Patent ID: 7435923

Claim:
A switching device comprising: an actuating handle rotatable about a rotation axis to be movable upward and downward, wherein the actuating handle moves downward in response to being actuated; a restoring mechanism movable upward and downward, wherein the restoring mechanism is biased with an elastic force to move upward; wherein the actuating handle engages and forces the restoring mechanism to move downward in response to being actuated; a contact carrier displaceable between first and second positions; and a rocker arm rotatable about a swivel axis parallel to the rotation axis of the actuating handle, wherein an end of the rocker arm facing away from the swivel axis is engaged with the contact carrier; wherein the restoring mechanism cooperates with the rocker arm such that during downward movement of the restoring mechanism the restoring mechanism abruptly swivels the rocker arm in a first swivel direction about the swivel axis thereby causing the rocker arm to abruptly displace the contact carrier from the first position to the second position and such that during upward movement of the restoring mechanism the restoring mechanism abruptly swivels the rocker arm in a second opposite swivel direction about the swivel axis thereby causing the rocker arm to abruptly displace the contact carrier back to the second position from the first position.