Patent ID: 6444930
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
An environmentally sealed switch comprising:a switch housing; at least one stationary contact mounted within the switch housing; a moveable contact mounted within the switch housing, the moveable contact having a first position for electrically making with the stationary contact and a second position for electrically breaking with the stationary contact; an actuator moveably mounted within the switch housing and having an internal actuator portion for moving the moveable contact between the first and second positions, the internal actuator portion having an external neck extending through an actuator opening defined by the switch housing, the neck of the actuator having a distal end defining a neck rim and a neck groove extending around the periphery of the neck proximate the neck rim; a membranous boot seal surrounding the neck of the actuator portion, the boot seal having a first and second opening, the first opening being disposed adjacent the distal end of the neck and having, a resilient first lip extending inwardly over a top surface of the neck rim, and a resilient second lip radially compressed against the neck groove to provide a seal therefor, and the second opening being disposed at an opposite end of the neck and having a border engaged against a portion of the switch housing surrounding the neck; and an external actuator portion of the actuator mounted in fixed relation to the internal actuator portion, the external actuator having an external actuator rim congruent to the neck rim, the external actuator rim and neck rim compressing the resilient first lip of the boot seal therebetween to provide a dynamic seal; wherein, the dynamic seal is maintained when the external and internal actuators actuate the moveable contact from the first position to the second position.