Translatory mechanical member with molded hinge portion for use in electric switchesand other applications

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTRIC TOOL OR APPLIANCE, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) A HANDLE HAVING AN APERTURE FORMED THEREIN; (B) AN ELECTRIC SWITCH HOUSED COMPLETELY WITHIN THE TOOL, ISOLATED FROM EXPOSURE EXTERNALLY OF THE TOOL, AND HAVING ALTERNATE "ON" AND "OFF" POSITIONS; AND (C) A SWITCH ACTUATOR MEMBER MOUNTED WITHIN THE HANDLE, THE ACTUATOR MEMBER BEING MOLDED FROM A PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A DEGREE OF INHERENT RESILIENCY, AND COMPRISING: (1) TRIGGER PORTION PROTRUDING THROUGH THE APERTURE IN THE HANDLE; (2) A TRANSLATORY ACTUATOR PORTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH THE SWITCH FOR ACTUATING THE SAME BETWEEN ITS ALTERNATE POSITIONS ; AND (3) AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION JOINING THE TRIGGER AND ACTUATOR PORTIONS; (D) WHEREBY INWARD DEPRESSION OF THE TRIGGER WITHIN THE HANDLE CAUSES A RESPONSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR PORTION WITHIN THE HANDLE AND THEREBY MOVES THE SWITCH INTO ITS "ON" POSITION; AND (E) WHEREBY, DURING SAID MOVEMENT, THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE ACTUATOR MEMBER FLEXES DUE TO THE INHERENT RESILIENCY OF ITS MATERIAL; (F) THEREBY PROVIDING FOR ECONOMICAL TRIGGER OPERATION OF THE TOOL BY FACILITATING THE USE OF RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE SWITCH.