Abstract: A split switch case has a base and a mounting bracket fitted thereto. The top wall of the latter has a lateral rib defining sockets for receiving shoulder portions of the actuator. Plungers in the actuator can bottom out to break free the switch contacts should they fuse together. The rocker has a unique shape and is coupled to the actuator for positive pivotal movement on a lateral axis defined by surfaces in the rocker and in the mounting bracket's top wall rib. In the illuminated switch shown, the lamp circuit has at least one lead provided in a slot defined inside the mounting bracket. The lamp can be mounted in the mounting bracket either from above or from below, two depending legs will accommodate a conventional LED from either direction.

Abstract: An electromagnetic circuit breaker has a housing that includes a separately defined arc chamber in which the moving contact travels as the breaker is tripped, and the chamber has a divergent shape to facilitate exhausting the hot gases from the arc chamber through a metal screen and through vent openings in the end wall of the breaker housing. The housing is made in two half sections that are held together by rivets and the location of one of these rivets is isolated from the fixed contact at the lower end of the arc chamber by the unique arc chamber configuration. The lower wall of the circuit breaker housing is adapted to receive either a molded switch subassembly or to receive a terminal strip that is held in place by the primary terminals of the breaker and is adapted also to support auxiliary terminals that operate a shunt coil. The shunt coil itself is fitted on a bobbin that is selectively mounted on the bobbin that contains the primary electromagnetic coil for the breaker.

Abstract: The load terminals of several side-by-side circuit breakers are formed from an initially flat configuration to define an offset laterally projecting flag portion that mates with another portion of an identical adjacent terminal to provide aligned openings, one of which is threaded, for receiving a conventional screw.

Abstract: An electromagnetic circuit breaker has a housing that includes a separately defined arc chamber in which the moving contact travels as the breaker is tripped, and the chamber has a divergent shape to facilitate exhausting the hot gases from the arc chamber through a metal screen and through vent openings in the end wall of the breaker housing. The housing is made in two half sections that are held together by rivets and the location of one of these rivets is isolated from the fixed contact at the lower end of the arc chamber by the unique arc chamber configuration. The lower wall of the circuit breaker housing is adapted to receive either a molded switch subassembly or to receive a terminal strip that is held in place by the primary terminals of the breaker and is adapted also to support auxiliary terminals that operate a shunt coil. The shunt coil itself is fitted on a bobbin that is selectively mounted on the bobbin that contains the primary electromagnetic coil fo the breaker.

Abstract: A toggle switch has a toggle pivotably mounted in a threaded boss of the switch case. The toggle is preferably translucent so light from an internal lamp can reach the top of the toggle. A sleeve is slidably received on the toggle and has an inner end that is shaped to cooperate with an upper end of the boss to define discrete toggle positions. A spring biases the sleeve into a locked position engaging these shaped end portions.

Abstract: A circuit breaker terminal strip has an offset spade terminal end segment and a conventional lug terminal segment formed integrally so that one or the other or both types of wire connectors can be used with a single terminal. The lug receiving segment has a threaded opening to receive a screw that holds the lug and its wire in alignment with the terminal. The spade segment is integrally connected to the lug receiving segment and configured to receive a quick connector so that the wire on the latter does not interfere with the wire with the lug.

Abstract: A miniature switch case has integrally molded mounting wings adjacent the case corners. These wings pivot on axes parallel to but spaced inwardly of the corners, and recesses at the case corners provide clearance for the wings as they are moved during installation of the case into a rectangular panel opening. The miniature case also has two movable contact levers shorter than the internal length of the case cavity to provide space for a lamp, and for a resistor in circuit with the lamp.

Abstract: A DIN rail mounted circuit breaker case has a housing that includes a rear or back side for receiving one flange of the channel shaped rail. A one piece molded plastic latch is provided in a cavity defined by the housing and can be moved from its latched position to an unlatched position by inserting a screwdriver in a slot and bending a stem portion of the latch.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical lamp of diameter D is provided in a miniature double pole switch case of internal height only 2.times.D. The movable contact levers are shorter than the length of the switch case cavity and an internal divider wall cooperates with skirt portions of the rocker to support these levers during pivotal movement on the upper ends of the center fixed contacts. The levers are spaced apart at least approximately by the dimension D.

Abstract: A two pole circuit breaker has a central opening to receive the single actuator provided for setting and resetting the two breaker mechanisms. These mechanisms are compactly housed in two chambers that are defined by half sections which are in turn provided inside an outer shell that defines the top opening. In one version the actuator is a pushbutton that is coupled to both breaker mechanisms. In other versions the actuator is in the form of a toggle or a rocker with coupling means to both breaker mechanisms. In a preferred embodiment the half sections that define the breaker mechanism chambers include a center section of I-shape that defines the adjacent chambers and also accommodates a lamp to light the rocker/actuator and/or a well to receive a light switch that can be wired to provide remote indication of switch condition.

Abstract: A rotary key switch has a momentary action such that a lock cylinder and control member are returned to normal positions by a torsion spring provided in a central bore of the control member. The switch housing is in two parts, a lower body portion and an upper panel mounted cap portion that also supports the lock cylinder. The lower portion defines a cylindrical cavity and supports the control member on a central post that is also provided in this central bore. The housing portions are telescopically secured to one another and a stop is deformed in part by the control member and the panel mounted cap portion to positively limit the rotation of the key and lock cylinder.

Abstract: A make before break switch having two opposed fixed contacts separately closed by a pivotal contact lever. A center fixed contact supports the lever for movement both pivotally and vertically so that the contact lever closes on both said two fixed contacts in an intermediate position. A conventional actuator means and spring biasing means controls the contact lever as it is so moved, and a secondary biasing means is provided below the lever to allow the make before break action as the actuating means moves through its intermediate position.

Abstract: A split case breaker housing has a depending well at the bottom and any one of three different filler blocks can be assembled with the split case sections to provide a convenient receptacle for a limit switch or for auxiliary studs, or to simply close the opening provided in the well for these filler blocks.

Abstract: A miniature rotary switch having nested terminals in its bottom wall, and a disc shaped movable contact element arranged in a rotatable member such that a portion of the disc periphery rolls and slides across fixed contacts defined by the upper ends of these terminals. The rotatable member is restrained from movement axially in a cylindrical chamber defined for it by either a one piece housing, or in a key switch version by a two piece housing.

Abstract: The housing has a cylindrical cavity and central bore in the bottom wall for rotatably receiving a post on the cylindrical control member and the terminals have upper ends defining circumaxially spaced fixed contacts. A tubular conductor surrounds the post and is connected to one such fixed contact to provide a common contact adjacent all of the other fixed terminals. A ball is biased downwardly into contact with the common contact and selectively with the fixed contacts. The ball is provided in a recess of the rotary control member and moves over protuberances in the bottom wall of the housing to selectively connect the common contact with the individual fixed contacts.

Abstract: A snap-on actuator for use with a miniature switch of the type usually fitted with a toggle. The toggle is shortened and has a slot for receiving a C-shaped retainer. The retainer holds the actuator on the toggle and prevents the toggle from being moved inwardly of the switch case as a result of downward force on the actuator.

Abstract: An appliance switch has a one-piece housing defining separate cavities for the rocker/actuator and for the switch contact elements. An inner wall of the housing is integrally formed for this purpose, and defines a boss for slidably receiving a plunger that engages the rocker/actuator. The contact elements are identically shaped, each having an L-shape configuration with a resilient leg engageable with the plunger, and with a plunger hole that receives the plunger in the fixed contact element. A cover closes the cavity for the fixed and movable contact elements and also serves to hold them in place.

Abstract: A common switch base and rocker are combined with either a sliding contact or with a pivoting contact lever to provide two different types of electrical switches from fewer different component parts. The rocker has a depending post portion for sliding the smaller contact, and the longer contact lever has an elongated slot to accommodate the rocker post portion without interfering with it. The rocker also has internal abutments that engage the contact lever to assure positive action thereof, which abutments do not interfere with action of the sliding contact.

Abstract: A reciprocable push button achieves sequential switching (ON/OFF or ON/ON) through a simple coil spring and pivoted contact lever. The push button has depending legs that cooperate with camming means inside the switch case to swing the contact lever from side-to-side as it pivots between its limit positions. This compound contact lever action is achieved with the push button's straight line motion to provide this sequential switching function.

Abstract: A split case circuit breaker is fitted with a bracket assembly which defines a rectangular boss to cover the smaller circuit breaker boss on the front face of the breaker housing. An actuator link operates the otherwise conventional breaker mechanism inside the housing, and has a free end portion coupled to a rocker pivotably provided in a rectangular recess defined for it in the rectangular boss of the bracket assembly.