Patent ID: 6568229
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: E05B,H01H,Y10T

Abstract:
In a key operated lock and switch assembly of the type having a tubular housing with an imaginary central axis extending centrally therethrough forwardly and rearwardly between a forward end region of the tubular housing to a rearward end region of the tubular housing, having a key operated lock connected to the tubular housing near the forward end region, and having an electrical switch assembly with a body that is configured to be inserted forwardly into the rearward end region of the tubular housing to a nested position 1) wherein the body extends between spaced sidewalls that are defined by the rearward end region at locations on opposite sides of the central axis, and 2) wherein a forwardly facing element of the body engages at least one rearwardly facing stop formation that is defined within the tubular housing, the improvement of a coupling for releasably connecting the body to the tubular housing and for biasing a forwardly facing element of the body into engagement with the rearwardly facing stop formation, comprising 1) slots formed through the spaced sidewalls at locations on opposite site sides of the rearward end region of the tubular housing wherein each of the slots defines a forwardly facing side surface and a rearwardly facing side surface with the rearwardly facing side surface that is spaced forwardly along the central axis from the forwardly facing side surface, 2) at least one rearwardly facing wall formation defined by the body that is accessible through the slots when the body is inserted into the rearward end region of the tubular housing to the nested position and is located between the forwardly and rearwardly facing side surfaces of the slots when the body is inserted to the nested position, and 3) means for being insertable into the slots to a seated position and for being removable from the slots to releasably connect the body and the tubular housing by engaging the rearwardly facing wall formation of the body when inserted to the seated position and by disengaging the rearwardly facing wall formation of the body when removed from the slots, and for acting, when inserted to the seated position, to press against the rearwardly facing wall formation to resiliently bias the body relative to the tubular housing toward the nested position wherein the forwardly facing element of the body engages the rearwardly facing stop formation.