Position detecting, rotary switch with movable contact-rotor assembly including relative rotary moment inhibiting structure

A position detecting switch comprising:

• a casing;
• at least two stationary contacts mounted in the casing, each stationary contact presenting a contact surface within a contact plane at a predetermined position;
• a sliding body having a contact receptacle formed therein and mounted for sliding movement on the casing over the predetermined position, said contact receptacle being defined in part by side walls extending in a direction generally normal to the contact plane;
• a movable contact freely disposed in the contact receptacle for sliding movement therein and having a contact surface for simultaneously engaging at least two stationary contacts at said predetermined position and for disengaging the stationary contacts by sliding movement of the sliding body relative to said casing, said movable contact being sized relative to said contact receptacle to provide, between said movable contact and said side walls, a predetermined clearance whereby contact by one of said side walls would produce a rotating moment tending to cant the movable contact relative to said stationary contacts, which rotating moment would break contact between one of said stationary contacts and said movable contact, with said movable contact located at said predetermined position;
• and
• relative rotating moment inhibiting means for inhibiting the rotating moment of the movable contact relative to the substantially stationary contact and to thereby prevent the breaking of contact between the contact surface of the movable contact and the contact surface of the one stationary contact when the sliding body is in a position where the movable contact engages the stationary contact.