Patent ID: 8912456

Claim:
A method of forming a switch activator device for a vehicle operating in robust environments, comprising the steps of: providing a switch housing, said switch housing including a back side, a front side, a central opening extending between the front side and the back side, and at least one slot extending laterally from the central opening; inserting at least one switch activator in said central opening of said switch housing, each of the at least one switch activator having a forward extending switch portion and a flange portion, wherein the flange portion is sized to engage and cooperate with said at least one slot in said switch housing; moving said flange of said at least one switch activator from said central opening into said at least one slot of said switch housing; and inserting a central housing insert in said central opening of said switch housing adjacent to said at least one switch activator, said central housing insert being sized to substantially close off said central opening of said switch housing and provide mounting support to maintain said flange of said at least one switch activator in said at least one slot.