Patent ID: 7609135

Claim:
A switching apparatus comprising; a conductive housing defining a chamber; the conductive housing defining an aperture providing communication between the chamber and a housing exterior; a rod extending through the aperture, and having a first end within the chamber, and an opposed second end outside the chamber; the rod having a cap portion at the second end; the rod being operable to reciprocate over a range of motion between a first position in which a limited portion of the rod extends into the chamber, and a second position in which a greater portion of the rod extends into the chamber; the rod having a electrically insulative portion electrically isolating the first end from the second end; the rod having a conductive surface contacting the housing; a spring substantially surrounding the portion of the conductive surface of the rod not extending into the chamber, the spring being bounded by a lower surface of the cap, and a surface of the conductive housing; a pair of electrical contacts in the chamber; and a shorting bar connected to the first end of the rod and operable to bridge the contacts when the rod is in a selected position; wherein when said rod is moved to said second position, said conductive surface remains outside of said chamber.