Importance

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Abstract

A snap action toggle switch having a spring contact element formed of resilient metal strip material and including a U-shaped body member rigidified against flexure and comprised of a pair of spaced parallel side legs integral with and connected at one end by a flat base end portion and a plate spring member connected at one end with said base end portion and extending flatwise therefrom in the same general direction as the side legs and located therebetween. The spring contact element is supported for pivotal movement, in a plane including a pair of opposed stop surfaces at least one of which is a fixed contact, between a bracket arm terminal contact and an actuating lever arm portion which pivotally engage the other ends of respective ones of the body and plate spring members and longitudinally spring load the plate spring member in a longitudinally bowed shape effective to hold the spring contact element normally toggled to a stable rest position, with the base end portion thereof in pressure contact with one of the stop surfaces. The spring loaded plate spring member causes the spring contact element to snap over to an unstable position, with the base end portion thereof in pressure contact with the other one of the stop surfaces, on actuation of the actuator lever arm portion in a direction to move the one of the body and plate spring members engaged therewith to an over-center position relative to the other one of the members. On removal of the actuating force from the actuator lever arm portion, the spring contact element automatically snaps back to its stable rest position.

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First Claim