Manually actuated on-off switch with electromagnetic release

A trip free release manually actuated on-off electrical switch comprising:

• switch contacts including a movable contact mounted for movement between an open and a closed position;
• an actuating member;
• a connecting component for operatively connecting said movable contact to said actuating member, with coupling means, to move said movable contact between said open and closed positions in response to actuation of said actuating member;
• spring means for biasing said connecting component to a position in which said switch contacts are in said open position, with a given spring biasing force;
• an electromagnet;
• and
• said coupling means comprising magnetic material means for operatively coupling said actuating member and said connecting component together with a first coupling force in response to a magnetic flux applied by said electromagnetic, said first coupling force being greater than said spring biasing force, and coupling said actuating member and said connecting component together with a second coupling force if a magnetic flux is not applied by said electromagnet, said second coupling force being less than said spring biasing force, so that if said electromagnet is energized the movement of said movable contact is controlled precisely by movement of said actuating member, and when said electromagnet is de-energized, said movable contact moves to said open position regardless of the position of said actuating member.