Binary coded cam selector switch having split housing and dent structure

Claim 1

A binary coded cam selector switch assembly comprising in combination: a rotary member molded of an abrasion resistant plastic and including integrally, axially displaced multiple coaxial cam surfaces, cylindrical bearing surfaces, a first detent member, and a control shaft; two rigid metal contact bars; a plurality of resilient metal contacts individually movable by contact with portions of the cam surfaces from a normal position free of the contact bars into sliding contact with said bars; a metal detent plate supported on the control shaft of the rotary member and axially displaced from the first detent member; two spherical metal detent elements, retained between the first detent member of the rotary member and the metal detent plate for cooperating with said plate and said member to position the cam surfaces at ones of a number of predetermined positions relative to said metal contacts; two mating housing portions, molded of an abrasion resistant plastic, and including boss means having at least two different diameters, semi-cylindrical bearing surfaces, for cooperating with the cylindrical bearing surfaces of the rotary member, and each portion fixedly retaining one of the metal contact bars and a predetermined number of the metal contacts; a metal housing clamp adapted to cooperate with the metal detent plate for retaining the housing portions in a tightly mated relationship, and including first tab means for retaining the metal detent plate and second tab means for mounting the switch assembly, and the metal detent plate having first apertures adapted to receive the boss means of the housing portions for proper orientation of the detent plate relative to the housing portions and second apertures adapted to receive the first tab means of the housing clamp only when the ends of the clamp are stressed toward each other.