ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR A POWER TOOL

An electric switch for a power tool, comprising: a slider slidably received in a switch casing along a longitudinal direction, a handle provided in the grip of the power tool for manually actuating the slider along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of fixed contact pieces arranged in an internal bottom surface of the switch casing and provided with contact surfaces located substantially in a same plane; and a plurality of moveable contact pieces arranged in the bottom surface of the slider and urged toward the fixed contact pieces by spring members so as to selectively contact at least some of the contact surfaces of the fixed contact pieces. The contact portions of this switch achieve various conductive states by planar arrangement and movement of the contact pieces, the component parts can be fitted into a small switch casing, particularly having a small height. Since the component parts may be assembled one over the other in sequential manner without requiring special efforts, a substantial advantage can be gained in the improvement of the efficiency of the assembling process. And, these advantages can be gained without diminishing the reliability of the various states of contact between the various contact pieces.