circuits

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3749872A (en) * 1970-04-01 1973-07-31 Sumlock Anita Electronics Ltd Switch mounted on printed circuit board
US4013855A (en) * 1975-03-17 1977-03-22 Tektronix, Inc. Modular pushbutton switch
US3983341A (en) * 1975-06-03 1976-09-28 Amf Incorporated Simplified slide switch
US4052580A (en) * 1975-06-03 1977-10-04 Amf Incorporated Momentary contact pushbutton type switch having flexible, mounted housing
US4025743A (en) * 1975-09-05 1977-05-24 Bright Star Industries, Inc. Three position flashlight switch
US4075442A (en) * 1976-02-26 1978-02-21 Matsu Kyu Kabushiki Kaisha Miniature slide switch assembly having flexible detent on movable actuator or fixed housing
US4016378A (en) * 1976-03-09 1977-04-05 Amf Incorporated Detent means for simplified slide switch
US4057520A (en) * 1976-10-05 1977-11-08 Rite Autotronics Corporation Slide switch assembly having flexible housing with movable contacts mounted on printed circuit board
US4180712A (en) * 1978-07-13 1979-12-25 Switchcraft, Inc. Slide switch
EP0028069A1 (en) * 1979-10-25 1981-05-06 Brunswick Corporation Button actuating device
US4642427A (en) * 1983-11-16 1987-02-10 Televerkets Huvudrontor Contact arrangement
US4739138A (en) * 1985-10-30 1988-04-19 Braun Aktiengesellschaft Rotary electrical switch
US4713499A (en) * 1986-08-04 1987-12-15 Nikko Co., Ltd. Operation contact system of transmitter for the radio-controlling toy
US4778965A (en) * 1986-09-19 1988-10-18 Judco Manufacturing Company Switch construction with integral mounting clips
US5365027A (en) * 1992-11-03 1994-11-15 Motorola, Inc. Slide switch assembly
US5587886A (en) * 1995-05-04 1996-12-24 Kinpo Electronics Structure for contact points of a shift switch used in a computer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2046390A5 (xx) 1971-03-05
BE749450A (fr) 1970-10-26
CH521015A (de) 1972-03-31
NL7005970A (xx) 1970-10-27
DE1920784A1 (de) 1970-11-05
GB1252096A (xx) 1971-11-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004718/0023

Effective date: 19870311