US3691322A

US3691322A - Reversing switch

Info

Publication number: US3691322A
Application number: US110515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin H Matthews
Original assignee: Lucerne Products Inc
Current assignee: Lucerne Products Inc
Priority date: 1971-01-28
Filing date: 1971-01-28
Publication date: 1972-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-12
Also published as: NL7201191A; AU466268B2; DE2203880B2; DE2203880A1; JPS543222B1; AU3823972A; GB1385054A; CA955629A; DE2203880C3; IT949677B

Abstract

A reversing switch for mounting in an electrically powered tool, utensil or other motor driven device for selectively reversing the direction of rotation of an electric motor, such as for instance, a universal type motor. The switch comprises a compact switch body comprising a relatively stationary segment and a rotary segment with the stationary segment having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon and the rotary segment having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon for rotation with the rotary segment, with the rotary segment being selectively movable into several operable positions, wherein in one of the positions of the rotary segment, the motor is driven in the reverse direction. The stationary segment is formed of an assembled lower sector and upper sector, each sector mounting a plurality of stationary contacts, said stationary contacts disposed in a common generally horizontal plane in the assembled condition.

Description

United States Patent Matthews 1541 REVERSING SWITCH [72] Inventor: Benjamin 1!. Matthews, Peninsula,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Lucerne Products, Inc.,

Northfield, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 110,515

[52] US. Cl. ..200/1 V, 200/155 R, 200/157 [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lh 21/10, I-I0lh 21/66 [58] Field of Search ..200/1 V, 155 R, 157, 11.],

200/11 K, 166 BF,166BE,11R, 156,166

SD; 339/95 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,696,744 12/1928 Wyman ..200/155 R X 1,919,345 7/1933 Sinner ..200/11 K 3,059,498 10/1962 Boyd ..200/166 SD UX 3,165,614 l/l965 Carissim et al ..339/95 D X 3,585,331 6/1971 Bednarski ..200/157 3,467,801 9/1969 Matthews ..200/1 UX 1,361,937 12/1920 Wagner et al ..200/1 U 3,484,632 12/1969 Opalenik et al ..200/157 X 3,138,421 6/1964 Locher et al ..339/95 D X 1 Sept. 12, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 868,308 5/1961 Great Britain ..200/156 Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer [5 7] ABSTRACT A reversing switch for mounting in an electrically powered tool, utensil or other motor driven device for selectively reversing the direction of rotation of an electric motor, such as for instance, a universal type motor. The switch comprises a compact switch body comprising a relatively stationary segment and a rotary segment with the stationary segment having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon and the rotary segment having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon for rotation with the rotary segment, with the rotary segment being selectively movable into several operable positions, wherein in one of the positions of the rotary segment, the motor is driven in the reverse direction. The stationary segment is formed of an assembled lower sector and upper sector, each sector mounting a plurality of stationary contacts, said stationary contacts disposed in a common generally horizontal plane in the assembled condition.

18 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures se: 4s 6 56 FIG] FIGES INVENTOR. BENJAMIN H. MATTHEWS ATTORNEYS PATENTEUSEP 12 I972 3.691.322

sum 3 OF 3 ATTO R NEYS 20 44 BENJAMIN H. MATTHEWS REVERSING SWITCH SPECIFICATION This invention relates in general to a compact, electrical switch for a power tool, utensil or other electric motor driven device, and more particularly to a compact reversing switch for reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In US. Pat. No. 3,467,801 issued Sept. 16, 1969 in the name of Benjamin H. Matthews and entitled R- eversing Switch there is disclosed a reversing switch wherein a contact element thereof with a plurality of contact points mounted thereon is slidably movable linearly with respect to the body of the switch, for moving the contact element into'several operative positions wherein the contact points of the contact element engage several of fixed contacts of the body in a predetermined pattern to conductibly bridge several of the switch contacts, whereby the direction of current flow through the switch may be reversed, depending upon the position of the contact element with respect to the fixed contacts, and wherein a lever means is mounted on the switch housing and coacts with the movable contact element for moving the contact element to one or the other of its operative positions. Such switch is of relatively bulkly construction and necessitates a relatively complex mechanism for moving the contact element linearly with respect to the switch body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel, highly compact reversing .switch mechanism which may conveniently be used in the environmental setting of the aforementioned switch mechanism of US. Pat. No. 3,467,801 as well as in other environmental settings, for accomplishing reversal of the motor drive, and wherein a rotary switch segment is provided for rotary movement of contact elements with respect to stationary contacts of the switch, for accomplishing reversal of the electric power applied to the motor.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel reversing switch for an electric motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric motor driven mechanism such as for instance a power tool or utensil, having an operating trigger and a reversing mechanism including a reversing switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the aforementioned type which is compact in construction and economically constructed with a minimum of parts, and capable of being mass produced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary type reversing switch which is of compact construction for use in a portable electric tool or utensil or other electric motor driven mechanism, for providing for expeditiously reversing the drive motor of the tool or mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel compact reversing switch which includes a relatively stationary contact holder segment and a rotary contact holder segment with a plurality of electrical contacts being carried on the stationary segment and a plurality of electrical bridging contacts being carried on the rotary segment and wherein the rotary segment can be selectively moved into several operative positions wherein in one of the positions the associated electric motor is driven in one direction and in another position of the rotary segment the motor will be driven in a reverse or opposite direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the aforementioned type wherein the contacts of the stationary segment are mounted on respective sectors of the stationary holder segment of the switch, with each stationary contact having a contact face portion which is oriented with those of the other stationary contacts in a substantially common plane for slidable engagement by the bridging contacts of the rotary segment, for accomplishing reversal of the motor drive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational, partially broken, diagrammatic illustration of the handle portion of a portable electric tool embodying the present invention, with the portion of the tool illustrated shown in phantom lines, and with the trigger and switch assembly embodying the present invention being illustrated in full lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the trigger and switch assembly taken from the opposite side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the FIG. 2 trigger and switch assembly, with the lever for actuating the rotary segment of the reversing switch having been removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear end elevational view of the switch assembly taken generally along the plane of line 44 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an exploded elevational view of the reversing switch portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1 and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 66 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken generally along a plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the orientation when assembled of the contact faces of the stationary contacts of the relatively stationary segment of the switch disposed in a common plane, together with the gripping means for grippingly holding line conductors in engaged relation with a respective of the stationary contacts;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view taken generally along the plane of line 8-8 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the undersides of the upper sector portions of the reversing switch stationary holder segment;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view taken generally along the plane of line 99 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the upper side of the lower sector of the stationary holder segment of the reversing switch;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom plan view taken generally along the plane of line 10--l0 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the means for releaseably holding the rotary holder segment in selected position;

FIG. 1 1 is a perspective view of one of the stationary electrical contacts of the reversing switch;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of one of the movable electrical contacts of the rotary segment of the switch;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the FIG. 12 contact;

FIG. 14 is a top plan broken view of the lever utilized to actuate the rotary holder segment of the reversing switch;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 15-15 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generallyalong line 16-16 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged diagrammatic illustration of one position of the rotary holder segment of the reversing switch of the invention for causing actuation of the electric motor in one rotary direction; the actuating lever for the switch is shown in the form of a single dot-dash line;

FIG. 18 is a view generally similar to FIG. 17 but illustrating the rotary holder segment after it has been moved or rotated to another position for accomplishing reversal of the electric motor drive;

FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the rotary holder segment;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 2020 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a reduced size, diagrammatic elevational illustration of a power tool handle having a modified arrangement for rotating the reversing switch; and

FIG. 22 is a plan diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement of FIG. 21.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now again to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates, for exemplary purposes, a power tool with which the present invention may be incorporated. The tool may be of a portable type which includes a depending pistol grip-like handle 10 having a trigger-switch assembly 12 mounted thereon which is adapted to control the operation of an electric motor (not shown) such as for instance a universal electric motor, of the tool. The trigger 13 may be of the reciprocal spring loaded type and may coact with a speed control switch unit 14 to control the speed of the electric motor and in a manner known in the art. The switch assembly 12 may also include a locking mechanism including a reciprocal pin 17, for locking the trigger 13in its full inward or maximum on position.

Speed control switch mechanism 14 is of known construction for varying the speed of an electric motor in accordance with the inward movement of the trigger from a completely outward or off" position to a completelyonor inward position. The description of such speed control switch mechanism 14 will not be given here; it will be understood however that the trigger-switch assembly 12, in the embodiment illustrated, includes the trigger 13, speed control switch 14, and a reversing switch mechanism 18 with which the present invention is particularly concerned, with such trigger-switch assembly being of integral compact construction for ready installation in a tool, appliance or the like. Electrical leads 2022 may extend from the trigger-switch assembly 12 and form part of an electrical power in the conventional manner.

The reversing switch 18 may include a housing or wraparound 24 as it may be called formed of any suitable material, such as, for instance moldable plastic material with the housing being secured or molded integrally to the remainder of the trigger-switch assembly. Housing 24 may have an opening 240 at its rearward end (FIG. 4) for slidable insertion of the components of the reversing switch 18 therein, with such opening 24a providing for ready insertion of the reversing switch assembly.

The reversing switch may have an elongated lever 28 attached thereto (FIGS. 1, l4 and 15) such lever having a generally rectangular shaped opening 30 through an enlarged end thereof, and having a finger engaging portion 32 adjacent the opposite end thereof, with the finger engaging portion 32 being provided with serrations 34 on the underside thereof, for engagement by the finger of the operator for pivoting the lever in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis X-X (FIG. 1). Opening 30 preferably has projections 36 (FIGS. 14 and 16) formed on opposite sides thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described, with the underside or lower periphery of the opening 32 (FIG. 16) being champered or beveled as at 38, for camming coaction with the upper portion 40 of the reversing switch 24 for coupling the lever 28 to the rotary segment. As can be best seen in FIG. 20, upper portion 40 of rotary segment 42 is preferably provided with lateral lips or projections 44 thereon disposed below sloping cam surfaces 44 a, which projections 44 coact in snap fastening relation with the aforementioned projections 36 in opening 30 of the lever, for positive coupling of the lever to the rotary segment 42. In the embodiment shown, the actuating lever 28 projects rearwardly of the switch assembly for accessibility from the rearward side of the tool, but such lever could project from either side thereof, or in a generally forward direction with respect thereto.

Rotary segment 42 includes upper head portion 46 (FIGS. 5, 91 and 20) and lower interlock portion 48 (FIG. 5) with the head portion 46 having an opening 50 in the underside thereof adapted to receive in telescoped relation the male embossment portion 52 formed on the interlock portion 48. Portion 52 preferably has opposed wings 52a (FIG. 5) thereon adapted to be received in complementary opposed recesses 53 on opposite sides of opening 50 in head portion 46 (FIG. 19). Portion 48 of rotary segment 42 also has a laterally extending arm 54 which is adapted for coaction with a projection 56 formed on the underside of insulator plate 58 (FIGS. 5 and 10) thereby insuring that the arm can be moved only to the pivoted positions illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 disposed on either side of the longitudinal vertical center plane of the trigger-switch assembly. It will be seen that the cam projection 56 coacting with the arm 54 of rotary segment 42 will insure the maintenance of the arm 54 in one of its two angled positions, since swinging movement of the arm 28 is opposed by the centrally located projection 56 which is located on the aforementioned vertical center plane of the trigger-switch assembly, and as can be clearly seen in FIG. 10. A threaded fastener 60 is adapted to extend through a vertically projecting opening 62 in interlock portion 48 and into fastened coaction with the upper head portion 46 of the rotary segment 42, for positively securing interlock portion 48 to the head portion 46 thereof and against vertical separation. In such secured position, the arm 54 is adapted to be in generally closely spaced relation with the underside of aforementioned insulating plate 58, and with the cam projection 56 on plate 58 providing interference to swinging movement of the arm 54, and as aforediscussed.

Head portion 46 of rotary segment 42 is also provided on the underside thereof (FIG. 19) with spaced generally arcuate shaped recesses 64 (FIGS. 17 thru therein adapted to receive

respective contacts

66, 66a (FIGS. 12, 13 and 20) which move with the rotary segment 42 into one of the other of two operative positions, for coupling the electric motor to the source of power for driving the electric motor in one or the other of its rotary directions.

Contacts

66, 66a are generally relatively loosely received in the associated recesses 64 and a spring 68 (FIGS. 5 and 20) coacts in an opening 70 (FIG. 19) formed at each recess 64, for resiliently mounting the associated

contact

66, 66a in its respective recess 64. The cylindrical-like openings 70 are formed generally centrally of the respective contact recess 64 as can be best seen in FIG. 19. Each spring 68 bears against the upper end of the respective opening 70, and against the bridging portion 72 (FIG. 12) of the

respective contact

66 or 66a, to urge the contact onwardly of the respective recess 64. As can be best seen in FIG. 12, the underside of each

contact

66 or 66a provides spaced generally

planar contact surfaces

72a, 72a which are curved upwardly at their inner ends, as at 74, and terminate at the bridging portion 72. Such an arrangement aids in providing for smooth movement of the respective contact during rotary segment 42.

Reversing switch 18 also includes relatively stationary segment 76 (FIGS. 4 and 6) disposed in slot 24a, with stationary segment 76 comprising lower sector 76a and upper sector 76b (FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9). Lower sector 76a is of generally rectangular, block-like configuration and has a central opening 78 formed therein into which is adapted to extend the male embossment 52 of the lower interlock portion 48 of rotary segment 42 in the assembled condition of the reversing switch. The upper or top surface of sector 76a, in the embodiment illustrated, is provided with a cross-like shaped projection 80 adjacent opposite ends thereof (FIG. 9) with each such projection 80 being adapted to be received generally snugly in a complementary respective cross-shaped recess 82 formed on the underside of the upper sector 76b of the stationary segment 76 (FIGS. 5 and 8) for aligning the upper sector with respect to the lower sector. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5, upper sector 76b, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a spaced pair of sections defining therebetween a circular opening 81 rotatably receiving therein head portion 46 of rotary segment 42.

Lower sector 76a has generally transversely extending vertically extending grooves 84 (FIG. 5) formed therein which are adapted to receive and mount a respective stationary, electrical contact member 86 (FIGS. 5 and 11).

Each stationary contact 86 may be formed of copper and comprises a head portion 86a and an arm portion 86b disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the head portion 86a. Arm portion 86b includes a sloping surface 88 (FIG. 11) on the edge thereof, for aiding in assembling the contact in its respective groove 84 in the lower sector 76a. As can be best seen in FIG. 5 the arm portion 86b extends generally transversely of the lower sector body and with the head portion 86a being disposed on the upper surface of the lower sector 76a, the face 90 (FIG. 11) a of the contact presents a surface which is adapted for engagement by the electrical contacts on the rotatable segment 42 of the reversing switch. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the faces 90 of the contacts on the lower sector are disposed in diametrically opposed relation to one another. When the contacts 86 are assembled with the lower sector 76a, the faces 90 of the contacts are disposed in parallel extending relationship to the upper surface of the sector block 76a, the arms 86b of the contacts 86 extend along the underside of the sector block securely mounting the contacts on the lower sector block.

Lower sector block 76a has openings 92 (FIGS. 5 and 6) formed in a side thereof which open into associated chambers 92a which receive spring-type grippers 94 (FIG. 5) for fastening associated electrical energy conducting line L1 and L2 thereto, and to the respective of the electrical contacts 86 on the lower sector 76a. In this connection, the wrap around housing 24 has complementary openings formed therein disposed in confronting relationship to the openings 92 and through which the bared ends of the conducting lines L1, L2 project (FIG. 2).

The upper sector members 76b are adapted for mounting orientation on lower sector 760 via aforementioned cross-shaped recesses 82 therein, for positioning the upper sector 76b with respect to the lower sector 76a. Each of the members of upper sector 76b likewise has a transversely extending slot formed therein which receive a respective electrical contact 86 for mounting on the upper sector members 76b. In this instance, however, the reverse face 104 (FIG. 11) of the head portion 86a of the respective contact is utilized as the contact engaging face, and the arm portion 86b thereof projects upwardly above such face, and as can be best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Spring-type grippers 94a coact with the respective contact on the upper sector for gripping a conducting line L3 or L4 and hold it in current conducting relationship with the arm portion 86b of the respective contact, and in a manner generally similar to that aforedescribed in connection with grippers 94 on the lower sector 760.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the lower sector block 76a on its upper surface may be provided with slightly raised projections 106 which aid in spacing the head portions of the stationary contacts 86 on the stationary segment from one another and aid in positioning the contacts on the segment assembly. When the electrical contacts 86 are assembled with the upper and lower sectors and the latter are assembled with one another, the contacts faces 90 on the lower sector 76a and the contact faces 104 of the contacts on the upper sector 76b are disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane, for expeditious current transmitting engagement by the

movable contacts

66 and 660 on the rotary segment 42.

Upper andlower sectors

76a, 76b of the stationary segment and the rotary segment 42 may be formed of moldable plastic material.

As can be best seen from FIGS. 4 and 10, the wrap around housing 24, which may be formed from plastic material, includes a partition wall 108 which has a cu tout 108a (FIG. formed therein in which the interlock portion 48 of the rotary segment 42 is disposed, for limiting the rotary movement of the rotary segment. As will be apparent from FIG. 10, the arm 54 of the interlock portion 48 engaging the peripheral edges of the cutout 108a limits its swinging movement after it passes over the centrally disposed cam abutment 56 on insulating plate 58.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, it will be seen that when the lever 28 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 17 (which would be a swinging of the lever to the left hand side of the longitudinal vertical center plane of the switch assembly when it is assembled on the tool as illustrated in FIG. 1) the electrical contact 66 on rotary segment 42 couples or bridges faces 104 and 90 of the stationary contacts on respectively the upper sector 76b and the lower sector 76a, while the other contact 66a on the rotary segment couples contact faces 90 and 104 on respectively the lower sector 76a and the upper sector 76b. In other words, a circuit is completed between line L3 and L2 and between line L] and line L4 so that application of current say, for instance, to line Ll will be transmitted via line L4 to drive an electric motor in one rotary direction. Swinging movement I of the rotary segment from the position illustrated in FIG. 17 to the position illustrated in FIG. 18 will, as can be seen, cause the contact 66 on rotary segment 42 to couple faces 90 and 104 on respectively the lower and upper sectors while contact 66a couples faces 90 and 104 on respectively lower and upper sectors, thus reversing the current flow and causing the electric motor to be driven to the opposite rotary direction. In other words, line L2 will be connected to line L4 and line L] connected to line L3. Accordingly, it will be seen that merely pivoting of the lever from its position shown, for instance, in FIG. 17 to its position shown in FIG. 18 will reverse the rotary direction of the motor. The switch may be coupled into the circuit of the electric motor in the general manner disclosed in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,801.

FIGS. 21 and 22 disclose a modified arrangement for rotating the rotary segment 42 utilizing a push-plunger arrangement rather than a lever as illustrated in the first described embodiment. Upper section 40 of head portion 46 of the rotary segment 42 coacts with a yoke 112 which is adapted for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane about axis XX, and as a unit with the rotary segment.

Plungers

114, 114a are movably coupled as at 116 to the yoke 112, with such plunger being adapted to extend rearwardly through openings 118 in the rear of tool handle 10 for accessibility thereto. It will be seen that pushing one or the other of

plungers

114 or 114a will cause pivoting of the rotary segment to one or the other of its operable positions to control the direction of rotation of the motor.

From the foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a novel reversing switch for mounting in an electrically powered tool, appliance, or the like, for selectively reversing the direction of rotation of an electric motor,

and wherein the switch comprises a compact switch body having a relatively stationary segment and a rotary segment with the stationary segment having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon and the rotary segment having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The rotary segment is movable'into several operative positions wherein one of the positions of the rotary segment, the motor is driven in one direction and in another position, the motor is driven in the reverse or opposite direction. The invention also provides a reversing switch of the aforedescribed type which can be used in conjunction with a trigger assembly for conveniently reversing the direction of motor movement in conjunction with actuation of the trigger for controlling the electric motor.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a compact electrical reversing switch comprising a relatively stationary holder means, said holder means including a plurality of stationary electrical contacts, and a rotary holder having a plurality of spaced electrical contacts mounted thereon, said rotary holder including means for rotating said .rotary holder with respect to said stationary holder means into several operable positions wherein the contacts of said rotary holder engage with the contacts of said stationary holder means in a predetermined pattern whereby the direction of current flow to the switch may be reversed depending upon the position of said rotary holder with respect to said contacts of said stationary holder means, said stationary holder means comprising an assembled lower sector and upper sector, said upper sector mounting a plurality of said stationary contacts thereon and said lower sector likewise mounting a plurality of said stationary contacts thereon, each of said stationary contacts having a generally planar contact face and in the assembled condition of said holder means the contact faces of all of said stationary contacts are disposed substantially in a common generally horizontal plane for relative sliding frictional engagement with said rotary holder contacts, said contacts of said rotary holder being formed of sheet-like material and are generally vertically oriented on edge and are arcuate in plan configuration, disposed around a vertical axis generally perpendicular to said horizontal plane, each of said rotary holder contacts able to bridge respective pairs of said stationary contacts on said stationary holder means.

2. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said stationary contacts comprises a head section having said face thereon adapted to be slidably engaged by said rotary holders contacts and an arm section disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said head section, said arm section being adapted for abutting relation with an electric energy conducting line, each of said sectors having means thereon for mounting the respective stationary contacts thereon and for orienting the head sections thereof in a substantially common plane in the assembled condition of said sectors.

3. A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rotary holder includes interlock means extending along the underside of said stationary holder means for holding said rotary holder in predetermined position with respect to said stationary holder means and in positions wherein said contacts of said rotary holder are in bridging engagement with respective pairs of said stationary contacts on said stationary holder means.

4. A switch in accordance with claim 2 including a housing encompassing said sectors, said rotary holder projecting outwardly of said housing and providing said means for rotating said rotaryholder, and wherein said housing includes side openings therein through which line conductors insertable into engaged relation with said arm sections for coupling the respective stationary contact witha respective conducting line.

5. A switch in accordance with claim 4 including gripping means on said sectors coacting with each of said stationary contacts and adapted for grippingly holding a respective conducting line in engaged relation with the arm section of a respective stationary contact.

67 A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lower sector comprises an elongated block-like member having spaced recess means formed therein defining said mounting means and receiving the respective stationary contacts therein, said recess means communicatingwith both the upper and the lower surface of said block-like member for extension of said stationary contacts along both said surfaces.

7. A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said upper sector comprises a pair of separate portions laterally disposed with respect to one another and each having means on the underside thereof adapted for orienting coaction with means on said lower sector for orienting the upper sector portions with respect to the lower sector.

8. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including a housing for said sectors for holding the latter in assembled relation, and means on said rotary holder projecting outwardly of said housing and providing said means for rotating said rotary holder with respect to said stationary holder means.

9. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means for releaseably holding said rotary holder in preselected position with respect to said stationary holder means.

10. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotary holder comprises a head portion and an interlock portion, one of said last mentioned portions including a male section and the other of the last mentioned portions including a female section for receiving the male section therein, and means coacting between said last mentioned portions releaseably securing the latter together, said interlock portion including an arm projecting laterally of said head portion for swingable movement upon rotary movement of said rotary holder, and cam abutment means on said switch coacting with said arm for maintaining said rotary holder in a selected one of a pair of predetermined positions.

11. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means on said sectors for positioning said upper sector in predetermined relation with respect to said lower sector and vice versa, and wherein the last mentioned means comprises projection means on one of said sectors received in recesses in the other of said sectors for orientin thes ctors with es ect oone'nother.

l2. A switch m accord an e with claim 1 including control means coacting with said switch for selectively varying the speed of a motor.

13. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including the combination therewith of a trigger assembly for a power tool or the like, said trigger assembly including a movable trigger for controlling the energization of an electric motor upon movement of the trigger, and means for selectively actuating said rotary holder to move said rotary holder from one of its operative positionsto another of its operative positions and vice versa.

14. A switch in accordance with claim 13 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a lever having a portion coacting with said means on said rotary holder to rotatively move said rotary holder upon swinging movement of said lever.

15. A switch in accordance with claim 14 wherein saidmeans for rotating on said rotary holder is on the upper end thereof and including means on said lever portion coacting in snap fastening relation with said means for rotating on the upper end of said rotary holder, for coupling said lever to said rotary holder, said lever projecting laterally from said rotary holder and being swingable in a generally horizontal plane.

16. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means coacting with said means on said rotary holder for rotating, for selectively actuating said rotary holder from one of its operative positions to another of its operative positions and vice versa, the last mentioned means including pusher means adapted for pushing actuation to cause said actuation of said rotary holder.

17. A switch in accordance with claim 16 wherein said last mentioned means includes a yoke coupled to said rotary holder and adapted for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane, and said pusher means include spaced plungers movably coupled to said yoke and projecting generally laterally therefrom, pushing actuation of one of said plungers causing operation of said rotary holder to move from one of its operative positions to another of its operative positions.

18. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said contacts of said rotary holder comprise spaced electrically conducting shoe portions and an electrically conducting bridging portion connecting said shoe portions, and means resiliently mounting said rotary holder contacts on said rotary holder for adjusting movement thereof in generally vertical directions.

Claims

1. In a compact electrical reversing switch comprising a relatively stationary holder means, said holder means including a plurality of stationary electrical contacts, and a rotary holder having a plurality of spaced electrical contacts mounted thereon, said rotary holder including means for rotating said rotary holder with respect to said stationary holder means into several operable positions wherein the contacts of said rotary holder engage with the contacts of said stationary holder means in a predetermined pattern whereby the direction of current flow to the switch may be reversed depending upon the position of said rotary holder with respect to said contacts of said stationary holder means, said stationary holder means comprising an assembled lower sector and upper sector, said upper sector mounting a plurality of said stationary contacts thereon and said lower sector likewise mounting a plurality of said stationary contacts thereon, each of said stationary contacts having a generally planar contact face and in the assembled condition of said holder means the contact faces of all of said stationary contacts are disposed substantially in a common generally horizontal plane for relative sliding frictional engagement with said rotary holder contacts, said contacts of said rotary holder being formed of sheet-like material and are generally vertically oriented on edge and are arcuate in plan configuration, disposed around a vertical axis generally perpendiCular to said horizontal plane, each of said rotary holder contacts able to bridge respective pairs of said stationary contacts on said stationary holder means.

2. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said stationary contacts comprises a head section having said face thereon adapted to be slidably engaged by said rotary holder''s contacts and an arm section disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said head section, said arm section being adapted for abutting relation with an electric energy conducting line, each of said sectors having means thereon for mounting the respective stationary contacts thereon and for orienting the head sections thereof in a substantially common plane in the assembled condition of said sectors.

4. A switch in accordance with claim 2 including a housing encompassing said sectors, said rotary holder projecting outwardly of said housing and providing said means for rotating said rotary holder, and wherein said housing includes side openings therein through which line conductors insertable into engaged relation with said arm sections for coupling the respective stationary contact with a respective conducting line.

6. A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lower sector comprises an elongated block-like member having spaced recess means formed therein defining said mounting means and receiving the respective stationary contacts therein, said recess means communicating with both the upper and the lower surface of said block-like member for extension of said stationary contacts along both said surfaces.

11. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means on said sectors for positioning said upper sector in predetermined relation with respect to said lower sector and vice versa, and wherein the last mentioned means comprises projection means on one oF said sectors received in recesses in the other of said sectors for orienting the sectors with respect to one another.

12. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including control means coacting with said switch for selectively varying the speed of a motor.

13. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including the combination therewith of a trigger assembly for a power tool or the like, said trigger assembly including a movable trigger for controlling the energization of an electric motor upon movement of the trigger, and means for selectively actuating said rotary holder to move said rotary holder from one of its operative positions to another of its operative positions and vice versa.

15. A switch in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for rotating on said rotary holder is on the upper end thereof and including means on said lever portion coacting in snap fastening relation with said means for rotating on the upper end of said rotary holder, for coupling said lever to said rotary holder, said lever projecting laterally from said rotary holder and being swingable in a generally horizontal plane.