SWITCH CASE CONSTRUCTION

• US 3,701,870 A
• Filed: 09/20/1971
• Issued: 10/31/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carlingswitch, Inc. (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Richard W. Sorenson
• Inventors: Sorenson, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): H. O. Jones
• Application Number:
  US05/182,001
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 200/172R,172A,167A,67G,168C
• US Class Current: 200/295
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/08 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon

Abstract

An electric switch case including modular contact terminal elements, said case being molded and having integrally formed partitions defining channels for protection of electric wiring from the electrically conductive switching elements in said case.

Claims

1. An electric switch comprising a unitary molded box-like case made of insulting material, two integrally formed partitions located at opposite diagonal corners in the interior of said case and forming respective elongated channels therein, two spaced apart terminal elements in the interior of said case, an ear integrally formed on each of said terminal elements and extending into a portion of a corresponding adjacent channel, movable switching elements within said case, said partitions providing insulating and physical protection from said switching elements for wiring in said channels connected to said respective ears.

2. A switch according to claim 1 and further comprising an electrical element in said case, said electrical element being energized and de-energized by the operation of said switching elements, an electrical wire in each of said channels, said electrical element being connected between said wires, the other ends of said wires being connected to respective ears.

3. A switch according to claim 2 wherein said switching elements are movable into either of two positions, said switching elements in only one of said positions closing the circuit for energizing said electrical element.

4. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said electrical element comprises an illuminating bulb.

5. A switch according to claim 4 wherein said electrical element comprises an illuminating bulb and a resistor connected thereto.

6. An electric switch comprising a unitary, molded box-like case made of insulating material, two integrally formed partitions located at opposite diagonal corners in the interior of said case and forming respective elongated channels therein, three integrally formed spaced bosses in the interior of said case, a terminal yoke mounted in the center one of said bosses, a sliding and pivoting contact lever mounted movably on said terminal yoke, first and second terminal elements mounted in respective second and third bosses, the upper end of said first terminal element extending above its respective boss for contact by said contact lever, the upper end of said second terminal element being retracted from the top of its respective boss for insulation from said contact lever, an ear integrally formed on each of said first and second terminal elements, said ears extending into respective adjacent channels.

7. A switch according to claim 6 wherein said contact lever is movable into either of two positions where in one position it forms a bridge between said terminal yoke and said first terminal element, and in the other position it forms a bridge between said terminal yoke and the insulating boss.

8. A switch according to claim 6 and further comprising an electrical element in said case, said element being energized and de-energized by the action of said contact lever, an electric wire in each of said channels, said element being connected between said wires, the other ends of said wires being connected to respective ears.