Abstract: An appliance leakage current interrupter (ALCI) comprising a ground fault detecting circuit and a trip mechanism that is automatically actuated in response to the presence of a ground fault. Actuation of the trip mechanism automatically interrupts the flow of current to the appliance and permits movement of a reset button to take place to visually signal that current to the appliance has been interrupted, although interruption of current flow is not in any way dependent on movement of the reset button, whereupon if movement of the reset button is prevented for any reason, flow of current to the appliance is still automatically and instantaneously interrupted in response to the presence of a ground fault. A test button is provided, actuation of which simulates a ground fault to enable a user at any time to determine whether the ALCI is working properly.

Abstract: A rotary switch for small appliances such as electric fans comprising base and cover assemblies, the former having low, medium and high output terminals and a splice terminal in side-by-side relation along one edge thereof for wedgingly receiving the bared ends of a ribbon cable, or alternatively receiving the bared ends of separate leads, and with the input terminal and the opposite end of the splice terminal being located at the opposite edge of the base. The cover assembly carries a rotor having contacts connected thereto whereby the rotor may be rotated so as to effect an electrical connection between either the low, medium or high output terminal and the input terminal. The cover further has a plurality of partitions which serve to isolate from each other the bared ends of the leads that engage the output terminals, when the cover and base are assembled to each other.

Abstract: An electrical slide switch includes a housing, first, second and third spaced, substantially aligned fixed contacts in the housing, a movable contact in the housing and a slide member which is operative for moving the movable contact between a first position wherein it is in engagement with the first and second fixed contacts and a second position wherein it is in engagement with the second and third fixed contacts. The movable contact is made from a resilient sheet metal, and it includes an elongated contacting portion having a central bump thereon and a pair of resileient biasing portions which are operative for biasing the contacting portion toward the fixed contacts. The biasing portions include inwardly extending portion which extend integrally inwardly from the ends of the contacting portion to spaced bends and outwardly extending portions which extend outwardly from the bends.

Abstract: A switch construction comprises a waterproof housing and first and second contact assemblies in the housing which are operative for effecting and interrupting electrical continuity in first and second lines, respectively, of an electrical circuit connected to the switch. The switch is operable by manually depressing a rubberized cover on the housing to effect continuity in the first and second contact assemblies; and when pressure is released from the cover, the contact assemblies are resiliently returned to their original positions and continuity is interrupted in the switch.