Electric switch with bridging contact

Claim 2

In an electric switch, in combination, a dielectric base, at least a pair of fixed contacts mounted on said base in spaced relation, a first abutment surface fixed with respect to said base and being adjacent one of said fixed contacts, a bridging contact having ends defining a pair of contact fAces which are spaced for simultaneous engagement with said fixed contacts, respectively, said bridging contact having a first formation defining a second abutment surface which is nearer one of said contact faces than the other of said contact faces, said bridging contact having a second upstanding formation adjacent the end thereof defining said one contact face, an actuator movable relative to said base to and from an off position, means on said actuator connecting the latter with said upstanding formation such that movement of said actuator to its off position brings said first and second abutment surfaces into engagement with each other thereby to define a fulcrum for rocking said bridging contact in a first direction in a plane perpendicular to said base about said one contact face with the latter in engagement with said one fixed contact whereupon said other contact face is swung away from the other of said fixed contacts, said connecting means serving to rock said bridging contact said plane in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to movement of said actuator from its off position thereby to swing said other contact face into engagement with said other fixed contact with said one contact face in engagement with said one fixed contact.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said second formation includes an ear integral with said bridging contact and wherein said connecting means includes a pocket in said actuator with said ear received therein.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 further defined by, spring means engaged with said actuator for urging the same to its off position wherein said other contact face is rocked away from said other fixed contact, said bridging contact having another formation adjacent said other contact face, said actuator having a formation arranged to be engaged by said another formation on said bridging contact only when said actuator is in its off position and thereby acting as a stop for limiting movement of said actuator under the influence of said spring means.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 2 further defined by, spring means interposed between said actuator and said bridging contact for urging said other contact face into engagement with said other fixed contact.

Claim 6

In an electric switch including a dielectric base, at least a pair of fixed contacts mounted on said base in spaced relation, a bridging contact having ends defining contact faces spaced for simultaneous engagement with said fixed contacts, respectively, an actuator slidably movable relative to said base to and from an off position, the improvement for rocking said bridging contact about one of said contact faces when such face is in engagement with one of said fixed contacts thereby to raise and lower the other of said contact faces away from and into engagement, respectively, with the other of said fixed contacts comprising, a fixed abutment surface adjacent said one fixed contact, said bridging contact having an abutment surface spaced nearer said one contact face than said other contact face, said bridging contact having an upstanding formation, means on said actuator and engaged with said upstanding formation thereby defining a pivotal connection between said bridging contact and said actuator such that sliding movement of the latter imparts corresponding sliding movement to the former and permits rocking movement of said bridging contact in its own plane which is perpendicular to said base, movement of said actuator to its off position serving to bring said first and second abutment surfaces into engagement with each other thereby to define a fulcrum for rocking said bridging contact in said plane in a first direction about said one contact face with the latter in engagement with said one fixed contact whereupon said other contact face is swung away from the other of said fixed contacts, movement of said actuator away from its off position serving to rock said bridging contact in said plane in a second direction opposiTe said first direction whereupon said other contact face is swung into engagement with said other fixed contact with said one contact face in engagement with said one fixed contact.

Claim 7

In an electric switch including a dielectric base, at least a pair of fixed contacts mounted on said base in spaced relation, a bridging contact having ends defining contact faces spaced for simultaneous engagement with said fixed contacts, respectively, an actuator slidably movable relative to said base to and from an off position, the improvement for rocking said bridging contact about one of said contact faces when such face is in engagement with one of said fixed contacts thereby to raise and lower the other of said contact faces away from and into engagement, respectively, with the other of said fixed contacts comprising, a fixed abutment surface adjacent said one fixed contact, said bridging contact having an abutment surface spaced nearer said one contact face than said other contact face, said bridging contact having an upstanding formation, means on said actuator and engaged with said upstanding formation thereby defining a pivotal connection between said bridging contact and said actuator such that sliding movement of the latter imparts corresponding sliding movement to the former and permits rocking movement of said bridging contact in its own plane which is perpendicular to said base, movement of said actuator to its off position serving to bring said first and second abutment surfaces into engagement with each other thereby to define a fulcrum for rocking said bridging contact in said plane in a first direction about said one contact face with the latter in engagement with said one fixed contact whereupon said other contact face is swung away from the other of said fixed contacts, movement of said actuator away from its off position serving to rock said bridging contact in said plane in a second direction opposiTe said first direction whereupon said other contact face is swung into engagement with said other fixed contact with said one contact face in engagement with said one fixed contact.

Claim 8

The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said second formation includes an ear integral with said bridging contact and wherein said pivotal connection means includes a pocket with said ear received therein.

Claim 9

The improvement according to claim 5 further defined by, spring means engaged with said actuator for urging the same to its off position wherein said other contact face is rocked away from said other fixed contact, said bridging contact having another formation adjacent said other contact face, said actuator having a formation arranged to be engaged by said another formation on said bridging contact only when said actuator is in its off position and thereby acting as a stop for limiting movement of said actuator under the influence of said spring means.

Claim 10

The improvement according to claim 6 further defined by, spring means interposed between said actuator and said bridging contact for urging said other contact face into engagement with said other fixed contact.