Push Button Structure Patents (Class 116/DIG28)
  • Patent number: 5584563
    Abstract: An appliance control assembly includes an escutcheon assembly to support controls for the appliance. A push button switch mechanism includes a row of push buttons, each having an extended and a depressed position. The switch mechanism also includes a row of indicator flags integral with the push buttons for movement therewith. The escutcheon assembly includes a row of light ports positioned to be exposed to ambient light and adapted to pass ambient light through the escutcheon assembly. The switch mechanism further includes a row of prisms positioned adjacent the row of push buttons. The switch mechanism is mounted to the escutcheon assembly with the prisms aligned with the light ports to direct toward the indicator flags ambient light received through the light ports and to direct toward the light ports light reflected by the indicator flags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Stottmann
  • Patent number: 4771725
    Abstract: In a push button indicating device including a first slide member having an operational portion formed with an indicating portion on a front surface thereof, a second slide member slidably supported to the first slide member and having a substantially sectional L-shaped rotational member rotatably mounted on the side of the indicating portion, the rotational member having a light transmitting plate and a light shielding plate, a frame for slidably supporting the first slide member, and a lock for restricting a sliding position of the first slide member, wherein at least two positions of the first slide member are selected between a depressed position where the light transmitting plate faces the indicating portion and an undepressed position where the light shielding plate faces the indicating portion; the improvement comprises a light guiding member provided in the second slide member for guiding light to the rotational member, and a light transmitting hole formed through at least both of the first slide memb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyaguchi, Soetsu Kamada
  • Patent number: 4688512
    Abstract: A back lighted trip indicator for a circuit breaker comprising an opaque tubular shield and a light translucent prism telescopically received in the shield and movable from a position totally within said shield when the manual operator is in the "ON" position to an exposed condition when the manual operator moves to the "OFF" position thereby to reflect ambient light through a frontal face on the prism to back light indicia on the frontal face of the prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Mechanical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Alper, Kenneth C. Bakhaus, Michael H. Estkowski
  • Patent number: 4681061
    Abstract: A flush mounted indicating button assembly and operating button assembly each connected to a cover having a pair of holes which receive identical buttons of the assemblies. Each button includes a circular head portion having a flat top surface and a circular base portion having a lesser diameter than the head portion which has a flat bottom surface and defines a collar portion at the bottom of the head portion. The base portion of each bottom is provided with a circumferential channel adjacent the bottom surface which carries a retaining ring. The indicator button is positioned within the hole by a leaf spring member which is connected to the bottom surface of the cover and includes an opening shaped and dimensioned to permit passage of the base portion while preventing passage of the head portion of the button. The opening is in registration with the hole in the cover and a helical coil encircles the base portion intermediate the leaf spring member and the retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Dvorak, Charles E. Netolicky, Neil R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4104981
    Abstract: An indicator comprises first means adapted for emitting a ray of light; and second means having an indicating surface for receiving the ray of light to permit the ray of light to illuminate the indicating surface. The first and second means are movable relative to each other to vary intensity of illumination of the indicating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Ono, Koichi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 4071726
    Abstract: An electrical switch has an operating member movable between two positions and includes a light transmissive region in the operating member. The region is illuminated by a light source acting through a lens. Movement of the operating member between the two positions changes the relative position of the lens and the light source such that the area and intensity of the light on the light transmissive portion is varied in said two positions. This variation provides a visible indication of the operative position of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Lucas Electrical Company, Limited
    Inventor: Konrad Werda
  • Patent number: 3954085
    Abstract: A changeable exhibitor, with or without keyboard structure, is rendered self-restoring by use of a flexible strip arranged to lie in a selectable looped position indicative of the data being exhibited or being entered into an associated data processing system. The strip is fixed adjacent its ends and overlies a series of aligned apertures in a base. The strip is longer than the distance between its fixed ends so that it will loop into one of the apertures, one being provided for each data bit. As a different part of the strip is looped by a stylus, depressible key, or the like, into a different one of the apertures to exhibit or enter a different data bit, the first loop is concurrently and automatically recalled. A plurality of parallel independently flexible strips are arranged as a matrix exhibitor/keyboard, and bands of alternate colors aid in visually distinguishing the entered data from the unentered data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Ernie George Nassimbene