EP0713231B1 - Push-pull control button with latch particularly for controlling an electrical component - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally a control button on which, according to the preamble of claim 1 (see for example FR-A-2 212 626), it is necessary to act by depression to intervene on any underlying component, and, for example, any electrical component.

These control buttons, commonly called "push fist "when their shape allows them to be operated with the palm by hand, usually comprise a guide body, by which they are suitable to be mounted on any one support, a pusher, which, for action on the underlying component, is mounted to move axially in the guide body like a piston, a shaped control member general of mushroom, which, mounted axially movable by relative to the guide body, between an extended position waiting position and a depressed service position, includes a head, for user action, and an axis, for action on the pusher, and, associated with this control member, means return elastics, which constantly urge it in direction from its standby position.

The present invention relates more particularly to the case where, being commonly known control buttons "to push-pull type attachment ", it is further provided, part, hooking means, which, interposed on the path of the pusher, are capable of releasable retention thereof in at least one axial direction, in this case the axial direction going from the depressed service position to the extended position waiting for the control member, and, on the other hand, intervening between the pusher and the axis of the control member, means of coupling to play, which allow to exercise a traction on the pusher by means of the command, and thereby allow this organ to be brought back command in standby position.

These control buttons are for example used to ensure a stop that should be maintained.

To do this, just exercise an action driving on the control member.

Due to this pushing action, the pusher is itself moved towards the component to be controlled, which allows him to act on it, by doing it for example switch from one state to another.

At the same time, the pusher is caught under the attachment means, and therefore retained by them, it retains itself in the depressed service position the organ of control while maintaining the component in its new state underlying.

To return this component to its initial state, that is to say for a reverse tilting of this component of a from one state to another, one must exercise on the organ of command sufficient traction so that, driven by this control device, the pusher can once again pass elastically the attachment means, in the axial direction opposite to the previous one, and thus release this component.

But, in practice, having regard to the races available, the action of the pusher on the underlying component intervenes before it crosses the attachment means.

In other words, switching from one state to another from this component occurs before the pusher is hooked, and, therefore, of the control member.

Consequently, if this control member is inappropriately released before this hanging, the component underlying inevitably returns to its original state then even that he was temporarily flipped to another state in the interval.

In other words, the underlying component is, in this case, inadvertently the object of two state changes successive.

The present invention generally has for subject a provision to avoid this drawback.

More specifically, it relates to a button control device of the kind comprising a guide body, by which it is suitable to be mounted on any support, a pusher, which, for action on any underlying component, is mounted axially movable in this guide body in the manner of a piston, attachment means which, interposed on the path of the pusher, for a retention disengageable from it in at least one axial direction, are elastically erasable, a control member, which, mounted axially movable relative to the guide body, between a standby position and a depressed service position, has a head, for user action, and an axis, for action on the pusher, elastic return means, which, associated with this control member, constantly solicit the latter in the direction of its standby exit position, and, intervening between the pusher and the axis of the control member, means of coupling to play, which allow to exercise a traction on the pusher by means of the command, this command button being generally characterized in that, in association with the pusher, said below for simple convenience main push, it includes, in in addition, between this main pusher and the axis of the controls, in line with the main button, a button auxiliary, through which said axis of the organ can intervene on the main button, and which is also able to cooperate in disengageable retention with hooking means, with, intervening between the pusher main and auxiliary pusher, elastic means which, by themselves, constitute the means elastic return associated with the control member.

Thanks to such an arrangement, it is advantageously possible to have, for the main pusher, a stroke axial sufficient for its action on the underlying component, and, therefore, the tilting of it from a state to a other, only intervenes after the means have been crossed hanging.

In other words, the underlying component is not advantageously the object of no change of state before this catching, and an unexpected release of the control member in the meantime thus remains without effect.

Jointly, after crossing the means the main pusher, by itself, has away from the auxiliary pusher, from the entire axial stroke necessary to act with certainty, and frankly, on the underlying component, without risking releasing it inadvertently before a pull has been duly exercised for this purpose on the control member.

Preferably, according to a provision complementary to the invention, it is associated with the control, a position indicator, which is mounted movable between two positions, namely, a retracted position, when the control member is in the standby out position, and a deployed position, when this control member is in recessed service position, and at least a portion of which, hidden in stowed position, becomes apparent in position deployed.

Thus, the extended, waiting, or depressed position of service, of the control unit, is clearly indicated, even as the stroke of this control member from one to the other of these positions is usually too weak for its sole examination makes it possible to unambiguously determine the position.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un bouton de commande suivant l'invention, pour la position sortie d'attente de son organe de commande ;

la figure 2 en est une vue en perspective pour la position enfoncée de service de cet organe de commande ;

la figure 3 est, à échelle supérieure, et vus de dessous, une vue en perspective de certains des constituants de ce bouton de commande ;

la figure 4 est, à échelle différente, une vue en coupe axiale de ce bouton de commande, suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1 ;

les figures 5A, 5B et 5C en sont des vues en coupe axiale, qui, analogues à celle de la figure 4, illustrent diverses phases successives du fonctionnement du bouton de commande suivant l'invention ;

la figure 6 est une vue partielle en coupe axiale qui, analogue également à celle de la figure 4, en ne reprenant que pour partie celle-ci, se rapporte à une variante de réalisation.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a control button according to the invention, for the standby output position of its control member;

Figure 2 is a perspective view for the depressed service position of this control member;

Figure 3 is, on a larger scale, and seen from below, a perspective view of some of the components of this control button;

Figure 4 is, on a different scale, an axial sectional view of this control button, along the line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are views in axial section, which, similar to that of Figure 4, illustrate various successive phases of the operation of the control button according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a partial view in axial section which, also similar to that of Figure 4, taking only part thereof, relates to an alternative embodiment.

As schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it is, overall, to act on any component 10, and, for example, on any electrical component, such as a switch, to cause a change of state, that is to say the switch from one state to another.

For action on this component 10 it is implemented a control button 11 comprising, overall, a body of guide 12, by which, as shown schematically in lines interrupted in Figure 4, it is adapted to be mounted on a any support 13, a pusher 14, which, for action on the underlying component 10, is mounted axially movable, at the way of a piston, in the guide body 12, means attachment 15, which, interposed on the path of the pusher 14, for releasable retention thereof in an axial direction at less, are elastically erasable, a control member 16, generally mushroom shaped, which, mounted axially movable relative to the guide body 12, between an extended position stand, shown in Figures 1 and 4, and a position service depressed, shown in FIGS. 2 and 5C, comprises a head 18, for user action, and an axis 19, for action on the pusher 14, elastic means of reminder, which, according to arrangements described in more detail subsequently, constantly request the control unit 16 towards its standby position, and, intervening between the pusher 14 and the axis 19 of the command 16, according to provisions also described more in detail later, play coupling means 20, which, in the axial direction opposite to the previous one, allow to exercise traction on the pusher 14 via the member 16.

For example, and as shown schematically in Figure 4, the support 13 is a simple plate in a recess 17 of which the guide body 12 is engaged by a portion threaded 21.

In practice, the recess 17 of the support 13 and the portion threaded 21 of the guide body 12 have a circular outline.

On one side, the guide body 12 bears against the support 13 by a shoulder 23, and, on the other side, a nut 33 is screwed onto its threaded portion 21, for its locking in position on this support 13.

In the embodiments shown, the head 18 of the control member 16 has a circular outline in plan, and it peripherally comprises a skirt 24 by which it cooperates in locking in rotation and in guiding with a sleeve 25 fixed.

In practice, this sleeve 25 belongs in one piece to the guide body 12.

It intervenes at the periphery of a sole 26, of circular outline, which, constituting a radial development at the upper part of the threaded portion 21, formed by its lower surface of the shoulder 23.

In the embodiments shown, the means hooking 15 are constituted by a spring, which extends annularly around the axis of the assembly, and which is wedged axially with respect to the guide body 12.

In practice, it is a tension spring, of the type coil spring, the cross section of which is circular, and which, by its ends, is closed in a loop on itself.

For the axial retention of the spring thus constituting the attachment means 15, a fixed ring 27 is provided, that is to say a ring which, coaxial with the guide body 12, being arranged in alignment with the threaded portion 21 thereof, is set axially and circularly with respect to this guide body 12.

In practice, and for reasons which will appear below, this ring 27 successively comprises two sections of different diameters, namely, at its bottom, a section of larger diameter 27A, by the edge 28 of which it is applied to the sole 26 of the guide body 12, and, at its upper part, a section of smaller diameter 27B, which extends freely around the axis 19 of the command 16, remote from it.

A flange 29, in screw connection with a socket 30 coming in one piece from the sole 26 of the guide body 12, maintains the ring 27 in abutment against this sole 26, in bearing for this purpose on a shoulder 31 provided for this purpose protruding from the larger diameter section 27A of this ring 27.

For locking in rotation on the guide body 12, the ring 27 has, circularly, from place to place, protruding on edge 28 of its largest section diameter 27A, pins 32 by which it is engaged with recesses, not visible in the figures, provided in hollow correspondence therefor on the sole 26 of the body guide 12.

By its section of larger diameter 27A, the ring 27 also forms internally at its base, in cooperation with the sole 26 of the guide body 12, a housing 34 at the favor of which extends the spring constituting the means hanging 15.

This housing 34 has, radially, a development sufficient to allow some radial extension of these attachment means 15.

The pusher 14, said below, for reasons which will appear later, main pusher, comprises, of a in one piece, concentrically, and following a contour circular, in the embodiments shown, of a hand, a peripheral flange 35, by which it is mounted sliding in the guide body 12, and, more specifically, in the threaded portion 21 thereof, and, on the other hand, a central barrel 36, which, of height greater than that of the peripheral flange 35, is connected at its base to this, and on which the coupling means intervene clearance 20 provided between the assembly and the axis 19 of the command 16, with, annularly, between this flange peripheral 35 and this was central 36, a blind groove 37.

In the embodiments shown, the peripheral flange 35 of the main pusher 14 door, externally, by means of an annular groove 38, a seal seal 39, and in practice it is a lip seal.

In the embodiments shown, the means coupling 20 acting between the main pusher 14 and the axis 19 of the control member 16 comprise, on the one hand, on any of the constituents that form this pusher main 14 and this axis 19, at least one leg elastically deformable 40, which, elongated generally parallel to the axis of the assembly, comprises, transversely, projecting, a hooking bead 41, and, on the other hand, on the other of these constituents, a recess 42 in favor of which can be discuss this hooking bead 41.

In practice, two elastically deformable legs 40, at least, are planned, being regularly distributed circularly around the axis of the assembly, and they are formed by the free end, duly fragmented for this purpose by slots, from the central barrel 36 of the main pusher 14.

Together, the corresponding recesses 42 belong to the axis 19 of the control member 16.

To this end, this axis 19 is internally hollowed out with a bore 44 into which the free end of the central barrel penetrates 36 of the main pusher 14 forming the legs elastically deformable 40.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in Figures 1 to 5, the bore 44 of the axis 19 of the control member 16 is closed on the surface of the head 18 of this control member 16, and the recesses 42 are constituted by windows locally aperturing this axis 19.

According to the invention, the control button 11 comprises, in association with the main pusher 14, between the pusher main 14 and axis 19 of the control member 16, in the alignment of the main pusher 14, an auxiliary pusher 46, through which the axis 19 of the control member 16 can intervene on the main pusher 14, and that is it also able to cooperate in disengageable restraint with the means attachment 15, with, intervening between the main pusher 14 and the auxiliary pusher 46, elastic means spacers 47 which, by themselves, constitute the means return elastic associated with the control member 16.

In practice, the elastic spacing means 47 are constituted by a compression spring, of the spring type sausage, which, arranged annularly in the blind groove 37 of the main pusher 14, door, on the one hand, on the bottom 48 of this blind bleeding 37, and, on the other hand, on a shoulder 49 internally presented for this purpose by the pusher auxiliary 46.

In practice, too, the auxiliary pusher 46 is an annular piece which extends around the axis 19 of the member control 16, between this and the smallest section diameter 27B of the ring 27, and it is slidably mounted in the latter.

At a distance from the shoulder 49, the auxiliary pusher 46 has, internally, a second shoulder 50, which is oriented in the opposite direction, and by which, under the stress elastic spacing means 47, it bears against a shoulder 51 provided externally for this purpose on the axis 19 of the control member 16.

Overall, the auxiliary pusher 46 is axially in the extension of the peripheral flange 35 of the main button 14.

For cooperation in temporary detention with the means attachment 15, the main pusher 14 comprises, annularly, projecting outwards, on its flange device 35, at its end close to the auxiliary pusher 46, a bead 52, including that, 53, at least of the sides which is turned on the opposite side to the auxiliary pusher 46 extends in oblique to the axis of the assembly, approaching of this axis as it moves away from the pusher auxiliary 46.

In practice, the other, 54, of the sides of this bead 52 extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the whole, forming the corresponding end edge of the main pusher 14, and therefore, more precisely, of the peripheral flange 35 thereof.

To facilitate the molding of the legs elastically deformable 40, the end of the peripheral flange 35 of the main pusher 14 having the bead 52 is, in the embodiments shown, indented by notches 56, in correspondence with these legs elastically deformable 40, above the annular groove 38 serving as seal housing 39.

For cooperation in temporary detention with the means attachment 15, the auxiliary pusher 46 comprises, annularly, projecting outwards, at its end close to the main pusher 14, a bead 58, including that, 59, at least, from the flanks which is turned away from the side main plunger 14 extends obliquely to the axis of the whole, approaching this axis as and when away from the main pusher 14.

In practice, the other, 60, of the sides of this bead 58 extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the whole, forming the corresponding end edge of the auxiliary pusher 46.

In the embodiments shown, it is associated with the control member 16, a position indicator 62, which is mounted movable between two positions, namely a retracted position, Figures 1 and 4, when the control 16 is in the standby out position, and a position deployed, FIGS. 2 and 5C, when this control member 16 is in the depressed service position, and a portion of which minus, detailed below, is hidden in the retracted position and becomes apparent in the deployed position.

In practice, in the embodiments represented, this position indicator 62 comprises, on the one hand, a hub 63, by which it rotatably surrounds the axis 19 of the control member 16, above the auxiliary pusher 46, and, on the other hand, an opening 64, which, in the shape of a wing, extends, in a circular sector, under the head 18 of the control member 16, and jointly the head 18 of the control member 16 comprises, locally, on the path of this blooming 64, a window 65.

In practice, too, this window 65 is closed by a transparent porthole 66 in the embodiments represented.

To control the position indicator 62 in rotation, cam means 67 are provided between it and the ring 27 fixed.

In practice, these cam means 67 comprise, on the ring 27, at least one helical groove 67A, and, in correspondence, on the position indicator 62, at least one lug 67B engaged with this helical groove 67A.

For example, and as shown, two grooves 67A, and therefore two pins 67B, are provided.

The ring 27 thus associated with the position indicator 62 for its rotation control is the same as that associated with auxiliary pusher 46 for guiding the latter.

The grooves 67A affect its smaller section diameter 27B.

For example, and as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, they affect this section at full thickness of smaller diameter 27B over their entire length.

However, and as shown in broken lines in this FIG. 3, a bridge 68, of lesser thickness, can be provided between their two lips at their outlet, to avoid a cone opening of the smaller diameter section 27B of the ring 27.

In the embodiment shown in lines continuous in FIG. 3, the position indicator 62 does not include that a flourishing 64, and, as is visible on the FIG. 2, this may include any mention 70.

But, according to the variant shown schematically in lines interrupted in FIG. 3, two openings 64, identical to each other, can be provided to allow indifferently mounting the position indicator 62 in one direction or in the other with respect to the axis 19 of the control member 16.

Preferably, this position indicator 62 is in color.

For the standby position shown on the Figures 1 and 4, the main pusher 14 is hooked by its bead 52 on the spring constituting the attachment means 15, and thus retained by this spring, it is in a way in high position in the guide body 12, its free end 71 being far behind that 72 of the threaded portion 21 of the latter.

Thus retracted into the guide body 12, the pusher main 14 is away from component 10, which, for example, is in some first state.

Jointly, the pins 67B of the position indicator 62 are engaged with the grooves 67A of the ring 27, at neighborhood of the outlet of these, and, by construction, the provisions are such that the flourishing 64 of this LED position 62 is then angularly away from the window 65 of the head 18 of the control member 16.

Together, also, the auxiliary pusher 46, driven back by the elastic spacing means 47, extends to distance from the main pusher 14, its retention being ensured, through the control member 16, by the coupling means with clearance 20 acting between the axis 19 of this control member 16 and the main pusher 14.

If, according to arrow F1 in FIGS. 1, 4, 5A and 5B, a driving action is exerted axially on the organ control 16, this control member 16 abandons its position exit from waiting, and, thus requested towards its depressed service position, he pushes the pusher with him auxiliary 46.

After absorbing the distance between it initially from the main pusher 14, the auxiliary pusher 46 comes to bear on this one.

The driving-in movement of the control member 16 being continued, the auxiliary pusher 46 constrains the main pusher 14 to pass elastically through the spring constituting the attachment means 15, causing temporarily a radial extension of these, such as shown diagrammatically by the arrows F2 in FIG. 5A.

In practice, the bead 58 of the auxiliary pusher 46 crosses the fastening means 15 at the same time as the bead 52 of the main pusher 14, together with this one.

The driving action of the control member 16 being continued, FIG. 5B, the main pusher 14, duly driven back by the auxiliary pusher 46, reaches a low position, to which, as shown, its free end 71 is substantially level with that 72 of the threaded portion 21 of the guide body 12.

It thus acts on component 10, which, in consequence, switches from its first state to another.

If, from this moment, the control member 16 is released, the auxiliary pusher 46, and, with it, the member 16, are pushed back, by the elastic means spacing 47, towards the standby exit position of the control member 16, according to arrow F3 in the figure 5C.

The auxiliary pusher 46 is therefore hooked, at its turn, by its bead 58, on the spring constituting the attachment means 15, as shown in FIG. 5C, in the axial direction opposite to that in which previously the hooking of the main pusher 14 on these same attachment means 15, and, by construction, it is made so that the force of the spring constituting the means spacing 47 is less than that required for crossing of the attachment means 15.

The auxiliary pusher 46 is thus retained by the hooking means 15, and therefore under the stress on the elastic spacing means 47, the main pusher 14 is itself held in position low in the guide body 12.

The main pusher 14 thus remaining in contact with the component 10, it remains in the state which is then the his.

In practice, this is advantageously so even if, as soon as the fastening means 15 have been crossed, the command 16 is unexpectedly released.

Indeed, taking support from the auxiliary pusher 46, then retained by these attachment means 15, the means spacers 47 are sufficient on their own to press the pusher towards its lower position main 14 and keep it there.

When the main pusher 14 is thus in position low, it retains, in the depressed service position, the organ control 16, by the play coupling means 20 acting between it and the axis 19 of this control member 16.

In conjunction with the insertion of the control 16, the position indicator 62 is the subject of a rotation about the axis 19 of this control member 16, along arrow F4 of FIG. 5A, due to the means of cam 67 intervening between it and the fixed ring 27.

The flourishing 64 which it comprises thus passes gradually from its retracted position, shown schematically in lines interrupted in FIG. 4, in its deployed position, shown in solid lines in Figures 5B and 5C.

To return the control member 16 to the extended position waiting, exercise on it, following arrow F3 of FIG. 5C, a force sufficient for the bead 58 of the auxiliary pusher 46 can pass elastically through the attachment means 15.

Driven by the control member 16, due to the coupling means with clearance 20 acting between it and the latter, the main pusher 14 is then itself brought back to its initial high position, as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus released, component 10 returns corollarily itself to its first state.

In the alternative embodiment shown in the Figure 6, the head 18 of the control member 16 comprises, in its central area, a recess 74, which, in continuity with the bore 44 of the axis 19, gives access to the legs elastically deformable 40 of the play coupling means 20.

It is thus possible to act on them for a possible separation of the control member 16 vis-à-vis of the main pusher 14, and, therefore, for a possible disassembly of the control button 11 as a whole.

In the embodiment shown, the recess 74 is closed by a removable plug 75, and the latter carries axially a small column 76 which buttresses the legs elastically deformable 40 of the coupling means with clearance 20, to prevent them from unexpectedly escaping from the recesses 42 with which they cooperate.

In practice, in the embodiment shown, these recesses 42 are simply constituted by a internal offset of the bore 44 of the axis 19.

For example, and as shown, the plug 75 is screwed into recess 74.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but includes any variant without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims (20)

1. A control button of the kind comprising a guide body (12), by means of which it is adapted to be mounted on any support (13), a push member (14) which, for acting on any subjacent component (10), is mounted movably axially in said guide body (12) in the manner of a piston, latch means (15) which, interposed on the path of movement of the push member (14), for releasably retaining same in an axial direction at least, can be elastically moved aside, a control member (16) which, mounted movably axially with respect to the guide body (12) between an outwardly disposed waiting position and a depressed service position, comprises a head (18), for action by the user, and an axis portion (19), for acting on the push member (14), resilient return means which urge the control member (16) in the direction of the outwardly disposed waiting position and, operatively disposed between the push member (14) and the axis portion (19) of the control member (16), free motion-type coupling means (20) which make it possible to apply a pulling force to the push member (14) by way of the control member (16), characterised in that, in association with the push member (14) referred to hereinafter for the sake of convenience as the main push member, it comprises, between said main push member (14) and the axis portion (19) of the control member (16), in alignment with the main push member (14), an auxiliary push member (46), by way of which said axis portion (19) of the control member (16) can act on said main push member (14), and which is also capable of co-operating in a releasable retaining condition with the latch means (15) with, operatively disposed between the main push member (14) and the auxiliary push member (46), resilient spreading-apart means (47) which by themselves constitute the resilient return means associated with the control member (16).
2. A control button according to claim 1 characterised in that, for co-operation in temporary retaining relationship with the latch means (15), the main push member (14) comprises in projecting relationship at its end adjacent the auxiliary push member (46), a flange (52) of which that one (53) at least of the flanks thereof which is towards the side opposite to the auxiliary push member (46) extends obliquely with respect to the axis of the assembly.
3. A control button according to claim 2 characterised in that the other (54) of the flanks of the flange (52) of the main push member (14) extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the assembly, forming the corresponding end face of said main push member (14).
4. A control button according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that, for co-operating in temporary retaining relationship with the latch means (15), the auxiliary push member (46) comprises in projecting relationship at its end adjacent the main push member (14) a flange (58) of which that one (59) at least of the flanks thereof which is towards the side opposite to the main push member (14) extends obliquely with respect to the axis of the assembly.
5. A control button according to claim 4 characterised in that the other (60) of the flanks of the flange (58) of the auxiliary push member (46) extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the assembly, forming the corresponding end face of said auxiliary push member (46).
6. A control button according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the auxiliary push member (46) is mounted slidably in a fixed ring (27).
7. A control button according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the latch means (15) are formed by a spring which extends annularly around the axis of the assembly and which is fixed axially with respect to the guide body (12).
8. A control button according to claims 6 and 7 in combination characterised in that the fixed ring (27) forms with the guide body (12) a housing (34), through which extends the spring constituting the latch means (15).
9. A control button according to either one of claims 6 and 7 characterised in that the spring constituting the latch means (15) is a tension spring of the coil spring type of circular cross-section which is closed to itself in a loop.
10. A control button according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the free motion-type coupling means (20) operatively disposed between the main push member (14) and the axis portion (19) of the control member (16) comprise on the one hand on either one of the constituents that are formed by said main push member (14) and said axis portion (19) at least one elastically deformable lug (40) which, elongate generally parallel to the axis of the assembly, comprises a hooking flange (41) transversely in projecting relationship and on the other hand on the other of said constituents an opening (42), by virtue of which said hooking flange (41) can move axially.
11. A control button according to claim 10 characterised in that the head (18) of the control member (16) comprises in its central zone an opening (74) giving access to the elastically deformable lug or lugs (40) of the free motion-type coupling means (20).
12. A control button according to claim 11 characterised in that the opening (74) in the head (18) of the control member (16) is closed by a removable plug (75) and the latter axially carries a column portion (76) which supports the elastically deformable lug or lugs (40) of the free motion-type coupling means (20).
13. A control button according to any one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the head (18) of the control member (16) comprises a skirt (24) by way of which it co-operates in guidance and rotation-locking relationship with a fixed sleeve (25).
14. A control button according to claim 13 characterised in that the sleeve (25) belongs in one piece to the guide body (12).
15. A control button according to any one of claims 1 to 14 characterised in that associated with the control member (16) is a position indicator means (62) which is mounted movably between two positions, namely a retracted position when the control member (16) is in the outwardly disposed waiting position and a deployed position when the control member (16) is in the depressed service position, and of which a portion at least, which is hidden in the retracted position, becomes apparent in the deployed position.
16. A control button according to claim 15 characterised in that the position indicator means (62) is mounted rotatably about the axis portion (19) of the control member (16).
17. A control button according to either one of claims 15 and 16 characterised in that the position indicator means (62) comprises on the one hand a hub (63) by means of which it rotatably surrounds the axis portion (19) of the control member (16) and on the other hand at least one enlargement portion (64) which extends beneath the head (18) of the control member (16) and in conjunction the head (18) of the control member (16) locally comprises a window (65) on the path of movement of said enlargement portion (64).
18. A control button according to any one of claims 3 to 17 characterised in that, for rotational control of the position indicator means (62), cam means (67) are provided between said position indicator means (62) and a fixed ring (27).
19. A control button according to claim 18 characterised in that the cam means (67) comprise at least one helicoidal groove (67A) on the fixed ring (27) and at least one lug (67B) on the position indicator means (62), the lug being engaged with said groove (67A).
20. A control button according to claims 6 and 18 in combination characterised in that the fixed ring (27) associated with the position indicator means (62) for rotational control thereof is the same as that associated with the auxiliary push member (46) for guiding same.

Images