Handheld appliance

Abstract

A handheld appliance includes a user operable button, a switch and an actuator including an arm extending between the button and the switch wherein the button has three linearly spaced positions each position corresponding to a different state for the switch. The arm may include a surface adapted to engage with the switch. The switch may include a lever and the lever is moved by contact with the surface. The lever may have a first position and a second position. The second position of the lever may be a neutral position where the lever is not in contact with the surface. When the lever is in the first position, the surface may engage with the lever. The lever may be housed within a recess of the arm. The switch may comprise a first switch and a second switch which may be longitudinally spaced.

1 . A handheld appliance comprising a user operable button; a first switch; a second switch; and an actuator, the actuator including an arm extending between the button, the first switch, and the second switch, wherein the button has three linearly spaced positions, each position corresponding to a different state for the first switch or the second switch. 
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a first surface configured to engage with the first switch or the second switch. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the first switch comprises a lever and the lever is moved by contact with the first surface. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the lever has a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the second position of the lever is a neutral position where the lever is not in contact with the first surface. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein when the lever is in the first position, the first surface engages with the lever. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the lever also comprises a third position. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the arm is provided with a second surface and the second surface engages with the lever to produce a movement of the lever to the third position. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface are internal surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the arm is provided with a recess formed from one or more of the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the recess is V-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the lever is housed within the recess. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are longitudinally spaced. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a first surface adapted to engage with the first switch and a second surface adapted to engage with the second switch. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the arm comprises a first side and the first surface is located on the first side. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the arm comprises a second side and the second surface is located on the second side. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the second switch is a push switch. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a housing. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a movable protrusion for engaging with the button. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the protrusion comprises three linearly spaced positions which correspond to one of each of the button positions. 
     
     
         21 . The appliance of  claim 20 , wherein a first and a second of the three linearly spaced positions is defined by a detent. 
     
     
         22 . The appliance of  claim 21 , wherein a third of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is defined by a detent. 
     
     
         23 . The appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the housing further comprises a spring and a third of the three linearly spaced positions of the protrusion is produced when the user operated button is pushed against the spring. 
     
     
         24 . The appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the spring biases the protrusion towards the second position.