Abstract: A momentary or latching mechanical switch wherein the externally threaded outer end portion of the housing has axially parallel external grooves each including a deeper portion, and the frame for the illuminated knob for a reciprocable plunger in the housing has elastic arms extending into the grooves and provided with protuberances received in the deeper portions of the respective grooves. The arms are separably held in their grooves by a nut which meshes with the end portion and is rotatable in a direction to expose the arms. The housing is inserted into the opening of a control panel from within before the arms of the frame are inserted into their grooves from the outside of the control panel, and the nut is thereupon rotated against the inner side of the control panel to confine the arms in their grooves and to urge the frame against the outer side of the control panel. The inner end portion of the housing is separably coupled to an adapter which separably supports several microswitches.

Abstract: A multiple-switch arrangement wherein a battery of momentary and/or latching switches is mounted in a control panel and the inner end portions of switch housings have transversely extending channels for a centrally located tubular receptacle and two lateral control rails. The inner end portions of the housings carry adapters for blocks of microswitches which are actuated by motion transmitting posts secured to plungers which are reciprocable in the housings and can be depressed in response to displacement of knobs installed in the outer end portions of the housings. The posts which register with the receptacle can extend through the receptacle on their way into engagement with movable portions of the respective microswitches and thereby displace blocking members which are installed in the receptacle and serve to prevent simultaneous actuation of microswitches associated with two or more housings.