Abstract: The sealed toggle action switch comprises an operating lever having a front operating arm projecting out of the front component of the casing. The lever has a rear arm, projecting into the casing and carrying a contactor plate for relative sliding and swinging movement. A coil spring is received around the rear arm and is compressed between the contactor plate and the front sealing flange of a soft resilient sealing boot, such sealing flange being compressed against the operating lever. The boot has a rear, outwardly projecting sealing flange which is retained between the front and rear casing components. The contactor plate has a pair of J-shaped flanges which are slidably engageable with first and second fixed contacts having forwardly projecting protuberances, affording a detent action with the J-shaped flanges. In one position of the operating lever, the J-shaped flanges of the contactor plate engage both of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: The switch includes a rotatable electrically insulating carriage having first and second contactors mounted thereon and facing in opposite directions from the path of the carriage, for a sliding engagement with first and second sets of fixed contacts. The contactors are biased in opposite directions, toward the contacts, by an electrically insulating switch assembly, mounted in a cylindrical opening in the carriage, and comprising a cup-shaped insulator having a cylindrical portion slidably mounted in the cylindrical opening. The insulator having a cup-shaped spring nest therein, for receiving one end of a coil spring. Biasing forces are exerted against the contactors by an end portion of the insulator and the opposite end of the coil spring. The cup-shaped insulator guides and locates the coil spring while obviating any electrical connection between the first and second contactors.

Abstract: The sealed toggle action switch comprises an operating lever having a front operating arm projecting out of the front component of the casing. The lever has a rear arm, projecting into the casing and carrying a contactor plate for relative sliding and swinging movement. A coil spring is received around the rear arm and is compressed between the contactor plate and the front sealing flange of a soft resilient sealing boot, such sealing flange being compressed against the operating lever. The boot has a rear, outwardly projecting sealing flange which is retained between the front and rear casing components. The contactor plate has a pair of J-shaped flanges which are slidably engageable with first and second fixed contacts having forwardly projecting protuberances, affording a detent action with the J-shaped flanges. In one position of the operating lever, the J-shaped flanges of the contactor plate engage both of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: A single rotary shaft connected to a single rotary carriage operates a vacuum selector valve and two rotary electrical switches, in a casing having rear and front components. The valve comprises a valve carriage, slidable along a linear channel in the rear component. A gear rack on the valve carriage meshes with a pinion gear on the rotary carriage. The valve carriage is slidably retained in the valve channel by the switch contact plates of the first rotary switch. Such contact plates have terminal portions retained between the front and rear casing components. The contactors of the two switches face in opposite directions on the rotary carriage and are biased by a single coil spring, insulated from one of the contactors by a cup-shaped insulating member. The contact plates of the second switch are mounted on the front casing component and have terminals extending outside of the rear casing component through slots therein.

Abstract: An electrical switch is disclosed, including contact plates having fixed contact portions which are slidably engageable by at least one movable contactor. At least one plate has a submarining crossover portion bent into a U-shape and extending across an overlapping portion of another plate but in a different plane to obviate any electrical contact between the submarining crossover portion and the overlapping portion. The plates may be mounted on an insulating casing wall having a recess for receiving the submarining crossover portion. The plates may have first end portions formed as L-shaped hooks inserted into slots formed in the casing wall. At their opposite ends, the plates may have second end portions formed as L-shaped terminal portions including terminal flanges and terminal prongs. Such prongs may be received in notches formed in a casing end wall, and may be retained in such notches by tooth-like projections on a casing cover.

Abstract: A slide action electrical switch, comprising a casing, a carriage mounted in the casing for sliding movement along a predetermined path, an electrically conductive contactor mounted on the carriage, electrical contact means on the casing and selectively engageable by the contactor during movement thereof with the carriage along the path, such casing having a front wall with a rearwardly facing surface along which the carriage is slidable, such casing having a slot extending through the front wall and generally parallel with such path of the carriage, and an operating member slidable along the front surface of the front wall, such operating member comprising a rearwardly extending portion including a pair of prongs extending through and slidable along the slot, such carriage having a retaining slot for receiving the prongs, such prongs being flexible and resilient and having rear end portions with ratchet teeth thereon for deflecting the prongs toward each other as they are inserted through the retaining slot

Abstract: A combination blower and air conditioner switch for vehicles, comprising a blower speed control switch component including a blower control member movable from an OFF position to a series of ON positions to provide different blower speeds, an air conditioner switch component including a push button control member movable between OFF and ON positions against the biasing action of a return spring, latching means including a latching element for latching the push button control member in its ON position, and an interlock member movable by the blower control member to a disabling position for disabling the latching means when said blower control member is in its OFF position, such interlock member being movable to an enabling position for enabling such latching means when the blower control member is moved away from its OFF position to any of its ON positions, whereby the push button air conditioner control member cannot be latched in its ON position when the blower control member is in its OFF position.

Abstract: A vacuum control valve, comprising a wall having a vacuum supply port and a utilization port therein, a valve member movable along such wall, and means guiding the valve member for movement along a predetermined path along such wall, such valve member having a sealing member with sealing enclosure means for selectively producing communication between such ports, each of such ports comprising an opening with a tapered portion extending into such wall at the intersection between such opening and such wall to avoid the formation of any burr at such intersection.

Abstract: A combined electrical and fluid control switch is disclosed, comprising a casing, at least one operating carriage movable in the casing, and valve means in the casing and operable by the movement of the carriage. The valve means may comprise a valve wall along which a control member is movable. The valve wall is formed with at least one vacuum supply port and at least one vacuum utilization port. The control member includes a sealing member having first and second sealing dam enclosures which provide a double seal to prevent leakage between the atmosphere and the vacuum supply port as the control member is moved between a first position in which the support port and the utilization port are connected together, and a second position in which the utilization port is connected to the atmosphere. Each port preferably has a tapered portion at the intersection between the port and the valve wall.

Abstract: The combined electrical and fluid control switch comprises a casing, a carriage movable therein for operating electrical switching means and fluid control means in the casing, valve ports in the rear casing wall and connecting with nipples thereon, a rearwardly projecting connector locating post on the rear wall adjacent the nipples, detent recesses alternating with detent bumps on the rear side of the carriage, a detent ball engageable with the detent recesses and bumps and guided in a bore in the post, and a coil spring compressed in the bore behind the wall. The front casing wall may have a guide slot for slidably receiving a pair of guide tabs projecting forwardly from the carriage, a gap being provided between the tabs for receiving an operating member, the front casing wall being formed with a notch along the guide slot for entry of the operating member.

Abstract: The electrical switch comprises a resinous plastic casing, a carriage slidable in the casing, at least one contactor mounted on the carriage and movable therewith, contact means in the casing and selectably engageable by the contactor, a resinous plastic rocker plate rockably mounted on the front of the casing and having a lever arm swingable with the rocker plate for causing sliding movement of the carriage in response to rocking movement of the rocker plate, the carriage having a slot for receiving the lever arm, a pair of spaced parallel side walls on the casing and having pivot receiving openings, a pair of flexible resilient generally parallel pivot support tabs projecting rearwardly from the rocker plate and having pivot elements pivotally received in the openings for rockably supporting the rocker plate, the pivot elements being insertable into said openings by flexure of the pivot support tabs, a pair of oppositely inclined stop surfaces on the casing and engageable by the rocker plate at the opposite

Abstract: The switch comprises two contactors movable along two rows of four contacts, to an "OFF" position in which each contactor bridges the second and third contacts in each row, a first "ON" position in which each contactor bridges the first and third contacts in each row, and a second "ON" position in which each contactor bridges the second and fourth contacts in each row. An inner crossover conductor extends between the first contact in the first row and the fourth contact in the second row and is disposed between the first and second rows. A second crossover conductor is on the outer side of the contact supporting board and is connected between the second contact in the first row and the third contact in the second row. A flat Z-shaped insulating member is held captive between the board and the inner crossover conductor.

Abstract: The disclosed combined fluid power and electrical control device comprises a casing having an operating lever extending through an opening in the casing between the front and rear sides thereof, means at the rear of the casing pivotally supporting the rear portion of the lever so that it is swingable in the opening, the lever having a front manually operable portion at the front of the casing, and fluid power and electrical control means in the casing and operatively connected to the lever for operation in response to swinging movement thereof. Preferably, the control device includes a carriage movable in the casing, mechanical coupling means between the lever and the carriage for moving the carriage in response to swinging movement of the lever, electrical switching means operable by movement of the carriage, and fluid power control valve means operable by the carriage. The switching means may include fixed electrical contact means mounted on the rear wall of a lamp housing secured within the casing.

Abstract: A combined electrical switch and fluid control device, in which the switch comprises a casing having an insulating wall, a slider movable in the casing and carrying a contactor having first and second contact points, and first and second contact bars mounted on the insulating wall opposite the contactor, the first bar being engageable by the first contact point, the first and second bars having first and second segments projecting laterally therefrom for successive engagement by the second contact point, the first and second segments having a narrow gap therebetween of less width than the width of the second contact point, whereby such point wll ride between such segments without engaging the insulating wall to avoid burning of such wall and to avoid contamination of the second contact point by such wall.

Abstract: Electrical switches are disclosed which are of the type having a slidable contactor which is movable along a predetermined path in a casing. The contactor is engageable with a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along said path. To provide for selective engagement between the contactor and the contacts, at least one fixed cam element is provided along the path of the contactor and is engageable by one or more follower elements on the contactor to lift the contactor away from at least one of said contacts in at least one position of said contactor. In certain embodiments, the contactor is preferably formed with a slot which is adapted to receive an insulating projection on the carriage, so that the contactor is caused to move in a precise manner along with the carriage.

Abstract: A combined electrical switch and fluid control device is disclosed, for simultaneously performing electrical and fluid power control functions. For example, the device may be employed on an automotive vehicle for controlling the operation of electrical components and vacuum operated devices. The control device is particularly well adapted for controlling the operation of a heating and air-conditioning system for an automobile or some other automotive vehicle. The control device may comprise a casing, a control member movable in the casing along a predetermined path, electrical switching means in the casing and operable by the movement of the control member along such path, fluid control means in the casing and including a valve member movable in the casing in a direction transverse to the path of the control member, and camming means operable between the control member and the valve member for moving the valve member transversely to such path in response to movement of the control member along the path.