Patent ID: 6239394
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A waterproof switch device for use with an elongated actuator which is disposed in a working liquid containing chamber and which extends downwardly and outwardly of and which is movable in an upright direction relative to the working liquid containing chamber in response to a reach of a predetermined level of the working liquid containing chamber, said waterproof switch device comprising:a top cover wall having upper and lower major surfaces opposite to each other in a first transverse direction, and an inner peripheral portion defining a bore that extends from said upper major surface to said lower major surface, said top cover member being suspended and spaced apart from the working liquid containing chamber, and being disposed such that the elongated actuator extends through said bore downwardly and outwardly of and is movable in the first transverse direction relative to said lower major surface when the elongated actuator is moved in the upright direction;a rear wall with an upper edge disposed to be integrally formed with said top cover wall and rearwardly of said bore in a second transverse direction which is transverse to the first transverse direction, said rear wall further extending downwardly from said top cover wall in the first transverse direction to form an inner major surface;right and left engaging walls disposed to be integrally formed with, and extending from said rear wall in the second transverse direction to be spacedly opposed to each other in a longitudinal direction which is transverse to both the first and second transverse directions so as to cooperate with said rear wall to confine said inner major surface;a groove forming wall disposed to be integrally formed with, and extending from said inner major surface in the second transverse direction, and spaced apart from said lower major surface so as to define therebetween an inserting groove, said groove forming wall including right and left lateral edges opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction and distal and proximate to said inner peripheral portion;a switch body mounted on and spaced apart from said inner major surface in the second transverse direction, and rightwardly of said left lateral edge of said groove forming wall in the longitudinal direction, said switch body including an actuated stud disposed in and extending outwardly of said switch body to spacedly face said groove forming wall in the first transverse direction so as to make a switching action when said actuated stud is depressed in the first transverse direction;a lever including an actuating end disposed between said groove forming wall and said actuated stud so as to depress said actuated stud to move in the first transverse direction, and a force transmitting end extending from said actuating end in the longitudinal direction and beyond said left lateral edge of said groove forming wall, and disposed under and moved downward by the elongated actuator to thereby cause said actuating end to depress said actuated stud; anda front cover including a front major wall with an upper edge, right and left engaging edges opposite to each other and fitted respectively with said right and left engaging walls when said front cover is brought towards said right and left engaging walls respectively in the second transverse direction, and an intervening wall disposed to extend from said upper edge in the second transverse direction to be inserted into said inserting groove and sandwiched between said lower major surface and said groove forming wall thereby blocking the working liquid dripping or creeping over said inner peripheral portion of said top cover wall from falling directly downwards to said inner major surface.