A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator.

A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a ball unit disposed in the roller cavity and moveable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define a first angle that ranges from 2 to 12 degrees.

A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a ball unit disposed in the roller cavity and moveable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define a first angle that ranges from 2 to 12 degrees.

A switch includes a base; switch parts having a common fixed contact and a first and a second fixed contacts; a slide body having a second movable contact configured to be in contact with the common fixed contact and a first movable contact electrically connected to the common movable contact and configured to be in contact with the first and the second fixed contacts, the slide body rotatably supported by the base; a cover mounted to the base; an operation lever supported by the cover to rotate the slide body; and a reverse spring which biases the slide body and the operation lever to be close to each other. The first movable contact slides to be in contact with or separate from the first and the second fixed contacts, and the second movable contact slides while in contact with the common fixed contact, by rotation of the slide body.

A switch includes a base; switch parts having a common fixed contact and a first and a second fixed contacts; a slide body having a second movable contact configured to be in contact with the common fixed contact and a first movable contact electrically connected to the common movable contact and configured to be in contact with the first and the second fixed contacts, the slide body rotatably supported by the base; a cover mounted to the base; an operation lever supported by the cover to rotate the slide body; and a reverse spring which biases the slide body and the operation lever to be close to each other. The first movable contact slides to be in contact with or separate from the first and the second fixed contacts, and the second movable contact slides while in contact with the common fixed contact, by rotation of the slide body.

An actuating apparatus having a signal transmitter and a mechanical operating element, wherein the mechanical operating element includes a first position that is stable over time and a second position that is stable over time, wherein the mechanical operating element, in the case of a movement from the first position that is stable over time into the second position that is stable over time, actuates the signal transmitter, and wherein the signal transmitter, upon actuation, causes a first signal change followed by a second signal change of an output signal, and an evaluation circuit detects an actuation of the mechanical operating element based on the first signal change and the second signal change.

An actuating apparatus having a signal transmitter and a mechanical operating element, wherein the mechanical operating element includes a first position that is stable over time and a second position that is stable over time, wherein the mechanical operating element, in the case of a movement from the first position that is stable over time into the second position that is stable over time, actuates the signal transmitter, and wherein the signal transmitter, upon actuation, causes a first signal change followed by a second signal change of an output signal, and an evaluation circuit detects an actuation of the mechanical operating element based on the first signal change and the second signal change.

A switch assembly including an actuator assembly operable to magnetically latch a switch in a closed position, where the actuator assembly includes a cup member coupled to the drive rod opposite to the switch and an opening spring positioned within the cup member and being held in compression when the switch is latched closed, and where the cup member includes a central opening. The switch assembly further includes a scissor link having a first leg and a second leg pivotally attached at a pivot point, where one end of the first and second legs extend into the central opening and are rigidly attached to the cup member and an opposite end of the first and second legs extend through the cover, and where pulling the link away from the actuator assembly breaks the magnetic latch and opens the switch.

A switch assembly including an actuator assembly operable to magnetically latch a switch in a closed position, where the actuator assembly includes a cup member coupled to the drive rod opposite to the switch and an opening spring positioned within the cup member and being held in compression when the switch is latched closed, and where the cup member includes a central opening. The switch assembly further includes a scissor link having a first leg and a second leg pivotally attached at a pivot point, where one end of the first and second legs extend into the central opening and are rigidly attached to the cup member and an opposite end of the first and second legs extend through the cover, and where pulling the link away from the actuator assembly breaks the magnetic latch and opens the switch.

A switching device is provided. The switching device includes a housing including a base and a switching device cover coupled to the base, a line side terminal positioned on a line side of the housing, a load side terminal positioned on a load side of the housing, wherein the line side is opposite the load side, a first terminal cover coupled to the switching device cover proximate the line side, and a second terminal cover coupled to the switching device cover proximate the load side, wherein the first terminal cover is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first terminal cover is attached to said switching device cover in both the closed and open positions, and wherein the second terminal cover is attached to the switching device cover in both the closed and open positions.