Rocker switch having improved contact-operating means

In an electrical switch of the type that includes a housing assembly, at least one stationary contact element therein, at least one contact element mounted in the housing for movement between first and second positions in one of which it contacts and in the other is spaced from the stationary element, rockable actuator means mounted in the housing assembly for rocking movement through a pre-determined first angular distance between opposite extreme positions, a cam connected to the actuator means for rocking movement therewith and adapted to bias the movable contact element to at least one of said positions of the movable contact element in response to rocking of the actuator means to an extreme position thereof, and over-center spring means in the housing for biasing the actuator means about its pivot axis to its respective opposite extreme positions, the improvement comprising:

• (a) rockable handle means mounted on the housing assembly to rock about an axis spaced from that of the actuator means through a second angular distance less than said first angular distance;
• and
• (b) means on the handle and actuator means respectively for biasing the actuator means, responsive to rocking of the handle means, from one of the extreme positions of the actuator means over-center to an intermediate position thereof in which the spring means becomes effective to bias the actuator means the remaining distance to its opposite extreme position, said last-named means comprising an approximately triangular projection on one of the rockable means and fork arms carried by the other rockable means in embracing relation to said projection, said projection presenting convergent, opposite cam surfaces to the respective fork arms, one of said fork arms cammingly engaging one of said cam surfaces of the projection on rocking of the handle means in one direction, and the other fork arm cammingly engaging the opposite cam surface of the projection on rocking of the handle means in an opposite direction.

In an electrical switch of the type that includes a housing assembly, at least one stationary contact element therein, at least one contact element mounted in the housing for movement between first and second positions in one of which it contacts and in the other is spaced from the stationary element, rockable actuator means mounted in the housing assembly for rocking movement through a pre-determined first angular distance between opposite extreme positions, a cam connected to the actuator means for rocking movement therewith and adapted to bias the movable contact element to at least one of said positions of the movable contact element in response to rocking of the actuator means to an extreme position thereof, and over-center spring means in the housing for biasing the actuator means about its pivot axis to its respective opposite extreme positions, the improvement comprising:

• (a) rockable handle means mounted on the housing assembly to rock about an axis spaced from that of the actuator means through a second angular distance less than said first angular distance;
• and
• (b) means on the handle and actuator means respectively for biasing the actuator means, responsive to rocking of the handle means, from one of the extreme positions of the actuator means overcenter to an intermediate position thereof in which the spring means becomes effective to bias the actuator means the remaining distance to its opposite extreme position, said actuator means including an elongated head formed intermediate its ends with a triangular projection and having recesses disposed at opposite sides of said projection, the handle means including a pair of fork arms extending into the respective recesses of said head in embracing relation to the projection, said projection presenting convergent cam surfaces to the respective fork arms, for engagement of one of said cam surfaces by one fork arm responsive to rocking of the handle means in one direction, and for engagement of the opposite cam surface by the other fork arm in response to rocking of the handle means in the opposite direction.

In an electrical switch of the type that includes a housing assembly, at least one stationary contact element therein, at least one contact element mounted in the housing for movement between first and second positions in one of which it contacts and and in the other is spaced from the stationary element, rockable actuator means mounted in the housing assembly for rocking movement through a pre-determined first angular distance between opposite extreme positions, a cam connected to the actuator means for rocking movement therewith and adapted to bias the movable contact element to at least one of said positions of the movable contact element in response to rocking of the actuator means to an extreme position thereof, and over-center spring means in the housing for biasing the actuator means about its pivot axis to its respective opposite extreme positions, the improvement comprising:

• (a) rockable handle means mounted on the housing assembly to rock about an axis spaced from that of the actuator means through a second angular distance less than said first angular distance;
• and
• (b) means on the handle and actuator means respectively for biasing the actuator means, responsive to rocking of the handle means, from one of the extreme positions of the actuator means over-center to an intermediate position thereof in which the spring means becomes effective to bias the actuator means the remaining distance to its opposite extreme position, the first angular distance being on the order of twice the second angular distance.

In an electrical switch of the type that includes a housing assembly, at least one stationary contact element therein, at least one contact element mounted in the housing for movement between first and second positions in one of which it contacts and in the other is spaced from the stationary element, rockable actuator means mounted in the housing assembly for rocking movement through a pre-determined first angular distance between opposite extreme positions, a cam connected to the actuator means for rocking movement therewith and adapted to bias the movable contact element to at least one of said positions of the movable contact element in response to rocking of the actuator means to an extreme position thereof, and over-center spring means in the housing for biasing the actuator means about its pivot axis to its respective opposite extreme positions, the improvement comprising:

• (a) rockable handle means mounted on the housing assembly to rock about an axis spaced from that of the actuator means through a second angular distance less than said first angular distance;
• and
• (b) means on the handle and actuator means respectively for biasing the actuator means, responsive to rocking of the handle means, from one of the extreme positions of the actuator means over-center to an intermediate position thereof in which the spring means becomes effective to bias the actuator means the remaining distance to its opposite extreme position, said last named means comprising a pair of fork arms extending inwardly of the housing assembly from the handle means at a location between the pivot axes of the handle means and actuator means, the actuator means including a head formed with an approximately triangular projection extending toward and loosely embraced by the fork arms, said head having recesses at opposite sides of the projection loosely receiving the respective fork arms, said projection presenting a pair of opposite cam surfaces converging in a direction toward the pivot axis of the handle means, and adapted to be engaged by the respective fork arms responsive to rocking of the handle means through said second angular distance, each cam surface being engaged by its adjacent associated fork arm during travel of the handle means through approximately half the second angular distance to rock the actuator means from one of its extreme opposite positions to said over-center intermediate position, the spring means biasing the actuator means the remaining distance to its other extreme position with the fork arms spaced apart at a distance sufficient to move clear of the projection during the travel of the actuator means over said remaining distance.