This invention relates to insulators for electrical devices and more specifically to insulators for switch terminals.
Switches are used in appliances such as washing machines to control the electric motor in the appliance in accordance with a predetermined cycle of the appliance. For example, such a switch could be mounted on a washing machine motor to control the operation of the motor in response to commands from the controller of the washing machine. These switches are contained inside the appliance so that the operator of the appliance is unable to touch the switch terminals of the switch during operation of the appliance. Since the switch terminals are electrically isolated from the operator by the appliance itself, the terminals have heretofore been uninsulated. However, during repair of the appliance, the repairman could contact these exposed terminals. It would, therefore, be desirable to insulate the switch terminals.
Any such insulators should be usable with existing switches so that units in the field can be so equipped. It should be appreciated that the space in the interior of an appliance is limited, so the insulators must be of relatively small size. Custom plugs could be used to provide the insulating function, but such plugs are expensive and could have clearance problems with existing appliances. It would of course be undesirable to change the existing design of the appliance merely to accommodate a custom plug.