Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6384357
-
Patent Number
6,384,357
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, November 8, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 7, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Donovan; Lincoln
- Lee; Kyung S.
Agents
- Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell, Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 200 565
- 200 548
- 200 539
- 200 571
- 200 336
- 200 11 G
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A switch (10) comprises a printed circuit board (12). The printed circuit board (12) has a plurality of electrical contacts. The switch (10) further comprises a carrier (18) having an electrical conductor (102) for connecting at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts. The carrier (18) is movable relative to the printed circuit board (12). The carrier (18) further has a surface (92) having a plurality of undulations (96). The switch (10) further comprises at least one flexible plastic cantilever portion (56, 58) of a plastic member housing the carrier. The cantilever portion contacts the plurality of undulations (96). The undulations (96) and the cantilever portion (56, 58) comprise a detent mechanism to restrain the carrier (18) in a position to which the carrier (18) is moved.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a switch having a carrier that is movable relative to a printed circuit board and a detent mechanism for retaining the carrier in a position to which it is moved.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known switch, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,081, has a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism includes a hollow cylindrical post that extends from a movable carrier. The detent mechanism also includes a surface having a plurality of semi-cylindrical grooves. The hollow cylindrical post receives a spring and a spherical ball. The hollow cylindrical post is positioned relative to the surface having the grooves such that the spring biases the ball into a groove. When the carrier of the switch is moved, the spring is compressed allowing the ball to move out of a respective groove and to ride over the surface toward an adjacent groove. When the ball reaches the adjacent cylindrical groove, the ball becomes biased into the groove and provides resistance to movement of the carrier.
Another known switch, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,000, also has a detent mechanism. The switch includes a guide wall having a plurality of recesses. The slide member has an arched spring with a semi-circular projection. The slide member is positioned relative the guide wall such that the semi-circular projection of the arched spring is biased into one of the recesses of the guide wall. When the slide member is moved linearly, the arched spring flexes as the semi-circular projection is moved out of the recess. As the semi-circular projection encounters an adjacent recess in the guide wall, the arched spring biases the projection into the adjacent recess.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a switch comprising a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a plurality of electrical contacts. The switch further comprises a carrier having an electrical conductor for connecting at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts. The carrier is movable relative to the printed circuit board. The carrier has a surface having a plurality of undulations. The switch further comprises at least one flexible plastic cantilever portion of a plastic member housing the carrier. The cantilever portion contacts the plurality of undulations. The undulations and the cantilever portion comprise a detent mechanism to restrain the carrier in a position to which the carrier is moved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a sectional view of a switch embodying present invention;
FIG. 2
is a view taken along line
2
—
2
of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a switch embodying the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a view taken along line
4
—
4
of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
a
is a side view of a flexible cantilever portion of the present invention having a ribbed arm portion;
FIG. 5
b
is a view taken along line
5
b
—
5
b
in
FIG. 5
a
; and
FIG. 6
is a view of a flexible cantilever portion of the present invention having a slotted arm portion.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1
is a view of a switch
10
embodying the present invention. The switch
10
includes a printed circuit board
12
, a housing
14
, a cover
16
, and a carrier
18
. The carrier
18
is movable linearly relative to the printed circuit board
12
and the housing
14
.
The printed circuit board
12
is a rectangular plate having a width, shown in
FIG. 1
, and a length, shown in FIG.
2
. An imaginary plane
20
extends along the length of the printed circuit board
12
to divide the printed circuit board
12
in half along its width. Thus, the printed circuit board
12
has a first side
22
and a second side
24
.
The printed circuit board
12
has three contacts. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the number of contacts on the printed circuit board
12
may be varied. A first contact
26
extends along the length of the first side
22
of the printed circuit board
12
. A first electrical lead
28
connects to the first contact
26
. Second and third contacts
30
and
32
(
FIG. 2
) are aligned along the length of the second side
24
of the printed circuit board
12
. The second and third contacts
30
and
32
, collectively, extend along the length of the second side
24
of the printed circuit board
12
. Both the second and third contacts
30
and
32
extend parallel to a portion of the first contact
26
and are electrically insulated from each other and from the first contact
26
. A second electrical lead
34
(
FIG. 1
) connects to the third contact
32
and extends away from the printed circuit board
12
. No electrical lead is connected to the second contact
30
.
The housing
14
is molded as one piece from plastic material. The housing
14
is a rectangular box having an open end
36
. The housing
14
includes five walls. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the five walls are a top wall
38
and four side walls
40
,
42
,
44
, and
46
. Each wall
38
-
46
is planar and rectangular in shape. Each of the walls
38
-
46
includes an inner surface
48
and an outer surface
50
. The four side walls
40
,
42
,
44
, and
46
each have interlocking portions (not shown) near the open end
36
of the housing
14
for interlocking with portions of the cover
16
.
The top wall
38
forms a closed end of the housing. The open end
36
of the housing
14
is opposite the closed end. The open end
36
of the housing
14
leads into a central chamber
52
that is surrounded by the five walls
38
,
40
,
42
,
44
, and
46
.
The chamber
52
has a width, defined as the distance between the inner surface
48
of side wall
44
and the inner surface
48
of side wall
46
, that is greater than the width of the printed circuit board
12
. The chamber
52
has a length, defined as the distance between the inner surface
48
of side wall
40
and the inner surface
48
of side wall
42
, that is greater than the length of the printed circuit board
12
.
An elongated slot
54
is centrally located on the top wall
38
of the housing
14
. The elongated slot
54
extends from the inner surface
48
to the outer surface
50
of the top wall
38
. The elongated slot
54
has a width, shown in
FIG. 1
, that is shorter than its length, shown in FIG.
2
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, two flexible plastic cantilever portions
56
and
58
extend from the housing
14
into the chamber
52
. The cantilever portions
56
and
58
are molded as one piece with the housing
14
. Each of the cantilever portions
56
and
58
has an arm portion
60
and a head portion
62
.
Preferably, the arm portion
60
has a rectangular cross section, as shown in
FIG. 2
, and extends inwardly into the chamber
52
approximately one-third of the width of the chamber
52
. The arm portion
60
has two axial ends
64
and
66
. A first end
64
extends from the housing
14
and a second end
66
is suspended in the chamber
52
. The second end
66
of the arm portion
60
supports the head portion
62
. The arm portion
60
of each of the cantilever portions
56
and
58
is flexible such that the second end
66
of the arm portion
60
may be moved relative to the first end
64
. The arm portion
60
of each of the cantilever portions
56
and
58
also has an inner surface
68
and an outer surface
70
. The outer surface
70
is nearest the top wall
38
of the housing
14
. The inner surface
68
is opposite the outer surface
70
and is nearest the carrier
18
in the assembled switch
10
.
The head portion
62
of each of the cantilever portions
56
and
58
extends from the second end
66
of the arm portion
60
. The head portion
62
extends perpendicular to the arm portion
60
and away from the inner surface
68
of the arm portion
60
. The head portion
62
terminates in a rounded end
72
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the two cantilever portions
56
and
58
extend from side wall
44
and side wall
46
, respectively. The cantilever portion
56
extends from the side wall
44
at a location approximately 80% of the depth of the chamber
52
from the open end
36
of the housing
14
and equidistance from the side wall
40
and side wall
42
of the housing
14
, as shown in FIG.
2
. The outer surface
70
of the first cantilever portion
56
is nearest the top wall
38
of the housing
14
. The arm portion
60
of the first cantilever portion
56
extends perpendicular to the inner surface
48
of side wall
44
.
The second cantilever portion
58
extends from side wall
46
at a location approximately 80% of the depth of the chamber
52
from the open end
36
the housing
14
and equidistance from side wall
40
and side wall
42
of the housing
14
. The outer surface
70
of the second cantilever portion
58
is nearest the top wall
38
of the housing
14
. The arm portion
60
of the second cantilever portion
58
extends perpendicular to the inner surface
48
of side wall
46
.
The cover
16
is rectangular in shape and has a length and a width equal to that of the housing
14
. The cover
16
has an inner surface
74
and an outer surface
76
. The inner surface
74
of the cover
16
has interlocking portions (not shown) for interlocking with portions of the four side walls
40
,
42
,
44
, and
46
. Preferably, the cover
16
will snap onto the housing
14
such that the cover
16
closes the open end
36
of the housing
14
and encloses the central chamber
52
. Apertures
78
extend through the cover
16
for receiving electrical leads
28
and
34
.
The carrier
18
has a main body portion
80
having six surfaces. The six surfaces of the carrier
18
include a top surface
92
, a bottom surface
90
, and four side surfaces
82
,
84
,
86
, and
88
that interconnect the top surface
92
and the bottom surface
84
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the carrier
18
has a width that is slightly narrower than the width of chamber
52
. The length of the carrier
18
is significantly less than the length of chamber
52
(FIG.
2
). The main body portion
80
of the carrier
18
has a depth of approximately one-third the depth of the chamber
52
, i.e., the distance from the inner surface
48
of the top wall
38
to the inner surface
74
of the cover
16
when the cover
16
is attached.
An actuator
94
extends from the center of the top surface
92
of the carrier
18
. Preferably, the actuator
94
is plastic and is formed as one piece with the carrier
18
. The actuator
94
is sufficiently rigid so as to provide a means for moving the carrier
18
and may include means for attaching a handle. The actuator
94
has a width that is slightly less than the width of the elongated slot
54
in the top wall
38
of the housing
14
.
A plurality of undulations
96
extends across the top surface
92
of the carrier
18
. Each undulation
96
has a peak
98
that extends across the width of the top surface
92
in a direction perpendicular to side surfaces
86
and
88
of the carrier
18
. Adjacent undulations
96
are separated by a groove
100
. Preferably, the number of grooves
100
is identical to the number of contacts on the second side
24
of the printed circuit board
12
.
An electrical conductor
102
extends from the bottom surface
90
of the carrier
18
. The conductor
102
has a W-shape with two leg portions
104
that connect to the bottom surface
90
of the carrier
18
and two intermediate arched portions
106
and
108
that are interconnected by a connecting portion
109
. The two leg portions
104
of the conductor
102
are spaced across the width of the bottom surface
90
of the carrier
18
and the arched portions
106
and
108
extend from the bottom surface
90
a distance approximately equal to the depth of the main body portion
80
of the carrier
18
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the conductor
102
is centrally located across the width of the carrier
18
such that a first arched portion
106
is located nearer side surface
86
of the carrier
18
and a second arched portion
108
is located nearer side surface
88
of the carrier
18
.
To assemble the switch
10
, the carrier
18
is inserted into the chamber
52
through the open end
36
of the housing
14
such that the actuator
94
extends through the elongated slot
54
on the top wall
38
. When the carrier
18
is properly inserted, the peaks
98
of the undulations
96
should extend in a direction perpendicular to the length of the elongated slot
54
, as shown in FIG.
2
. The printed circuit board
12
is then fixed to the inner surface
74
of the cover
16
and the electrical leads
28
and
34
of the printed circuit board
12
are extended through of the apertures
78
in the cover
16
. The cover
16
is attached to the housing
14
such that the interlocking portions of the cover
16
interlock with the interlocking portions of the four side walls
40
,
42
,
44
, and
46
of the housing
14
. When the cover
16
is attached to the housing
14
, the printed circuit board
12
will contact the electrical conductor
102
of the carrier
18
. The first arched portion
106
of the electrical conductor
102
will contact the first side
22
of the printed circuit board
12
and the second arched portion
108
of the electrical conductor
102
will contact the second side
24
of the printed circuit board
12
. When the printed circuit board
12
contacts the electrical conductor
102
, the top surface
92
of the carrier
18
will be forced into contact with the head portion
62
of the cantilever portions
56
and
58
of the housing
14
.
Preferably, the switch
10
of the present invention will be used in the instrument panel of a vehicle. The first electrical lead
28
that connects to the first contact
26
of the printed circuit board
12
will be connected to an energy source, such as the vehicle battery. The second electrical lead
34
that connects to the third contact
32
will be connected to an actuatable device.
Although those skilled in the art will recognize that the switch
10
may have a plurality of positions, for simplicity, operation of the switch
10
will be described with the switch
10
having only two positions. In the first position, shown in
FIG. 2
, the electrical conductor
102
of the carrier
18
connects the first contact
26
(
FIG. 1
) of the printed circuit board
12
to the second contact
30
of the printed circuit board
12
. Thus, the first arched portion
106
of the electrical conductor
102
contacts the first contact
26
on the first side
22
of the printed circuit board
12
and the second arched portion
108
of the electrical conductor
102
contacts the second contact
30
on the second side
24
of the printed circuit board
12
. Since the second contact
30
of the printed circuit board
12
does not connect to the device to be actuated, the switch
10
is in an open position and no energy is transferred to the device. When no energy is transferred to the device, the switch
10
is in an “off position.” When in the “off position,” the head portions
62
of the two cantilever portions
56
and
58
of the housing
14
are positioned in a groove
100
separating adjacent undulations
96
.
When the actuator
94
is moved within the elongated slot
54
, as shown by the dashed lines in
FIG. 2
, the carrier
18
is moved linearly within the chamber
52
. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the housing
14
may have rails or other means for providing additional support to the carrier
18
during movement within the chamber
52
. When the carrier
18
is moved, the head portion
62
of each cantilever portion
56
and
58
slides over the top surface
92
of the carrier
18
. Thus, when the carrier
18
is moved, the head portion
62
begins to slide up an undulation
96
toward the peak
98
of the undulation
96
. As the head portion
62
slides up an undulation
96
, the arm portion
60
of each cantilever portion
56
and
58
flexes. When the head portion
62
reaches the peak
98
of the undulation
96
, the second arched portion
108
of the electrical conductor
102
is between the second contact
30
and the third contact
32
. As the head portion
62
passes the peak
98
of the undulation
96
and begins to slide down the undulation
96
to the next groove
100
, the second arched portion
108
of the electrical conductor
102
begins to contact the third contact
32
of the printed circuit board
12
. The resiliency of the arm portion
60
of each cantilever portion
56
and
58
forces the head portion
62
to slide into the next groove
100
on the top surface
92
of the carrier
18
to ensure that the electrical conductor
102
will fully contact the third contact
32
. When the electrical conductor
102
contacts the third contact
32
, electrical energy is transferred from the first contact
26
to the third contact
32
through the electrical conductor
102
. Since the second electrical lead
34
connects the third contact
32
to the actuatable device, electrical energy is transferred to the device and the device is energized. When energy is transferred to the device, the switch
10
is closed and is in an “on position.”
The undulations
96
and the cantilever portions
56
and
58
, collectively, comprise a detent mechanism. When the head portion
62
of each cantilever portion
56
and
58
is centered between adjacent undulations
96
, i.e., in a groove
100
, the electrical conductor
102
of the carrier
18
will properly contact the contacts associated with the carrier
18
position. The undulations
96
also provide resistance to movement of the carrier
18
and thus, keep the switch
10
in the appropriate position. An additional benefit of the detent mechanism is that the switch
10
has a transition feel when being switched from one position to another. Since the cantilever portions
56
and
58
are molded as one piece with the housing
14
and the undulations
96
are molded on the carrier
18
, the detent mechanism of the present invention includes no separate parts, such as a spring or a spherical ball.
A second embodiment of a switch
110
embodying the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. The switch
110
includes a printed circuit board
112
, a housing
114
, a cover
116
, and a carrier
118
. The carrier
118
is rotatable relative to the printed circuit board
112
and the housing
114
.
The printed circuit board
112
is a circular plate. An aperture
120
extends through the center of the printed circuit board
112
. An imaginary plane
122
divides the printed circuit board
112
in half forming a first side
124
and a second side
126
.
The printed circuit board
112
has one contact on the first side
124
and two contacts on the second side
126
. The first contact
128
extends around the arch of the first side
124
of the printed circuit board
112
. The second and third contacts
130
and
132
(FIG.
4
), collectively, extend around the arch of the second side
126
of the printed circuit board
112
. The second and third contacts
130
and
132
are electrically insulated from each other and from the first contact
128
. A first electrical lead
134
connects to the first contact
128
. A second electrical lead
136
connects the third contact
132
. No electrical lead is connected to the second contact
130
.
The housing
114
is cylindrical and has an open end
138
and a closed end. The housing
114
is molded as one piece and includes a cylindrical side wall
140
and a top wall
142
. The side wall
140
includes an inner surface
144
and an outer surface
146
. The side wall
140
also has interlocking portions on the open end
138
for interlocking with portions of the cover
116
. The top wall
142
forms the closed end of the cylindrical housing
114
. The open end
138
of the cylindrical housing
114
is opposite the closed end and leads into a central chamber
148
. The top wall
142
also includes an inner surface
150
and an outer surface
152
. A central bore
154
extends through the top wall
142
of the housing
114
.
Two flexible plastic cantilever portions
156
and
158
extend from the housing
114
into the chamber
148
. The cantilever portions
156
and
158
are molded as one piece with the housing
114
. Each of the cantilever portions
156
and
158
has an arm portion
160
and a head portion
162
.
Preferably, the arm portion
160
has a rectangular cross section, as shown in
FIG. 4
, and extends inwardly into the chamber
148
approximately 40% the depth of the chamber
148
. The arm portion
160
has two axial ends
164
and
166
. A first end
164
extends from the housing
114
and a second end
166
is suspended in the chamber
148
. The second end
166
of the arm portion
160
supports the head portion
162
. The arm portion
160
of each of the cantilever portions
156
and
158
is flexible such that the second end
166
of the arm portion
160
may be moved relative to the first end
164
. The arm portion
160
of each of the cantilever portions
156
and
158
also has an inner surface
168
and an outer surface
170
. The outer surface
170
is nearest the side wall
140
of the housing
114
. The inner surface
168
is opposite the outer surface
170
and is nearest the carrier
118
in the assembled switch
110
.
The head portion
162
of each of the cantilever portions
156
and
158
extends from the second end
166
of the arm portion
160
. The head portion
162
extends perpendicular to the arm portion
160
and away from the inner surface
168
of the arm portion
160
. The head portion
162
terminates in a rounded end
172
.
In
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the two cantilever portions
156
and
158
extend from the inner surface
150
of the top wall
142
of the housing
114
. The two cantilever portions
156
and
158
are located on opposite sides of the central bore
154
and are 180 degrees from one another. Preferably, the two cantilever portions
156
and
158
are equidistance from the central bore
154
. The head portion
162
of a first cantilevered portion
156
extends toward the head portion
162
of a second cantilevered portion
158
. The arm portions
160
of each of the cantilever portions
156
and
158
extend perpendicular to the inner surface
150
of the top wall
142
.
The cover
116
is a circular plate having a diameter equal to the diameter of the cylindrical side wall
140
. The cover
116
has an inner surface
174
and an outer surface
176
. An annular projection
178
extends inwardly from the center of the inner surface
174
of the cover
116
. The outer surface
176
of the cover
116
is flat. The cover
116
has interlocking portions for interlocking with portions of the side wall
140
of the housing
114
. Ideally, the cover
116
will snap onto the housing
114
to cover the open end
138
of the housing
114
and enclose the central chamber
148
. The cover
116
also includes apertures
180
for receiving electrical leads
134
and
136
.
The carrier
118
has a cylindrical main body
182
portion with a diameter of approximately one-third of the diameter of the housing
114
. The main body portion
182
has a cylindrical outer surface
184
(
FIG. 4
) and two axial end surfaces, a bottom surface
186
and a top surface
188
(FIG.
3
). The bottom surface
186
of the carrier
118
includes an annular groove (not shown). An actuator
190
extends from the top surface
188
of the carrier
118
. The actuator
190
may include means for attaching a knob. The depth of the main body portion
182
is defined as the distance between the bottom surface
186
and the top surface
188
.
A radial extension
192
extends from the outer surface
184
of the carrier
118
near the bottom surface
186
. The radial extension
192
extends radially outward from the outer surface
184
of the carrier
118
a distance of approximately equal to the carrier diameter. The radial extension
192
forms an annular plate having a bottom surface
194
and a top surface
196
. The annular plate has a depth of approximately 20% of the depth of the main body portion
182
of the carrier
118
.
A plurality of undulations
198
(
FIG. 4
) extends around the outer surface
184
of the carrier
118
. Each of the undulations
198
has a peak
200
that extends axially. Adjacent undulations
198
are separated by an axially extending groove
202
.
An electrical conductor
204
(
FIG. 3
) is attached to the bottom surface
194
of the annular plate of the carrier
118
. The electrical conductor
204
includes two W-shaped portions
206
and
208
that are interconnected by a connecting portion (not shown). A first W-shaped portion
206
extends from the annular plate in a position 180 degrees from a second W-shaped portion
208
. Each of the W-shaped portions
206
and
208
has two legs
210
that attach to the bottom surface
194
of the annular plate and two arched portions
212
that extend axially away from the bottom surface
194
for contacting the printed circuit board
112
.
To assemble the switch
110
of the
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the carrier
118
is inserted into the chamber
148
through the open end
138
of the housing
114
such that the actuator
190
extends through the central bore
154
on the top wall
142
of the housing
114
. In this position, the outer surface
184
of the carrier
118
will be held between the two cantilever portions
156
and
158
. The printed circuit board
112
is then fixed to the cover
116
such that the annular projection
178
extending inwardly from the inner surface
174
of the cover
116
extends through the central aperture
120
of the printed circuit board
112
. The electrical leads
134
and
136
of the printed circuit board
112
are extended through of the apertures
180
in the cover
116
and the cover
116
is attached to the housing
114
. When the cover
116
is attached to the housing
114
, the printed circuit board
112
will contact the electrical conductor
204
of the carrier
118
. The first W-shaped portion
206
of the electrical conductor
204
will contact the first side
124
of the printed circuit board
112
and the second W-shaped portion
208
of the electrical conductor
204
will contact the second side
126
of the printed circuit board
112
. When the printed circuit board
112
contacts the electrical conductor
204
, a portion of the annular projection
178
extending from the inner surface
174
of the cover
116
enter the annular groove (not shown) on the bottom surface
186
of the carrier
118
. The annular projection
178
supports the carrier
118
for rotation relative to the printed circuit board
112
.
The switch
110
of
FIGS. 3 and 4
operates in a manner similar to the switch of
FIGS. 1 and 2
with the exception that the carrier
118
is rotated instead of moved linearly. The top wall
142
of housing
114
may have means for limiting rotation of the carrier
118
relative to the housing
114
so that the carrier
118
must be moved in opposite rotational directions when moving from the “on position” to the “off position” and from the “off position” to the “on position.”
FIGS. 5
a
and
5
b
show views of a flexible cantilever portion
256
of the present invention having a ribbed arm portion
258
. The rib
260
on the arm portion
258
extends axially, i.e., from the first axial end
262
of the arm portion
258
to the second axial end
264
, along the outer wall
266
of the arm portion
258
. The ribs
260
provide rigidity to the arm portion
258
. By making the arm portion
258
more rigid, the resistance to movement of the carrier will increase. Other ways to increase the rigidity of the arm portion
258
include increasing the thickness of the arm portion
258
and inserting a rigid material such as glass or a resilient metal wire into the arm portion
258
.
FIG. 6
shows a view of a flexible cantilever portion
256
of the present invention having a slotted arm portion
258
. The slots
268
on the arm portion
258
extend laterally, i.e., perpendicular to the axial direction, along the outer wall
266
of the arm portion
258
. The slots
268
increase the flexibility of the arm portion
258
. By making the arm portion
258
more flexible, the resistance to movement of the carrier will decrease. Other ways to increase the flexibility of the arm portion
258
include decreasing the thickness of the arm portion
258
.
From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes, and modifications may include changes to the slope of the undulations to vary the resistance of movement of the carrier or modifying the configuration of switch such that one or more of the cantilevered portions extend from the cover. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A switch comprising:a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts, a carrier having an electrical conductor for connecting at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts, the carrier being movable relative to the printed circuit board; the carrier further having a surface with a plurality of undulations; and a plastic member housing the carrier, said plastic member including a chamber and at least one flexible plastic cantilever portion, the at least one cantilever portion having an arm portion and a head portion, the head portion of the cantilever portion contacting the plurality of undulations; the undulations and the cantilever portion comprising a detent mechanism to restrain the carrier in a position to which the carrier is moved, the carrier being supported within the central chamber for linear movement in a first direction relative to the printed circuit board, the chamber being partially defined by a planar inner surface, the arm portion of the cantilever portion extending perpendicularly away from the inner surface and into the chamber in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the head portion of the cantilever portion extending away from the arm portion and parallel to the inner surface.
- 2. The switch as in claim 1 further being defined by:a top surface of the carrier having the plurality of undulations; and each undulation having a peak that extends perpendicular a direction of linear movement of the carrier.
- 3. The switch as in claim 1 further being defined by:the arm portion extending from the plastic member for supporting the head portion, the arm portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being nearest the carrier and the outer surface being opposite the inner surface; and the head portion extending inwardly from the inner surface of the arm portion to engage the surface of the carrier.
- 4. The switch as in claim 3 further being defined by:the outer surface of the arm portion of the flexible cantilever portion having at least one axially extending rib for making the arm portion more rigid.
- 5. The switch as in claim 3 further being defined by:the outer surface of the arm portion of the flexible cantilever portion having at least one laterally extending slot for making the arm portion more flexible.
- 6. A switch comprising:a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts, a carrier having an electrical conductor for connecting at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts, the carrier being movable relative to the printed circuit board; the carrier further having a surface with a plurality of undulations; and a plastic member housing the carrier, the plastic member including a chamber and at least one flexible plastic cantilever portion, the at least one cantilever portion having an arm portion and a head portion, the head portion of the cantilever portion contacting the plurality of undulations; the undulations and the cantilever portion comprising a detent mechanism to restrain the carrier in a position to which the carrier is moved, the carrier being supported within the chamber for rotary movement relative to the printed circuit board, the chamber being partially defined by a cylindrical inner surface, the arm portion of the cantilever portion extending parallel to the inner surface and into the chamber, the head portion of the cantilever portion extending away from the arm portion and radially inward away from the cylindrical inner surface.
- 7. The switch as in claim 6 further being defined by:the carrier having a cylindrical outer surface; the outer surface having the plurality of undulations; and each undulation having a peak that extends axially across the outer surface of the carrier.
US Referenced Citations (10)