Thermostat with one-piece reset mechanism and contact assembly

A thermostatic switch comprising:

• a housing having a cavity formed therein;
• a temperature responsive bimetallic disc located in said housing and being responsive to a predetermined temperature for exerting a flexing action;
• a fixed contact member located in said cavity and being electrically interconnected to a first terminal external to said housing;
• a movable contact member located in said cavity adjacent said fixed contact member, said movable contact member being electrically interconnected to a second terminal external to said housing, and being biased and movable between a switch-closed position and a switch-open position, said movable contact member having an arm portion with an opening formed therein;
• an actuating member located in said housing and being responsive to flexing movement of said disc for moving said movable contact member from said switch-closed position to said switch-open position;
• and
• locking means comprising a hook portion mounted within the cavity of the housing, said hook portion engaging said arm portion of the movable contact member upon the movement of the movable contact member to its switch-open position and entering said opening of the arm portion for retaining and maintaining the movable contact member in its switch open position, said hook portion being integrally formed as one-piece with said movable contact member.

A thermostatic switch comprising:

• a housing having a cavity formed therein;
• a temperature responsive bimetallic disc located in said housing and being responsive to a predetermined temperature for exerting a flexing action;
• a fixed contact member located in said cavity and being electrically interconnected to a first terminal external to said housing;
• a movable contact member located in said cavity adjacent said fixed contact member, said movable contact member being electrically interconnected to a second terminal external to said housing, and being biased and movable between a switch-closed position and a switch-open position, said movable contact member having an arm portion with an opening formed therein;
• an actuating member located in said housing and being responsive to flexing movement of said disc for moving said movable contact member from said switch-closed position to said switch-open position;
• and
• a hook portion mounted within the cavity of the housing, said hook portion engaging said arm portion of the movable contact member upon the movement of the movable contact member to its switch-open position and entering said opening of the arm portion for retaining and maintaining the movable contact member in its switch open position, the arrangement being such that the movable contact member is free to return to the normal switch-closed position by the spring action thereof when both the hook portion is released from within the opening of the arm portion of the movable contact member and said actuating member is in the switch-closed position.