Abstract:
A thin switch having a small floor area easy to be manufactured is provided. A switch includes a base including at least one switching fixed contact point exposed from a bottom surface and a concave part having at least one pair of opposing side walls; an operation lever pivotally supported by the side walls of the base; a slider slidably arranged on the bottom surface of the base for sliding while being guided by the opposing side walls of the base when pushed by a cam part of the operation lever; and a conductive coil spring arranged on the bottom surface of the base so as to extend and contract with push and release by the slider, including an arm part on a first end side arranged to be slidable on the bottom surface of the base and arranged so as to contact and separate with respect to the switching fixed contact point. A shaft center of the coil spring is arranged parallel to a moving direction of the slider.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to switches, and in particular, to a switch to be surface mounted on a print substrate and the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, the switch to be surface mounted includes a switch in which an operation body  16  is pushed down to flip a movable contacting point body  14  made of arch shaped elastic metal thin plate, thereby opening and closing a contacting point (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-243184). 
         [0005]    The switch may also be a switch in which an operation lever  5  is pushed and a movable contacting point  4  including a coil spring is twisted to contact or separate a second arm  4   c  with respect to a switch contacting point  3 , thereby opening and closing a contacting point (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-216589). 
         [0006]    However, the entire movable contacting point body  15  must be enlarged to ensure a desired contacting pressure and the life of the contacting point since the movable contacting body  14  is configured by an arch shaped plate spring in the former case, and thus a compact switch having a small floor area cannot be obtained. 
         [0007]    In the latter case, the switch main body becomes tall since the second arm  4   c  of the movable contacting point  4  displaces in the up and down direction, and thus thinning has limitations. Furthermore, high component precision and assembly precision are required since the switch contacting point  3  to which the second arm  4   c  of the movable contacting point  4  contacts has a complex shape, and thus manufacturing is troublesome and an inexpensive switch cannot be obtained. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a thin switch having a small floor area and easy to be manufactured. 
         [0009]    In order to solve the above problem, a switch according to the present invention includes a base including a common fixed contact point exposed from an inner surface and at least one switching fixed contact point exposed from a bottom surface; an operation lever pivotally supported by the base; a slider slidably arranged on the bottom surface of the base for sliding when pushed by a cam part of the operation lever; and a conductive coil spring arranged on the bottom surface of the base so as to extend and contract with push and release by the slider, including an arm part arranged so as to contact the common fixed contact point on a first end side and contact and separate with respect to the switching fixed contact point on a second end side, where a shaft center of the coil spring is arranged parallel to a moving direction of the slider. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention, when the operation lever is pivoted and the slider is sled, the conductive spring contacts, whereby the arm part thereof contacts and separates with respect to the switching fixed contact point to switch the contacting point. Thus, the entire arch shaped spring does not need to be enlarged as in the prior art even in ensuring the desired contact point pressure and the life of the contact point, and a switch having a small floor area can be obtained. 
         [0011]    In particular, contact reliability is high since the contact force of the arm part with respect to the bottom surface of the base is substantially constant even if the coil spring is extended or contracted in the sliding direction and tension force and compression force are changed. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, since the conductive coil spring extends and contracts in the shaft center direction, the switch main body does not become tall as in the prior art, and thinning is facilitated. Moreover, the common fixed contact point and the switching fixed contact point may be merely exposed from the inner surface and the bottom surface of the base. Thus, high component precision and assembly precision as in the prior art are unnecessary, and an inexpensive switch that is easy to manufacture and that has a stable operating characteristic can be obtained. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, manufacturing of switches such as always-closed contacting type or always-opened contacting point time becomes possible by simply selecting the arrangement of the switching fixed contact point, as necessary, and the operating direction is readily changed by simply changing the shape of the operation lever. Therefore, various types of switches can be obtained through combination of components, whereby commoditization of the components is facilitated, and a more inexpensive switch can be obtained. 
         [0014]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft center of the coil spring may intersect a central part of the slider. 
         [0015]    According to such an embodiment, a switch in which the spring force of the coil spring is evenly transmitted to the slider, and the slide is smoothly sled is obtained. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the shaft center of the coil spring may intersect the slider at a position deviated from a central part thereof. 
         [0017]    According to such an embodiment, stable operation is ensured since the slider is guided by the side walls even if the spring force of the coil spring is biased and transmitted to the slider. The space efficiency is improved, and a more compact switch having a small floor area can be obtained. 
         [0018]    According to another further embodiment of the present invention, a coil part of the coil spring may contact a common fixed contact point exposed from the bottom surface of the base. 
         [0019]    According to such an embodiment, the common fixed contact point is exposed from the bottom surface of the base, similar to the switching fixed contact point, and thus a switch in which the assembly task is facilitated and the productivity is high is obtained. 
         [0020]    According to a different embodiment of the present invention, the arm part on a second end side of the coil spring may contact the common fixed contact point exposed from an inner side surface of the base. 
         [0021]    According to such an embodiment, an advantage in that a switch in which a second end of the coil spring constantly pressure contacts the common fixed contact point with the spring force of the compressed coil spring and thus has a high contact reliability is obtained in addition to the above advantages. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1A , and  FIGS. 1B and 1C  respectively show a perspective view of a first embodiment of a switch according to the present invention, and perspective views of before and after the operation in which the cover is detached; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2A  shows an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in  FIG. 1A , and  FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6A , and  FIGS. 6B and 6C  respectively show a perspective view of a second embodiment of a switch according to the present invention, and perspective views of before and after the operation in which the cover is detached; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7A  shows an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in  FIG. 6A , and  FIG. 7B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11A , and  FIGS. 11B and 11C  respectively show a perspective view of a third embodiment of a switch according to the present invention, and perspective views of before and after the operation in which the cover is detached; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12A  shows an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in  FIG. 11A , and  FIG. 12B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0037]      FIG. 16A  shows an exploded perspective view of a switch according to a fourth embodiment, and  FIG. 16B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 16A ; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 18A and 18B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0040]      FIGS. 19A and 19B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0041]      FIG. 20A , and  FIGS. 20B and 20C  respectively show a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a switch according to the present invention, and perspective views of before and after the operation in which the cover is detached; 
           [0042]      FIG. 21A  shows an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in  FIG. 20A , and  FIG. 21B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 20A ; 
           [0043]      FIGS. 22A and 22B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0044]      FIGS. 23A and 23B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 24A and 24B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0046]      FIGS. 25A and 25B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0047]      FIG. 26A , and  FIGS. 26B and 26C  respectively show a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a switch according to the present invention, and perspective views of before and after the operation in which the cover is detached; 
           [0048]      FIG. 27A  shows an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in  FIG. 26A , and  FIG. 27B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 27A ; 
           [0049]      FIGS. 28A and 28B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0050]      FIGS. 29A and 29B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0051]      FIGS. 30A and 30B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0052]      FIG. 31A , and  FIGS. 31B and 31C  respectively show a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a switch according to the present invention, and perspective views of before and after the operation in which the cover is detached; 
           [0053]      FIG. 32A  shows an exploded perspective view of the switch shown in  FIG. 30A , and  FIG. 32B  shows a perspective view showing only the terminals of the base shown in  FIG. 32A ; 
           [0054]      FIGS. 33A and 33B  respectively show a plan view of before the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of before the operation in which the cover is attached; 
           [0055]      FIGS. 34A and 34B  respectively show a plan view in middle of the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view in middle of the operation in which the cover is attached; and 
           [0056]      FIGS. 35A and 35B  respectively show a plan view of after the operation in which the cover is detached, and a cross sectional view of after the operation in which the cover is attached. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0057]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described according to the accompanying drawings  FIGS. 1 to 35 . 
         [0058]    The first embodiment is a case in which application is made to a switch having an always-opened contacting point, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
         [0059]    That is, the switch is configured by a base  10  having a square plane in which a common fixed contact point terminal  20  and a switching fixed contact point terminal  24  are insert molded; an operation lever  30  pivotally supported by the base  10 ; a slider  40  that slides when pushed by the operation lever  30 ; a conductive coil spring  50  that extends and contracts with push and release of the slider  40 ; and a cover  60  for covering the base  10 . An actually assembled product has an outer dimension of the entire height excluding the lever of 0.9 mm, the base width of 3.0 mm, and the length of 3.5 mm by way of example. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base  10  has side walls  11 ,  12 , and  13  continuously formed in a projecting manner along the peripheral edge of the upper surface, and has the common fixed contact point terminal  20  and the switching fixed contact point terminal  24  insert molded to the opposing side walls  11  and  13 . The base  10  further has positioning steps  11   a,    11   a,  and  13   a,    13   a  (not shown) for engaging engagement nails  61 ,  62 ,  63  (not shown), and  64  of the cover  60 , to be hereinafter described, at both side edges of the bottom surface of the side wall  11  and the side wall  13 . Furthermore, bearing concave parts  11   b,    13   b  are formed on the same shaft center at the edges of the opposing inner side surfaces of the side walls  11 ,  13 . A projection  14  having a substantially L-shape is arranged in a projecting manner at the corner of the inner bottom surface of the base  10 , and an accommodating groove  15  for accommodating the coil spring  50 , to be hereinafter described, is formed therein. A cut-out  14   a  is formed at a first end of the projection  14 . 
         [0061]    The common fixed contact point terminal  20  has a common fixed contact point  21  exposed from the inner bottom surface of the base  10 , and a terminal part  22 , which is bent upward at substantially right angle, projected towards the side from the outer surface of the side wall  11 . The switching fixed contact point terminal  24  has a switching fixed contact point  25  exposed from the inner bottom surface of the base  10  and a terminal part  26 , which is bent upward at substantially right angle, projected towards the side from the outer surface of the side wall  13 . A float-preventing projection  16  for preventing the fixed contact points  21 ,  25  from floating is arranged in a projecting manner at the inner bottom surface of the base  10 , and an insulation part  17  is also formed. 
         [0062]    The operation lever  30  has a pair of shaft parts  31 ,  31  arranged in a projecting manner on the same shaft center from both side edges, and a cam part  32  arranged between the shaft parts  31 ,  31 . An angular position regulating projection  33  is arranged in a projecting manner at the central part of the cam part  32 . The operation lever  30  has a position regulating projection  34  arranged in a projecting manner at the lower surface of the free end side. 
         [0063]    Therefore, the operation lever  30  is pivotally supported by fitting the shaft parts  31 ,  31  of the operation lever  30  to the bearing concave parts  11   b,    13   b  of the base  10 , and stopped from pivoting by the position regulating projection  34 . 
         [0064]    The slide strip  40  has a rectangular solid shape that slides while being guided on the inner side surfaces of the side walls  11 ,  13  of the base  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , a pressure receiving surface  41  for receiving pushing force from the cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  is formed on the side surface on the near side, and a position regulating concave part  42  is arranged at the central part of the pressure receiving surface  41 . A slip-off preventing projection  43 A ( FIG. 3A ), which prevents the coil spring  50  to be described later from slipping off, is arranged in a projecting manner at the side surface on the side opposite to the pressure receiving surface  41 . 
         [0065]    The conductive coil spring  50  has a function of a compression spring and a torsion spring, and has arm parts  52 ,  53  extending in opposite directions from both ends of a cylindrical coil part  51 . The free ends of the arm parts  52 ,  53  are bent to respectively form contacting point parts  52   a,    53   a.    
         [0066]    The cover  60  has a plane shape capable of covering the base  10 , and includes engagement nails  61 ,  62 ,  63  (not shown), and  64  formed by being extended from the corners on the outer periphery and folded back perpendicularly. 
         [0067]    In order to assemble the switch according to the present embodiment, the slider  40  is slidably arranged between the inner side surfaces of the side walls  11 ,  13  of the base  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . The coil part  51  of the coil spring  50  is accommodated in the accommodating groove  15  of the base  10 , and the arm part  52  of the coil spring  50  is engaged to the cut-out  14   a  of the base  10  and the arm part  53  is positioned at the insulation part  17 . The coil part  51  of the coil spring  50  is slightly floated from the bottom surface at this point. Subsequently, the cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  pressure contacts the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slide strip  40  by fitting the pair of shaft parts  31 ,  31  of the operation lever  30  to the bearing concave parts  11   b,    13   b  of the base  10 . Furthermore, the cover  60  is attached to the base  10  from above while maintaining the above state, thereby pushing down the floating coil spring  50  against the bottom surface of the base  10 . The engagement nails  61 ,  62 ,  63  (not shown), and  64  of the cover  60  are respectively folded back and engaged to the positioning steps  11   a,    13   b  of the base  10 , and the assembling is completed. 
         [0068]    According to the present embodiment, torsion and compression are produced in the coil spring  50  by pushing the floating coil spring  50  with the cover  60  to be accommodated in the accommodating groove  15  of the base  10 . Thus, the contacting point part  52   a  on a first end side of the coil spring  50  pressure contacts the common fixed contact point  21  with a predetermined contact force, and the contacting point part  53   a  on a second end side of the coil spring  50  pressure contacts the insulation part  17  of the base  10  with a predetermined contact force. Furthermore, the coil spring  50  provides returning force to the operation lever  30  through the slider  40 . 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , when external force is loaded to the operation lever  30  in the direction of the arrow X or Y the operation lever  30  pivots with the shaft part  31  as the center against the spring force of the coil spring  50 . The cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  then pushes the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slider  40 , and the slider  40  slides on the base  10 , thereby compressing the coil part  51  of the coil spring  50 . The contacting point  53   a  of the coil spring  50  thus slides on the insulation part  17  of the base  10 , and contacts a switching fixed contact point  25 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The common fixed contact point  21  and the switching fixed contact point  25  are thereby short circuited by way of the coil spring  50 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0070]    Furthermore, when the operation lever  30  is pushed in, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  slides on the fixed contact point  25 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  maintain the conduction state, as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the operation lever  30  is further pushed in, the projection  34  of the operation lever  30  contacts the floor surface, and the operation lever  30  stops. 
         [0071]    When the load is thereafter released, the operation lever  30  is pushed back by way of the slider  40  by the spring force of the coil spring  50 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the coil spring  50  opens and separates from the fixed contact point  25  and contacts the insulation part  17 , whereby the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become non-electrically conductive. 
         [0072]    The basic configuration of the second embodiment according to the present invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment described above, as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , but differs in the connecting configuration of the coil spring  50  with respect to the common fixed contact point terminal  20 . 
         [0073]    That is, the projection  14  having a substantially L-shape is arranged in a projecting manner at a corner different from the first embodiment of the inner bottom surface of the base  10  and the accommodating groove  15  is formed therein, and the cut-out  14   a  is formed at a first end of the projection  14 . 
         [0074]    The common fixed contact point terminal  20  has the edge part of the common fixed contact point  21  extended and bent upward to form a second common fixed contact point  23 , as shown in  FIG. 7B . The second common fixed contact point  23  is thus exposed by insert molding the common fixed contact point terminal  20  in the base  10 . 
         [0075]    The coil spring  50  has the arm parts  52 ,  53  extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from both ends of the cylindrical coil part  51 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . The free ends of the arm parts  52 ,  53  are bent to respectively form contacting point parts  52   a,    53   a.    
         [0076]    The slider  40  is slidably arranged between the inner side surfaces of the side walls  11 ,  13  of the base  10 . The coil part  51  of the coil spring  50  is compressed and accommodated in the accommodating groove  15  of the base  10 , and the arm part  52  of the coil spring  50  is positioned at the cut-out  14   a  of the base  10 , and the arm part  53  is positioned at the insulation part  17 . In this case, the arm part  52  of the coil spring  50  is in a substantially perpendicularly standing state. Subsequently, the cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  pressure contacts the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slide strip  40  by fitting the pair of shaft parts  31  of the operation lever  30  to the bearing concave parts  11   b,    13   b  of the base  10 . Furthermore, the cover  60  is attached to the base  10  from above while maintaining the above state, thereby pushing down the standing arm part  52  to the cut-out  14   a.  The engagement nails  61 ,  62 ,  63  (not shown), and  64  of the cover  60  are then respectively folded back and engaged to the positioning steps  11   a,    13   b  of the base  10 , and the assembling is completed. 
         [0077]    According to the present embodiment, torsion is produced in the coil spring  50  by pushing down the standing arm part  52  with the cover  60  to engage with the cut-out  14   a.  Thus, the contacting point part  53   a  on a first end side of the coil spring  50  pressure contacts the insulation part  17  of the base  10  with a predetermined contact force. Furthermore, since the coil spring  50  is compressed and held in the accommodating groove  15 , the arm part  52  of the coil spring  50  pressure contacts the second common fixed contact point and provides returning force to the operation lever  30  through the slider  40 . 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , when external force is loaded to the operation lever  30  in the direction of the arrow X or Y, the operation lever  30  pivots with the shaft part  31  as the center against the spring force of the coil spring  50 . The cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  then pushes the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slider  40 , and the slider  40  slides on the base  10 , thereby compressing the coil part  51  of the coil spring  50 . The contacting point  53   a  of the coil spring  50  thus slides on the insulation part  17  of the base  10 , and contacts a switching fixed contact point  25 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The second common fixed contact point  23  and the switching fixed contact point  25  are thereby short circuit by way of the coil spring  50 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0079]    Furthermore, when the operation lever  30  is pushed in, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  slides on the fixed contact point  25 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  maintain the conduction state, as shown in  FIG. 10 . When the operation lever  30  is further pushed in, the projection  34  of the operation lever  30  contacts the floor surface, and the operation lever  30  stops. 
         [0080]    When the load is thereafter released, the operation lever  30  is pushed back by way of the slider  40  by the spring force of the coil spring  50 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the coil spring  50  opens and separates from the fixed contact point  25  and contacts the insulation part  17 , whereby the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become non-electrically conductive. 
         [0081]    The basic configuration of the third embodiment according to the present invention is substantially the same as the above embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 11 to 15 , but differs in that the coil spring  50  is not arranged at the center of the base  10  but is arranged at the corner. According to the present embodiment, the space efficiency enhances, in particular, a switch having a smaller width dimension is obtained compared to the above examples. Other configurations are substantially the same as the above described embodiments, and thus same reference numbers are denoted for the same components, and the description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0082]    The fourth embodiment is basically the same as the third embodiment, but differs in that application is made to a switch having an always-closed contacting point, as shown in  FIGS. 16 to 19 . 
         [0083]    That is, the switching fixed contact point  25  of the switching fixed contact point terminal  24  is exposed from the inner bottom surface of the base  10 , and is regulated from floating by the float-preventing projection  16 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . The insulation part  17  is arranged on the switching fixed contact point  25  so as to be adjacent thereto. Thus, the coil spring  50  is compressed and accommodated in the accommodating groove  15  of the base  10 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  contacts the switching fixed contact point  25  with a predetermined contact force. The second common fixed contact point  23  and the switching fixed contact point  25  are thereby short circuited by way of the coil spring  50 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0084]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , when external force is loaded to the operation lever  30  in the direction of the arrow X or Y, the operation lever  30  pivots with the shaft part  31  as the center against the spring force of the coil spring  50 . The cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  then pushes the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slider  40  and the slider  40  slides on the base  10 , thereby compressing the coil part  51  of the coil spring  50 . The contacting point  53   a  of the coil spring  50  thus slides on the switching fixed contact point  25  and contacts the insulation part  17 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . Thus, the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become non-electrically conductive. 
         [0085]    Furthermore, when the operation lever  30  is pushed in, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  slides on the fixed contact point  25 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  maintain the non-conduction state. When the operation lever  30  is further pushed in, the projection  34  of the operation lever  30  contacts the floor surface, and the operation lever  30  stops, as shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0086]    When the above load is thereafter released, the operation lever  30  is pushed back by way of the slider  40  by the spring force of the coil spring  50 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the coil spring  50  opens and separates from the insulation part  17  and contacts the fixed contact point  25 , whereby fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0087]    The fifth embodiment is substantially the same as the fourth embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 20 to 25 , but differs in that application is made to a switch for switching two types of circuits. 
         [0088]    In the present embodiment, the common fixed contact point terminal  20  and a pair of switching fixed contact points  24 ,  27  are insert molded to the base  10 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . Thus, the switching fixed contact points  25 ,  28  of the switching fixed contact point terminals  24 ,  27  are exposed with the insulation part  17  in between at the inner bottom surface of the base  10 . Thus, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  contacts the switching fixed contact point  25  with a predetermined contact force and contacts and separates from the switching fixed contact point  28  by compressing and accommodating the coil spring  50  in the accommodating groove  15  of the base  10 . Reference number  29  is the terminal part of the switching fixed contact point terminal  27 . 
         [0089]    As shown in  FIG. 22 , when external force is loaded to the operation lever  30  in the direction of the arrow X or Y, the operation lever  30  pivots with the shaft part  31  as the center against the spring force of the coil spring  50 . The cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  then pushes the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slider  40  and the slider  40  slides on the base  10 , thereby compressing the coil part  51  of the coil spring  50 . The contacting point  53   a  of the coil spring  50  thus slides on the switching fixed contact point  25  of the base  10 , passes the insulation part  17  and contacts the switching fixed contact point  28 , as shown in  FIG. 23 . Thus, the second common fixed contact point  23  and the switching fixed contact point  28  are short circuited by way of the coil spring  50 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  27  become electrically conductive. 
         [0090]    Furthermore, when the operation lever  30  is pushed in, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part slides on the fixed contact point  28 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  27  maintain the non-conduction state, as shown in  FIG. 24 . When the operation lever  30  is further pushed in, the projection  34  of the operation lever  30  contacts the floor surface, and the operation lever  30  stops, as shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         [0091]    When the above load is thereafter released, the operation lever  30  is pushed back by way of the slider  40  by the spring force of the coil spring  50 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the coil spring  50  opens and separates from the fixed contact point  28 , passes through the insulation part  17  and contacts the fixed contact point  25 , whereby the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0092]    The sixth embodiment is basically the same as the third embodiment described above, as shown in  FIGS. 26 to 30 , but differs in the pivoting direction of the operation lever  30 . 
         [0093]    The operation lever  30  according to the present embodiment pivots so as to rise when external force is loaded upward from the downward direction, and thus a position regulating projection  34  is not arranged on the operation lever  30  as in the above embodiments. 
         [0094]    As shown in  FIG. 28 , when external force is loaded to the operation lever  30  in the direction of the arrow Y, the operation lever  30  pivots with the shaft part  31  as the center against the spring force of the coil spring  50 . The cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  then pushes the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slider  40  and the slider  40  slides on the base  10 , thereby compressing the coil part  51  of the coil spring  50 . The contacting point  53   a  of the coil spring  50  thus slides on the insulation part  17  of the base  10 , and contacts a switching fixed contact point  25 , as shown in  FIG. 29 . The second common fixed contact point  23  and the switching fixed contact point  25  are thereby short circuited by way of the coil spring  50 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0095]    Furthermore, when the operation lever  30  is pushed up and stopped, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  slides on the fixed contact point  25 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  maintain the conduction state, as shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         [0096]    When the load is thereafter released, the operation lever  30  is pushed back by way of the slider  40  by the spring force of the coil spring  50 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the coil spring  50  opens and separates from the fixed contact point  25  and contacts the insulation part  17 , whereby the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become non-electrically conductive. 
         [0097]    The seventh embodiment is basically the same as the sixth embodiment described above, as shown in  FIGS. 31 to 35 . The seventh embodiment differs from the sixth embodiment in that the operation lever  30  has a substantially L-shape, and the operation lever  30  is tilted to the switch main body side in the assembly completed state (free position of switch). 
         [0098]    Thus, as shown in  FIG. 33 , when external force is loaded to the operation lever  30  in the direction of the arrow X or Y, the operation lever  30  pivots with the shaft part  31  as the center against the spring force of the coil spring  50 . The cam part  32  of the operation lever  30  then pushes the pressure receiving surface  41  of the slider  40  and the slider  40  slides on the base  10 , thereby compressing the coil part  51  of the coil spring  50 . The contacting point  53   a  of the coil spring  50  thus slides on the insulation part  17  of the base  10 , and contacts a switching fixed contact point  25 , as shown in  FIG. 34 . The second common fixed contact point  23  and the switching fixed contact point  25  are thereby short circuited by way of the coil spring  50 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become electrically conductive. 
         [0099]    Furthermore, when the operation lever  30  is pushed down, the contacting point part  53   a  of the arm part  53  slides on the fixed contact point  25 , and the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  maintain the conduction state, as shown in  FIG. 35 . The operation lever  30  then contacts the cover  60  and stops. 
         [0100]    When the load is thereafter released, the operation lever  30  is pushed back by way of the slider  40  by the spring force of the coil spring  50 , and the contacting point part  53   a  of the coil spring  50  opens and separates from the fixed contact point  25  and contacts the insulation part  17 , whereby the fixed contact point terminals  20 ,  24  become non-electrically conductive. 
         [0101]    The present invention is not limited to the above described switches, and may be applied to switches of other forms.