Actuating mechanism for a thumb wheel type switch

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION A ROTATABLE THUMB WHEEL TYPE ELECTRICAL SWITCH INCLUDING A SWITCH POSITION INDICATING WHEEL PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF RATCHET TEETH ON ITS PERIPHERY. (A) A HOUSING FOR SAID SWITCH PROVIDING A COVERED APERTURE THROUGH WHICH A PORTION OF SAID WHEEL IS VISIBLE, (B) AN ACTUATING MEANS CARRIED EXTERIORLY OF SAID HOUSING FOR EFFECTING ROTATION IN ONE DIRECTION OF SAID SWITCH WHEEL WITHIN SAID HOUSING, (C) A SWITCH ROTATING PAWL WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF NORMALLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF SAID RATCHET TEETH PROVIDED BY SAID WHEEL, (D) MEANS CONNECTING SAID ACTUATING MEANS TO SAID PAWL FOR MOVING THE SAME THROUGH A LONGITUDINAL PLANE TANGENTIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID WHEEL AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE OF SAID RATCHET TEETH, (E) A SINGLE MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND CONNECTED THERETO AND TO SAID PAWL FOR PIVOTING SAID PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ANOTHER OF SAID RATCHET TEETH PROVIDED BY SAID WHEEL AND FOR MOVING SAID PAWL IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS SO AS TO ROTATE SAID WHEEL IN SAID ONE DIRECTION WITHIN SAID HOUSING, (F) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PAWL AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A PERIPHERAL FLANGE PROVIDED BY SAID WHEEL FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID WHEEL WHEN SAID ACTUATING MEANS IS NOT OPERATED, AND (G) MEANS FOR SEALING SAID ACTUATING MEANS AND SAID CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN SAID PAWL AND SAID ACTUATING MEANS AGAINST MOISTURE, DIRT AND LIKE FOREIGN MATTER.