Patent ID: 8101877

Claim:
A rotating dual switching mechanism comprising: a first switch ( 12 ) having a first activator ( 14 ) movable between an “on” state and an “off” state, said first activator ( 14 ) being located on a rotation axis (A); a second switch ( 16 ) having a second activator ( 18 ) movable between an “on” state and an “off” state, said second activator ( 18 ) being offset (B) from said rotation axis (A); a ring-shaped actuator ( 28 ) concentric with said rotation axis (A) and movable in a direction parallel to the rotation axis between a first position operable to put the second activator ( 18 ) in the “off” state thereof and a second position operable to put the second activator ( 18 ) in the “on” state thereof; and a switch arm ( 36 ), separate from and extending across the ring-shaped actuator, having a first portion ( 38 ) for changing the state of the first activator ( 14 ) and a second portion ( 40 ) that comes into contact with the ring-shaped actuator ( 28 ) and moves it between its first and second positions, said switch arm ( 36 ) being pivotable about the rotation axis (A) and slidable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis between a first position operable to put the first activator ( 14 ) in the “off” state and the second activator ( 18 ) in the “off” state, a second position operable to put one of the first activator ( 14 ) or second activator ( 18 ) in the “on” state and the other of the first activator ( 14 ) or second activator ( 18 ) if the “off” state, and a third position operable to put the first activator ( 14 ) in the “on” state and the second activator ( 18 ) in the “on” state.