Key controlled alarm activating system

Claim 1

A key-actuatable switch assembly comprising: A. an electrically non-conductive housing having cylindrical side walls and an interconnecting end wall, said end wall having an axially extending channel defined therein, B. an electrically non-conductive key receiver having: 1. an integral, cross-sectionally circular body portion extending through said channel and having an axially extending keyway defined therein on the outer face thereof, 2. an integral, cross-sectionally circular base portion coaxial with said body portion located in said housing having a shorter radius than said body portion, 3. integral flange means extending radially outwardly from said body portion between said body portion and said base portion and adapted to make sliding face-to-face engagement with inside regions of said housing located adjacent said channel, and 4. a pair of integral wings extending in radially opposed relationship to one another and radially outwardly extending from circumferential side wall portions of said base portion, C. an electrically non-conductive ring member for positioning interiorly of said housing generally coaxially therewith having: 1. a cross-sectionally circular aperture defined in the forward face thereof which is adapted for receipt therein of said base portion, 2. a pair of arcuately extending recesses defined in said forward face and radially outwardly extending from circumferential side wall portions of said aperture in said ring member, said recessed portions being adapted for receipt therein of said wing means, said recessed portions cooperating with said wing means to permit limited rotational movement of said wing means relative to said recessed portions between radially extending circumferentially spaced engagement positions therebetween, 3. a radially extending passageway defined therein between at least the central region thereof and a circumferentially extending side wall portion thereof, D. an electrically conductive ball means positioned in the radially outer mouth of said passageway and including electrically conductive biasing means which both yieldingly urges said ball means radially outwardly away from said ring member, E. at least one first electrically conductive contact means extending through a portion of said cylindrical side walls of said housing, said first contact means being radially and axially aligned with said ball means, F. a second electrically conductive contact means adapted for making electrical contact with said ball means, said second contact means being so located relative both to said ball means and to said first contact means that an electrically conductive path between said first and said second contact means exists only when said ball means is engaged with said first contact means through rotational movement of said key receiver relative to said housing, and G. electrical connector means functionally associated with each of said first and said second contact means.