Electrical switch and actuating mechanism therefor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the present invention, an electrical switch comprises an electrical contact assembly which includes a dielectric frame in which a series of aligned stationary contact members are disposed.
Electrical contact sections of the stationary contact members are exposed in recesses in a top surface of the dielectric frame.
A movable electrical contact member is pivotally mounted on one of the contact sections in each of the recesses to electrically connect the stationary contact sections in one position and to disconnect the contact sections in another position.
A housing is latchably secured onto the dielectric frame and has linearly-movable actuating members mounted therein in operative association with respective movable contact members.
Each of the linearly-movable actuating members comprises a slide member in which a spring is disposed.
The slide member is movable to one position in the housing so that the spring moves the movable contact member to the one position electrically connecting the stationary contact sections and the spring and the housing maintain the slide member in this one position.
The slide member is movable to another position in the housing so that the spring moves the movable contact member to another position disconnecting the stationary contact sections and the spring and the housing maintain the slide member in this other position.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a membrane sealingly covers the recesses and the exposed contact sections along with the respective movable contact members therein thereby forming a sealed electrical contact assembly.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the spring member as part of a switch actuating assembly is of generally E-shape or sinuous configuration wherein inwardly-curved free ends of outer sections are adapted to engage the legs of a central U-shape section when the spring member is compressed to the condition at which the free ends engage the central section legs thereby limiting the movement of the outer sections and increasing the spring characteristics of the spring member