Thermal circuit protector and switch

A thermal circuit protector and switch comprising:

• a hollow housing having a bottom wall and defining a top opening,
• fixed and movable switch contacts normally spaced from one another inside said hollow housing,
• first and second switch terminals projecting from said housing and electrically connected to said fixed and movable switch contacts respectfully,
• an actuator movably mounted in said housing, and having a portion accessible through said top opening for movement of said actuator manually between "ON" and "OFF" positions, said actuator including a depending post fixed to said actuator whereby said post has an end portion movable between "ON" and "OFF" positions as said actuator is so moved,
• a movable contact lever connected to said first terminal and having a free end portion supporting said movable switch contact, said movable contact lever being biased toward and "OFF" position, wherein said movable contact is spaced from said fixed contact,
• said post end portion acting on said movable contact lever to hold said movable contact in engagement with said fixed contact in said "ON" position of said post and actuator, and
• said movable contact lever defined at least in part by a bi-metallic element that changes its shape or curvature in response to an increase in temperature such that the movable contact moves away from the fixed contact in response to a predetermined temperature rise of said bi-metallic element.