Electric toothbrush

Claim 2

In an electric appliance comprising a housing in which an electric switch means is positioned adjacent to access means, an actuator mounted on the outside of said housing having a projection adjacent to said access means whereby limited movement of said actuator projection into said access means can actuate said switch means, said actuator projection being provided with an enlarged portion, spring means secured to said housing including two parallel spaced wires which span said access means, said actuator projection being extendable between said wires and said enlarged portion biasing said wires away from each other when said portion passes between said wires whereby the cooperation between said wires and said enlarged portion holds said projection in a position actuating said switch means or in a position not actuating said switch means.

Claim 3

In an electric appliance comprising a housing in which an electric switch means is positioned adjacent to access means, an actuator mounted on the outside of said housing having a projection adjacent to said access means whereby limited movement of said actuator projection into said access means can actuate said switch means, said actuator projection being provided with an enlarged portion, spring means secured to said housing including two parallel spaced wires which span said access means, said actuator projection being extendable between said wires and said enlarged portion biasing said wires away from each other when said portion passes between said wires whereby the cooperation between said wires and said enlarged portion holds said projection in a position actuating said switch means or in a position not actuating said switch means.

Claim 4

In an electric appliance comprising a housing in which an electric switch means is positioned adjacent to access means, an actuator mounted on the outside of said housing having a projection adjacent to said access means whereby limited movement of said actuator projection into said access means can actuate said switch means, said actuator projection being provided with an enlarged portion, spring means secured to said housing including two parallel spaced wires which span said access means, said actuator projection being extendable between said wires and said enlarged portion biasing said wires away from each other when said portion passes between said wires whereby the cooperation between said wires and said enlarged portion holds said projection in a position actuating said switch means or in a position not actuating said switch means.

Claim 5

In the electric appliance of claim 1 wherein said wires have their ends anchored to said housing, said actuator being pivotally mounted to said housing.

Claim 6

In the electRic appliance of claim 2 wherein said wires lie in grooves on each side of said access means, said actuator having a trunnion overlying said grooves at one side of said access means for preventing said wires from moving out of said grooves, at the other end of said access means said wires being bent to lock into a groove spaced inwardly of said access means.

Claim 7

In the electric appliance of claim 3 wherein said access means includes a round opening defined in part by an annular corner, a flexible seal lying against said corner and spanning said opening, a somewhat ring-shaped spring fastener pressed into said corner for establishing a water-tight seal between said seal and said corner to prevent water from entering said housing through said access means.

Claim 8

An electric appliance including in combination a housing and a normally open switch mounted within said housing, an actuator formed with transversely extending trunnion near its middle, said housing being split with said trunnion being pivotally supported in a recess formed at the junction between the housing split portions, said switch including a pair of contact blades held at one end by said housing, said housing defining an opening adjacent to the spaced free ends of said blades whereby the pivotal movement of said actuator allows said actuator to enter into said opening for forcing said blades into electrical engagement, a pair of parallel wires spanning said opening and having their ends anchored to said housing, said actuator having a projection formed with an enlarged detent portion which acts upon said wires by forcing said wires away from each other thereby holding said actuator in either an open or closed position with respect to said switch contact blades.

Claim 9

An electric appliance including in combination a housing and a normally open switch mounted within said housing, an actuator formed with transversely extending trunnion near its middle, said housing being split with said trunnion being pivotally supported in a recess formed at the junction between the housing split portions, said switch including a pair of contact blades held at one end by said housing, said housing defining an opening adjacent to the spaced free ends of said blades whereby the pivotal movement of said actuator allows said actuator to enter into said opening for forcing said blades into electrical engagement, a pair of parallel wires spanning said opening and having their ends anchored to said housing, said actuator having a projection formed with an enlarged detent portion which acts upon said wires by forcing said wires away from each other thereby holding said actuator in either an open or closed position with respect to said switch contact blades.