Condition-responsive electric switch mechanism

A condition-responsive electric switch mechanism for use with a refrigeration appliance, said refrigeration appliance including a compartment, a compressor for cooling the compartment and an alarm, said condition-responsive electric switch mechanism comprising:

• a housing;
• first, second and third terminals projecting outwardly from the housing for connection in an external electric circuit, said first and second terminals being adapted to be electrically connected to the compressor and said first and third terminals being adapted to be electrically connected to the alarm, said second terminal having a fixed contact mounted thereon;
• an actuator movable as a function of the temperature in the compartment of the refrigeration appliance;
• a bistable spring switch element electrically connected to the first terminal, said spring switch element including a movable contact and being adapted for snap-acting movement between a circuit open position and a circuit closed position, said movable contact of the spring switch element being spaced apart from the fixed contact of the second terminal in the circuit open position and said movable contact of the spring switch element engaging the fixed contact of the second terminal to electrically connect the first and second terminals for enabling the compressor in the circuit closed position, said spring switch element including a toggle blade operable by engagement with the actuator for motion through a first switch point at which the spring switch element snaps between the circuit open position and the circuit closed position, said toggle blade being operable by further engagement with the actuator for motion past the first switch point to a second switch point for electrically connecting the first and third terminals, said first and second terminals forming a line circuit when the spring switch element is in its circuit closed position;
• and
• a line disconnect circuit electrically in series with the line circuit, said line disconnect circuit selectively disconnecting the line circuit from a power supply for disabling the compressor, and wherein the line disconnect circuit comprises a fourth terminal projecting outwardly from the housing, said fourth terminal having a fixed contact mounted thereon.