Cutler-hammer, Inc.

James V Johnson, Jr

Leonardus J Josemans

Stuart W Grebner

A rocker switch having a spring-biased lock lever within the contact actuator that extends out to catch beneath the rim of the hole in the frame to lock the rocker button in the 'off' position. An insertable key, which may include the entire face of the rocker button, has a projecting cam effective when inserted to retract the lock lever to allow normal operation. Removal of the key prevents unlocking of the rocker switch for operation to 'on' position. The lock lever has an angular end that allows actuation of the rocker button from 'on' to 'off' position even when the key is removed. This angular end cams on the frame to momentarily depress the lock lever and allow it to snap below the rim of the hole in the frame. This lock lever is then inaccessible except to the projecting cam of the key.

Rocker switch with integral off lock

A toggle lever for operating an electric switch and easily assembled, anti-rotation means for mounting the lever for limited pivotal movement within the mounting bushing of the switch. The toggle lever has an intermediate enlarged spherical portion including two short trunnions extending in opposite directions therefrom. The mounting means comprises a pair of interlocking semi-cylindrical molded insert halves having on their inner surfaces an annular socket for the spherical portion and each having a central hole to journal the corresponding trunnion when the two halves are placed therearound to form a subassembly. The cylindrical outer surface of these molded insert halves has a first part of detent means such as circumferentially arranged tapered protuberances that 'cam' down through the bore in the bushing and engage a complementary part of such detent means such as an annular groove within the bushing into which these protuberances snap in when the subassembly is pressed down thereinto thereby to mount the toggle lever for limited pivotal movement on its trunnions while the inserts close the space around its spherical portion in the bore and frictionally adhere to the bushing with an interference fit to keep the toggle lever from turning on its axis. Other anti-rotation detent means are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Smithfield, NC, United States of America

James V Johnson, Jr