Side contact rocker-type switch assembly

An electrical switch assembly, comprising:

• a first pair of stationary contacts positioned on a first side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a second pair of stationary contacts positioned on a second side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a movable contact member;
• and
• a conductive member electrically connecting one contact of the first pair of stationary contacts with one contact of the second pair of stationary contacts;
• wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the first pair of stationary contacts in a first position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the second pair of stationary contacts in a second position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured to move to an inoperative position and electrically disconnect from all four stationary contacts.

An electrical switch assembly, comprising:

• a first pair of stationary contacts positioned on a first side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a second pair of stationary contacts positioned on a second side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a movable contact member;
• and
• a conductive member electrically connecting one contact of the first pair of stationary contacts with one contact of the second pair of stationary contacts;
• wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the first pair of stationary contacts in a first position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the second pair of stationary contacts in a second position;
• wherein the movable contact member includes a V-shaped section having a vertex between a first pair and a second pair of divergent arms that extend in an outward direction from the vertex in a non-linear fashion, and wherein the electrical switch assembly does not include a center contact configured to engage the V-shaped section of the movable contact member.

An electrical switch assembly, comprising:

• a first pair of stationary contacts positioned on a first side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a second pair of stationary contacts positioned on a second side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a movable contact member;
• and
• a conductive member electrically connecting one contact of the first pair of stationary contacts with one contact of the second pair of stationary contacts;
• wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the first pair of stationary contacts in a first position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the second pair of stationary contacts in a second position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured in a first ON position to engage the first pair of stationary contacts, and is configured in a second ON position to engage the second pair of stationary contacts, and is configured in an OFF position to be electrically disconnected from all four of the stationary contacts.

An electrical switch assembly comprising:

• a first pair of stationary contacts positioned on a first side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a second pair of stationary contacts positioned on a second side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a movable contact member;
• a conductive member electrically connecting one contact of the first pair of stationary contacts with one contact of the second pair of stationary contacts;
• and
• a barrier disposed between the first and the second contacts;
• wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the first pair of stationary contacts in a first position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the second pair of stationary contacts in a second position.

An electrical switch assembly, comprising:

• a first pair of stationary contacts positioned on a first side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a second pair of stationary contacts positioned on a second side of the electrical switch assembly;
• a movable contact member;
• a conductive member electrically connecting one contact of the first pair of stationary contacts with one contact of the second pair of stationary contacts;
• and
• a barrier disposed between the third and the fourth contacts;
• wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the first pair of stationary contacts in a first position, and wherein the movable contact member is configured to selectively establish an electrical path between the second pair of stationary contacts in a second position.

An electrical switch assembly, comprising:

• a housing having an interior cavity;
• a first pair of stationary contacts positioned on one side of the interior cavity;
• a second pair of stationary contacts positioned on the other side of the interior cavity;
• a movable contact member configured in a first position to complete an electrical path between the first pair of stationary contacts, and configured in a second position to complete an electrical path between the second pair of stationary contacts, and configured in an inoperative position to electrically disconnect from all four stationary contacts.

A method of electrically selectively connecting an electrical load with a first electrical power supply or a second electrical power supply, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a switch having a first pair of adjacent contacts and a second pair of adjacent contacts, wherein the first pair of contacts and the second pair of contacts are spaced apart, and wherein the switch includes a conductive member between one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts;
• connecting the electrical load with the conductive member;
• connecting a first electrical power supply with one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts;
• connecting a second electrical power supply with one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts;
• and
• selectively moving a movable contact member to a first operative position in which the movable contact member engages the first pair of contacts and establishes an electrical connection therebetween to connect the first electrical power supply with the electrical load through the conductive member, and a second operative position in which the movable contact member engages the second pair of contacts and establishes an electrical connection therebetween to connect the second electrical power supply with the electrical load through the conductive member.

A method of switching electrical connection with an electrical power supply between a first electrical load and a second electrical load, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a switch having a first pair of adjacent contacts and a second pair of adjacent contacts, wherein the first pair of contacts and the second pair of contacts are spaced apart, and wherein the switch includes a conductive member between one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts;
• connecting the electrical power supply to the conductive member;
• connecting a first electrical load with one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts;
• connecting a second electrical load with one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts;
• and
• selectively moving a movable contact member to a first operative position in which the movable contact member engages the first pair of contacts and establishes an electrical connection therebetween to connect the electrical power supply with the first electrical load through the conductive member, and a second operative position in which the movable contact member engages the second pair of contacts and establishes an electrical connection therebetween to connect the electrical power supply with the second electrical load through the conductive member.