Patent ID: 6236007
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A rotary switch for a two-wire electrical cable, the electrical cable including first and second wires, the first wire having a split section to form first and second wire portions, said rotary switch comprising:a switch housing including complementary upper and lower housing parts that are fastened to each other and that cooperate to confine a chamber, one of said housing parts having a base wall and a surrounding wall that extends in a transverse direction from a periphery of said base wall, said surrounding wall having opposite first and second end wall portions, and opposite first and second lateral wall portions that interconnect said first and second end wall portions, said one of said housing parts having a longitudinal axis, said first and second end wall portions of said surrounding wall being respectively formed with first and second wire notches that disposed on said longitudinal axis, said first wire notch including a pair of first notch portions disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said second wire notch including a pair of second notch portions disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, one of said first notch portions being longitudinally aligned with one of said second notch portions relative to said longitudinal axis, the other one of said first notch portions being longitudinally aligned with the other one of said second notch portions relative to said longitudinal axis,said one of said housing parts further having a first barrier that extends from said base wall in the transverse direction, that is parallel to said first end wall portion of said surrounding wall, and that is spaced apart from said first end wall portion along said longitudinal axis, said first barrier being formed with a first retaining notch that is disposed closer to said first lateral wall portion of said surrounding wall than said longitudinal axis, and a second retaining notch that is disposed closer to said second lateral wall portion of said surrounding wall said longitudinal axis,said one of said housing parts further having a second barrier that extends from said base wall in the transverse direction, that is parallel to said second end wall portion of said surrounding wall, and that is spaced apart on said second end wall portion along said longitudinal axis, said second barrier being formed with a third retaining notch that is disposed closer to said first lateral wall portion than said longitudinal axis, and a fourth retaining notch that is disposed closer to said second lateral wall portion than said longitudinal axis,said one of said housing parts further having a third barrier that extends from said base wall in the transverse direction, that is parallel to said first barrier, that is spaced apart from said first barrier along said longitudinal axis, and that is disposed between said first and second barriers, said third barrier being formed with a fifth retaining notch that is disposed closer to said second lateral wall portion than said longitudinal axis,said one of said housing parts further having a fourth barrier that extends from said base wall in the transverse direction, that is parallel to said second barrier, that is spaced apart from said second barrier along said longitudinal axis, and that is disposed between said second and third barriers, said fourth barrier being formed with a sixth retaining notch that is disposed closer to said second lateral wall portion than said longitudinal axis,one of said first notch portions and said first retaining notch being constructed and arranged to permit the first wire portion of the first wire of the electrical cable to extend therethrough and to permit subsequent bending of the first wire portion toward said longitudinal axis, said first and third barriers being constructed and arranged to clamp and retain the first wire portion therebetween,one of said second notch portions and said third retaining notch being constructed and arranged to permit the second wire portion of the first wire of the electrical cable to extend therethrough and to permit subsequent bending of the second wire portion toward sad longitudinal axis, said second and fourth barriers being constructed and arranged to clamp and retain the second wire portion tberebetween,the other one of said first notch portions, said second retaining notch, said fifth retaining notch, said sixth retaining notch, said fourth retaining notch and the other one of said second notch portions being constructed and arranged to permit the second wire of the electrical cable to extend therethrough;a rotary dial mounted rotatably in said chamber of said switch housing and having an edge portion that extends outwardly of said switch housing;a rotary contact mounted on said rotary dial and rotatable with said rotary dial between first and second switch positions; andfirst and second conductive terminals mounted in said switch housing and disposed adjacent to said first and second end wall portions of said surrounding wall, respectively,said first conductive terminal having a wire connecting portion that is constructed and arranged to be connected electrically to the first wire portion, and a spring arm portion that extends toward said rotary dial.