Engine ignition grounding switch

Claim 2

In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a carburetor control lever connected to electrical ground and movable between on and off positions, a switch for grounding said ignition system when said lever is moved to said off position comprising an elongated block of electrical insulating material fixedly disposed adjacent said off position of said control lever and having a channel formed lengthwise therein opening toward said lever, and a wire shorting terminal electrically connected to said ignition system having an inner end fixedly disposed within said channel aperture and an outer end extending from said channel aperture in the direction of said lever such that said wire terminal makes electrical contact with said control lever as said lever is moved to said off position.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said wire terminal at said outer end includes a portion disposed adjacent the off position of said control lever and oriented at an acute angle with respect to the direction of motion of said lever such that said terminal portion is struck by an edge of said lever and is cammed over said lever edge as said lever is moved to said off position.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said inner end of said wire terminal is looped such that said terminal is in spring-biased contact with opposing walls of said block aperture.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the free end of said terminal internal to said block is disposed in abutment with an opposing block wall and is angulated with respect to said opposing block wall such that said end digs into said wall in a direction opposing removal of said terminal from said block.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said block has a second aperture formed therein remotely of said lever, and wherein a spade terminal electrically connected to said ignition system is received in said second aperture, said loop at said inner terminal end registering with a corresponding detent depression in said spade terminal such that said inner loop yieldably retains said spade terminal within said block against an opposing block wall.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said lever and block are mounted on a support and said block further includes two relieved tapered projections extending from an outside lateral wall thereof and received in corresponding holes in said support whereby said block is snap-mounted on said support.

Claim 8

In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a throttle control lever connected to electrical ground and adapted to be moved by an engine operator to a position corresponding to an engine off condition, a switch for grounding said ignition system via said control lever as said lever is moved to said off position comprising an elongated insulation block having a blind T-shaped channel formed lengthwise therein and being fixedly disposed on said engine with said channel opening adjacent said off position, and a terminal formed of spring wire and having inner and outer ends, said inner end being in the form of a loop fixedly disposed within the leg of said T-shaped channel and electrically connected to the ignition signal, said outer terminal end extending from said channel opening toward said off position and being angulated with respect to the direction of motion of said control lever such that said outer end rides over an edge of said lever as said lever is moved to said off position.

Claim 9

In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a throttle control lever connected to electrical ground and adapted to be moved by an engine operator to a position corresponding to an engine off condition, a switch for grounding said ignition system via said control lever as said lever is moved to said off position comprising an elongated insulation block having a blind T-shaped channel formed lengthwise therein and being fixedly disposed on said engine with said channel opening adjacent said off position, and a terminal formed of spring wire and having inner and outer ends, said inner end being in the form of a loop fixedly disposed within the leg of said T-shaped channel and electrically connected to the ignition signal, said outer terminal end extending from said channel opening toward said off position and being angulated with respect to the direction of motion of said control lever such that said outer end rides over an edge of said lever as said lever is moved to said off position.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said inner terminal end comprises a V-shaped bend, the leg ends of said V-shaped bend being in spring-biased engagement with an opposing wall of said block channel.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said inner terminal end further comprises a hairpin portion contiguous with and extending inwardly from said bend to abut a rear wall of said block, said hairpin portion having a free end in abutment with an opposing block side wall and angulated with respect thereto such that said free end digs into said opposing block side wall in a direction opposing removal of said terminal from said block.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 9 further comprising a spade terminal electrically connected to said ignition system and having a detent depression formed therein, and wherein the head of said T-shaped channel extends through and forms a slot in said rear block wall, said spade terminal being received in said slot with said hairpin in registry with said detent depression and spring-clamping said spade terminal against an opposing block wall.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said detent depression comprises an oval-shaped hole formed centrally in said spade terminal.