Pushbutton electrical switch unit

Claim 2

An electrical switch unit comprising a housing having a top opening therein surrounded by a flanged portion adapted to fit over the edges of a panel opening, clamping members mounted on said housing and movable toward and away from said flanged portion, said clamping members being adapted to clamp said panel between said clamping members and said flanged portion, means forming a sloping area on said housing to cam said clamping members outwardly as they move toward said flanged portion and inwardly as they move away from said flanged portion, said clamping members containing indentations extending inwardly and adapted to prevent wedging of said clamping members in said panel opening, and means accessible through said top opening operable to so move said clamping members.

Claim 3

A unit as claimed in claim 1 in which said clamping members are T-shaped and said indentations are in the form of dimples in the horizontal portion of said T-shaped members.

Claim 4

A pushbutton electrical switch unit comprising an elongated housing of generally rectangular cross section having two recessed sides, two parallel generally planar sides, a top and a bottom, said top having an opening therein, a removable pushbutton mounted in said opening, a flange extending laterally from said opening adapted to fit over a panel when said unit is inserted in a panel opening, the recesses in said recessed sides each opening rearwardly and adapted to receive molded switch modules, the inner walls of said recesses defining a central passageway running longitudinally and open at both the top and bottom ends, means forming a bore on opposite sides of said central passageway adjacent said planar sides, each said bore being adapted to receive a machine screw and each bore having a slot extending longitudinally in the adjacent planar side of said housing, said planar sides containing parallel longitudinally extending ribs laterally disposed on opposite sides of said slots defining a central guideway and two lateral guideways on each planar side, a T-shaped clamping bracket mounted with the vertical part in said central guideway and the horizontal part toward the top of said housing, a slidable guide member having an internally threaded portion mounted to move in said bore and having an external portion secured to the lower part of said T-shaped clamping bracket, a machine screw mounted for rotation in said bore and in the internally threaded portion of said guide member with the head outward and accessible through the opening in the top of said housing, means forming a sloping area on each of said planar sides whereby when said screw is rotated in one direction said T-shaped member is advanced and cammed outwardly so as to engage the inside of said panel and hold said switch unit in place and when said screw is rotated in the opposite direction said T-shaped member is retracted so as to permit said switch unit to be withdrawn from said panel, and switch actuating means operatively associated with said pushbutton to actuate the switches in said switch modules.

Claim 5

A pushbutton electrical switch unit comprising an elongated housing of generally rectangular cross section having two recessed sides, two parallel generally planar sides, a top and a bottom, said top having an opening therein, a removable pushbutton mounted in said opening, a flange extending laterally from said opening adapted to fit over a panel when said unit is inserted in a panel opening, the recesses in said recessed sides each opening rearwardly and adapted to receive molded switch modules, the inner walls of said recesses defining a central passageway running longitudinally and open at both the top and bottom ends, means forming a bore on opposite sides of said central passageway adjacent said planar sides, each said bore being adapted to receive a machine screw and each bore having a slot extending longitudinally in the adjacent planar side of said housing, said planar sides containing parallel longitudinally extending ribs laterally disposed on opposite sides of said slots defining a central guideway and two lateral guideways on each planar side, a T-shaped clamping bracket mounted with the vertical part in said central guideway and the horizontal part toward the top of said housing, a slidable guide member having an internally threaded portion mounted to move in said bore and having an external portion secured to the lower part of said T-shaped clamping bracket, a machine screw mounted for rotation in said bore and in the internally threaded portion of said guide member with the head outward and accessible through the opening in the top of said housing, means forming a sloping area on each of said planar sides whereby when said screw is rotated in one direction said T-shaped member is advanced and cammed outwardly so as to engage the inside of said panel and hold said switch unit in place and when said screw is rotated in the opposite direction said T-shaped member is retracted so as to permit said switch unit to be withdrawn from said panel, and switch actuating means operatively associated with said pushbutton to actuate the switches in said switch modules.

Claim 6

A switch unit as claimed in claim 3 in which said central passageway contains a removable lamp and lamp socket, together with electrical contacts connected to terminals extending through said opening in the bottom of said central passageway of said housing, said lamp being adapted when energized to iLluminate said pushbutton.

Claim 7

A switch unit as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said switch modules is retained in place by a switch module retaining cover which clamps against opposing sides of said housing, said module and said cover having interfitting connections.

Claim 8

A switch unit as claimed in claim 3 which comprises barrier means connected flush to one or more sides of said housing and extending upwardly.

Claim 9

A switch unit as claimed in claim 3 in which said switch actuating means comprises a yoke and lifter assembly comprising a horizontal member having two downwardly depending plates, each carrying a switch actuating member to actuate the switches in said switch modules, one of said plates having an opening therein extending vertically, a portion of said plate being bent inwardly to project into said opening, a coil spring engaged with said inwardly bent portion and seated on the bottom of an opening in the housing to normally bias said switch actuating means outwardly, the second of said plates containing a vertically and a horizontally intersecting aperture, and a spring pressed pawl mounted in an opening in the housing and having a pin projecting into said aperture in said second plate adapted to lock the switch actuating means in its innermost position.

Claim 10

An electrical switch unit comprising a molded housing with a recess therein adapted to receive a molded switch module, a molded switch module adapted to be received by said recess, said molded switch module having an outer face with outwardly extending projections and opposing sides substantially at right angles to said outer face, said opposing sides of said switch module having passageways therein and said recess in said housing having projecting portions engaging said passageways in a tight fit, and a retaining cover adapted to interlock with said housing and containing a recessed portion with openings therein adapted to receive said projections on the outer surface of said switch module in a close fit.

Claim 11

An electrical switch unit comprising a molded housing with a recess therein adapted to receive a molded switch module, a molded switch module adapted to be received by said recess, said molded switch module having an outer face with outwardly extending projections and opposing sides substantially at right angles to said outer face, said opposing sides of said switch module having passageways therein and said recess in said housing having projecting portions engaging said passageways in a tight fit, and a retaining cover adapted to interlock with said housing and containing a recessed portion with openings therein adapted to receive said projections on the outer surface of said switch module in a close fit.

Claim 12

A unit as claimed in claim 8 in which said retaining cover comprises an outer face and two opposing sides substantially at right angles to said outer face, said opposing sides extending inwardly and clamping against the outer sides of the recessed portion of said housing, said cover entirely covering the actuating elements and electrical contacting members of said switch module.

Claim 13

A unit as claimed in claim 8 in which the inwardly extending sides of said retaining cover contain indentations adapted to engage the outer sides of said housing and fit in recesses in said outer sides of said housing, said cover being removable only by displacing at least one of said inwardly extending sides of said cover outwardly from said housing.