A snap-action switch unit configured for use with an electrical appliance, comprising:
- a switch housing;
- an actuator plunger, which is configured for depressible movement via an aperture in the switch housing from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position, the plunger is extended outwardly via the aperture relative to the switch housing, and in the second position, the actuator plunger is retracted inwardly via the aperture relative to the switch housing;
- a snap-action switch assembly, which is operably-connected with the actuator plunger, wherein the snap-action switch assembly is responsive to the depressible movement of the actuator plunger so as to effect snap-action movement of at least one movable contact between a normally opened position and a normally closed position with respect to at least one stationary contact in order to effect switching of electric power via the snap-action switch assembly;
- and
- a signaling assembly, which is operably-connected with the actuator plunger, wherein the signaling assembly is responsive to the depressible movement of the actuator plunger so as to effect movement of at least one movable conductive element of the signaling assembly amongst a plurality of different electrical contact point configurations with respect to at least one stationary conductive element of the signaling assembly, whereby a characteristic of operation of the electrical appliance is able to be varied by reference to the movement of the at least one movable conductive element amongst the different electrical contact point configurations with respect to the at least one stationary conductive element;
- wherein when the at least one movable conductive element of signaling assembly moves amongst the plurality of different electrical contact point configurations with respect to the at least one stationary conductive element of the signaling assembly, different electrical outputs are readable from the signaling assembly;
- wherein the signaling assembly comprises a potentiometer having an electrically conductive wiper and an electrically conductive pad, the electrically conductive wiper, as the movable conductive element, is responsive to the movement of the actuator plunger so as to slide across the electrically conductive pad as the stationary conductive element amongst the plurality of different electrical contact point configurations on the electrically conductive pad, so that different electrical outputs are readable from the signaling assembly when a current passes from the electrically conductive wiper across different electrical contact points on the electrically conductive pad;
- and
- wherein the snap-action switch comprises a sliding carriage member operably-connected with the actuator plunger, wherein the sliding carriage member is slidably movable within the housing in response to the depressible movement of the actuator plunger so as to effect movement of the at least one movable conductive element of the signaling assembly and to effect movement of the movable contact of the snap-action switch assembly for operation of the signaling assembly and of the snap-action switch assembly.