An electrical push-button switch in which the push button has a shank extending through a passage in the switch housing for engaging an electrical contact set. The passage through which the shank extends has a series of notches around the periphery for receiving one end of a pair of springs, the other end of each spring is attached to the shank. The springs have an N-shaped configuration with an extension at one end of the N. A pair of complimentary stationary portions of the switch housing extend in the path of and engage the extended portions of the springs after the push button is depressed. The initial depression of the push button causes the shank to move against the tension of the springs until a changeover point is reached, thereafter the push button movement is assisted by the springs for a further period of travel. Upon additional movement, the extensions on the springs then contact the complimentary extending portions of the housing so that further movement of the shank is now opposed by the action of the springs. The switch is designed so that the shank then comes in contact with and depresses the set of electrical contacts. The contact restoring springs operate to return the button to its initial rest position and are assisted by the tension created in the aforementioned push-button springs in cooperation with said extended portions of the housing.

A microswitch includes a base (1), fixed contacts (2) and movable contacts (3). The movable contacts (3) are connected to a drive member (4) by way of a mechanism for switching the movable contacts having at least two assemblies (7) disposed in symmetry relative to the axis of the drive member (4). Each of the assemblies (7) includes a lever (8) and a spring (9) the outer ends (15,16) of which are interconnected to be capable of swinging angularly relative to each other. One element (8) of these two elements (8, 9) of the assemblies (7) is connected by its inner end (10) to the drive member (4) for swinging angularly relative thereto. Other respective elements (9) of each assembly (7) on which the movable contacts (3) are secured have the form of an integral resilient part (12) the central portion of which has secured thereto the movable contacts (3). The resilient part (12) at the portions thereof between the attachment points thereon of the movable contacts (3) and its outer ends (15) define in each assembly (7) of the mechanism for switching the movable contacts resilient elements (9) arranged in symmetry relative to the axis of the drive member (4) at an angle to each other in any possible position of the drive member (4). Also provided are stop elements (17) for restricting the movement of the outer ends of the assemblies of the mechanism for switching the movable contacts. The attachment points of the movable contacts (3) on the resilient part (12) are located between the stop elements (17) at equal distances therefrom.

A forced disconnect sequence switch is provided with a plunger that has two surfaces at its bottom portion. The two surfaces are disposed in planes which are displaced from each other so that cams can be actuated at different positions of travel of the plunger. The cams are sequentially rotatable to provide a positive break characteristic to the sequence switch. If either of the movable contact structures becomes welded to an associated stationary contact structure, each of the movable contacts are mechanically urged into separation sequentially by the cooperative action of the first and second surfaces of the plunger and their associated cams.

A transfer switch assembly to alternatively connect an electrical load to a primary or to a secondary power source. The transfer switch uses two conventional switches, or circuit breakers, having pivot type or linear type actuating members. A conventional linear motor is used. The actuating members of the switches, or circuit breakers, are in contact with the movable portion of the linear motor through a coupling mecanism. The coupling mecanism ensures that the switches, or circuit breakers, are not in a closed position simultaneously.

A switch in which a switch unit is constituted by situating the free end of a first movable member disposed with a contact between stationary contacts opposing to each other along the vertical direction, while engaging the other end of the movable member to a fixed portion, pivoting one end of a second movable member to the free end of the first movable member while engaging a spring to the other end of the s econd movable member, thereby biasing the contact of the first movable member to one of the stationary contacts, and setting the other end of the second movable member to a switch operation portion, as well as a switch wherein a housing, which enhouses a push button unit containing an illumination unit, a socket unit to be connected to the illumination unit and a plunger to be connected to the push button switch, contains to secure the switch mechanism at the lower opening thereof and the lower end of the plunger is disposed to the switch operation portion.