Tease-proof electric switch

Claim 2

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination which comprises: a. a contact-carrying rocker formed of a conductive material and having a curved configuration; b. a pivot member of conductive material electrically engaging with the curved rocker at a point intermediate its ends; c. said pivot member supporting the rocker for rocking movement between an open and a closed position of the switch; d. an electric contact located at one end of said rocker and engaging therewith in the closed position of the switch; e. a resilient arm of electrically conductive material yieldably supporting said contact and urging said contact toward engagement with said one end of the rocker; and f. latch means releasably engaging with a second end of the rocker and holding the rocker against movement toward the closed position; g. said latch means comprising a resilient member having a movable end and a latching detent formed thereon; h. said latching detent being biased into engagement with the second end of the rocker and being movable rearwardly relative to and out of engagement with said second end of the rocker by a downward force exerted on the curved rocker at a point beyond the pivot member.

Claim 3

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination as defined in claim 1 which includes: a. a second latching detent formed on the resilient latching member; b. said second detent releasably engaging with the second end of the rocker and maintaining the contact carrying end of the rocker in engagement with yieldably supported contact until the second end of the curved rocker is forced downwardly and out of engagement with said second detent.

Claim 4

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination as defined in claim 2 which includes: a. an operating member slidably engaging with the rocker member and being movable lengthwise relative thereto; b. said operating member engaging with and exerting a downward force on the curved rocker at opposite ends thereof in said sliding movement relative to said rocker.

Claim 5

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination as defined in claim 2 which includes: a. an operating member slidably engaging with the rocker member and being movable lengthwise relative thereto; b. said operating member engaging with and exerting a downward force on the curved rocker at opposite ends thereof in said sliding movement relative to said rocker; and c. means on said operating member for engaging with and moving the latch out of rocker-engaging position in one position of said operating member.

Claim 6

In an electric switch, the combination which comprises: a. a hollow housing; b. said housing comprising a cover and a base; c. a curved rocker member of electrically conductive material rockably supported on said base for movement between an open and a closed position of the switch; d. a pivot member of conductive material extending upwardly from said base and electrically engaging with the rocker memBer at a point intermediate its ends; e. an operating member slidably mounted in said housing and engaging with the rocker member; f. said operating member being slidable lengthwise relative to the rocker member and exerting a downward force on opposite ends of the curved rocker member in said movement; g. a resilient contact arm of conductive material supported at one end of the base in opposing relation to a first end of the rocker member; h. an end of said resilient arm being yieldably urged toward engagement with said first end of the rocker member; and i. a resilient latch member releasably engaging with a second end of the rocker member; j. said latch member releasably engaging with the second end of the rocker member and restraining movement of the rocker member into and out of engagement with the resilient contact arm until a downward force is exerted by the operating member on a raised portion of the rocker on one side of the pivot member.

Claim 7

In an electric switch, the combination which comprises: a. a hollow housing; b. said housing comprising a cover and a base; c. a curved rocker member of electrically conductive material rockably supported on said base for movement between an open and a closed position of the switch; d. a pivot member of conductive material extending upwardly from said base and electrically engaging with the rocker memBer at a point intermediate its ends; e. an operating member slidably mounted in said housing and engaging with the rocker member; f. said operating member being slidable lengthwise relative to the rocker member and exerting a downward force on opposite ends of the curved rocker member in said movement; g. a resilient contact arm of conductive material supported at one end of the base in opposing relation to a first end of the rocker member; h. an end of said resilient arm being yieldably urged toward engagement with said first end of the rocker member; and i. a resilient latch member releasably engaging with a second end of the rocker member; j. said latch member releasably engaging with the second end of the rocker member and restraining movement of the rocker member into and out of engagement with the resilient contact arm until a downward force is exerted by the operating member on a raised portion of the rocker on one side of the pivot member.

Claim 8

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination as defined in claim 5 which includes: a. a latch release formed on said operating member; b. said latch release engaging with and moving said resilient latch away from rocker-engaging position in one position of the operating member.

Claim 9

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. the resilient latch includes a pair of rocker-engaging detents; b. one detent having a rocker-engaging surface sloping upward and outwardly; and c. a second detent having a rocker-engaging surface sloping upwardly and inwardly from said first detent; d. said detents engaging with the second end of the rocker and restraining rocking movement of the rocker in opposite directions.

Claim 10

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. said base includes a partition extending lengthwise of the base and slidably supporting the operating member; b. said partition forming two chambers in the cover.

Claim 11

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination comprising: a. a housing of insulating material; b. said housing comprising a cover and a base; c. said cover and base being fitted together and defining at least one chamber; d. a partition formed on the base and extending lengthwise of said cover; e. a pivot member of electrically conductive material carried by and extending upwardly from said base at one side of the partition; f. a curved rocker formed from a conductive material rockably supported intermediate its ends on said pivot member and being in electrical engagement therewith; g. said rocker being rockable about said pivot member between open and closed positions of the switch; h. a contact carried by the rocker at one end thereof; i. a second contact yieldably supported at one end of the base in opposing relation to the contact carried by the rocker; j. an operating member slidably mounted on the partition; k. said operating member being movable lengthwise relative to said curved rocker and engaging with the rocker on opposite sides of the pivot member in said movement; l. a releasable latch formed of a strip of resilient material located at an opposite end of the base; m. said latch being biased into engagement with a second end of the rocker and restraining rocking movement of said rocker between said open and closed positions of the switch until a downward force is exerted on a raised position of the rocker at a point beyond the pivot member; and n. latch release means formed on the operating member for engaging with and releasing said latch from engagement with the rocker end in a retracted position of the operating member.

Claim 12

In a tease-proof electric switch of the rocker type, the combination comprising: a. a housing of insulating material; b. said housing comprising a cover and a base; c. said cover and base being fitted together and defining at least one chamber; d. a partition formed on the base and extending lengthwise of said cover; e. a pivot member of electrically conductive material carried by and extending upwardly from said base at one side of the partition; f. a curved rocker formed from a conductive material rockably supported intermediate its ends on said pivot member and being in electrical engagement therewith; g. said rocker being rockable about said pivot member between open and closed positions of the switch; h. a contact carried by the rocker at one end thereof; i. a second contact yieldably supported at one end of the base in opposing relation to the contact carried by the rocker; j. an operating member slidably mounted on the partition; k. said operating member being movable lengthwise relative to said curved rocker and engaging with the rocker on opposite sides of the pivot member in said movement; l. a releasable latch formed of a strip of resilient material located at an opposite end of the base; m. said latch being biased into engagement with a second end of the rocker and restraining rocking movement of said rocker between said open and closed positions of the switch until a downward force is exerted on a raised position of the rocker at a point beyond the pivot member; and n. latch release means formed on the operating member for engaging with and releasing said latch from engagement with the rocker end in a retracted position of the operating member.