Patent ID: 7766501

Claim:
An electrical contact switch, comprising: two contacts electrically connected to a power source; a circuit electrically connected to the power source and the two contacts; an electrically conducting object; and a housing containing the electrically conducting object and the contacts spaced apart from each other; wherein the housing is configured so as to allow free-floating movement of the electrically conducting object within the housing between an open position in which the electrically conducting object is not in contact with the two contacts and a closed position in which the electrically conducting object is in contact with the two contacts, the electrically conducting object can move between the open and closed positions without angular movement of the electrical contact switch, and the electrically conducting object can remain in either the open position or the closed position for an extended period of time when the electrical contact switch is not moved; wherein movement of the electrical contact switch causes the electrically conducting object to move between the open and the closed positions and generate a change in contact position condition recognized by the circuit wherein the circuit generates a switch activation condition which exists for a preselected period of time and then ceases to exist, said switch activation condition being generated responsive to the change in contact position condition when there has been a change from the open position to the closed position; and wherein the change in contact position condition initiates a counter that measures the preselected period of time.