Indicating push button for push button switches

Claim 2

An indicating push button for a push button switch, said button comprising: a housing having a front end with a window therethrough through which indicating surfaces in the housing may be viewed; a drive mechanism in said housing comprising lever means; two alternately visible indicating surfaces pivotally attached to said lever means and being pivotable so that the one or the other of said surfaces becomes visible through said window; said lever means having a first pivot axis fixedly located in said housing and about which said lever means is pivotable with respect to said housing, and means in said housing to pivot said surfaces upon pivoting of said lever means; force applying means in said housing positioned to apply force upon said lever means to pivot it about said first axis; said force applying means being held stationary relative to motion of said housing; said lever means being movable past said force applying means and said force applying means being positioned such that said force applying means applies force to said lever means first on one side of said first axis and then on the other side of said first axis, causing said lever means to pivot in one direction and in the opposite direction as said housing is shifted past said force applying means.

Claim 3

An indicating push button for a push button switch, said button comprising: a housing having a front end with a window therethrough through which indicating surfaces in the housing may be viewed; a drive mechanism in said housing comprising lever means; two alternately visible indicating surfaces pivotally attached to said lever means and being pivotable so that the one or the other of said surfaces becomes visible through said window; said lever means having a first pivot axis fixedly located in said housing and about which said lever means is pivotable with respect to said housing, and means in said housing to pivot said surfaces upon pivoting of said lever means; force applying means in said housing positioned to apply force uPon said lever means to pivot it about said first axis; said force applying means being held stationary relative to motion of said housing; said lever means being movable past said force applying means and said force applying means being positioned such that said force applying means applies force to said lever means, causing said lever means to pivot in one direction and in the opposite direction as said housing is shifted past said force applying means; said indicating surfaces are set at an angle to each other and together comprise an indicating element; said lever means including a pivoting lever carrying said indicating element in a rocking manner; said indicating element being pivotable about a second pivot located on said pivoting lever; said second pivot is near to said housing front end.

Claim 4

An indicating push button for a push button switch, said button comprising: a housing having a front end with a window therethrough through which indicating surfaces in the housing may be viewed; a drive mechanism in said housing comprising lever means; two alternately visible indicating surfaces pivotally attached to said lever means and being pivotable so that the one or the other of said surfaces becomes visible through said window; said lever means having a first pivot axis fixedly located in said housing and about which said lever means is pivotable with respect to said housing, and means in said housing to pivot said surfaces upon pivoting of said lever means; force applying means in said housing positioned to apply force uPon said lever means to pivot it about said first axis; said force applying means being held stationary relative to motion of said housing; said lever means being movable past said force applying means and said force applying means being positioned such that said force applying means applies force to said lever means, causing said lever means to pivot in one direction and in the opposite direction as said housing is shifted past said force applying means; said indicating surfaces are set at an angle to each other and together comprise an indicating element; said lever means including a pivoting lever carrying said indicating element in a rocking manner; said indicating element being pivotable about a second pivot located on said pivoting lever; said second pivot is near to said housing front end.

Claim 5

The indicating push button of claim 2, wherein said lever means further includes an operating lever located rearwardly in said housing of said pivoting lever; said operating lever being connected to said pivoting lever at said second pivot to move said second pivot across said housing before said window.

Claim 6

The indicating push button of claim 3, further comprising lands projecting into and fixed in said housing and positioned to be between said indicating surfaces and to be engaged by said indicating surfaces as said indicating element moves across said housing, said lands being positioned to obstruct motion of one of said indicating surfaces at a time, and thereby to pivot said indicating element.

Claim 7

The indicating push button of claim 3, wherein said force applying means comprises a spring positioned to apply continuous biasing force in one direction to pivot said operating lever.

Claim 8

The indicating push button of claim 3, further comprising cam means positioned at said forward end of said housing; said cam means being shaped such that as said second pivot moves across said housing, said indicating surfaces engage and are pivoted by said cam means.

Claim 9

An indicating push button for a push button switch, said button comprising: a housing having a front end with a window therethrough through which indicating surfaces in the housing may be viewed; two alternately visible indicating surfaces which are mounted at an angle with respect to said window; a drive mechanism in said housing for said indicating surfaces; said drive mechanism comprising a first rotatable element, having a first peripheral surface which is engaged by a second peripheral surface to rotate said first peripheral surface and said first element; said indicating surfaces being attached to and rotatable with said first element; said first element having a first pivot axis about which it is rotatable with respect to said housing and said rotating of said first element pivots said indicating surfaces such that one or the other of said indicating surfaces becomes visible through said window; a second element held stationary in said housing and stationary with respect to rotation of said first element; said second element having said second peripheral surface that engages said first peripheral surface and said first and said second peripheral surfaces mesh; said drive mechanism further comprising first means located in said housing for operating upon said first element to cause same to move across said housing as said first and said second peripheral surfaces mesh, thereby causing rotation of said first element and pivoting of said indicating surfaces as said first element moves across said housing.

Claim 10

An indicating push button for a push button switch, said button comprising: a housing having a front end with a window therethrough through which indicating surfaces in the housing may be viewed; two alternately visible indicating surfaces which are mounted at an angle with respect to said window; a drive mechanism in said housing for said indicating surfaces; said drive mechanism comprising a first rotatable element, having a first peripheral surface which is engaged by a second peripheral surface to rotate said first peripheral surface and said first element; said indicating surfaces being attached to and rotatable with said first element; said first element having a first pivot axis about which it is rotatable with respect to said housing and said rotating of said first element pivots said indicating surfaces such that one or the other of said indicating surfaces becomes visible through said window; a second element held stationary in said housing and stationary with respect to rotation of said first element; said second element having said second peripheral surface that engages said first peripheral surface and said first and said second peripheral surfaces mesh; said drive mechanism further comprising first means located in said housing for operating upon said first element to cause same to move across said housing as said first and said second peripheral surfaces mesh, thereby causing rotation of said first element and pivoting of said indicating surfaces as said first element moves across said housing.

Claim 11

The indicating push button of claim 7, wherein said first means comprises an operating lever extending through said housing and having a second pivot axis that is relatively stationary in said housing and about which said lever is pivotable in said housing; said operating lever being connected with said first element first pivot such that pivoting of said lever around its said second pivot axis moves said first pivot across said housing; said force Applying means in said housing being positioned to apply force upon said lever to pivot it about said second pivot axis; said force applying means being held stationary relative to motion of said housing; said lever being movable past said force applying means and said force applying means being positioned such that said force applying means applies force to said lever, causing said lever to pivot in one direction and in the opposite direction as said housing is shifted past said force applying means.

Claim 12

The indicating push button of claim 8, wherein said first peripheral surface and said second peripheral surface both comprise meshing toothed surfaces; said first peripheral surface is curved about an axis that is coincident with the junction of said indicating surfaces and with said second axis.

Claim 13

The indicating push button of claim 8, wherein there are two said first elements and their said first peripheral surfaces and two said second elements and their said second peripheral surfaces with one of each said elements along a respective opposite side of said indicating surfaces; said first elements carry bearing pins; said operating lever having openings for receiving said bearing pins such that said first elements are connected to said lever for being moved across said housing thereby.