Electrical switch having integral plastic parts

Claim 2

An electrical wall switch for mounting on a wall in an opening therein and for selectively connecting a source of electric power to a load, said wall switch comprising a first integral housing section mounted in use in the associated wall opening, a first fixed electrical contact mounted on said first housing section and adapted to be coupled to the load, a second fixed electrical contact mounted on said first housing section and spaced from said first electrical contact and adapted to be coupled to the source of electric power, an integral plastic actuator including a pair of arms and a hinge and a handle operatively connected to said arms for controlling the position thereof, said hinge joining said arms together adjacent to the other ends thereof and being integral therewith, means respectively swingably connecting said arms adjacent to the other ends thereof to said first housing section at spaced-apart mounting points thereon, a second integral plastic housing section including a decorative plastic face plate for mounting on the associated wall and including a handle support integral therewith for pivotally supporting said handle, pivotal movement of said handle flexing said hinge to swing said arms with respect to said mounting points toward and away from said fixed electrical contacts, a movable electrical contact operated by said actuator and being held against said fixed electrical contacts when said arms are in the first stable condition thereof to connect the source of electric power the load, said movable electrical contact being held away from said fixed electrical contacts when said arms are in the second stable condition thereof to disconnect the source of electric power from the load.

Claim 3

The electrical wall switch set forth in claim 1, wherein said first housing section further includes a base wall and a pair of upstanding end walls integral therewith, and said second housing section further includes a pair of side walls integral with said face plate and disposed adjacent to said end walls and defining therewith a closed box.

Claim 4

The electrical wall switch set forth in claim 1, wherein said face plate has a slot therein receiving said handle therethrough and said handle support is a trunnion adjacent to said slot, and said handle includes a shaft rotatably journaled in said trunnion to accommodate pivotal movement of said handle for sWinging said arms.

Claim 5

An electrical switch comprising a plastic housing including a fixed contact support integral therewith, a fixed electrical contact mounted on said fixed contact support, an integral plastic actuator including a pair of arms and at least four hinges and a handle for controlling the position of said arms, said handle including an elongated bar slidably movable with respect to said housing and having opposing mounting surfaces thereon, said movable electrical contact including a pair of legs biased toward one another and joined at one end thereof by a bight, said legs being disposed respectively adjacent to the opposing surfaces of said elongated bar an urged thereagainst, securely to retain said movable electrical contact in a selective position on said elongated bar, a first of said hinges joining one of said arms adjacent to one of the ends thereof to one of said mounting surfaces, a second of said hinges joining the other of said arms adjacent to one of the ends thereof to the other of said mounting surfaces, a third of said hinges connecting said one arm adjacent to the other end thereof to said housing at a first mounting point thereon, a fourth of said hinges connecting said other arm adjacent to the other end thereof to said housing at a second mounting point thereon spaced from said first mounting point, sliding movement of said bar flexing said hinges to swing said arms with respect to said mounting points toward and away from said fixed electrical contact, the combined effective lengths of said arms exceeding the distance between said mounting points to accommodate snap movement of said arms between first and second stable positions thereof, and a movable electrical contact carried by said bar and disposed adjacent to said arms and being held against said fixed electrical contact when said arms are in the first stable condition thereof and being held away from said fixed electrical contact when said arms are in the second stable condition thereof.

Claim 6

An electrical switch comprising a plastic housing including a fixed contact support integral therewith, a fixed electrical contact mounted on said fixed contact support, an integral plastic actuator including a pair of arms and at least four hinges and a handle for controlling the position of said arms, said handle including an elongated bar slidably movable with respect to said housing and having opposing mounting surfaces thereon, said movable electrical contact including a pair of legs biased toward one another and joined at one end thereof by a bight, said legs being disposed respectively adjacent to the opposing surfaces of said elongated bar an urged thereagainst, securely to retain said movable electrical contact in a selective position on said elongated bar, a first of said hinges joining one of said arms adjacent to one of the ends thereof to one of said mounting surfaces, a second of said hinges joining the other of said arms adjacent to one of the ends thereof to the other of said mounting surfaces, a third of said hinges connecting said one arm adjacent to the other end thereof to said housing at a first mounting point thereon, a fourth of said hinges connecting said other arm adjacent to the other end thereof to said housing at a second mounting point thereon spaced from said first mounting point, sliding movement of said bar flexing said hinges to swing said arms with respect to said mounting points toward and away from said fixed electrical contact, the combined effective lengths of said arms exceeding the distance between said mounting points to accommodate snap movement of said arms between first and second stable positions thereof, and a movable electrical contact carried by said bar and disposed adjacent to said arms and being held against said fixed electrical contact when said arms are in the first stable condition thereof and being held away from said fixed electrical contact when said arms are in the second stable condition thereof.