Snap action switch device with improved circuit breaker mechanism

Claim 1

IN A SNAP ACTION DEVICE HAVING A FIRST CONTACT MOUNTED ON A SHAFT, A SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING SAID SHAFT, AND A SNAPACTION SPRING BLADE, SAID BLADE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SECOND CONTACT MOUNTED ON A LEAF SPRING MEMBER, SAID MEMBER BEING BIASED TOWARD SAID SHAFT, BEING PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT AND SAID BLADE, AND BEING MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT INTERMEDIATE SAID SHAFT AND SAID BLADE WITH A PORTION OF ITS UNMOUNTED END FOLDED OVER THE UNMOUNTED END OF SAID BLADE SUCH THAT THE FOLDED PORTION DEFINES A LOST-MOTION GAP WITHIN WHICH SAID BLADE CAN MOVE WITHOUT MOVING SAID LEAF SPRING MEMBER, SAID SECOND CONTACT POSITIONED TO COMMUNICATE WITH SAID FIRST CONTACT, SAID BLADE BEING NORMALLY BIASED AWAY FROM SAID SHAFT WITH A GREATER RELATIVE FORCE THAN THE FORCE BIASING SAID SPRING MEMBER TOWARD SAID SHAFT SUCH THAT SAID CONTACTS ARE THEREBY SEPARATED, AND MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID SNAP ACTION BLADE TO FLEX TOWARD SAID SHAFT SUCH THAT SAID CONTACTS ARE MADE TO ENGAGE THEREBY AND COMPLETE A CIRCUIT.