Detachable switch structure

Claim 1

A detachable switch structure comprising an actuating unit, at least one switch detachably mounted on the unit, and an adapter for mounting the switch on the unit; the switch having a dielectric housing including opposite end, edge, and side walls forming a contact compartment, the switch having stationary and movable contacts, the switch also having movable contact operating means including a guided reciprocable plunger, the opposite end walls of the switch having plunger-receiving openings, the switch being detachably mounted on one side of the adapter; the unit comprising a tubular actuator having one end against the other side of the adapter, the unit having manual handle means extending from the other end of the casing to said one end; the adapter and actuating unit having releasable interfitting means comprising flexible hook members on the adapter releasably engaged with projections on the unit, there being at least two hook members equally spaced around the periphery of the adapter, the hook members being the only moving parts of the interfitting means and being integral with the adapter; the projection having a beveled edge in line with the hook path of movement when the adapter is moved into interfitting position with the unit, the hook comprising an outturned portion extending from the adapter and a longitudinal portion extending from the outturned portion and spaced from the adapter and an inturned portion at the end of the longitudinal portion remote from the outturned portion, the inturned portion including a locking surface engaging the projection, and the outturned portion comprising aperture means for insertion of releasing tool means between the beveled edge and the longitudinal portion for flexing the hook members out of engagement with the locking surface.