US3858020A

US3858020A - Pushbutton with spring contactor

Info

Publication number: US3858020A
Application number: US00384020A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Brannon
Original assignee: Staco Switch Inc
Current assignee: Staco Switch Inc
Priority date: 1973-07-30
Filing date: 1973-07-30
Publication date: 1974-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-31

Abstract

This specification discloses a pushbutton having a spider base configuration with concavities in the legs of the spider. The legs are seated within a keyboard guide means to substantially match the configuration of the pushbutton and the spider base. The concavities receive a spring contactor element having a spider shape with four support legs that help to provide indexing and resilience. The spring contactor also has two electrical contact legs in the form of spider legs which are adapted to span the conductive surfaces of a circuitboard. The support legs and contact legs are both formed as one piece in the spider, thereby compensating for any changes in the metallic nature of structure. Between the electrical contact legs, a boss is provided with the central apex thereof adapted for contact with a central portion of a conductive surface of an underlying circuitboard. This serves to complete a circuit with the surface of the board through the two electrical legs and the boss. The pushbutton can be in an array of pushbuttons within a keyboard or provided as a single operative element. A substantial advantage of the design disclosed herein, is the feature wherein the manual articulation of the switch allows and electrical contact before the switch bottoms out. Specifically, when the spider is depressed, the boss makes contact with the circuitboard prior to the pushbutton bottoming out with respect to a complete compression of the spring contactor element.

Description

United States Patent [191 Brannon Dec.31, 1974 1 PUSHBUTTON WITH SPRING CONTACTOR [75] Inventor: William E. Brannon, Buena Park,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Staco-Switch, Inc., Costa Mesa,

Calif.

[22] Filed: July 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 384,020

[52] US. Cl. 200/159 A, 200/283 [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 13/52 [58] Field of Search 200/159 A, 159 R, 159 B,

200/168 G, 166 PC, 166 J, 164, 283

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,222,467 12/1965 Meyer 200/168 G 3,506,795 4/1970 Schmidt 200/5 R 3,590,331 6/1971 Kirsch 200/159 A Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith [57] ABSTRACT This specification discloses a pushbutton having a spider base configuration with concavities in the legs of the spider. The legs are seated within a keyboard guide means to substantially match the configuration of the pushbutton and the spider base. The concavities receive a spring contactor element having a spider shape with four support legs that help to provide indexing and resilience. The spring contactor also has two electrical contact legs in the form of spider legs which are adapted to span the conductive surfaces of a circuitboard. The support legs and contact legs are both formed as one piece in the spider, thereby compensating for any changes in the metallic nature of structure. Between the electrical contact legs, a boss is provided with the central apex thereof adapted for contact with a central portion of a conductive surface of an underlying circuitboard. This serves to complete a circuit with the surface of the board through the two electrical legs and the boss.

The pushbutton can be in an array of pushbuttons within a keyboard or provided as a single operative element. A substantial advantage of the design disclosed herein, is the feature wherein the manual articulation of the switch allows and electrical contact before the switch bottoms out. Specifically, when the spider is depressed, the boss makes contact with the circuitboard prior to the pushbutton bottoming out with respect to a complete compression of the spring contactor element.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU 05123 1 I974 3 858 O20 sum 1 or 2 PATEHTEB [H3 1 I974

sum

2 or 2 PUSHBUTTON WITH SPRING CONTACTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention lies within the electrical pushbutton art. Specifically, it lies within the art relating to pushbutton and switches formed either singularly or in an array such has in a keyboard. The field is further delineated by the functional aspects of this invention which provide electrical contact through the manual articulation of an electrical contactor by means of a pushbutton.

THE PRIOR ART The prior art relating to the pushbutton and keyboards has comprised various types of manually articulated switches. Such manually articulated switches provide a momentary closure of an electrical contact for purposes of data input or maintenance ofa gating function.

The pushbutton switches incorporate spring elements for maintaining a contactor in a removed location prior to articulation. Some of these spring elements have been in the form of coil springs which are circumferentially wrapped around a pushbutton internally or externally.

Other spring or contactor elements are in the form of leaf springs which have been either turned over on themselves or formed as a depressible extension or resilient member. The leaf springs provide substantial ease of installation. However, they are subject to fatigue and wear. The same fatigue problems and wear problems are also related to the coil springs which are utilized with many pushbutton mountings.

Other forms of pushbutton and keyboard elements utilized in switches incorporate pushbuttons having a contactor therein. The contactor runs through the pushbutton which can be spring biased in any suitable manner. As a general rule, the utilization of such contactors and the pushbuttons does not provide for balanced operationl In other words, the pushbuttons are oftentimes offset with respect to a particular spring bias. As a consequence, when one depresses the pushbutton, it tends to be angled in one direction or the other. This causes improper contact, excessive electrical bounce, and a canted or inaccurate feel to the operator.

In addition to the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art, the pushbuttons have a point at which the switch makes contact. This point is generally the point at which the pushbutton bottoms out against the contactor. As can be appreciated, when the switch bottoms out, it provides a positive force against the switch to prevent it from moving any farther. This, of course, prevents further articulation and provides a harsh forceful flow in effect to the contactors without a smooth continuous manually articulated movement or contact. As a consequence, the contact can be made only through a forceful drive of one contactor element against the other at the bottom point. This, of course, usually makes an operator push harder than is normally necessary to push. This excessive push increases the fatigue of the operator of the pushbutton and of course the inaccuracies attendant therewith.

The operator of prior art pushbuttons can sometimes do what is called tickle the switch into the point of operation. The reason why the operator tickles the switch to the point of operation is to avoid harsh forceful contact at the bottom point of the switch.

This invention overcomes the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art by providing a switch that is substantially centered. In other words, the operation of the pushbutton allows it to be operated from most points and be supported around its periphery in a substantially equi-planar manner. When the switch is pushed and it is depressed, it generally moves in a more equally planar manner as to the movement of its surface through a given area than the prior art switches.

In the prior art, the switch face of the pushbutton face tends to cant with respect to the axis of the push button. To the contrary, this switch has more equiplanar articulated movement as it passes along its axial path toward contact or closure.

In addition to the foregoing advantage of equi-planar movement, the switch is also enhanced by reason of the fact that it cannot be tackled into making electrical contact. As previously alluded to, tickling takes place at the particular point where contact can be made so that a forceful drive is not necessary to push the switch into the contact position. This switch makes contact prior to the time the pushbutton bottoms out. As a general rule, it makes contact during the middle one third of its downward travel. Thus, the operator does not have the densation of having to drive the switch forcefully up against the surface prior to the time it makes contact.

The switch is substantially stable as to its radial relationship. This is due to the spider configuration and the holding elements which are incorporated in the back plate which holds the pushbutton in'place. Furthermore, the equally spaced radial legs of the spider that form in the contactor element enhance the operation of the switch so that it smoothly functions without the necessity of providing features which tend to offset the switch or cant it in proper orientation when it is manually articulated.

The pushbutton also incorporates features which overcome the necessity of providing areas of lubricity to the switch because of the self-cleaning design in its contactor.

A most important point is that the spring and contact legs of the spider are made in one piece. Thus, any change in material thickness or change in the metallic content or temper results in an equivalent change to both spring systems.

As will be seen, this switch has a self centering feature; a feature of substantially equi-planar movement; a feature of contact prior to bottoming out; and, a smoothly articulated feeling to the operator. As a consequence, this invention is a substantial improvement over the known prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summation, this invention comprises an improved pushbutton switch having a spider which makes electrical contact as well as spring loading the switch.

More specifically, the invention incorporates a pushbutton with spider legs overriding an electrical spring contactor. The spring system incorporates the improvement of maintaining the button and spring contactor in a constant relationship by reason of the spider having arms extending therefrom and indexed into slots. The invention incorporates a spring contactor element which makes electrical contact at a point prior to the time when the spring bottoms out against the circuitboard. In other words, the spring contactor makes electrical contact at a certain point and movement of the overlying pushbutton can continue to depress the spring beyond this point.

A substantial feature of this invention lies in the fact that the spring contactor element, including the legs, are all made of one piece. Thus, any change in material thickness or metallic nature results in an equivalent change to both the legs and the contactors of the spider which comprise the spring system of the spider.

The contactor has radially placed legs which provide equi-planar movement of the pushbutton through its axis of movement. Also, as previously stated, any metallic changes are compensated for throughout the spring system. Furthermore, the pushbutton is held in its keyboard configuration by a surrounding spline which holds the legs of the pushbutton spider. The legs of the bushbutton spider have concavities therein which serve to hold the spring contactor springlin elements. The spring contactor springing elements move longitudinally along the concave portion of the arms to provide a self wiping articulated movement. The electrical contactors of the spring contactor move across a conductive surface until contact is made by a boss therebetween. After electrical contact is made by the boss, the pushbutton can continue to be depressed by further movement of the spider legs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the description below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I shows an exploded perspective view ofthe circuitboard and contact elements as well as the pushbutton in two orientations with the overlying panel which serves as the guide for the pushbutton;

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the pushbutton in the overlying holder or panel therefor with the spring contactor and circuitboard underlying it in the direction of lines 22 of FIG. I which is an offset sectional line;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the spring contactor element along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of the spring contactor element along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation rotated view of the spring contactor element along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a view of the spring contactor element being depressed with the overlying pushbutton therefor; and,

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view looking at the underside of the overlying panel, pushbutton spring, contactor element and circuitboard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS The Physical Apparatus Looking particularly at FIG. 1, a casing 10 or top cover plate, is shown having a railing or flange 12 around the top surface thereof. Only one particular corner of the casing is shown and is substantially fragmented. The casing 10 has openings 14 which are rounded. The openings 14 each have a pushbutton 16 inserted therein. As can be seen, the openings 14 are not shown with the pushbuttons implaced in two of them in the casing 10.

The casing 10 can be formed of any suitable plastic or metal material in order to hold the pushbuttons. The holes 14 should be sufficiently smooth and rounded to allow the pushbuttons 16 to slide therein and be de' pressed in a manner to be described.

The casing 10 can have a side wall 18 around the adjacent region thereof which can be configured to receive any particular bottom plate or board. In the particular instance of this invention, a circuitboard 20 has been shown at the lower part of the drawing which can mate against the bottom of the side walls 18. The circuitboard 20 can, of course. be formed in any particular configuration. For instance, it can incorporate a ledge or side wall for mating with a portion of the upstanding wall 18 of the cover 10.

The ledge 12 of the cover 10 can function as a border, for decorative purposes, or as a manual articulation orientation area. In other words, when the pushbuttons 16 of the apparatus are to be located, ones fingers can feel the periphery of ledge 12 in order to orient ones hand. Oftentimes, times, it is desirable to operate this invention without the use of visual aid by looking at the particular placement of the button or key 16. In this manner, the user can merely orient his fingers with respect to the entire keyboard by orienting himself with respect the the guide rail 12.

In addition to the foregoing function ofthe guide rail, the border formed by the guide rail 12 can serve as an outside peripheral edge region for a label which can sit on a top surface 22 of the casing 10. In this manner, any suitable label configuration can be utilized with the casing, and it can provide a series of indicia or other enun ciative means or symbols to denote the respective pushbuttons 16 that fit within the openings 14.

Looking more particularly at the pushbuttons 16, it can be seen that the buttons have been removed in part from two of the openings 14. The pushbuttons 16 have been shown in the upper part of FIG. 1 as they appear on the top surface and as they would be normally oriented in the casing 10. The lower showing of the pushbutton in FIG. 1 has been tilted in order to emphasize the underside of the pushbutton.

In particular, the pushbutton 16 has a top portion 26 or surface with a rail 28 or circumferential flange. The circumferential flange 28 around the top surface 26 of the button can be utilized to receive a symbol in the form of either a screened, painted, or labeled configuration thereon. The rail 28 can also serve to orient a user's fingers at approximately the right location within the button area.

The pushbutton 16 has a lower circumferential skirt 30 which normally underlies the surface 22 of the cover 10. The skirt 30 has four

arms

32, 34, 36 and 38 extending therefrom. The arms 32 through 38 comprise a spider which orient and help guide the button in cooperation with a spring contactor element 40.

The legs 32 through 38 have a concavity within each leg of the spider. The concavity in each respective leg receives the four legs of the spring contactor element 40. Specifically, the spring contactor 40 has

legs

42, 44 46 and 48 which are received in the respective concavities of the

legs

32, 34 36 and 38.

The legs 42 through 48 of the spring contactor element 40 have upturned ends that can be more clearly seen in the remainder of the drawings. Specifically, the ends are spilled upwardly against the direction of movement in order to allow smooth moving contact on the surface against which they rest.

The contactor element incorporates two electrically conducting

legs

54 and 56. The electrically conducting

legs

54 and 56 each respectively have turned up portions to provide sliding movement. This allows

legs

54 and 56 to slide smoothly against the electrical contact surface in which they make contact.

The electrical contactor 40 is placed in overlying relationship to the board which can be in the form of a circuitboard. The circuitboard or underlying support board 20 can have electrically conductive surfaces such as the

annular surfaces

60 and 62 which serve to provide a contact area for the two legs 53 and 56 of the electrical contactor 40.

The annular rings 60 and 62 which are electrically conductive surfaces, can be formed so that only one side of the board is provided with electrically conductive surfaces. These are more clearly shown on the fragmented portion of the board in the upper corner. Specifically, the

conductive surfaces

64 and 66 having a lead 68 therefrom serve to contact the

outer legs

54 and 56 on the electrically conducting spring contactor 40. An internal portion 78 having a lead 80 therefrom serves to provide a contact through the

legs

54 and 56 with a boss 94 in a manner to be described.

When the annular

conductive surfaces

60 and 62 are utilized, the board 20 must be provided with a circuitry on both sides of the board. In other words, the

annular elements

60 and 62 cannot flow through each other and as a consequence, there must be a bore through the board to allow contact therethrough to a circuitry. labyrinth on the backside of the board to provide the circuitry or the matrix upon which the function of the board is based. When the keyboard has a matrix for purposes of providing the logic of the system, the circuitry to the matrix must be provided on the backside thereof when the

annular rings

60 and 62 are utilized. This is because of the fact that the

annular elements

60 and 62 will not allow the flow ofcurrent between them unless they are bridged or are connected to elements on a non-conductive surface,

The

conductive elements

64 and 66 along with the

elements

68, 78 and 89 allow for the conductive elements to be on one particular portion of the board without having to have conductive leads on the other side. In other words, it can be appreciated that there is a non-conductive space between the conductors so that they will not short-circuit each other.

Looking more paricularly at the remaining FIGS., namely FIGS. 2 through 7, it is seen wherein the spring contactor element 40 has its

legs

42, 44, 46 and 48 in overlying relationship to the board 20. The board 20 can be provided with the electrical surface contact elements either in an annular configuration such as 60 and 62 or those numbered 64, 66 and 78 with their

respective leads

68 and 80.

The turned up portions of the lower legs, namely the electrically contacting

legs

54 and 56 can be seen as the upturned portions 84. The upturned portions 84 provide a smooth surface or a round boss upon which the

legs

54 and 56 can glide up against the electrical contact surfaces of the board 20. The upper portion of the spring contactor comprising the

spring elements

42, 44, 46 and 48 are received within the concave grooves with legs 32 through 38 of the pushbuttons 16. The legs 42 through 48 of the electrical spring contactor element 40, have a turned over portion 88 which allows their smooth movement against the interior surfaces of the spider legs 32 through 38 of the pushbutton 16.

The pushbuttons 16 have downwardly turned end portions or stops 90 at the end of each groove within the

legs

32, 34, 36 and 38.

The spring contactor element 40 incorporates a depending boss 94 which is rounded and protrudes downwardly for purposes of contacting the electrical surface 62 through 78, shown on the board 20. This downward boss 94 is rounded so that it can generally drive through any lint or other extraneous surface material, to provide maximum force against the

electrical surfaces

62 or 78 to which it is to make contact.

As can be seen, the downward boss 94 is embossed within a platen portion 96 which surrounds the boss. The platen portion 96 is a central region from which the legs of the spider of the spring contactor element 40 emanate.

In addition to the foregoing featurs of this invention, electrical contact surfaces 100 and 102 can be disposed on the board to provide a continuous electrical contact. Extending from the electrical contact surfces 100 and 102 are a series of

extensions

104 and 106 which contact the electrical contacting

legs

54 and 56 of the electrical spring contactor 40. This serves to provide a continuous string or run of electrically conductive material in a very limited area. Specifically, it is well known that oftentimes circuitboards are plated with precious metals which are now in short supply. Therefore, it is often desirable to limit the area of precious metal portions to only those areas where required. This can be done, of course, by the

narrow strips

100 and 102 with their

respective extensions

104 and 106 which serve to receive the electrically contacting

legs

54 and 56 of the contactor element 40. Thus, this invention can provide substantial savings in precious metal with regard to keyboards.

Looking more particularly at the spring contactor 40, it can be seen that the two electrically conducting

legs

54 and 56 are oriented on the keyboard so that they are facing downwardly and contact the electrically conductive surfaces on the board 20. The

legs

42, 44, 46 and 48 are oriented upwardly so that they make contact in a sliding manner within the slots or grooves or the pushbutton 16. They respectively make sliding contact in the arms of the spider. namely

arms

32, 34, 36 and 38 so that they slide inwardly and outwardly as depressed.

Looking more particularly at the exploded view of FIG. 7, the electrical contacting spring element 40 is shown underlying the board 20. The board 20 can be in the form of a circuitboard having many electrically conductive surfaces disposed thereon providing conduction. The boss 94 of the electrically conductive contactor spring element 40 is shown as a convex surface.

In essence, the

legs

54 and 56 make contact along the conductive surfaces provided on the conductive board 20. When the boss 94 is depressed to the point where current can pass through

legs

54 or 56 to the boss 94, a circuit is completed.

Looking more specifically at the cover or plate 10 in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the underside thereof is detailed. The underside, of course, includes the wall 18. In addition thereto, a column is shown which can receive screws or other heat set means within an opening 122 thereof.

The casing 10 on the underside has a surface 124 having a series of upwardly projecting circumferential walls 128 which serve to define an area surrounding the openings 14 as previously shown on the top surface. As can be appreciated, the openings 14 pass through the cover plate 10.

The skirt 30 fits within the walls 128 so that when the spring contact 40 biases the button 16 upwardly, it rests against the surface 124 and more particularly, that surface 132 within the circumferential walls 128. The circumferential walls are notched with

openings

136 and 138 as well as

notches

142 and 144. The

notches

136, 138 and 142 and 144 respectively receive the

legs

36, 38 and 32 and 34 in sliding relationship.

The sliding relationship of the

legs

32, 34, 36 and 38 within the notches of walls 128 allow for an indexing of the button 16 as it is placed within the concavity provided by the circumferential walls 128. As can be appreciated, this prevents the buttons from canting over or creating a situation whereby they will effectively be disoriented when they are depressed.

The circumferential walls 128 can be of any suitable configuration for holding the spider legs of the button 16. However, as shown, they are preferentially in the form of round circumferentially walled tubs having segments cut out therefrom. This effectively allows for a smooth configuration. The circumferential walls 128 can be substituted by walls having a peripheral outside boundary in the form of any other condiguration such as a triangular, rectangular, or other shape. Furthermore, the shape of the button as to the skirt 30 and the extension ofthe

legs

32,34, 36 and 38 can be such that the legs can be formed in any other manner which effectively can provide the orientation necessary to allow the buttons to be articulated.

Although the legs can be formed in any other manner, it is important to note that the upper and lower set of legs, in other words, the entire spider, should be formed from the same material. In this manner, when the spider or spring contactor 40 is made of one piece, any changes can be compensated for. For instance, if the material thickness of a given spring contactor changes or the temper of metallic character thereof changes, the force differential between the

upper legs

42, 44, 46 and 48 and the

lower legs

54 and 56 are balanced. This is important in the design in order to effectuate a making and breaking of electrical contact in the middle of the button movement. Under test the electrical contact is generally made during the middle one third of the buttons downward movement.

Description of the Operation of the Invention Looking more particularly at the drawings showing the placement of the electrical contactor in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, it can be seen that the electrically conducting

legs

54 and 56 are in spaced relationship from the surface of the board 20. The boss 94 is of course also in spaced relationship from the board 20. Thus, when contact is made, it is with the

legs

54 or 56 to the boss 94 and to the surface of the underlying board 20.

Looking at FIG. 6, an arrow 200 is shown driving an outlined configuration of a pushbutton 16 in overlying configuration to the electrical contactor element 40. This effectively causes a collapsing of the

legs

40, 42, 46 and 48, as well as electrical contacting

legs

54 and 56 ofthe electrical contactor 40. The foregoing legs, of course, spring bias the pushbutton 16.

Lets

54 and 56 which provide the electrical contact means are also spread by the action of the pressure in the direction of arrow 200. In this manner. they skid on their respective conductive surfaces on the board 20 until detent 94 makes contact with the surface of the board 20.

The contact by the detent 94 is generally made during the middle one third of the depressed movement of the button. Furthermore, any changes in the metallic character of the spring contactor 40 is compensated for by the entire spider being made of one piece of metal which allows for the force differential changing in a substantially equivalent manner through the entire spring system.

After the detent 94 has made contact with the surface of the board 20, an electrical connection is provided. For instance, in FIG. 1 the electrical connection would be made between electrical surfces 60 and 62 or

electrical surfaces

64 or 66 and 78. Whichever way the electrical contact is made, whether it be through a series of conductors on a major surface, or through the conductors on a major surface to conductor leads in the back, the contact, of course, is cffectuated by means ofa circuit through the

arms

54, 56 and the boss 94.

In the foregoing manner. a complete electrical contact can be made by the electrical spring contactor 40 so as to provide a completed electrical circuit with logic. The logic can be implaced by electrical conductors on the surface 20 or through any other suitable circuitry. As can be appreciated, diode decode matrix means can be utilized for the logic. Also, the specific elements of the electrically conductive surfce disposed on the board 20 can be formed in such a manner, so as to provide a continuity and a decoding matrix sufficient to provide digital information into an electrical system.

The depression of the pushbutton 16 when the boss 94 makes contact, can be continued beyond the electrical connection point. Specifically, the pushbutton 16 can continue to be depressed so as to effectuate a feeling to the operator that does not provide an inherent stop or bottoming feeling. In other words, the switch can not be tickled into a contact position, nor can it be detected as to when actual electrical contact is made. The switch bottoms out when the

arms

42,44, 46 and 48 and

electrical contact legs

54 and 56 have completely slid along their

upturned portions

84 and 88.

The end walls can prevent the movement of the

rounded portions

84 and 88 of the arms moving beyond that point. Whichever stop comes first, either the bottoming of the switch. or the movement of the arms against the end walls 90, it can be appreciated that contact has already been made from an electrical point of view. This prevents the operator from knowing when an electrical connection has been made and provides a smooth operating switch so that it does not have to be completely bottomed out. It further provides a tactile sensation of a continual drive being made beyond the electrical contact point. This helps to enhance the switching function to prevent contact chatter and bounce. if the boss 94 were to hit the bottom and then not be driven any further, it would provide an effect whereby bounce takes place and an electrical chatter is effectuatd. However, the constant spring pressure against the pushbutton 16 allows for continued movcment beyond this point so that there is a firm steady maintenance of the boss 94 against the board 20 to effectuate complete contact without the chatter or bounce incurred in prior art switches.

When the button 16 is released, the spring contactor moves backwardly and the boss 94 moves off the board in a smooth and functional manner. This enables a decoupling of the switching function with a transition which does not inherently have bounce and chatter.

VARIATIONS As can be appreciated, numerous variations can be incorporated in this invention. Some of these variations have been enumeratd in the previous specification by way of alternative materials, configurations and embodiments.

As an example, the configuration of the pushbutton 16 can be such that it is square, rectangular or triangu lar, or in any other suitable configuration, as long as it matches the opening, such as opening 14. In addition thereto, the legs of the pushbutton 16 can be spread in any radial manner so asto accommodate the sliding spring contactor. Furthermore. the spring contactor 40 can have various spiders or armed elements within the pushbutton and can be provided with or without various guide means. For instance, the number of arms can be three or two in number and the electrical contacts could be in the form of a tripod. Furthermore, the end prtions can be such that they provide any particular skid travel over the surfaces so that a smooth operation of the electrical contact means is accomplished. In ad dition thereto, the boss 94 can be substituted by various contact means known in the art in order to effectuate a completion of a circuit.

As a consequence, this invention is to be read in its broadest configuration and is only to be limited in light of the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pushbutton switch comprising:

a button for manual articulation with a skirt and spider legs having concavities;

a board having an electrically conductive surface thereon;

a spring contactor with legs which are adapted to be received in the concavities of said button spider legs and which span at least a portion of said electrically conductive surface on said board;

a depending extension between said legs of said spring contactor for making electrical contact therethrough to the electrically conductive surface of said board through said legs and said extension; and,

plate overlying said button skirt having an opening and guide means on its interior surface for holding and guiding a portion of said button and providing a projection through the opening of the upper portion of said button for manual articulation thereof above the surface of said plate.

2. The switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

guide means on the underside of said panel for rcceiving the legs of said spider.

3. The switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said guide means comprise a circumferential wall circumscribing the skirt of said pushbutton at least in part and having openings therein for sliding movement of the legs of the spider of said switch which extend at least into the general wall area of said circumferential walls.

4. The switch as claimed in claim I further comprising:

a contactor element having a plurality of upturned legs which mate against the pushbutton and which hold the pushbutton in substantially equal planar relationship; and,

at lest two downwardly turned legs for contact of the electrically conductive surface of the underlying board having a portion therebetween which can extend form the portion between the downwardly depending legs for making an electrical contact with the underlying surface so that when said electrical contactor is depressed. the extension can make contact prior to the time the electrical contact is fully depressed or extended.

5. The swtich as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electrical extension comprises:

a boss.

6. The switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

all the legs of said contactor element and the contactor is formed from a single piece of metal.

Claims

1. A pushbutton switch comprising: a button for manual articulation with a skirt and spider legs having concavities; a board having an electrically conductive surface thereon; a spring contactor with legs which are adapted to be received in the concavities of said button spider legs and which span at least a portion of said electrically conductive surface on said board; a depending extension between said legs of said spring contactor for making electrical contact therethrough to the electrically conductive surface of said board through said legs and said extension; and, a plate overlying said button skirt having an opening and guide means on its interior surface for holding and guiding a portion of said button and providing a projection through the opening of the upper portion of said button for manual articulation thereof above the surface of said plate.

2. The switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: guide means on the underside of said panel for receiving the legs of said spider.

3. The switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said guide means comprise a circumferential wall circumscribing the skirt of said pushbutton at least in part and having openings therein for sliding movement of the legs of the spider of said switch which extend at least into the general wall area of said circumferential walls.

4. The switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a contactor element having a plurality of upturned legs which mate against the pushbutton and which hold the pushbutton in substantially equal planar relationship; and, at lest two downwardly turned legs for contact of the electrically conductive surface of the underlying board having a portion therebetween which can extend form the portion between the downwardly depending legs for making an electrical contact with the underlying surface so that when said electrical contactor is depressed, the extension can make contact prior to the time the electrical contact is fully depressed or extended.

5. The swtich as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electrical extension comprises: a boss.

6. The switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein: all the legs of said contactor element and the contactor is formed from a single piece of metal.