Patent ID: 7414501

Claim:
An electromagnetic switch to be mounted on a starter for cranking an internal combustion engine, comprising: an excitation coil having a conductor member connecting the excitation coil to an outside cable for supplying excitation current to the excitation coil; a plunger for driving a movable contact upon supplying the excitation current to the excitation coil; a pair of stationary contacts adapted to be closed by the movable contact; a contact cover covering the pair of stationary contacts; and a reinforcing member having a foot portion embedded in the contact cover and a free end portion having a flat surface extending from the contact cover, wherein: the conductor member of the excitation coil has an end extending from the contact cover in the same direction as the free end portion of the reinforcing member; the reinforcing member has a mechanical strength much higher than that of the conductor member; the flat surface of the free end portion of the reinforcing member is directly connected to the extending end of the conductor member and to the outside cable to thereby establish electrical and mechanical connections therebetween; the extending end of the conductor member and the free end portion of the reinforcing member are formed in a plate-shape and have respective contact surfaces contacting each other; and both contact surfaces are in rectangular shape and have the same surface area; and the free end portion of the reinforcing member, the extending end of the conductor member and the outside cable are overlapped and connected together with a common screw.