Patent Publication Number: US-6220890-B1

Title: Electrical switch connector assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly to an electrical switch connector assembly which is intended to be used in conjunction with any one of a plurality of different microswitches, which comprises a housing within which there is provided a plurality of insulation-displacement type contacts upon which a plurality of electrical wires are adapted to be terminated, mounted, or secured, and which is provided with a unique and novel strain relief structure which is mounted upon the housing for providing strain relief characteristics to the plurality of wires secured, mounted, or terminated upon the insulation-displacement type contacts of the housing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrical switch connector assemblies are of course well-known in the art. In accordance with the principles and teachings of one well-known PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly as illustrated in FIG. 1, the structure of such electrical switch connector assembly, which is generally indicated by the reference character  10 , comprises a housing  12  which is manufactured by AMP CORPORATION and within which there is defined a pair of receptacles  14 , 16 . In turn, there is respectively inserted, within each one of the pair of receptacles  14 , 16  a spade-type connector contact, not shown, having an electrical wire  18 , 20  secured, by a means of a suitable crimping operation, upon the non-spade end thereof. 
     The housing  12  further comprises a third receptacle  22  which is axially offset with respect to the aforenoted pair of receptacles  14 , 16  and which is adapted to house a third common or ground spade-type connector contact, also not shown. The non-spade end of the third common spade-type connector contact has a first end of a third electrical wire  24 , also connected thereto by means of a suitable crimping operation, while a second opposite end of the third electrical wire  24  is adapted to be connected to, for example, the second one of the pair of spade-type connector contacts disposed within the pair of receptacles  14 , 16  and to which the second one  20  of the pair of electrical wires  18 , 20  is already connected. It is also noted that the portion of the housing  12  within which the third receptacle  22  is defined is partially separated from the portion of the housing  12  within which the first and second receptacles  14 , 16  are defined by means of an axially extending slot  26  such that the third receptacle portion of the housing  12  is in effect flexibly mounted upon the main housing portion, within which the receptacles  14 , 16  are defined, in a cantilevered manner. This housing structure permits the spade-end contact portions of the electrical switch connector assembly  10  to be electrically connected to any one of various microswitch elements or components despite the fact that the electrical contacts of such microswitch elements or components, which are adapted to electrically mate with or engage the electrical contacts of the assembly  10 , may be somewhat different or vary in configuration with respect to each other. 
     While the aforenoted well-known PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10  has of course exhibited suitable service and has been commercially successful, such PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10  also exhibits several operational and assembly drawbacks or disadvantages. For example, each one of the spade-type connector contacts of the electrical switch connector assembly  10  must be individually crimped onto the end portions of the electrical wires  18 , 20 , 24 . In addition, each one of the spade contact-electrical wire assemblies, comprising the electrical wires  18 , 20 , 24  and their respective spade-type connector contacts crimped thereon, must be individually manually inserted within a particular one of the housing receptacles  14 , 16 , 22 . Not only are such individual assembly operations time-consuming and tedious, but in addition, it is difficult to ensure that the crimping operations of the spade-type connector contacts upon the electrical wires  18 , 20 ,  24  are always properly performed. Still further, it must be additionally ensured that the proper spade contact-electrical wire assemblies are inserted within the proper receptacles  14 ,  16 , 22  in order to, in turn, ensure the fact that the switch-connector assembly has its electrical paths properly routed. Still further, it is additionally noted that the electrical switch connector assembly  10  is not provided with any strain relief means so as to prevent undue strains or stresses from being impressed upon the electrical wires  18 , 20 , 24  and their associated spade-type connector contacts. The impression of such strains or stresses upon the electrical wires  18 , 20 , 24  and their associated contacts could possibly lead to disengagement or disconnection of the wires  18 , 20 , 24  from their associated contacts with obvious deleterious effects upon the associated switch and the machinery or equipment within which such components are installed. 
     A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which is readily capable of being easily assembled, which can be assembled by automated machinery, which is capable of being mated, engaged, or operatively connected with several different switch elements or components, and which comprises strain relief structure so as to effectively prevent strains or stresses impressed upon the electrical wires from being transmitted directly to the connection points or locations defined between the wires and the electrical switch connector contacts. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which effectively overcomes the various operational and assembly disadvantages and drawbacks characteristic of the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assemblies. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which is readily capable of being easily assembled, at least partially by automated machinery, and which is capable of being of being mated, engaged, or operatively connected with several different types of switch elements or components. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which comprises strain relief structure so as to effectively prevent strains or stresses, which may be impressed upon the electrical wires, from being transmitted to the connection locations or points at which the wires are connected to the electrical switch connector contacts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which comprises a housing within which three receptacles are defined. Electrical switch connector contacts are respectively disposed within the three receptacles, and the electrical switch connector contacts have insulation displacement or piercing contact portions formed at respective first ends thereof for mating with and mounting the electrical wires thereon, and leaf spring contact portions formed at respective second ends thereof for mating with tab or prong members of a suitable electrical switch with which the electrical switch connector assembly is adapted to be mated. 
     A cover member is snap-fitted upon the housing so as to effectively close the ends of the housing receptacles within which the electrical wires are mounted and disposed, and a strain relief member is also snap-fitted upon the housing so as to effectively cooperate with the cover member in providing strain relief characteristics to the assembly whereby strains or stresses which may be impressed upon the electrical wires are effectively prevented from being transmitted to the connection points or locations at which the electrical wires are connected to the electrical switch connector contacts. The assembly housing is also divided into two portions with the common or ground housing portion being resiliently and flexibly mounted upon the main housing portion in a cantilevered manner so as to permit the electrical switch connector assembly to be readily used in combination with different switch mechanisms, elements, or components which may have slightly different tab or prong configurations or size dimensions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly shown in FIG. 2 when assembled together and operatively connected to a microswitch assembly or component; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the housing member of the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the housing member is illustrated as being operatively connected to a particularly configured microswitch assembly or component; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to that of FIG. 4 showing, however, the housing member of the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the housing member is illustrated as being operatively connected to another particularly configured microswitch assembly or component; 
     FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the housing member of the electrical switch connector assembly of the present invention showing the mounting of the particular contact members of the electrical switch connector therein; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a housing member, similar to the housing members shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, showing, however, the optional mounting of an auxiliary electrical component upon the underside of the housing member of the electrical switch connector assembly wherein the auxiliary electrical component may be mounted at either one of two locations upon the housing member; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the assembled electrical switch connector assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 showing, however, the optional mounting of an auxiliary electrical component upon the underside of the housing member of the electrical switch connector assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 2-5 thereof, the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly, constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof, is generally indicated by the reference character  110 . It is to be noted that parts of the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly of the present invention, which generally correspond to similar parts of the known PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10  shown in FIG. 1, will be designated by similar reference characters except that the reference characters designating the parts of the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly of the present invention will be within the 100 series. 
     More particularly, it is seen from FIGS. 2-5 that the new and improved electrical switch connector assembly  110  constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention comprises a housing  112  within which three axially extending electrical contact receptacles  114 , 116 , and  122  are defined, the entire axial extent of the respective receptacles being best seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5. As was the case with the housing  12  of the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10  shown in FIG. 1, the housing  112  of the present invention electrical switch connector assembly  110  is seen to comprise a primary housing portion or section  113  within which the contact receptacles  114  and  116  are defined, and a secondary housing portion or section  115  within which the contact receptacle  122  is defined. 
     It is noted that the axial extent or length of the secondary housing portion or section  115  is substantially greater than the axial length or extent of the primary housing portion or section  113  such that the electrical switch connector assembly  110  can be properly mated with a well known microswitch element or component  128 , as illustrated in FIG. 3, as will be discussed more fully shortly hereinafter. It is noted, however, that unlike the housing structure of the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10  illustrated in FIG. 1, the secondary housing portion or section  115  is not axially offset with respect to the primary housing portion or section  113 . As best seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the open ends of the receptacles  114 , 116 , and  122 , within which the electrical wires are to be disposed and terminated as will be described shortly hereinafter, are all disposed within a common plane P. In addition, the primary housing portion or section  113  is separated from the secondary housing portion or section  115  by means of an axially extending slot or space  126  whereby the primary and secondary housing portions or sections  113  and  115  are only connected to each other by means of an integral connection portion or section  130 . In this manner, the secondary housing portion or section  115  is resiliently and flexibly connected to the primary housing portion or section  113  in a substantially cantilevered manner. Such cantilevered mounting of the secondary housing portion or section  115  upon the primary housing portion or section  113  permits the housing  112  to be properly electrically mated with microswitches which may be manufactured by different manufacturing companies and which may therefore exhibit slightly different configurations or size dimensions. 
     More particularly, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 6, the housing receptacles  114 , 116 , 122  are respectively provided with housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 , and it is appreciated that each one of the housing contact members  132 ,  134 , 136  is respectively provided with an insulation piercing or displacement end portion  138 , 140 , 142  for mating with electrical wires in a known manner, and a resiliently flexible leaf-spring end portion  144 , 146 , 148  for respectively mating with male prong members  150 , 152 , 154  of a microswitch element or component  228  as shown in FIG.  4 . In order to fixedly retain the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136  within the housing receptacles  114 ,  116 , 122 , sidewall portions of the housing portions or sections  113 , 115  are respectively provided with detents  156 , 158 , 160  with which tab members  162 , 164 , 166  of the leaf-spring end portions  144 , 146 , 148  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136  snappingly engage. The sidewall portions of the housing portions or sections  113 , 115  are further respectively provided with axially extending bores or passages  168 , 170 , 172  for accommodating the male prong members  150 , 152 , 154  of the microswitch element or component  228 . As clearly or best seen in FIG. 6, and in accordance with a unique feature of the present invention, the leaf-spring end portions  144 , 146  of the housing contact members  132 , 134  are provided with dimpled apex portions  174 , 176  which are adapted to snappingly engage within apertures, not shown, formed within the microswitch male prong members  150 , 152 . In this manner, a predetermined retention force is established or defined between the microswitch element or component  228  and the housing  112  of the electrical switch connector assembly  110  when the microswitch element or component  228  and the housing  112  are mated together. It is of course to be appreciated that in order to alter the aforenoted retention force with a different value, leaf-spring end portion  148  of housing contact member  136  could likewise be provided with a dimpled apex portion for insertion within a corresponding aperture formed within microswitch prong member  154 , or still further, one of the dimpled apex portions  174 , 176  of the housing contact members  132 , 134  could be eliminated. 
     As a result of the aforenoted description of the housing structure, it is submitted that the mounted engagement or connection defined between the microswitch element or component  228  and the housing  112  is appreciated. However, it is to be appreciated further that as a result of the flexibly resilient cantilevered connection of the secondary housing portion or section  115  upon the primary housing portion or section  113 , the housing  112  can be mated with or accommodate different microswitch elements or components manufactured by different manufacturing entities and having different structural characteristics or size dimensions. For example, with continued reference being made to FIG. 4, it is seen that the male prong member  154  of the microswitch element or component  228 , which comprises a microswitch manufactured, for example, by CHERRY ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS of Waukegan, ILL., has a substantially L-shaped configuration, and that the short leg portion of the substantially L-shaped male prong member  154  has a predetermined length dimension such that when the microswitch element or component  228  is engaged or mated with the housing  112 , and particularly, when the male prong member  154  is inserted within bore or passage  172  or secondary housing portion or section  115 , the integral flexible connection portion  130  defined between the primary and secondary housing portions or sections  113 ,  115  permits the secondary housing portion or section  115  to be moved or biased slightly away from the primary housing portion or section  113 . On the other hand, with reference being additionally made to FIG. 5, wherein there is disclosed a microswitch element or component  328  which may be manufactured, for example, by OMRON ELECTRONICS, INC. of Schaumburg, ILLINOIS, it is seen that the short leg portion of the substantially L-shaped male prong member  354  has a length which is somewhat smaller than that of the male prong member  154  of the microswitch component or element  228 . Accordingly, the integral flexible connection portion  130  defined between the primary and secondary housing portions or sections  113 , 115  permits the secondary housing portion or section  115  to be moved or biased slightly toward the primary housing portion or section  113 . 
     In a manner similar to that disclosed in connection with the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10  disclosed within FIG. 1, the electrical switch connector assembly of the present invention is adapted to have electrical wires fixedly connected, mounted, or terminated within the housing  112 . However, in accordance with unique structural features of the present invention, the termination or mounting operation or process of such electrical wires within the housing  112  of the electrical switch connector assembly  110  of the present invention is substantially simplified as compared to that of the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly  10 , is capable of being performed by automated equipment, and housing structure  112  is provided with unique strain relief means for effectively preventing strains or stresses, which may be impressed upon the electrical wires, from being transmitted to the connection points or locations at which the electrical wires are terminated or fixedly mounted within the housing  112 . 
     With reference therefore being made to FIGS. 2-4, electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  are respectively adapted to be mated with and terminated, connected, or mounted upon the insulation-piercing or displacement end portions  138 , 140 , 142  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 . In order to achieve such electrical wire termination, connection, or mounting, it is noted that the ends of the housing portions or sections  113 ,  115  within which the electrical wires are to be terminated or connected have upper wall portions  178 , 180 , as best seen in FIG. 2, and lower wall portions, not shown, within which are defined substantially rectangular or square-shaped openings  182 , 184  which overlie and underlie the insulation-piercing or displacement end portions  138 , 140 , 142  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 . In addition, the upper wall portions  178 ,  180  of the housing portions or sections  113 , 115 , as well as the lower wall portions, not shown, of the housing are further provided with pairs of oppositely disposed, somewhat flexible fingers  186 , 188  which serve to define apertures  190 , 192  which extend through the housing portions or sections  113 , 115  in a vertically transverse manner with respect to the axial extents thereof. 
     It is thus to be appreciated that when first ends of the electrical wires  118 , 120 ,  124  are to be mounted within the housing portions or sections  113 , 115 , the first ends of the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  are initially inserted into the apertures  190 , 192  in the transverse direction whereby the fingers  186 , 188  serve to retain the first ends of the electrical wires  118 , 120 ,  124  at such axial positions in readiness for movement and insertion within the insulation piercing or displacement portions  138 , 140 , 142  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 . It is to be noted that in view of the disposition of all of the forwardmost fingers  186 , 188  being disposed within the plane P, as seen, for example, in FIG. 4, and the horizontally transverse alignment of the apertures  190 , 192  within which the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  are initially held by means of the fingers  186 , 188 , the assembly process of the present invention, whereby the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  can be inserted within the insulation-piercing or displacement portions  128 , 140 , 142  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 , readily lends itself to performance by automated equipment whereby as a result of a single axial stroke of suitable components of such automated equipment, not shown, termination or connection of the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  upon the housing contact members  132 , 134 ,  136  is easily achieved. It is noted still further that in view of the vertically transverse disposition of the first ends of the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  through the apertures  190 , 192 , additional in-line connections can be made to the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124 . This is not readily or easily achieved in conjunction with the electrical wires  18 , 20 , 24  of the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly of FIG. 1 because the terminal ends of the wires  18 ,  20 , 24  have the housing contacts crimped thereon. 
     With continued reference being made to FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to effectively retain the electrical wires  118 , 120 ,  124  at their axial positions at which the electrical wires  118 ,  120 , 124  are terminated upon the insulation displacement or piercing portions  138 , 140 , 142  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 , a cover member  194  is adapted to be mounted upon the housing  112 . The cover member  194  is seen to substantially comprise a five-sided component which includes a top wall member  196 , a bottom wall member  198 , a front wall member  200 , and a pair of opposite side wall members  202 , 204 . The top and bottom wall members  196 , 198  are each provided with pairs of laterally spaced fingers  206 , 208 , with slots  210 , 212  defined between each pair or set of fingers  206 , 208  so as to accommodate the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  in an interdigitated manner as best seen in FIG.  3 . In this manner, the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  are effectively trapped between the ends of slots  210 , 212  on the one hand, and the ends of the slots, not numbered, defined within the insulation-piercing or displacement contact members  138 , 140 , 142  so as to thereby be retained within the housing assembly. In order to securely but removably mount the cover member  194  upon the housing  112 , primary housing portion or section  113  is provided with a detent  214  and secondary housing portion or section  115  is provided with a detent  216  as seen, for example, in FIGS. 4-6. The upper and lower surface regions of the integral connection portion  130  defined between the primary and secondary housing portions or sections  113 , 115  are also provided with detents  218 , although the bottom detent is not shown. The upper and lower regions of the cover member  194 , defined between the pairs of fingers  206 , 208  cooperating with the electrical wires  120 , 124 , are provided with flexible framework configured snap-engaging latch members  220  which effectively surround and snap-engagingly mate with the detents  218 , and the side walls  202 , 204  are likewise formed as flexible framework configured snap-engaging latch members  222  which surround and snap-engagingly mate with the detents  214 , 216 . 
     In accordance with another unique feature of the present invention, a strain relief member  224  is adapted to be mounted upon the housing  112  and is adapted to cooperate with the cover member  194  so as to provide strain relief characteristics with respect to the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124 . More particularly, as best seen in FIG. 3, once the first ends of the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  are mounted within the insulation-piercing or displacement portions  138 , 140 , 142  of the housing contact members  132 , 134 , 136 , and the cover member  194  is affixed upon the housing  112 , the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124  can be bent or folded over the top wall member  196  of the cover member  194  and routed downwardly along the front wall member  200  of the cover member  194  whereupon the strain relief member  224  can be mounted upon the housing  112  such that the strain relief member  224  and the cover member  194  together effectively provide strain relief characteristics to the free end portions of the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124 . In order to secure or mount the strain relief member  224  upon the housing  112  so as to cooperate with the cover member  194  in performing the strain relief characteristics for the electrical wires  118 , 120 , 124 , the primary and secondary housing portions or sections  113 , 115  are respectively further provided with detents  226 , 230  which are located adjacent to or within the vicinity of the detents  214 , 216  as seen in FIGS.  2  and  4 - 6 . The strain relief member  224  is seen to comprise a substantially three-sided or three-walled member including a front wall  232  for cooperating with the front wall  200  of the cover member  194  in an overlying manner, and a pair of side walls  234 , 236 . The side walls  234 , 236  are configured substantially the same as the side walls  202 , 204  of the cover member  194  in that the same effectively comprise flexible framework members which surround and snap-engagingly mate with the detents  226 , 230  once the cover member  194  and the strain relief member  224  are mounted upon the housing  112  as shown in FIG.  3 . It is specifically noted that the vertical extents or dimensions of the side walls  234 , 236  of the strain relief member  224  are less than those of the side walls  202 , 204  such that the side walls  234 , 236  can in effect be internally housed or accommodated within the framework structure defined by the cover member side walls  202 , 204  as is also clearly illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     As a last feature of the present invention, and with particular reference being made to FIGS. 7 and 8, the structural arrangement of the electrical switch connector assembly is such as to permit auxiliary electrical components to be physically mounted upon the housing so as to be electrically within the system or assembly in, for example, either one of two different modes. It is firstly noted in connection with the housing illustrated in FIG. 7 that the housing is, in effect, a mirror-image housing of the housing  112  disclosed within FIGS. 2-6, and accordingly, the housing of FIG. 7 has been designated by the reference character  412 . In addition, the other corresponding parts of the housing have also been noted by reference characters within the  400  series, and for clarity purposes, not all parts of the housing  412  have been designated by reference characters. It is further noted for achieving a better understanding of the mounting of the auxiliary electrical components upon the housing  412  that male prong members, from a suitable microswitch element or component, not shown in FIG. 7, have been designated by the reference characters  450 , 452 , 454 . 
     Continuing further then, and as more particularly illustrated in FIG. 7, an auxiliary electrical component, such as, for example, a diode, may be mounted upon the housing  412  in either one of two different modes. When the diode is mounted, for example, as an in-line diode D 1  a first prong  550  of the diode D 1  has an end portion thereof which extends vertically upwardly through the secondary housing portion or section  415  and is disposed in contact with the male prong member  454  of the microswitch, while a second prong  552  of the diode D 1  has an end portion which similarly extends upwardly through the secondary housing portion or section  415  and is disposed in contact with a portion, not shown, of the housing contact member  442 . Alternatively, if the diode is to be mounted, for example, upon the housing  412  as a jumper diode D 2 , then a first prong member  554  of the jumper diode D 2  would have an end portion thereof extending upwardly through the secondary housing portion or section  415  so as to be disposed in contact with a portion of the housing contact member  442  in a manner similar to that of second prong  552  of the in-line diode D 1 , while a second prong member  556  of the jumper diode D 2  would have an end portion thereof extending upwardly through the primary housing portion or section  413  so as to be disposed in contact with a portion, not shown, of the housing contact member  440  whereby the jumper diode D 2  would, in effect, be electrically connected between the housing contact members  440  and  442 . Still further and alternatively, the jumper diode D 2  can be electrically interconnected between the housing contact members  442  and  438  as a result of the first prong member  554  would be disposed in electrical contact with housing contact member  442  while the second prong member, designated by the reference character  556 &#39; for clarity purposes, would be disposed in electrical contact with housing contact member  438 . In FIG. 8, the in-line diode D 1  is illustrated as being mounted upon the underside of the secondary housing portion or section  115 , and it is seen that the upper end portion of the diode D 1  is housed within a recessed region  117  of the secondary housing portion or section  115 . 
     Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been developed a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly wherein the electrical wires to be terminated upon the housing contact members may be readily and easily mounted within the assembly housing by means of automated equipment, and a unique cover and strain relief arrangement may be mounted upon the housing so as to retain the electrical wires therewithin in a strain relief mode. In addition, the housing contact members are provided with dimpled structure for interengaging the prong members of the microswitch components or elements with a predetermined amount of retention force, and the housing is divided into two portions or sections so as to exhibit a predetermined amount of resilient flexibility whereby the same can be mated or used in conjunction with different microswitch components or elements manufactured by different manufacturers and characterized by different size dimensions or configurations. Still further, auxiliary electrical components may be mounted upon the housing in either one of two different modes. 
     Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while the snap-engaging detents are illustrated as being mounted upon the side walls of the housing portions or sections so as to secure the cover and strain relief members thereon, it is also possible to provide such detents upon the upper and lower surfaces of the housing portions or sections. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.