Abstract: A slide is movable by an actuating knob back and forth in a rectangular housing and is attached to a movable metal contact below it by elements integral with the slide. The contact is pressed downwardly by a spring mounted in a bore in the slide. The housing, slide and knob are molded from insulating material. A pair of stationary electric contacts are mounted in the bottom of the housing in positions to be bridged by the movable contact when the slide is in a predetermined position in the housing. The slide may be provided inside the housing with a pair of integral resilient indexing prongs extending laterally into notches in the side walls of the housing.

Abstract: An actuating member in an electric switch housing is provided with a bore that opens downwardly inside the housing and contains a plunger slidably mounted therein and projecting from the lower end of the bore. A coil spring in the bore presses the plunger down against a movable contact to press it against stationary contacts. The plunger and movable contact are interconnected for movement of the contact by the actuating member, and the actuating member and plunger are provided with interengaging means for limiting downward movement of the plunger in the bore in the absence of the movable contact, whereby the plunger cannot escape from the actuating member.