Abstract: A push button switch having a self-indicating message display includes a push button capsule for being depressed into a housing for actuating a switch mounted in the housing. The push button capsule has a legend screen with a legend indicating use of the switch and a message screen for being displayed in the "on" position of the switch. The message screen fronts a shutter blade capsule mounted in the housing, and a pair of flexible shutter blades on opposite sides of the shutter blade capsule are curved toward one another over the message screen to black out the message when the switch is in the "off" position. The legend screen has light scattering capability that can black out the legend, when desired, and prevent reading the blacked out legend even in high ambient light conditions.

Abstract: A miniature illuminated push button switch includes a push button capsule mounted in a housing containing a switch assembly. The capsule contains a plurality of lamps for illuminating the face of the push button. The push button can be depressed into the housing for actuating the switch assembly, which includes a pair of sub-miniature switches mounted below a corresponding pair of spring biased plungers projecting from the capsule. The lamp contacts make contact with corresponding conductive volute spring contacts inside the housing. The spring biased plungers are pushed into contact with the switch contacts when the push button is depressed. The capsule can be removed from the housing, say for relamping, by pulling the capsule out of the housing to detach the capsule from the latch. An alternate action cam assembly latches the push button in a depressed position for holding the switch contacts closed on alternate actuations of the push button.

Abstract: A panel-mounted push-button assembly having an illuminated push-button removable from the front of the panel has a safety locking mechanism for preventing accidental operation of the push-button switch when the push-button is reinserted into operative position. The locking mechanism includes a cam member having a groove engaged by a cam follower. The groove is in the form of a closed loop path. The push-button is linked to the locking mechanism so that movement of the push-button moves the cam follower relative to the cam member along the groove. In the normal operating position the cam follower is in an intermediate position along the loop. When the push-button is pulled from the panel to remove it from the switch assembly, the cam follower is moved from the initial position to an end position.