Slide selector matrix keyboard switch assembly with improved contact structure

Claim 2

A slide selector switch construction comprising a first member having circuit conductor means thereon, a second member carried by said first member and having circuit conductor means thereon disposed in electrically spaced relation from said circuit conductor means of said first member, and a slide conductor movably carried by one of said members and having a first conductor portion for engaging said conductor means of said first member and a second conductor portion for engaging said conductor means of said second member whereby said slide conductor is adapted to electrically bridge said conductor means of said members in a plurality of selected slide positions of said slide conductor relative to said one member, said slide conductor having means continuously disengaging one of said conductor portions thereof from its respective conductor means during the entire movemeNt of said slide conductor relative to said one member to any of the selected slide positions of said slide conductor relative to said one member.

Claim 3

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide conductor comprises a leaf spring with parts thereof respectively defining said conductor portions of said slide conductor.

Claim 4

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slide conductor includes a manipulator means carrying said leaf spring.

Claim 5

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said manipulator means has a push portion which when pushed relative to one of said members in one direction a certain amount causes said leaf spring to bend and move said one conductor portion out of engagement from its respective conductor means as long as said push portion is being held at least said certain amount relative to said one member.

Claim 6

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said push portion is adapted to slide said pushed leaf spring substantially transverse to said one direction to selected positions relative to said one member.

Claim 7

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second members are disposed in stacked and spaced relation with said conductor means thereof facing each other.

Claim 8

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein said conductor means of each said members comprises a plurality of parallel conductive strips on the respective member.

Claim 9

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said conductive strips of one of said members are disposed substantially transverse to the conductive strips of the other member.

Claim 10

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein said one member has a slot means passing therethrough, said slide conductor comprising a manipulator means projecting through said slot means to be manipulated externally of said one member.

Claim 11

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein said manipulator means is adapted to be pushed toward said one member to disengage said one conductor portion from its respective conductor means and while in its pushed in condition to be moved along said slot between selected positions thereof.

Claim 12

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein said one member has cutouts therein respectively at predetermined positions corresponding to selected positions of said slide conductor, said slide conductor having a part thereof receivable in said cutout at a selected position of said manipulator means relative to said one member.

Claim 13

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said slide conductor includes a conductive leaf spring carried by said manipulator means, said leaf spring defining said conductor portions and normally tending to urge said part in a direction to be received in any one of said cutouts.

Claim 14

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide conductor comprises a manipulator means and a leaf spring having opposed ends, one of said ends of said spring being carried by said manipulator means and defining one of said contact portions for engagement with its respective conductor means, the other end of said spring being free of said manipulator means while bearing against the same.

Claim 15

A slide selector switch construction comprising a first member having circuit conductor means thereon, a second member carried by said first member and having circuit conductor means thereon disposed in electrically spaced relation from said circuit conductor means of said first member, and a slide conductor movably carried by one of said members and having a first conductor portion for engaging said conductor means of said first member and a second conductor portion for engaging said conductor means of said second member whereby said slide conductor is adapted to electrically bRidge said conductor means of said members in selected slide positions of said slide conductor relative to said one member, said slide conductor having means disengaging one of said conductor portions thereof from its respective conductor means during movement of said slide conductor relative to said one member, said slide conductor comprising a manipulator means and a leaf spring having opposed ends, one of said ends of said spring being carried by said manipulator means and defining one of said contact portions for engagement with its respective conductor means, the other end of said spring being free of said manipulator means while bearing against the same, said leaf spring being bent between said ends to define an arcuate intermediate contact portion for sliding engagement with the other conductor means.

Claim 16

A slide selector switch construction comprising a first member having circuit conductor means thereon, a second member carried by said first member and having circuit conductor means thereon disposed in electrically spaced relation from said circuit conductor means of said first member, and a slide conductor movably carried by one of said members and having a first conductor portion for engaging said conductor means of said first member and a second conductor portion for engaging said conductor means of said second member whereby said slide conductor is adapted to electrically bRidge said conductor means of said members in selected slide positions of said slide conductor relative to said one member, said slide conductor having means disengaging one of said conductor portions thereof from its respective conductor means during movement of said slide conductor relative to said one member, said slide conductor comprising a manipulator means and a leaf spring having opposed ends, one of said ends of said spring being carried by said manipulator means and defining one of said contact portions for engagement with its respective conductor means, the other end of said spring being free of said manipulator means while bearing against the same, said leaf spring being bent between said ends to define an arcuate intermediate contact portion for sliding engagement with the other conductor means.

Claim 17

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 14 wherein said manipulator means has a position locating projection thereon.

Claim 18

A slide selector switch construction as set forth in claim 14 wherein said manipulator means has a recess therein receiving said other end of said spring to guide movement therebetween.

Claim 19

A slide member for a slide selector switch construction comprising a manipulator means, and a leaf spring having opposed ends, one of said ends of said spring being carried by said manipulator means and defining a contact portion for engagement with a conductor means, the other end of said spring being free of said manipulator means while bearing against the same, said leaf spring being bent between said ends to define an arcuate intermediate contact portion for sliding engagement with another conductor means.

Claim 20

A slide member for a slide selector switch construction comprising a manipulator means, and a leaf spring having opposed ends, one of said ends of said spring being carried by said manipulator means and defining a contact portion for engagement with a conductor means, the other end of said spring being free of said manipulator means while bearing against the same, said leaf spring being bent between said ends to define an arcuate intermediate contact portion for sliding engagement with another conductor means.

Claim 21

A slide member as set forth in claim 17 wherein said manipulator means has a position locating projection thereon.

Claim 22

A slide member as set forth in claim 17 wherein said manipulator means has a recess therein receiving said other end of said spring to guide movement therebetween.