Rocker switch with selective lockout means shiftable transversely of the pivotal axis

A rocker switch with selective lockout means comprising:

• a switch housing;
• contact means within said housing;
• a rocker button pivotally mounted to said housing and having a portion extending internally thereof for actuating said contact means, said rocker button having a clockwise tilted position and a counterclockwise tilted position about the pivotal axis thereof;
• and
• selective lockout means including mounting means therefor rendering the same shiftable transversely of said pivotal axis into one or another selective position for limiting rocking movement of said rocker button to one or the other of said tilted positions as determined by the selective position of said lockout means, wherein said lockout means comprises an elongated slider member extending transversely of said pivotal axis and adjacent said rocker button, said slider member having interference ear portions proximate the ends thereof alternately protruding below and into the path of motion of the undersides of respective ends of said rocker button as determined by the selective position of said slider member, and wherein said slider member is external of said housing and said interference ear portions abut a top wall of said housing.

A rocker switch with selective lockout means comprising:

• a switch housing;
• contact means within said housing;
• a rocker button pivotally mounted to said housing and having a portion extending internally thereof for actuating said contact means, said rocker button having a clockwise tilted position and a counterclockwise tilted position about the pivotal axis thereof;
• and
• selective lockout means including mounting means therefor rendering the same shiftable transversely of said pivotal axis into one or another selective position for limiting rocking movement of said rocker button to one or the other of said tilted positions as determined by the selective position of said lockout means, wherein said lockout means comprises an elongated slider member extending transversely of said pivotal axis and adjacent said rocker button, said slider member having interference ear portions proximate the ends thereof alternately protruding below and into the path of motion of the undersides of respective ends of said rocker button as determined by the selective position of said slider member, and wherein said rocker button is mounted to said housing by means of a shaft forming said pivotal axis and wherein said mounting means comprises resilient means biasing said slider member into engagement with said shaft.

A rocker switch with selective lockout means comprising:

• a switch housing;
• contact means within said housing;
• a rocker button pivotally mounted to said housing and having a portion extending internally thereof for actuating said contact means, said rocker button having a clockwise tilted position and a counterclockwise tilted position about the pivotal axis thereof;
• and
• selective lockout means comprising a slider member and mounting means therefor rendering said slider member shiftable transversely of said pivotal axis to a designated selective position, said slider member having an interference ear portion protruding below and into the path of motion of the right underside of said rocker button when said slider member is shifted to said designated selective position whereby to prevent rocking of said rocker button to said clockwise tilted position, wherein said interference ear portion abuts the topside of a top wall of said housing, and wherein said rocker button is pivotally mounted to said housing by means of a shaft, and wherein said mounting means comprises resilient means biasing said slider member into engagement with said shaft.

A rocker switch with selective lockout means comprising:

• a switch housing;
• contact means within said housing,
• a rocker button pivotally mounted to said housing for rocking movement between a clockwise tilted position and a counterclockwise tilted position, and having a portion extending internally of said housing for actuating said contact means;
• and
• selective lockout means comprising a slider member and mounting means therefor rendering said slider member shiftable transversely of the pivotal axis of said rocker button to a right or a left selective position, said slider member having right and left interference ear portions alternately protruding below and into the path of motion of the undersides of said rocker button as determined by the selective position of said slider member;
• such that when said slider member is shifted to said right selective position, said left interference ear portion protrudes below the left underside of said rocker button to prevent rocking of said rocker button to said counterclockwise tilted position;
• and
• such that when said slider member is shifted to said left selective position, said right interference ear portion protrudes below the right underside of said rocker button to prevent rocking of said rocker button to said clockwise tilted position, wherein:
• said rocker button is pivotally mounted to said housing by means of a shaft;
• said mounting means comprises resilient means biasing said slider member into engagement with said shaft;
• and
• said slider member has right and left indexing detent slots alternately receiving said shaft in biased indexed stable positive-feel condition for each said right and left selective position;
• such that when said slider member is shifted to said right selective position, said left indexing detent slot engages said shaft and said left interference ear portion protrudes below said left underside of said rocker button to prevent rocking of said rocker button to said counterclockwise tilted position;
• and
• such that when said slider member is shifted to said left selective position, said right indexing detent slot engages said shaft and said right interference ear portion protrudes below said right underside of said rocker button to prevent rocking of said rocker button to said clockwise tilted position.