Patent ID: 6700565
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A slide switch comprising:a case member; a slide member movable in a planar range of movement defined in said case member; a conducting device formed between said case member and said slide member; and an elastic member having a holding portion engaged with said slide member, and projecting portions extending from said holding portion along said planar range of movement toward inner walls of said case member; said elastic member being formed of an electrically insulating material; said conducting device including contacts arranged on said inner walls of said case member, and conductors arranged on said holding portion of said elastic member; by a biasing force of said elastic member, said slide member being held at a neutral position where said conductors arranged on said elastic member are away from said contacts arranged on said inner walls of said case member, said conductors arranged on said elastic member being movable into contact with said contacts arranged on said case member by an external force by moving said slide member away from said neutral position against the biasing force of said elastic member; and a guide mechanism for maintaining said slide member in a fixed angular posture about an axis perpendicular to said planar range of movement regardless of movement of said slide member caused by said external force; wherein said guide mechanism includes an intermediate slide member disposed between said slide member and a bottom surface of said case member, with a first guide formed between said bottom surface of said case member, with a first guide formed between said bottom surface of said case member and said intermediate slide member for guiding said intermediate slide member to move along an X-axis relative to said case member, and a second guide formed between said slide member and said intermediate slide member for guiding said slide member to move along a Y-axis intersecting said X-axis relative to said intermediate slide member.