Abstract: A plastic switch actuator is fitted with a spring so as to impart sliding and rocking motion to a movable contact by virtue of direct engagement between spring and element. The actuator has a depending integral portion received in an opening of the element but it is the spring which keeps the element in contact with the fixed switch contacts. Other embodiments provide for illuminating the rocker in the miniature switch made possible by this simplified switch construction of fewer component parts. Still further embodiments provide for a toggle style actuator having a movable contact capable of retention in a "center-off" position wherein the movable contact is releasably retained on shelf-like lands defined for this purpose in the switch base, and wherein this contact can be moved by the depending actuator portion through joint action by the actuator and the spring provided on said actuator.

Abstract: A rocker switch housing has an upwardly open base, and a recessed cover secured to the base and defining a central upstanding boss for pivotally receiving an actuator. Aligned openings in the side walls of the recessed cover pivotally receive a manually movable rocker. The rocker is connected to the actuator, and loosely received in the recess, having a rectangular shape similar to that of the recess. The rocker may optionally have one or more transparent panels to provide light from one or more small lamps mounted in small openings in the recess of the cover to provide an indication of circuit condition. The two-part housing provides an environmentally sealed space for the switch contacts and for the electrical connection to the lamp.

Abstract: A lighted toggle lever switch having a pair of like insulator halves (14, 16) with short trunnions (14a, 16a) that pivot a toggle lever (8) at opposite ends of a lateral hole 10b therethrough, these insulator halves lining the metal cover (4) and bushing (6) and each having a channel (14j, 14k) for a lamp terminal. Coaxial helical spring connectors (20, 22) separated by an insulating tube (26) electrically connect the terminals to a lamp bulb (18) within the hollow toggle lever handle that has a threaded-in lens cap (12) at its external end.

Abstract: A small and compact electric switch having therein means for indicating actuated state of an associated load and yet being simple and easy in interconnecting respective components and also in connecting them with said load and an electric source is provided. The switch has a transformer, the primary winding of which is connected to a switching means and to the source and load while the secondary winding is connected to a light emitting diode forming the indicating means which is enclosed in a rockable button actuating and switching means so that, when the switch is closed, a current is induced in the secondary winding to light the diode due to a source current flowing through the primary winding. Wires from the source and load are held as connected to the switching means by resilient connecting means which are accessible from the exterior for easy wire connection and disconnection.

Abstract: The toggle is of transparent plastic so that a lamp inside the switch case can illuminate the inner end of the toggle and thereby light up that portion of the toggle projecting outwardly of the case. Two colors are possible, to reflect the on/off condition of the switch. A transparent red colored plastic actuator is provided at the inner end of the toggle to contrast with the clear plastic toggle itself, and light from the lamp, in one position of the toggle must first pass through this red actuator prior to reaching the toggle, thereby making the toggle appear red. In the other toggle position, the light from the lamp strikes the inner end of the clear plastic toggle directly without first passing through the actuator, thereby giving the toggle a clear light.

Abstract: The improved small switch of this invention comprises: a housing having at least one open end; main contact contained in the housing and having at least one first movable contact element and at least one first fixed contact element; a cover member mounted on the open end of the housing; a movable operating handle whose one end is disposed within the housing and the other end extends through and projects from the cover member; an illuminator disposed at one end of the movable operating handle; a converter member disposed at the other end of the movable operating handle for making or breaking the main contact; second movable contact elements fitted to the converter member; lead wires disposed within the interior space of the movable operating handle and connecting the second movable contact elements and the illuminator; and second fixed contact elements disposed within the housing, with which the second movable contact elements are brought into contact.

Abstract: A toggle switch housing has an upwardly open base, a cover bracket secured to the base and a cover for a recessed upper portion of the cover bracket. The cover bracket recessed portion includes an upwardly projecting boss which pivotally receives an actuator, and the upper end of the actuator projects through the cover to define a toggle or bat. The cover may have one or more transparent panels to provide light from one or more miniature lamps mounted in small openings provided for this purpose in the cover bracket in order to provide an indication of circuit condition. The three-part switch housing provides an environmentally sealed space for the switch contacts, and for the electrical connections to the lamp.

Abstract: A formed pivot structure for a pivotally operable lever mounted in a bushing such as a toggle switch lever bushing. The pivot is provided by a suitable through-hole, opposite blind holes or circular groove in the enlarged portion of the lever into which thin portions of the bushing, either perforated or unperforated, are punched from opposite sides of the bushing. This provides a pair of aligned pivots affording free pivoting of the toggle lever in one plane while retaining it snugly from wobbling out of said plane.

Abstract: A rocker switch housing has an upwardly open base, and a recessed cover secured to the base and defining a central upstanding boss for pivotally receiving an actuator. Aligned openings in the side walls of the recessed cover pivotally receive a manually movable rocker. The rocker is connected to the actuator, and loosely received in the recess, having a rectangular shape similar to that of the recess. The rocker may optionally have one or more transparent panels to provide light from one or more small lamps mounted in small openings in the recess of the cover to provide an indication of circuit condition. The two-part housing provides an environmentally sealed space for the switch contacts and for the electrical connection to the lamp.

Abstract: A sealed rocker switch wherein a light transmitting lens is provided in a sealing member to focus and align with a switch position indicating lamp mounted in the switch base and a translucent window in the front of the switch operating rocker.

Abstract: A toggle switch has a light emitting diode element (LED) attached to the top end of a knob. The other end of the knob is attached to a rockable member which is supported by a case to be turnable within a predetermined angle. Two lead wires of the LED are inserted, respectively, into two holes in an insulating plastic spring holder fitted in the knob, through one-end openings of the two holes which extend along the axial direction of the spring holder and open at the other end of the knob. A conductive metal coil spring is contained in each hole and each lead wire is inserted into and electrically contacted with its corresponding coil spring at many places. The other opening of the hole is located in the vicinity of the rocking center of the rockable member, at which area is also located a pair of conductive metal terminals for power supply.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seesaw switch with a light emitting diode element in which a light emitting portion of the light emitting diode element is disposed on the surface of a seesaw button. The base of the light emitting diode element is attached to a holder, lead wires of the element extending along the outer surface of the holder. The holder is received by a receiving portion of a rockable member, which is rockably borne on a case. The rockable member is fitted with a spring-biased rod, which, accompanying the rocking of the rockable member, slides on a movable contact laid on two switching terminals and a common terminal fixed to the bottom portion of the case for seesaw motion. Also fixed to the bottom portion of the case are two terminals for supplying electric power to the light emitting diode element.

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: A device for indicating switch operation by variable illuminating light including a switch case, a means for controlling the switch operation provided on the case, a light transmitting window provided in the controlling means, an illuminating lamp installed in the switch case for illuminating through the light transmitting window, a moveable plate interposed between the light transmitting window and the illuminating lamp and being actuated in response to the controlling means and a light control aperture provided in the moveable plate for changing the character of the illuminating light through the light transmitting window in accordance with the actuation of the moveable plate.

Abstract: A switch housing having a separate base attached to one end includes an electric end contact secured to each end of the base inside the housing, and central electric terminal means secured to the central part of the base between the end contacts. An elongated bridging contact engages the central terminal means and has end portions beside rigid dielectric members projecting from the base adjacent the end contacts for restricted lateral movement of the bridging contact. The end contacts have projections overlying the end portions of the bridging contact, and the base and all of the contacts and terminals together form a base unit in which the bridging contact is confined between the base and the overlying portions of the end contacts before the base is secured to the rest of the switch housing. Manually operable actuating means engage the bridging contact for rocking it on the central terminal means to electrically connect the latter with the overlying portions of either of the overlying contacts.

Abstract: In the exemplary embodiment, an attachment is mounted to the switch housing and supports stationary supply terminals which extend through the switch housing to make sliding and wiping contact externally of the housing with the terminals of an indicator lamp carried by the switch operator when the latter is moved to a designated position.

Abstract: An indicator comprises first means adapted for emitting a ray of light; and second means having an indicating surface for receiving the ray of light to permit the ray of light to illuminate the indicating surface. The first and second means are movable relative to each other to vary intensity of illumination of the indicating surface.

Abstract: An improved method and means for making electrical connections for an internal indicating lamp within a small switch. The conducting leads of the lamp and/or a voltage dropping resistor are connected to and held in good electrical engagement with stationary terminals of the switch as an incident to the terminals being seated in place of the switch housing and secured thereto thereby eliminating the need for special connectors or soldering or welding of the leads to the terminals.

Abstract: A light-transmissive insert mounted in a tunnel in a pivotal operating handle transmitts light from a light source mounted internally of a housing through the handle to appear as a lighted bar at the tip of the handle. The handle is rigidly mounted to an actuator in snap-on relation to allow front of panel relamping. The actuator is of generally inverted L-shape, pivotally mounted to the housing at ends of the horizontal leg of the L, with the vertical leg of the L extending downwardly into the housing to actuate a set of contacts. A stationary light source is mounted in the housing adjacent the vertical leg and extends upwardly through an aperture in the horizontal leg. The aperture is made wide enough to allow clearance of the light source during pivoting of the actuator. The tunnel extends through the handle from the outer end thereof to communicate with the aperture in the horizontal leg of the actuator and thus be exposed to the light source.

Abstract: Electroluminescent elements comprising a ferroelectric sintered ceramic body as a substrate, a luminescent layer applied on the body, a transparent electrode layer applied on the luminescent layer and an electrode layer applied on other side of the body and having improved withstand voltage properties. The electroluminescent elements are suitable for the indication of location of switch members or the like at the switching-off condition.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical switch actuated by a longitudinally reciprocatable contact carrier and such reciprocation being brought about by tilting of a rocker actuator by means of a push button effect.

Abstract: A toggle lever switch having a central longitudinal bore in the outer handle for housing an LED (light emitting diode) with terminals extending down through the handle and bent laterally outward along the pivotal axis through lateral holes in the spherical portion of the toggle lever to engage inwardly biased stationary terminals extending up through the bushing adjacently facing the lateral holes. The LED terminals themslves are used as the commutating connectors. Commutation means are provided for spacing the LED terminals and for maintaining good electrical contact with the stationary terminals, and in preferred form comprises an insulating plug having a pigtail.

Abstract: An electric switch having a case, an actuator and a converter. The actuator and converter are coaxially connected, and below the actuator there is mounted an indicating member with a surface bearing a pre-determined indication, which surface moves in the reverse direction to the formerly-named members relative to the switch.

Abstract: The illumination-type, small switch of the present invention is characterized by disposing the light emitter in a resilient sleeve-like support fixed to the upper surface of an insulating plate.

Abstract: A miniature switch with a removable cap on the actuator, so that any cap may be replaced with another of different appearance.

Abstract: A rocker switch having non-illuminated indicator means comprising a ribbon or sheet member which effectively slides along the interior surface of a rocker cap having a window visually exposing the appropriate indicia on the ribbon as the rocker is pivoted. The ribbon is flexible enough to assume the interior shape of the rocker cap and stiff enough to slide therealong during rocking operation. A window or lens may assume various positions on the rocker cap with appropriate positioning of indicia on the ribbon therebeneath.