Patent ID: 6288352
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A push-button switch controlling an ON or OFF state of the switch according to an increase in depression of a push button, said push-button switch comprising:a push button;a case for depressibly supporting said push button;a first contact disposed in said case;a second contact disposed in said case in opposed relation with said first contact, wherein said push-button switch is shifted, in conjunction with a depression of said push button, from a first OFF state in which said first and second contacts are out of contact to an ON state in which said first and second contacts are in contact, and then shifted to a second OFF state in which said first and second contacts are again out of contact;a switching mechanism having two opposite end portions, wherein one end portion is inserted in a hollow portion defined in said push button and the other end portion extends in said case;a slide block disposed in the one end portion of said switching mechanism said slide block being slidable in a direction intersectional to a direction of the depression of the push button;a push-button slope formed in the hollow portion of said push button;a slide-block slope formed on said slide block, wherein said slide-block slope is engagable with said push-button slope; anda return spring disposed in said case for urging the other end portion of said switching mechanism toward the push button, wherein said second contact is movable in said case interlocked with said switching mechanism, wherein said switching mechanism is moved interlocked with the depression of said push button while said push-button and slide-block slopes are in engagement when said push-button is pressed between the first OFF state and the second OFF state, and, wherein said side block slides to bring said push-button and slide-block slopes out of engagement when said push-button is depressed to said second OFF state, and wherein said switching mechanism is released from the interlocked relation with the depression of said push button so as to be moved in the hollow portion of said push button by an urging force of said return spring when said push-button is depressed to said second OFF state.