Importance

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Abstract

A general purpose, alternating current wall switch is provided with a rocker handle having an extremely light feel resulting from the fact that the angular distance or throw between the opposite extreme positions thereof is very small, on the order of about 20 degrees in a preferred embodiment. Throw of the handle through the noted small angular distance is effective, however, to operate a contact actuator through a much larger angular distance to assure a proper mechanical and electrical function, the distance through which the contact actuator rocks in a preferred embodiment being on the order of about 50 degrees. The mechanical advantage is produced by a loose, lost motion interengagement between the rocker handle and the contact actuator, both of which are mounted to rock about spaced, separate pivot axes. The interengagement of the rocker handle and contact actuator results from the provision of a bifurcation on the underside of the rocker handle, loosely embracing a triangular rib or projection on the contact actuator head. Throw of the rocker handle is effective to initially produce a camming engagement of one of the fork arms of the bifurcation against an adjacent surface of the triangular rib. As the rocker handle moves to its opposite extreme position, the contact actuator is cammed over center, and an associated spring means then becomes effective to snap the actuator the remaining distance to its opposite extreme position. As the actuator and the rocker handle move through the remainder of their respective angular distances following passage of the actuator over dead center, they are fully disengaged from each other and there is no interference between them.

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First Claim