Semi-bifurcated electrical contacts

A double break switch construction for use in an electrical apparatus and suitable for both high power and low voltage-low current applications and comprising:

• a base;
• first and second electrical contacts fixedly mounted on said base in spaced relation to one another;
• an elongated, resilient electrically conductive bar having opposed ends;
• two pairs of spaced electrical contacts on one side of said bar, one pair adjacent each end thereof;
• said bar being aligned with and movable toward and away from said first and second contacts to bridge the same with the contacts of one of said pairs being engageable with said first contact and the contacts of the other pair being engageable with said second contact;
• a mounting post engaging said bar generally centrally thereof in an aperture therein and in turn being movably mounted on said base for moving said bar toward and away from said first and second contacts;
• and
• a slot in said bar extending along the direction of elongation thereof from said aperture and toward an end of said bar mounting said one contact pair and between the contacts of said one pair, said bar being imperforate between the contacts of the other of said pairs.

A double break switch construction for use in an electrical apparatus and suitable for both high power and low voltage-low current applications and comprising:

• a base;
• first and second electrical contacts fixedly mounted on said base in spaced relation to one another;
• an elongated, resilient electrically conductive bar having opposed ends;
• two pairs of spaced electrical contacts on one side of said bar, one pair adjacent each end of thereof;
• said bar being aligned with and movable toward and away from said first and second contacts to bridge the same with the contacts of one of said pairs being engageable with said first contact and the contacts of the other pair being engageable with said second contact;
• a mounting device engaging said bar generally centrally thereof between said opposed ends and in turn being movably mounted on said base for moving said bar toward and away from said first and second contacts;
• and
• a slot in said bar extending along the direction of elongation thereof from near said mounting device toward and end of said bar mounting said one pair and between the contacts of said one pair, said bar being imperforate between the contacts of the other of said pairs.