Patent ID: 6091038
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: E05F,E05Y,H01H

Abstract:
An electrical switch comprising:a plastic base;a plurality of base terminals made of an electrically conductive metal and mounted in said base;a manually pivotable actuator supported for pivotal movement relative to said base about an axis; andat least one actuator terminal made of an electrically conductive metal and mounted to said actuator;said actuator being pivotable between a neutral position in which said at least one actuator terminal is in contact with one of said base terminals and two actuated positions in which said at least one actuator terminal is in contact with another of said base terminals;said at least one actuator terminal, when said actuator is pivoted from said neutral position to said two actuated positions, sliding in a plane out of contact with said one of said base terminals and sliding in said plane into contact with said other of said base terminals,wherein the sliding movement of said at least one actuator terminal into and out of contact with said one of said base terminals and said other of said base terminals cleans said at least one actuator terminal and said base terminals to help prevent contamination.