Abstract: A piezoelectric switch includes a piezoelectric element which is electrically connected to a printed circuit board by a pair of wires. A unitary plastic carrier is designed to retain both the piezoelectric element and the printed circuit board fixedly mounted thereon. In turn, the plastic carrier is sized and shaped to be co-axially disposed within the interior cavity of a generally cylindrically-shaped protective housing, wherein the plastic carrier is provided with at least one flexible finger which is configured to snap-fit into engagement within an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the housing so as to retain the carrier in place within the interior cavity. With the carrier fixed in place within the housing, an adhesive spacer disposes the piezoelectric element in contact with the inner surface of a touch plate provided in the housing.

Abstract: A power strip includes a power cord and a plastic casing mounted onto one end of the power cord. A plurality of outlets are disposed in the casing in a side-by-side relationship. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is disposed in the casing and electrically connects the power cord to each of the plurality of outlets. The GFCI is self-contained and modular in form and comprises an outlet-free housing and GFCI circuitry disposed within the outlet-free housing. The GFCI circuitry includes an indicator light, a test button and a reset button which fittingly protrude through corresponding openings formed in both the outlet-free housing and the insulated casing. In use, power cord delivers current to each of the plurality of outlets. However, GFCI serves to interrupt the flow of current from the power cord to each of the plurality of outlets upon detecting a ground fault condition in the power cord.

Abstract: An electric plug includes a plug housing which is formed onto one end of a power cord, the power cord includes a hot line, a neutral line and a ground line. The electric plug includes a lighted rocker switch which provides both circuit breaking and power switching capabilities, the rocker switch being electrically connected to the hot and neutral lines of the power cord. First, second and third conductive terminals project orthogonally out from the plug housing. The first and second conductive terminals are electrically connected to the rocker switch and the third conductive terminal is electrically connected to the ground line. In use, the lighted rocker switch regulates the flow of between the conductive terminals and the power cord in response to overcurrent conditions in the electric plug and manual switching of the power state of the lighted rocker switch.

Abstract: A sump pump switch for controlling the application of power from a power source to a sump pump motor in response to the rise and fall of a liquid collecting in a sump includes a housing, a pair of electrically conductive terminal members fixedly disposed within the housing and a pair of electrically conductive contact members fixedly disposed within the housing. A pair of electrically conductive movable contacts are mounted onto a contact bridge. The contact bridge is pivotally disposed within the housing and is actuated by an over-center mechanism. The movable contacts are pivotally coupled to the terminal members and selectively contact the contact members to effectively close the switch. A pair of electrically conductive wiper contacts connect the terminal members with the contact members and provide a non-articulating current path between the terminal members and the contact members.

Abstract: A fireguard circuit for a power cable, which comprises a power line, a neutral line and a metal sheath surrounding the power line and the neutral line, includes a switch located in one of the lines. A solenoid sets the switch in either an open position or a closed position. A first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) causes the solenoid to open the switch upon detecting the presence of an arcing condition between the power line and the metal sheath. A second silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) causes the solenoid to open the switch upon detecting the presence of an arcing condition between the neutral line and the metal sheath. The second SCR is connected in parallel with the first SCR, the anode of the first SCR being connected to the cathode of the second SCR and the cathode of the first SCR being connected to the anode of the second SCR.

Abstract: A rotary switch for an electrical appliance includes a housing adapted to receive a plurality of conductive wires, a plurality of conductive terminals fixedly mounted onto the housing, an actuation shaft rotatably mounted onto the housing, and a movable contact mounted onto the actuation shaft for selectively connecting two of the conductive terminals. The housing includes a base and a cover mounted onto the base. The cover includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of inwardly tapered guide walls. Each guide wall is shaped to define a slot into which an associated conductive wire can be securely retained in electrical isolation from the remainder of conductive wires. Each guide wall has a funnel-type configuration and includes a closed end and an open end, the slot being narrower at the closed end than at the open end.

Abstract: A rotary electric switch includes a hollow plastic housing having a recessed base and a cover member. A plurality of resilient stationary contacts are positioned in the recessed base. A switch handle is rotably mounted on the recessed base between the plurality of stationary contacts. A rotatable contactor assembly of considerable thickness is mounted on the switch handle. In use, rotation of the switch handle causes contact projections, which are formed on the periphery of the rotatable contactor assembly, to selectively contact the plurality of resilient stationary contacts. In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable contactor assembly comprises a first rotatable contactor and a second rotatable contactor which are securely affixed together. In another embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable contactor assembly comprises a first rotatable contactor, a second rotatable contactor and a thin, non-conductive washer disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector (IDC) suitable for making an electrical connection to an electrical cable having first and second elongate electrodes separated by a polymer. The IDC is in the form of a fork having first and second tines separated from one another by a slot and connected at a base. Extending from the closed end of the slot, along part of the base, is a beveled groove with a cutting edge. The IDC may be used in an assembly which contains an insulation displacement connector (IDC) module with first and second piercing members, each of which contains an IDC. The IDC module can be mated with a wire guide module, so that when the cable is inserted into the wire guide module and the wire guide module and IDC module are secured, the first piercing member contacts and makes electrical connection to the first elongate electrode and the second piercing member contacts and makes electrical connection to the second elongate electrode.

Abstract: A housing for an electric switch includes a recessed base and a cover member. The cover member is constructed to include a hook fastener, a latch fastener, a first pair of clip fingers and a second pair of clip fingers. The hook fastener and latch fastener serve to enable the electric switch to be easily and quickly mounted on a wall in a device with which the electric switch is to be used while the first and second pair of clip fingers serve to hold the hook and latch fasteners tightly in place on the wall of the device when so mounted.