Universally mounted, pivoted key actuctor and associated switch assembly

Claim 2

A switch construction particularly a rapid data entry switch for connecting a selective contact circuit, comprising a first block member having a first finger contact side and an opposite second side, a second block member having a first side adjacent to said first block's second side and an opposite second side, universal pivotal support means universally pivotally supporting said first block member on said first side of said second block member, at least one contact rod receiving bore defined through said second block member extending from said first side to said second side, a contact rod movable in said bore, spring means urging said contact rod in a direction to extend out of said first side towards said first block, said first block being pivotal by contact of a protion thereof by a person's finger in a direction to engage said contact rod to displace it in said bore for establishing a connection to the contact circuit, said first and second block members having four sides and being of a rectangular block-shaped configuration, said first block second side and said second block first side having triangular form projections and recesses which are complementarily interengageable.

Claim 3

A switch construction according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of contact rod bores in said second block member, each having a contact rod member therein, said finger contacting surface including a plurality of defined areas overlying respective contact rod members which are selectively depressable to move respective rod members to connect a select contact circuit.

Claim 4

A switch construction according to claim 2 wherein said universal pivotal support means comprises a bolt member extending centrally of said first and second block members and having a spherical surface for effecting pivotal support of said first block member in respect to said second block member, said spring means including a spring associated with said contact rod.

Claim 5

A switch construction according to claim 1 wherein each of the four sides of said second block member has an associated triangular recess which extends downwardly from each side thereof, said at least one contact receiving bore comprising a bore in each of the recesses arranged radially outwardly from the center of the associated second block member and said first block member, said first and second block members having a through bore extending therethrough with a pivot blot in said bore comprising said universal pivotal support means, said bolt having a head of spherical configuration and the bore of said second member having a spherical recess at the end of said bore, the head of said bolt engageable on the recess for pivotal movement between said block members.

Claim 6

A switch according to claim 4 wherein said bolt is pivotally supported on a conical recess of said second block member at its one end and has an opposite end threaded into said first block member, the spacing between said block members being set by the threading of said bore in said second block member.

Claim 7

A switch construction particularly a rapid data entry switch for connecting a selective contact circuit, comprising a first block member having a first finger contact side and an opposite second side, a second block member having a first side adjacent to said first block's second side and an opposite second side, universal pivotal support means universally pivotally supporting said first block member on said first side of said second block member, at least one contact rod receiving bore defined through said second block member extending from said first side to said second side, a contact rod movable in said bore, spring means urging said contact rod in a direction to extend out of said first side towards said first block, said first block being pivotal by contact of a portion thereof by a person's finger in a direction to engage said contact rod to displace it in said bore for establishing a connection to the contact circuit, each of said first and second block members being of rectangular block-shaped configuration, each having four sides, said first block member second side and said second block member first side having complementary substantially pyramidal recesses and projections, with each side face having a top edge which slopes to an apex between corners of said second block member, said universal pivotal means comprising a pivot bolt, said first and second block members having a central bore therethrough for the passage of said pivot bolt, said pivot bolt being threaded into one of said first and second block members and being pivotal universally on the other of said block members, each of said triangular recesses and projections of said first and second block members having a contact rod connecting bore therethrough, a contact rod in each of said bores, spring means biasing said contact rod so that one end thereof projects from said second block member into contact with said first block member and the opposite end is flush with the bottom of said second block member, said contact rods being displaced by pivotal movement of said first block member to project from the exterior of said second side of said second block member.

Claim 8

A switch construction particularly a rapid data entry switch for connecting a selective contact circuit, comprising a first block member having a first finger contact side and an opposite second side, a second block member having a first side adjacent to said first block's second side and an opposite second side, universal pivotal support means universally pivotally supporting said first block member on said first side of said second block member, at least one contact rod receiving bore defined through said second block member extending from said first side to said second side, a contact rod movable in said bore, spring means urging said contact rod in a direction to extend out of said first side towards said first block, said first block being pivotal by contact of a portion thereof by a person's finger in a direction to engage said contact rod to displace it in said bore for establishing a connection to the contact circuit, each of said first and second block members being of rectangular block-shaped configuration, each having four sides, said first block member second side and said second block member first side having complementary substantially pyramidal recesses and projections, with each side face having a top edge which slopes to an apex between corners of said second block member, said universal pivotal means comprising a pivot bolt, said first and second block members having a central bore therethrough for the passage of said pivot bolt, said pivot bolt being threaded into one of said first and second block members and being pivotal universally on the other of said block members, each of said triangular recesses and projections of said first and second block members having a contact rod connecting bore therethrough, a contact rod in each of said bores, spring means biasing said contact rod so that one end thereof projects from said second block member into contact with said first block member and the opposite end is flush with the bottom of said second block member, said contact rods being displaced by pivotal movement of said first block member to project from the exterior of said second side of said second block member.

Claim 9

A switch according to claim 6 wherein said first block member includes a finger outlined recess extending inwardly from each side wall overlying a respective contact rod receiving bore.

Claim 10

A switch construction particularly a rapid data entry switch for connecting a selective contact circuit, comprising a first block member having a first finger contact side and an opposite second side, a second block member having a first side adjacent to said first block's second side and an opposite second side, universal pivotal support means universally pivotally supporting said first block member on said first side of said second block member, at least on contact rod receiving bore defined through said second block member extending from said first side to said second side, a contact rod movable in said bore, spring means urging said contact rod in a direction to extend out of said first side towards said first block, said first block being pivotal by contact of a portion thereof by a person's finger in a direction to engage said contact rod to displace it in said bore for establishing a connection to the contact circuit, said first block member comprising a relatively flat plate block, said second block member having pyramidal recesses formed in each corner with a contact rod element projecting outwardly from the lower ends of said recesses, said first block member having pyramidal middle projections overlying the recesses of said second block member.

Claim 11

A switch construction particularly a rapid data entry switch for connecting a selective contact circuit, comprising a first block member having a first finger contact side and an opposite second side, a second block member having a first side adjacent to said first block's second side and an opposite second side, universal pivotal support means universally pivotally supporting said first block member on said first side of said second block member, at least on contact rod receiving bore defined through said second block member extending from said first side to said second side, a contact rod movable in said bore, spring means urging said contact rod in a direction to extend out of said first side towards said first block, said first block being pivotal by contact of a portion thereof by a person's finger in a direction to engage said contact rod to displace it in said bore for establishing a connection to the contact circuit, said first block member comprising a relatively flat plate block, said second block member having pyramidal recesses formed in each corner with a contact rod element projecting outwardly from the lower ends of said recesses, said first block member having pyramidal middle projections overlying the recesses of said second block member.

Claim 12

A switch according to a claim 8 wherein said universal pivotal support means comprises a bolt extending through said first block member and threaded into said second block member, said spring means comprising a spring extending around said bolt and biased between said first and second block members.

Claim 13

A switch construction according to claim 8 wherein said spring means comprises spring elements carried by said second block member and extending toward said first block member and separate from said contact rod.