Patent attributes
A power tool includes a motor and a power supply that are connected by a switch disposed in an electrical circuit. The switch controls the on/off state of the motor and is actuated by a switch actuator that serves as a spring element. The switch actuator includes a guide plate supported on the housing, and a resilient arm that protrudes from the guide plate into an opening in the tool housing. When the switch actuator is in a first actuator position relative to the housing, the resilient arm is biased toward an edge of the opening and engages the edge, thereby preventing inadvertent movement of the switch actuator to the second actuator position. When the switch actuator is actuated by applying a bi-directional manual force to the resilient arm, the resilient arm is displaced from the edge, thereby permitting movement of the switch actuator to the second actuator position.