Patent ID: 7186940

Claim:
An electrical switch comprising: a casing; at least one fixed contact and at least one moving contact supported in the casing for movement between an ON position in contact with the fixed contact and an OFF position out of contact with the fixed contact; and an operating mechanism located in the casing for moving the moving contact between the ON position and the OFF position, the operating mechanism comprising: an operating member supported for movement between an ON position corresponding to the ON position of the moving contact and an OFF position corresponding to the OFF position of the moving contact; a contact mover supported for moving the moving contact upon movement by the operating member, between an ON position corresponding to the ON position of the operating member and an OFF position corresponding to the OFF position of the operating member; and a spring-loaded device located between the operating member and the contact mover for movement by the operating member past a transitional condition of maximum strain to flick the contact mover between the ON and OFF positions of the contact mover, the spring-loaded device comprising a spring compressed or stretched between the operating member and the contact mover, and a pivotable link extending across the operating member and the contact member, the link being acted upon by the spring.