Self regulating heated switch assembly

Abstract

A self regulating heated switch assembly is provided for heating the interior of a switch housing so as to prevent freezing of switch contacts therein. The switch assembly includes a switch housing, an insulative cover member, and a PTC heater device. The switch housing includes top, bottom, front, rear and end walls. The insulative cover member is formed of opposed front and rear panels. The front and rear panels are disposed in a spaced apart relationship to the corresponding front and rear walls of the switch housing. The heater device is sandwiched between the front wall of the switch housing and the front panel of the cover member and between the rear wall of the switch housing and the rear panel of the cover member so as to transmit heat into the interior of the switch housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.