US2975250A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1961 J. LONG ET AL 2,975,250

SWITCH Filed June 3, 195'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 x146 ev March 14, 1961 J. LONG ETIAL 2,975,250

SWITCH Filed June a, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTORS- E- Jwper 4 March 14, 1961 J. LONG ET AL 2,975,250

SWITCH Filed June 3, 195'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E -Wig I jg March 14, 1961 J. LONG ET AL 2,975,250

SWITCH Filed June 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR-S- J ,4 a a. 5555i; 222 6 March 14, 1961 J. LONG ETAL 2,975,250

SWITCH Filed June a, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 5 u! a J 12 N A l! A L725 er A071 I tad 3111452 8.

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United States Patent SWITCH Jasper Long and Edward John Laete, Sturgis, Mich, as-

signors to Wade Electric Products (10., Sturgis, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 3, 1957, Scr. No. 653,127

7 Claims. (Cl. 20 3- 7) This invention relates to toggle type electrical switches and more particularly to switches of this type which may be used to control the radio antenna and courtesy lights on automotive vehicles.

Important objects of the invention are to provide an improved toggle type electrical switch which is so constructed that its principal parts may be used interchangeably with substitutional parts for converting its type of switch action whereby to control different electrical circuits; to provide an improved electrical switch of the type specified which includes an insulator housing which may be simply and easily molded and which receives and securely retains snap-in type stationary terminals and which pivotally carries rocker contact means for engagement with said terminals; to provide in an electrical switch of the character indicated a construction for the insulator housing and cooperating parts whereby the pivotally carried rocker contact means may be of (litterent structure effecting different snap action for the toggle actuating means and may be simply inserted into the housing for ease of assembly; to provide a toggle type electrical switch which includes a metal mounting base for the insulator housing and which pivotally supports its toggle actuating means through cooperating structure on the metal base and the insulator housing, the same toggle actuating means being adapted to actuate difierent rocker contact means; and to provide a toggle type electrical switch which is rugged in construction and reliable in operation, and which consists of relatively few parts of which the metal contact parts are replaceable for converting the switch from one for use in the antenna circuit of an automotive vehicle to one which controls the courtesy lights thereof.

The above and related objects will appear more fully during the course of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

in the drawings:

Fi ure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of one form of switch embodying the invention;

2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the structure of Fig. 1 taken substantially along the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the insulator housing employed in the switch embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the structure of Fig. 4 taken along the line 5-5 thereof;

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical transverse sectional views of the structure of Fig. 4 taken respectively along the lines 6-6 and 7-7 thereof;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the structure of Fig. 5 taken along the line 8-8 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the metal base employed in the switch embodying the invention;

Fig. 10 is an underside view in plan of the metal base shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the structure of Fig. 9 taken along the line 1111 thereof;

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are, respectively, plan, rear and side elevational views of one of the stationary terminals employed in the form of switch shown in Figs. 1-3;

Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, plan and side elevational views of another stationary terminal employed in the switch embodying the invention;

Figs. 17, 18, and 19 are various views of the rocker contact means employed in the form of switch shown in Figs. 1-3, Fig. 17 being a side elevational view of said rocker contact means, Fig. 18 being a vertical sectional view of the structure of Fig. 17 along the line 18-18 thereof, and Fig. 19 being a fragmentary view in plan of a portion of the structure of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of another form of switch embodying the invention;

Fig. 21 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the structure of Fig. 20 taken substantially along the line 2121 thereof;

Fig. 22 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of Fig. 20 along the line 2222 thereof;

Figs. 23 and 24 are, respectively, plan and side elevational views of the rocker contact means employed in the form of switch shown in Figs. 20-22; and

Figs. 25, 26, and 27 are various views of a metal jumper contact employed in the form of switch shown in Figs. 28-22, Fig. 25 being a front elevational View of the said jumper contact, and Figs. 26 and 27 being, respectively, vertical and horizontal sectional views of the structure of Fig. 25 taken along the lines 26-26 and 27-27 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail and commencing with Figs. 1-3, the embodiment of switch shown assembled therein has a center snap-back action and is particularly adapted for use in controlling the movement of an automotive radio antenna (not shown). The assembly comprises an insulator housing indicated generally at 31, a metal base or mounting bracket 33, an operator or toggle actuating means indicated generally at which is pivotally supported as will be described by cooperating structure on the housing 31 and the base 33, a pair of relatively long metal spade terminals or contacts 37 and a relatively short metal spade terminal 39 carried in the housing 31. The terminals 37 are alternately connected with the terminal 39 by a switch member in the form of rocker contact means generally designated 41 (shown separately in Figs. 1719) which is pivotally carried by the housing 31 and actuated in opposite directions from a central position to which it is returned by the toggle actuating means 35. The pair of terminals 37 and the single terminal 39 are so constructed that they may be quickly and easily assembled with respect to the housing 31 by being snapped into the latter from below and are nevertheless securely retained v therein as will be described. The rocker contact means 41 may be simply inserted into the housing from above and the entire subassembly consisting of the housing 31, the terminals 37 and 39 and the rocker contact means 4 1 may be inserted upwardly into the metal base 33 with the toggle actuating means 35 disposed therein.

The metal base 33 shown separately in Figs. 9-11 oomprises a rectangular body portion 45 (that may be a casting) which is generally fiat in longitudinal cross section and also slightly curved in transverse cross section as shown respectively in Figs. 9 and 11. The body portion 45 terminates in a lip 47 which extends around the perimeter thereof and the metal of the body portion 45 along one of its opposite long sides 48 (Fig. 10) is formed as shown in Figs. 2 and 11 to present a fiat surface 49 on which may be impressed letters to identify the type of switch and the two positions of the toggle assembly 35 referring to the direction in which the automotive antenna will be moved, as for example UP- DN, when the toggle assembly is actuated from its central position. A hollow rectangular skirt 51 is integrally formed with and depends from the body portion 45. Above the skirt 51 a rectangular opening 53 is formed in the body portion 45 through which the handle portion 57 of the toggle assembly extends. The long sides of the rectangular opening 53 run parallel to the short sides 56 (Fig. 11) of the body portion 45 and inwardly of the sides 56 centered on the longitudinal axis of the body portion 45 a pair of securing apertures 57 is formed through which suitable fasteners (e.g. screws) may extend for mounting the switch on a stationary part of a vehicle such as the dashboard.

The inside structure of the skirt 51 includes a pair of integrally formed embossments or ribs 59 which extend vertically along the inside surfaces of the long sides of the skirt 51 from the opening 53 to a distance short of the bottom edge of the skirt 51. Each embossment 59 has a blind ended journal slot 61 (Fig. 9) formed inwardly from its lower end which accommodates and rotatably supports one of the laterally protruding cylindrical shanks 63 (Fig. 2) which are integrally formed on the toggle assembly 35. The blind ends on the slots 61 are semicircular as can be seen from the view of one shown in Fig. 9 and the pair together define a pivot axis about which the toggle assembly 35 is actuatable within the base 33. The top surface of the housing 31 confines the shank portions 63 within the journal slots 61 when the base is assembled on the housing 33 as shown in Fig. 2. The top surface of the housing 31 also engages corner posts 64 which are formed on the inside of the skirt 51 at the four corners and extend vertically from the opening 53 over a length equal to that of the pair of embossments 59.

The toggle assembly 33 further includes a central cylindrical portion 65 which extends downwardly from the handle 57 and is provided with a cylindrical recessed opening 67. Between the handle portion 57 and the cylindrical portion 65 a pair of curved arms 69 is integrally formed which project downwardly and outwardly from the junction of the portions 57 and65 as shown in Fig. 1. The external surface of each of the arms 69 has a recessed slot 71 formed therein which extends inwardly from its free end'and is provided for the purpose of accommodating a guide boss 73 on the base during the swinging movement of the toggle assembly 35. The boss 73 is formed integrally along the inside surface of one of the short sides of the skirt 51 as shown in Figs. 1, 9 and and extends downwardly from the opening 43. The purpose of the boss 73 will appear in conjunction with the description of the embodiment of switch shown in Figs.'20-22 to be described. The slots 71 are formed on each of the arms 69 so that in either of the two positons in which the toggle assembly may be inserted into the opening 53 in the base the same may swing free of the boss 73. A compression spring 77 and an insulator plunger 79 operate within the opening 67, the compression spring 77 biasing the plunger 79 in a direction downwardly out of the opening 67. The upper end of the plunger 79 has a portion 81 which is reduced in diameter and is disposed within the coils on the lower end of the spring 77. The upper end of the spring 77 operates against the bottom of the opening 67. The plunger 79 engages the rocker contact means 41 and yieldably urges it downwardly into the housing 31.

The insulator housing 31 is provided with a substantially rectangular horizontal body portion 83 and upstanding from the body portion 83 and the perimeter thereof are pairs of opposite vertical side walls defining an enlarged cavity 85. Laterally protruding portions 87 are integrally formed as part of the external structure of the housing and extend over the length of the longer pair of side walls which are indicated at 89 at the top thereof. The shorter pair of side walls 91 are flat externally and their upper portions together with the portions 87 are adapted to be received in the skirt 57 formed on the bracket 33. The skirt 51 is crimped as at 95 (Figs. 2 and 3) at spaced points along the portions 87 for securing to the housing 31.

Internally the pairs of side walls 89, 91 and the body portion 83 which define the cavity 85 are constructed in a manner which will now be described to cooperate with the electrical current carrying metal contact parts which the housing receives. Adjacent the shorter side walls 91 and extending through the body portion 83 are a pair of terminal receiving apertures 97 each of which is formed with a pair of shoulders 99 along its outer vertical wall which are spaced from each other and face upward. An integral portion 101 (Fig. 7) spaces the shoulders 99 and extends upwardly along the same outer vertical wall of each aperture. The shoulders 99 cooperate with a pair of outwardly projecting tongues 103 formed along opposite sides of each terminal 37. The bottom surface of the body portion 83 adjacent each terminal receiving aperture 97 is receded as at 105 so as to accommodate one of a pair of spaced arms 107 which are formed along a side of each terminal 37 at its rearward end. The pair of arms 107 grip the end of a conductor 109 which is spot welded to each terminal 37. The recess 105 is formed at the bottom of and along the inner vertical wall of its respective aperture 97. Such inner wall is provided with a recessed flat 111 (Figs. 4 and 6) which accommodates the bared end of the conductor 109 when a terminal 37 is inserted into the aperture. The terminals 37 are each inserted into the housing 31 from below (the tongues 103 flexing in during this movement) and the contact-making or spade portion 113 thereof extends above the body portion 83 while a laterally protruding abutment 114 engages the bottom surface of the housing and limits the travel of the terminal inwardly into the housing. The resilient tongues 103 engage shoulders 99 and secure against withdrawal of each terminal once it is inserted into its respective aperture.

The housing 31 is also formed with another terminal receiving aperture 115 which receives the short terminal 39 (Figs. 15 and 16). The aperture 115 is disposed adjacent and parallel to one of the longer pairs of side walls 89 and is constructed substantially like each aperture 97, being provided with spaced shoulders 117 along its inner vertical wall which cooperatively engage coined, tapered, resilient tongues 119 on the terminal 39, with a recess 121 and with a flat 123 on its outer vertical wall for the purposes as described. Similarly the terminal 39 is provided with spaced arms 124, a laterally protruding abutment 125 and a shortenedspade portion 127 which in this instance terminates just above the attached ends of the tongues 119. The terminal 39 is spot welded to the bared end of a conductor wire 129 which is gripped by the arms 124.

The internal structure of the housing 31 also includes two embossments 1'31 and 133 which are integrally formed along the inside surface of the long side walls 89 of the housing 31 and extend vertically upwardly into the cavity 85. The embossment 131 is disposed between the aperture 115 and the adjacent side wall 89. The embossments 131 and 133 terminate short of the top surface of the housing 31 and are located below and inwardly with respect to the embossments 59 formed on the inside of the skirt 51 when the housing and bracket are assembled together as shown in Fig. 2. Each embossrnent 131 and 133 has a blind ended slot 135 and 137 respectively formed inwardly from its upper end, the blind end of each slot being substantially rectangular as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 8 and also'in Fig. 2 the bottom of the slot 135 is lower than that of the slot 137 so that when the terminal 39 is inserted into the aperture 115 the top surface of its spade portion 127 extends above the slot 135 and is on a level with the bottom of the slot 137. Thus the bottom of the slot 137 and the top surface of the spade portion 127 define a pivot axis for the rocker .5 contact means of the switch of the invention and support laterally projecting wings which are an integral part of the rocker contact means. In this way the short terminal 39 is continually maintained in electrical contact with the rocker contact means.

The details of construction of the form of rocker contact means 41 which is employed in the embodiment of switch of Figs. 1-3 is shown in Figs. 17-19. The above. mentioned laterally projecting wings on the contact member 41 are indicated at 138 and between the wings 138 a detent pocket 139 is formed which engages the lower end of the plunger 79 in the center position of the toggle assembly 35. Disposed along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the wings 138 is a pair of contact arms 141 which project upwardly and outwardly from the detent pocket 139, the ends 142 of which are flattened as shown in Figs. 17 and 19.

The contact member 41 may be merely dropped into the housing from above with the wings 138 disposed so that one is in the journal slot 137 and the other supported on the top surface of the terminal 39. When the rocker contact member 41 is actuated in opposite directions from its central position by the toggle assembly 35 the fiat wings 138 merely rock on the flat surfaces provided by the slot 135 and the terminal 39.

In operation of the form of switch shown in Figs. 1-3 the toggle assembly 35 is normally retained in a centered neutral position due to the coaction of the plunger 79 and the shape of the relatively steep arms 141 on the rocker contact member 41. The terminal 39 is preferably connected to ground and the contacts 37 are connected to suitable sources of electrical current, i.e. in the circuit to be controlled. When the handle portion 45 is actuated from its centered position to one of its extreme positions such as the one shown by dotted outline for the toggle assembly in Fig. l, the plunger 79 rides up the left-hand arm of the rocker contact 41 and moves inwardly with respect to the opening 67 against the urging of the spring 77. The rocker contact member 41 is tilted to the left until its left-hand arm engages the spade portion of the left terminal 37 which closes a circuit to actuate the radio antenna of the vehicle upwardly or downwardly depending upon the particular connections for the electrical circuit. The engagement of the ends 142 of the rocker contact member 41 with the spade portions 113 of the terminals 37 limits the travel of the toggle assembly 35. The arm of the rocker contact 41 remains in electrical contact with the left terminal '37 only so long as the handle portion 57 is retained in its extreme position. Upon release of the handle portion 57 the toggle assembly 35 snaps back into its centered position with the plunger 79 riding down the sloped left-hand contact arm until it engages the detent pocket 139 in which position it is retained until it is desired to move the antenna once again.

The form of switch shown in Figs. 20-22 is particularly suited for controlling the circuit which energizes the courtesy lights on an automotive vehicle. The embodiment of switch shown in Figs. 2022 differs from that previously described in that the pair of terminals 37 has been replaced by a metal jumper contact 145 the details of construction of which are shown in Figs. -27 and p in that the form of rocker contact 41A shown separately in detail in Figs. 23 and 24 has been substituted for the rocker contact member 41. In this form of the switch the toggle assembly is not automatically returned to center but will remain in either of two extreme positions until actuated from one to the other. The form of contact member 41A shown in Figs. 23 and 24 has no center detent pocket but in lieu thereof is struck outwardly from below to form an arcuately shaped projecting surface indicated at 147 which is sloped downwardly from opposite sides of the center of the contact member and blends with the inside surface of the contact arms 141A. The surface 147 prevents the plunger 79 from being retained in a centered position and forces it to ride in one of two directions into engagement with one or the other of the contact arms 141A. The contact arms 141A project upwardly and outwardly as in the form of contact member 41 but the slope thereof is considerably lessened as can be seen by reference to Figs. 23 and 24 and the ends of the contact arms 141A are not flattened as before. The wings 138A on the rocker contact member 41A instead of being fiat as for member 41 are bent slightly as shown in Fig. 24 so that they project upwardly and outwardly from the transverse axis of the contact member 41A. This shape of the wings contributes to the instability of the rocker contact 41A in its centered position. The rocker contact 41A like the form previously described is arranged to be inserted into the housing 31 from above and dropped into place so that one of the wings 138A is disposed in the journal slot 137 and the other rests on the top surface of the terminal 39 with which continuous electrical contact is maintained.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 that one of the short side walls 91 of the housing 31 is notched, as at 149, inwardly from the top surface thereof and that the internal structure of the cavity above the pair of terminal receiving apertures 97 is different. The one aperture 97 adjacent the notched side wall of the housing is provided with an inner wall portion indicated at 151 defining its inner vertical wall above the body portion 83 which is slightly lower than the corresponding inner wall portion indicated at 153 for the other aperture 97 at the opposite end of the housing. The wall portion 151 together with the integral portion 101 (Fig. 7) previously referred to accommodates and supports a contact seat 155 (Fig. 26) which is formed on the lower end of the jumper contact member 145. From the same Figs. 4 and 5 and additionally from Figs. 6 and 7 it can be seen that the wall portions at the sides of the pair of apertures 97 defining their opposite side walls are also different. The opposite side wall portions indicated at 157 of the said one aperture 97 adjacent the notched side wall of the housing extend vertically upwardly a considerable distance above the inner wall portion 151 terminating at the bottom of the notch 149, while the corresponding opposite side wall portions indicated at 159 (Fig. 4) for the said other aperture extend no higher than the wall portion 153. The opposite side wall portions 157 for the one aperture 97 adjacent the notched side wall of the housing are each provided with a vertical slot 161 (Fig. 5) which extends downwardly from the top surface of the side wall portions 157 to the height of the inner wall portion 151. The slots 161 receive lateral protruding arms 163 formed on the jumper contact member 145. The jumper contact member is arranged to be inserted in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 20 into the cavity 85 from above the housing with the arms 163 disposed within the vertical slots 161 and is thus prevented from moving longitudinally with respect to the housing. The contact seat overlies the inner wall portion 151 and is arranged to engage one or the contact arms 141A on the rocker contact 41A as will be described in conjunction with the operation of the switch. The center section of the jumper contact 145 as at 165 is bent upwardly and outwardly with respect to the housing 31 and overlies the notch 149. The upper portion 167 of the jumper contact above the center section 165 is formed with an inturned lip 169 and extends with less taper substantially in the same direction with respect to the housing 31 as the center section 165. The upper portion 167 engages the inside surface of the short side of the skirt 51 which is provided with the boss 73, before mentioned, when the housing 31 is assembled on the base 33. The boss 73 engages the lip 169 and forces the jumper contact 145 down wardly into the housing and in cooperation with the slots 161 and the inner wall portion 151 retains it firmly in place to act as a ground connection.

The embodiment of switch shown in Figs. 20-22 is assembled in substantially the same manner as described for the previous embodiment but differs therefrom in operation as before indicated in that there is no center position for the toggle assembly 35 and the latter has an over-center snap action by which the rocker contact 41A is actuated to two extreme positions corresponding to OnO1f conditions of the circuit for the courtesy lights of the automotive vehicle in which this form of switch is employed. In installing the switch the base 33 is preferably grounded by way of the chassis of the vehicle and hence also is the jumper contact 145. The terminal 39 is suitably connected by way of the conductor wire 129 through the courtesy lights circuit to the ungrounded side of a source of electrical potential. In all positions of the toggle assembly 35, the rocker contact 41A is continuously in electrical contact with the terminal 39 as described for the previous embodiment and when the toggle assembly is in its extreme full line position shown in Fig. 20 the right-hand contact arm of the rocker contact member 41A engages the contact seat 155 formed on the jumper contact 145 and completes an electrical circuit to energize the courtesy lights circuit of the vehicle. As the toggle assembly is being actuated to the right to its extreme dotted line position as shown in Fig. 20 the plunger 69 rides down the right-hand contact arm of the rocker contact member 41A until it reaches the projecting surface 147 formed at the center of the rocker contact 41A. Continued movement of the toggle assembly to the right causes the plunger to move inwardly into the opening 67 against the urging of the spring 77 whereupon the plunger snaps over, the surface 147 and quickly tilts the left-hand contact arm of the rocker contact 41A downwardly and raises the right-hand contact arm away from the seat 155 thereby de-energizing the circuit for the courtesy lights of the vehicle.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the structure illustrated, and it can be used in circuits other than those discussed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an e ectrical switch, an insulator housing having terminal receiving apertures therein, stationary metal contact means carried by the housing and including at least one spade terminal element which is snapped into and interlocked with one of said apertures and which projects upwardly within a cavity in the housing, pivot support means including pivot steps integrally formed at opposite side walls of the housing cavity, metal rocker contact means having laterally projecting wing portions supported on said pivot steps and pivotally movable in opposite directions within said cavity to make and break contact with said stationary contact means, toggle actuating means pivotally supported on the housing and having a spring biased insulator plunger for pivoting the rocker contact means in said opposite directions, said one spade terminal element being insertable in said one aperture of the housing from the exterior of the housing after the rocker contact means is positioned on said pivot support means by the toggle actuating means to lift one of said wing portions above the pivot step associated therewith to pivotally support said one Wing portion and remain in continuous electrical contact with said rocker contact means, the other wing portion remaining pivotally supported on the pivot step associated therewith.

2. In an electrical switch, an insulator housing having terminal receiving apertures therein, stationary metal contact means carried by the housing and including at least one spade terminal element which is snapped into and in terlocked with one of said apertures and which projects upwardly within a cavity in the housing, pivot support means including pivot steps integrally formed at opposite side walls of the housing and disposed above the floor of the cavity, metal rocker contact means having laterally projecting wing portions supported on said pivot steps and pivotally movable in opposite directions within said cavity to make and break contact with said stationary contact means, a metal base for mounting said switch having a hollow skirt adapted to receive structure on the top of the housing and to be crimped thereover to secure said base and said housing together, integral embossments formed on the inside surface of the side walls of the skirt and provided with journal slots, toggle actuating means pivotally supported on the top of the housing and Within said journal slots of the base and having a spring biased insulator plunger for pivoting the rocker contact means in said opposite directions, said one spade terminal element being insertable in said one aperture of the housing from the exterior of the housing after the rocker contact means is positioned on said pivot support means by the toggle actuating means to lift one of said wing portions above the pivot step associated therewith to pivotally support said one wing portion and remain in continual electrical contact with said rocker contact means, the other wing portion remaining pivotally supported on the pivot step associated therewith.

3. In an electrical switch, an insulator housing provided with a body portion and upright walls defining a cavity recessed from the top surface of the housing, a pair of terminal receiving apertures disposed parallel to one axis of the switch and extending through said body portion at opposite ends of the housing, and another terminal receiving aperture also extending through said body portion and disposed perpendicular to and centrally of said one axis, each of said apertures having a pair of upwardly presenting spaced shoulders for interlocking with a metal spade terminal element, pivot support means including a pair of pivot steps integrally formed at opposite side walls of the housing and disposed above the floor of the cavity and aligned with said one axis, one of said pivot steps being lower in height than the other and both defining a pivot axis for and being adapted to pivotally support projecting wing portions of movable metal rocker contact means, said other terminal receiving aperture being disposed adjacent to and inwardly of said one pivot step so that its respective spade terminal is capable of lifting the wing portion supported on said one pivot step when inserted in said other terminal receiving aperture so as to pivotally support the wing portion and make continous electrical contact with the rocker contact means, the other of said wing portions remaining pivotally supported on the other pivot step associated therewith whereby when the spade terminal is inserted in said other terminal receiving aperture it will pivotally support one of the wing portions and the other pivot step will support the other of the wing portions.

4. In an electrical switch, an insulator housing having a pair of terminal receiving apertures disposed parallel to one axis of the switch and at opposite ends of the housing and another terminal receiving aperture disposed perpendicular to and centrally of said one axis, stationary metal contact means carried by the housing including spade terminal elements snapped into and interlocked one each in said apertures and projecting upwardly within a cavity in the housing, pivot support means including a pair of pivot steps integrally formed at opposite side walls of the housing and disposed above thefloor of the cavity and aligned with said one axis, metal rocker contact means having laterally projecting wing portions supported on said pivot steps and having a pair of relatively steep contact arms and a center pocket therebetween and being pivotally movable in opposite directions from a centered position to which it returns within said cavity to make and break contact individually with the spade terminal elements engaged in said pair of terminal receiving apertures, a metal base for mounting said switch having a hollow skirt adapted to receive structure on the top of the housing and to be crimped thereover to secure said base and said housing together, integral embossments formed on the inside surface of the side walls of the skirt and provided with journal slots, toggle actuating means pivotally supported on the top of the housing and within said journal slots of the base and having a spring biased insulator plunger engageable with said center pocket in the centered position of the rocker contact means and cooperative with said contact arms to pivot the rocker contact means in said opposite directions, the spade terminal element engaged in said other terminal receiving aperture being insertable in said one aperture of the housing from the exterior of the housing after the rocker contact means is positioned on said pivot support means by the toggle actuating means and being adapted to lift one of said portions above the pivot step associated therewith to pivotally support said one wing portion and remain in continual electrical contact with said rocker contact means, the other wing portion remaining pivotally supported on the pivot step associated therewith.

5. In an electrical switch, an insulator housing having a pair of terminal receiving apertures disposed parallel to one axis of the switch and at opposite ends of the housing and another terminal receiving aperture disposed perpendicular to and centrally of said one axis, stationary metal contact means carried by the housing including a spade terminal element snapped into and interlocked in said other aperture and projecting upwardly within a cavity in the housing, and a jumper contact member removably secured in said cavity at one end of the housing in a position so that its lower portion overrides one of said pair of apertures and its upper portion extends upwardly above said housing, pivot support means including a pair of pivot steps integrally formed at opposite side walls of the housing and disposed above the floor of the cavity and aligned with said one axis, metal rocker contact means engaged in said pivot steps having a pair of relatively fiat contact arms and a center projecting surface which slopes downwardly and outwardly from the center thereof, said rocker contact means being pivotally movable in an over-center action in opposite directions to extreme positions in which it is retained within said cavity to make and break contact with said jumper contact member, a metal base for mounting said switch having a hollow skirt adapted to receive structure on the top of the housing and to be crimped thereover to secure said base and said housing together, integral embossments formed on the inside surface of the side walls of the skirt including a pair provided with journal slots and another for making electrical contact with the upper portion of the jumper contact member and urging it downwardly into said housing to aid in securing it in place, toggle actuating means pivotally supported on the top of the housing and within said journal slots of the base and having a spring biased insulator plunger engageable with said contact arms to pivot the rocker contact means overcenter in said opposite directions, said spade terminal element being in continual electrical contact with said rocker contact means and mechanically supporting the same adjacent one end of its pivot axis during its pivotal movement within said cavity.

6. In an electrical switch, an insulative housing, a

metal mounting bracket secured to the housing, said housing having parallel apertures formed in the base thereof to receive contact elements, said housing having a notch in the upper edge of the wall thereof adjacent one of said apertures and vertical ribs projecting inwardly from the side wall portions of the housing adjacent said wall which define a slot aligned with said notch and said one aperture, each of said vertical ribs having a vertical groove therein, and a jumper contact member disposed within said slot and having laterally extending flanges thereon disposed within said grooves, the upper end of said jumper contact member being bent so as to extend through said notch and engage said bracket, said bracket having a portion thereon for engaging the top of said jumper contact member whereby said jumper contact member is firmly retained in position.

7. In an electrical switch, an insulator housing having ivot steps integrally formed on opposite side walls thereof, metal rocker contact means having laterally projecting wing portions supported on said pivot steps, said rocker means having a pair of relatively steep contact arms with a center pocket therebetween and being pivotally movable in opposite directions from a centered position, stationary contact means carried by said housing adjacent to and spaced from the ends of said contact arms, manually operable toggle actuating means pivotally supported on the top of said housing and having a spring biased insulated plunger engageable with said center pocket in the centered position of the rocker contact means and cooperative with said contact arms to pivot the rocker contact means in said opposite directions to selectively engage one or the other of said stationary contact means, said spring biased plunger and said relatively steep contact arms cooperating to automatically return the toggle actuating means to the centered position when the toggle actuating means is released and a spade terminal projecting through said housing into said cavity adjacent to one of said pivot steps and lifting the wing portion above said one pivot step so as to pivotally support the Wing portion and remain in continuous electrical contact therewith, the other wing portion remaining pivotally supported on said other pivot step, said spade terminal being insertable into said cavity from the exterior of the housing after the rocker contact means is positioned on said pivot support means by the toggle actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,282 Meuer July 18, 1933 2,248,361 Krieger July 8, 1941 2,248,362 Krieger July 8, 1941 2,377,134 Dietrich May 29, 1945 2,496,145 Bentley Jan. 31, 1950 2,502,952 Jacobi Apr. 4, 1950 2,506,196 Bourne May 2, 1950 2,517,845 Cooper Aug. 8, 1950 2,640,970 Falge et al. June 2, 1953 2,736,875 Protz Feb. 28, 1956

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