Rotary switch with common contact terminal

A rotary switch comprising a generally cylindrical dielectric body portion defining an upwardly open cavity of generally cylindrical shape, said cavity having a longitudinal axis, said body portion having a bottom wall defining a plurality of circumaxially spaced openings, fixed contacts provided in at least some of said openings such that upper ends of said fixed contacts are spaced radially between said cavity axis and the cylindrical cavity wall, a generally cylindrical dielectric control member rotatably received in said cavity, means for restraining said control member from movement axially in said cavity, said control member having a least one downwardly open recess, said recess being spaced radially from said axis a distance corresponding to the radial spacing of said fixed contact upper ends, a spherically shaped movable contact element loosely received in said recess, a common contact connected to one of said fixed contacts and having a generally annular shape with an inner peripheral edge defining radially inwardly projecting portions arranged between said fixed contact upper ends, said projecting portions defining U-shaped bays for receiving said spherically shaped movable contact element in order to provide a generally arc shaped line of contact with said spherically shaped movable contact element, and means biasing said spherically shaped movable contact element downwardly toward said common contact.