Embodiments included herein are directed towards an apparatus for actuating a switch of an operator control device, and related methods. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a trigger shaped to mate with the operator control device. The trigger may include an integrated preload portion formed, at least in part, within the trigger. The trigger may further include an integrated actuator portion formed, at least in part, at an interfacing portion of the trigger. The integrated actuator portion may be configured to interface with the switch of the operator control device.

A safety switch device including a device main body, a movable portion movable in a moving direction with respect to the device main body, and a holding portion configured to hold the movable portion at a position in the moving direction. The device main body includes a main-body-side holding portion, the movable portion includes a movable-portion-side holding portion provided so as to be opposite to the main-body-side holding portion in the moving direction, the holding portion includes a rack gear provided in one of the device main body and the movable portion, an engaging tooth member provided in the other of the device main body and the movable portion so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the moving direction, and an springy member that urges the engaging tooth member in a direction in which the engaging tooth member meshes with the rack gear.

The invention relates to an electrical switch (30) for an electrical appliance (2), in particular for a power tool, which has at least two switching contacts (34, 36), which can be jointly moved between a switched-off position (38), in which the switching contacts (34, 36) have no electrical connection to a counter contact (42) of the switch (30), and a switched-on position (40), in which the switching contacts (34, 36) are electrically connected to the counter contact (42). To maintain a contact resistance of the switch (30) at a largely constant value over the service life, it is proposed to arrange and/or design the switching contacts (34, 36) and/or the counter contact (42) such that, when the switch (30) transitions between the switched-off position (38) and the switched-on position (40), the switching contacts (34, 36) successively enter into electrical contact with the counter contact (42) or successively break the electrical contact.

The invention relates to an electrical switch (30) for an electrical appliance (2), in particular for a power tool, which has at least two switching contacts (34, 36), which can be jointly moved between a switched-off position (38), in which the switching contacts (34, 36) have no electrical connection to a counter contact (42) of the switch (30), and a switched-on position (40), in which the switching contacts (34, 36) are electrically connected to the counter contact (42). To maintain a contact resistance of the switch (30) at a largely constant value over the service life, it is proposed to arrange and/or design the switching contacts (34, 36) and/or the counter contact (42) such that, when the switch (30) transitions between the switched-off position (38) and the switched-on position (40), the switching contacts (34, 36) successively enter into electrical contact with the counter contact (42) or successively break the electrical contact.

A lock member includes a fit portion, an inclined portion and a contacting portion. The fit portion is fitted with a projecting portion of a trigger to maintain an off-lock state. The inclined portion is brought into contact with a shaft of an unlock button and moves the lock member to release the off-lock state. The projecting portion is slidable on the contacting portion and maintains an on state.

A push-button starter for use with an outdoor power equipment unit. In one embodiment, the starter includes a housing defining an opening to receive a removable button, and a peripheral edge surrounding the opening. The peripheral edge may define two scalloped areas such that two opposite sides of a head portion of the button are exposed and accessible when the button is in a neutral position within the housing while remaining sides of the head portion are enclosed within the housing. Moreover, the opening and the head portion may be configured to control an orientation of the button relative to the housing, and further prevent rotation of the button relative to the housing.

A push-button starter for use with an outdoor power equipment unit. In one embodiment, the starter includes a housing defining an opening to receive a removable button, and a peripheral edge surrounding the opening. The peripheral edge may define two scalloped areas such that two opposite sides of a head portion of the button are exposed and accessible when the button is in a neutral position within the housing while remaining sides of the head portion are enclosed within the housing. Moreover, the opening and the head portion may be configured to control an orientation of the button relative to the housing, and further prevent rotation of the button relative to the housing.

A motor driven appliance in one aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a light source, a lighting unit, a motor, an operation unit, an operation detector, a reference signal output unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The operation detector detects that the operation unit is operated, and outputs an operation detection signal that indicates that the operation unit is operated. The reference signal output unit outputs at least one reference signal that can be used as a reference for determining whether the detection by the operation detector is normal. The determination unit determines whether the operation unit is actually operated based on the operation detection signal and the at least one reference signal. The control unit controls operation of the lighting unit based on the determination made by the determination unit.

An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a module housing including a bottom surface, side walls, and an open face, a printed circuit board (PCB) received from the open face of the module housing and securely disposed within the module housing at a distance from the bottom surface of the module housing; power switches mounted on a top surface of the PCB, and heat sinks discretely arranged and each mounted over a respective one of the plurality of power switches and secured to the top surface of the PCB to transfer heat away from the power switch through the open face of the module housing. The module further includes an input unit having conductive tracks disposed on the PCB and an electro-mechanical element engaging the plurality of conductive tracks, the input unit generating a signal for controlling a switching operation of the plurality of power switches, and a controller mounted on the PCB configured to control the switching operation of the power switches based on the signal from the input unit.

A contact mechanism includes an opening/closing fixed contact, an opening/closing movable contact opposed to the opening/closing fixed contact, and a permanent magnet configured to extend an arc that occurs between the opening/closing fixed contact and the opening/closing movable contact in a predetermined direction. In particular, an arc that occurs from contact surface regions where the opening/closing fixed contact and the opening/closing movable contact make contact with each other is extended by a magnetic force of the permanent magnet and moved to non-contact surface regions where the opening/closing fixed contact and the opening/closing movable contact make no contact with each other.