Todd B Green

US Patent:

43596142, Nov 16, 1982

Filed:

Sep 24, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/305064

Inventors:

Todd C. Green - Chicago IL
Bruce L. Graham - Wheeling IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01H 1364
H01H 1348

US Classification:

200 5R

Abstract:

A miniature, two-level pushbutton switch comprises a base for mounting a plurality of relatively movable electrical contacts and a plurality of relatively fixed electrical terminals. The base includes at least one support surface for supporting the contacts and terminals. A pushbutton is mounted to the base for reciprocal movement along a predetermined straight line. The contacts include an elongate contact bar having at least one flat contact surface mounted for movement in response to actuation of the pushbutton in a first direction and a contact dome having at least one flat contact surface normally spaced apart from the contact surface of the contact bar when the pushbutton is in an unactuated condition. The terminals include a first terminal including a gripping portion for holding the contact bar in assembled condition with the base while achieving electrical contact with the contact bar. A second terminal includes a gripping portion engaging the base and an extension which urges the contact dome against the base support surface, thereby holding the contact dome in assembled condition with the base while achieving electrical contact with the contact dome.

US Patent:

43705324, Jan 25, 1983

Filed:

Feb 23, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/237346

Inventors:

Todd C. Green - Chicago IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01H 312

US Classification:

200314

Abstract:

An electrical lighted pushbutton switch is constructed by inserting a light source in the housing of the switch below a depressible actuating plunger that has a keycap retaining post. The keycap retaining post has a passageway which runs through it from its top surface to its bottom surface which is in alignment with the light source. The removeable keycap has locking detent provisions which cooperate with a mating locking groove on the retaining post. The keycap has a centrally located channel through its top surface that leads to an open cavity and is in alignment with the passageway through the keycap retaining post. A light pipe is inserted that has an upper section that fits into the channel of the keycap, a flange located below this upper section which keeps the light pipe from being forced upwardly through the channel in the keycap and a lower tapered section which is inserted into the passageway of the keycap retaining post.