One piece operator for electric switch having pivoting and sliding contactor

Claim 1

An electric switch comprising in combination: a housing; a pair of contact terminals spaced apart in said housing; a third terminal mounted between said contact terminals in said housing, said third terminal having a contact portion centrally located and substantially narrower in width than the remainder of that terminal and extending above said contact terminals; a movable contactor of a width greater than said contact portion of said third terminal cooperating with said terminals to complete electrical circuits between said contact portion of said third terminal and either of said contact terminals, said contactor having lateral projections intermediate its ends; an operator pivotally mounted in said housing and having a portion exteriorly of said housing which is engageable to effect pivoting thereof, said operator having a contactor actuating leg extending interiorly of said housing and having a slot in an end thereof defining spaced end portions, said actuator leg straddling said contactor with said spaced end portions extending along lateral edges of said contactor, recesses in each said spaced end portion engaging said lateral projections to provide a driving connection for sliding movement of said contactor while affording free pivoting of the latter therein, said actuating leg being pivotally movable by said operator to pivot said contactor on the contact portion of said third terminal and to slide it thereon into engagement with either of said contact terminals; and spring means carried by said actuating leg for biasing said contactor into engagement with the contact portion of said third terminal.