Electrical switch with a sealing member for use with an electrical device

Abstract

An electrical switch unit for use in controlling operation of an electrical device, the electrical switch unit including: an electrical switch unit housing for housing at least a pair of electrical switching contacts of the electrical switch unit, said electrical switch unit housing including a first housing member and a second housing member that are configured for attachment together at peripheral regions of the first and second housing members so as to cooperatively form an enclosed space for housing the pair of electrical switching contacts therein; an actuator member operably-connected with at least one of the pair of electrical switching contacts, the actuator being configured for movement relative inwardly and outwardly of an opening in the electrical switch unit housing so as to arrange the pair of electrical switching contacts into at least one of a closed configuration wherein power is able to be supplied from a power source to motor or other electrically-operable element of the electrical device via the pair of electrical switching contacts, and, an opened configuration wherein power is not able to be supplied from the power source to the motor or other electrically-operable element of the electrical device via the pair of electrical switching contacts; and an sealing element including an elastically-resilient polymeric material, said sealing element being configured for location between the first and second housing members and extending about the peripheral regions of the attached first and second housing members so as to occlude passage and ingress of particulates and water into the electrical switch unit housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical switch unit for use in controlling operation of an electrical device, the electrical switch unit including:
 an electrical switch unit housing for housing at least a pair of electrical switching contacts of the electrical switch unit, said electrical switch unit housing including a first housing member and a second housing member that are configured for attachment together at peripheral regions of the first and second housing members so as to cooperatively form an enclosed space for housing the pair of electrical switching contacts therein;   an actuator member operably-connected with at least one of the pair of electrical switching contacts, the actuator being configured for movement relative inwardly and outwardly of an opening in the electrical switch unit housing so as to arrange the pair of electrical switching contacts into at least one of a closed configuration wherein power is able to be supplied from a power source to motor or other electrically-operable element of the electrical device via the pair of electrical switching contacts, and, an opened configuration wherein power is not able to be supplied from the power source to the motor or other electrically-operable element of the electrical device via the pair of electrical switching contacts; and   an sealing element including an elastically-resilient polymeric material, said sealing element being configured for location between the first and second housing members and extending about the peripheral regions of the first and second housing members so as to occlude passage and ingress of particulates and water into the electrical switch unit housing.   
     
     
         2 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sealing element is configured to complement a three-dimensional shape contour of the peripheral region of the first or second housing member. 
     
     
         3 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 1  including at least one of a recess and a groove disposed along the peripheral region of at least one of the first and second housing members configured for seating the sealing element therein. 
     
     
         4 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sealing element includes an overmold. 
     
     
         5 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sealing element includes at least one of a rubber, a foam, and a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         6 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sealing element includes a cross-sectional shape contour includes at least one peak and one trough region. 
     
     
         7 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the cross-sectional shape contour including a saw-tooth cross-sectional shape contour. 
     
     
         8 . An electrical switch unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sealing element includes an elongate sealing element. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing an electrical switch unit for use in controlling operation of an electrical device, the method including steps of:
 (i) providing an electrical switch unit housing for housing at least a pair of electrical switching contacts of the electrical switch unit, said electrical switch unit housing including a first housing member and a second housing member that are configured for attachment together at peripheral regions of the first and second housing members so as to cooperatively form an enclosed space for housing the pair of electrical switching contacts therein;   (ii) providing an actuator member operably-connected with at least one of the pair of electrical switching contacts, the actuator being configured for movement relative inwardly and outwardly of an opening in the electrical switch unit housing so as to arrange the pair of electrical switching contacts into at least one of a closed configuration wherein power is able to be supplied from a power source to motor or other electrically-operable element of the electrical device via the pair of electrical switching contacts, and, an opened configuration wherein power is not able to be supplied from the power source to the motor or other electrically-operable element of the electrical device via the pair of electrical switching contacts; and   (iii) providing a sealing element including an elastically-resilient polymeric material, said sealing element being configured for location between the first and second housing members and extending about the peripheral regions of the first and second housing members so as to occlude passage and ingress of particulates and water into the electrical switch unit housing.   
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  including a step of forming the sealing element to complement a three-dimensional shape contour of the peripheral region of the first or second housing member. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  including at step of forming at least one of a recess and a groove disposed along the peripheral region of at least one of the first and second housing members configured for seating the sealing element therein. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sealing element includes an overmold. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  including a step of forming the sealing element from at least one of a rubber, a foam, and a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         14 . A method das claimed in  claim 9  including a step of forming the sealing element wherein a cross-sectional shape contour of the sealing element includes at least one peak and one trough region. 
     
     
         15 . A method das claimed in  claim 14  wherein the cross-sectional shape contour includes a saw-tooth cross-sectional shape contour. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sealing element is formed as an elongate sealing element.