Flip-action guard and position indicator for push-to-actuate and push-to-release switch

Claim 1

A switch assembly including push-to-latch and push-to-release switch means adapted to be mounted in a mounting panel, said switch means including a push-button head manually accessible from the front of the mounting panel and guided for lineal reciprocation transversely to the panel through a range including an intermediate latched position and extending between an outer, released position of said assembly and an inner, latch-releasing position thereof, a flip cover, means for hingedly mounting said flip cover adjacent to said push-button head in fixed relation to the panel so as to swing about an axis transverse to such lineal reciprocation between an inner, limiting guard position overlying said head in its released position, and a fully outwardly extending position clearing the push-button head for manual access to said head, mutually interengageable abutment elements respectively carried by said flip cover and said push-button head disengaged in the released position of the push-button head and relatively positioned, firstly, to pass one another without engaging one another accompanying swinging of said flip cover to said fully outwardly extending position with said head in its released position, secondly, to engage one another with the flip cover maintained thereby partially outwardly extended with the head in its latched position, and thirdly, to engage one another in sliding contact terminated by one such abutment element passing out of engagement with the other accompanying movement of the flip cover inwardly and conjoint movement of the push-button head inwardly beyond latched position of the head, thereby to permit return of the flip cover to its guard position as the push-button head approaches latch-releasing position.