Illuminating device for a push-button switch

Claim 1

In a device for illuminating at least one hood-shaped push button of a push-button switch having at least one source of light and having light-guide means acted on by the source, the push button having a transparent area, the improvement further comprising a light-conducting prism disposed in the hood-like push button, said light-conducting prism having: an active illuminating surface adjacent to the transparent area of the push button, and two additional surfaces of said prism, a first of said two additional surfaces lies on a longitudinal wall of the hood-shaped push button adjacent the source of light, said hood-shaped push button defines a light-passage opening in a vicinity of said first additional surface, the latter being illuminable through said light-passage opening such that in one position of the push button said prism is directly illuminated by the source of light, said hood-shaped push button defines another light-passage opening, a second of said two additional surfaces constitutes a side of the prism opposite a front side of the push button and extends at an inclination relative to said first additional surface towards the source of light and is illuminable through said another light-passage opening in another position of the push button such that said prism is indirectly illuminated by the source of light.