US3339428A

US3339428A - Push button switch

Info

Publication number: US3339428A
Application number: US427602A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond F Lewandowski; Jr Harry S Tice
Original assignee: Oak Electro Netics Corp
Current assignee: Oak Electro Netics Corp
Priority date: 1965-01-25
Filing date: 1965-01-25
Publication date: 1967-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-05

Description

Sept. 5, 1967 RF. LEWAND OWSKI ETAL 3,339,428

' PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Sept. 5,1967 Y F. LEWANDOWSKI ETAL 3,3

' PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 1965 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1967 RL F. LEWANDOWS KI ETAL 3,339,428

- PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 11965 4 Sheets-Sheet s Sept. 5, 1967 R. F. LEWANDOWSKI ETAL 3,339,423

- PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

VENDING MACHINE United States Patent Ofiice 3,339,428 PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Raymond F. Lewandowski, Mount Prospect, and Harry S. Tice, Jr., Crystal Lake, 111., assignors to Oak Electro/ Netics Corp., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 427,602 11 Claims. (Cl. 74483) This invention relates to a push button switch mechanism, and more particularly to a push button switch wherein an operator manually moves a push button a predetermined distance, and the switch mechanism automatically actuates the correct switch in response thereto, completing the operation.

The push button switch disclosed herein is particularly adapted for use in a vending machine having post selection, i.e., choice of the product to be vended after the money is deposited, although the switch is not to be limited to such a use since many other applications are possible. In vending machines utilizing post selection it is important that the push button switch mechanim allow only one basic choice of selection, rejecting further selections, and thereafter resetting when the desired vending function has been completed. Such a switch should be constructed with a safety feature that will not allow the vending function to be accomplished unless the correct amount of money has been deposited in the coin acceptor in the vending machine. A push button switch should further be adaptable to accomplish a variety of different switching functions when a single push button is manually actuated by an operator.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of an improved push button switch for actuating one or more switches when the push button associated therewith is manually actuated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a push button switch that is especially adapted for use 'in a vending machine utilizing post selection.

One feature of this invention is the provision of a push button switch wherein the operator makes a selection by partially actuating a push button and a mechanism automatically actuates the corresponding switch.

Another feature of this invention is the provision in a push button switch of simplified mechanical means for preventing a desired selection from being completed if a proper condition of the coin acceptor or another monitoring devices has not been established.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a push button switch wherein the actual work of switching is accomplished by means of an electromechanical device actuated when a push button is moved a predetermined amount.

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of a push button switch having a plurality of push rods,

the depression of any push rod causing a latch bar to move in response thereto, and a solenoid operated mechanism which continues the motion of the latch bar after a push rod has been depressed a predetermined distance, the latch bar thereafter actuating the switches that correspond to the selected switching function.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view, partly in section, of a switch embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view of the switch with 3 ,339,428 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 the switch cover shown in FIGURE 2 removed and with an additional section of switching added to illustrate another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary exploded view showing in detail the location of the various parts comprising one section of the push button switch;

FIGURES 6 to 9 are enlarged diagrams of a slider pin and a portion of a latch bar illustrating operation of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary top view taken along lines Ill-10 of FIGURE 3 and illustrating in more detail the spring loaded slider utilized in the illustrated embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the push button switch utilized with a vending machine having post selection.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms and it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The novel push button switch disclosed herein can be employed with the necessary number of push rods to provide the various switching operations desired. In the push button switch illustrated in the diagrams, three push rods have been shown, to exemplify the invention.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, three push rods, 20, 21 and 22, are slidably mounted in a frame 25. The push rod 20 is illustrated in a partially depressed position. The depression of any push r-od causes a latch bar 26 to move in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal motion of the depressed push button, i.e., to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1. After the latch bar 26 is moved a predetermined distance in the lateral direction, a cam surface 27 on bar 26 abuts an arm 29 that rides against the edge of the bar 26. This abutment causes arm 29 to ride over the cam surface 27, depressing arm 29 against a snap switch 30 which is actuated thereby. Switch 30 in turn causes a solenoid 32 to be energized by a source of electrical power (not illustrated), causing solenoid armature 33 which is attached to latch bar 26 to be drawn toward solenoid 32.

Each push rod has a switch actuating portion, which in the preferred form of this invention is a spring loaded slider 35. The energization of solenoid 32 causes latch bar 26 to further move in the lateral direction (to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1). .The latch bar 26 engages the slider 35 associated with the depressed push rod in a manner that will be later described in detail, as the bar 26 is pulled laterally, causing slider 35 to be downwardly depressed.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, extending slider portion 36 contacts an arm 38 and thereby actuates a switch module 39 as slider 35 is depressed. The energized solenoid holds slider 35 in a depressed position with its extending portion 36 pressing against switch arm 38, causing switch 39 to remain actuated. When the solenoid is deenergized, a spring 40, FIGURE 1, snaps latch bar 26 back to its original position, releasing slider 35 from its depressed position. This in turn will draw the extending portion 36 of the slider 35 off switch arm 38, causing switch module 39 to be deactuated.

Push rod 22 illustrated in FIGURE 1 has a single switch module 41 associated therewith that is actuated when push rod 22 is depressed a predetermined distance. The push rod 21 has two

switch modules

39, 42 associated therewith. The module that would be mounted in front of push rod 20 has been removed in FIGURE 1 in order to illustrate in more detail the structure of the switch. Any desired switching circuitry can be housed in each module. The structure associated with each push rod is essentially identical regardless of the number of switch modules or the switching circuit. A detailed description of the push button switch will now be presented.

The push rods are formed with a U-shaped cross section but could have any desired shape. As seen in FIG- URE 5, push rod 21 slides in two

U-shaped slots

44 and 45 formed in frame 25. Each push rod has a switch actuating portion in the form of a spring loaded slider 35 that is captured between an overload spring 47 and a slot shelf 47. The slider 35, which may be formed from molded nylon, is movably mounted in a narrow slot 50 formed in the push rod 21.

Slider 35 has a bottom portion 52 that has a width just slightly larger than the width of the narrow slot 50, as can be seen in FIGURE 10. This width is slightly smaller than the width of an enlarged section 53 of the slot 50. Between the main body of slider 35 and the bottom section 52 is a section 54 of reduced cross section, having a width slightly smaller than the width of the slot 50 as seen in FIGURE 5. Slider 35 is thus so constructed that its bottom portion 52 can be inserted through the enlarged slot 53 and thereafter moved downwardly into the narrow slot 50. Slider 35 is slidably held in the slot 50 between the front portion of the slider 35 and the back portion 52.

The slider 35 is spring mounted to the push rod by means of the overload spring 47, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 10. Overload spring 47 is held normally in a slightly compressed condition. The topmost section of spring 47 is urged against a nylon washer 55 which is press fit over a projecting tongue 56 formed in the push rod. The bottommost section of overload spring 47 fits over a small stud 58 that projects from the front of the bottom portion 52 of slider 35.

Return spring 48 is encaptured between the slider 35 and a horizontal portion 60 of the frame 25. The horizontal portion 60, as seen in FIGURE 5, has an aperture 44 which includes a round opening 61 which allows passage of a leg 63 of slider 35. The return spring 48 encircles leg 63 and the frontmost portion of spring 48 bears against the rear portion of the extention 36 of the slider, while the rearmost portion of the spring 48 bears against the horizontal portion 60 of frame 25.

As a push rod is manually depressed by an operator, the overload spring 47 tends to compress by the rearwardly moving washer 55, and is urged against slider 35. This force causes the slider to move rearwardly relative to frame 25. The slider 35 is at the same time compressing return spring 48. Slider 35 is spring loaded in the manner described above to allow overtravel motion, as will become more apparent later. This feature may not be necessary in some switches and the actuating portion could be formed as an integral projection of the push rod itself.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 5, the operation of latch bar 26 which performs the desired switching operations will now be described in detail. The latch bar 26 extends through two molded plastic housings or guides 65 and 66. These housings allow the bar 26 to move only in a lateral direction. The latch bar 26 has a plurality of apertures 68 therein, one for each push rod. The exact shape of aperture 68 is illustrated in more detail in FIG- URES 6 to 9. Aperture 68 forms a first working surface 70 and a second working surface 71 in the bar 26. The surfaces 70 and 71 are inclined to the lateral direction (arrow 72, FIGURE 7) of motion of the bar 26. A land or stop 74 is formed at one end of the first working surface 70. The land 74 has a surface that is substantially parallel to the direction of lateral motion.

Each slider 35 has a projecting pin 75 that normally extends just below the latch bar 26, as can be seen in FIGURE 3. The pin 75 further extends through a longitudinal slot 77 formed in the frame 25, and which can be seen in FIGURE 5.

The interaction of pin 75 with aperture 68, which produces the lateral motion of the bar 26 and the subsequent automatic depression of the slider 35 which actuates a switch module, can be seen with reference to FIGURES 6 to 9. In these figures a portion of latch bar 26 and the cross-section of the longitudinal pin 75 are illustrated. The longitudinal slot 77 formed in the frame 25 is shown by the dotted lines. Pin 75 which extends through the slot 77 is thereby restricted to vertical motion only. The latch bar 26 is mounted in the frame, as previously described, for lateral motion only, i.e., in the horizontal direction in these figures.

In FIGURE 6 the latch bar 26 and pin 75 are shown in the normally unactuated position. Pin 75 has a first position that corresponds to the position of the spring loaded slider before its push rod is depressed, such as the position of

push rod

21 or 22 illustrated in FIGURE 1. As a push rod is depressed, the overload spring 47 is urged against its slider 35, forcing the slider downwardly. In FIGURE 7 the pin 75 of the slider has been depressed to a position where it just begins to contact the first working surface 70 of latch bar 26. As the push rod is further depressed from this position, pin 75 is urged downwardly in the slot 77 against the inclined surface 70. Since latch bar 26 is movably mounted, the pressing of pin 75 on the surface 70 causes the latch bar 26 to move in a second or lateral direction, as shown by the arrow at 72.

As pin 75 is continuously urged against the inclined surface 70, latch bar 26 moves in the lateral direction. When the push rod is depressed a sufficient distance, the projecting pin is located at a second position 75' illustrated in FIGURE 7, causing the inclined first working surface to be located at the position 70'. This position of the slider pin and the latch bar corresponds to the position of push rod 20 and the latch bar 26 illustrated in FIG- URE 1. At this position, cam surface 27 abuts the roller arm 29 that rides on the edge of bar 26. As the push rod is depressed further, pin 75 causes bar 26 to move further in the direction of the arrow 72, causing the roller arm 29 of snap switch 30 to be depressed, actuating the switch. The actuation of the switch energizes the solenoid 32, causing the solenoid armature 33 to be pulled inwardly. Since armature 33 is attached to latch bar 26, the bar 26 will automatically be further moved in the direction of the arrow 72 shown in FIGURE 7.

As the latch bar is moved laterally by the solenoid, the second working surface 71 will abut the slider pin 75. Due to the incline of surface 71, the pin 75 will be forced downwardly by this moving surface. Solenoid armature 33 when fully seated causes latch bar 26 to assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 8. Pin 75 will be held in a third position, as illustrated, beneath the surface 80 formed by the shape of the apertures 68. Thus, the slider is held in a depressed position by the action of surface 80 on the projecting pin 75 of slider 35.

The extending portion 36, when slider 35 is latched or held by the mechanism previously described, will have a position corresponding to the position of the dotted line 36' illustrated in FIGURE 3. The extending portion will therefore contact curved switch arm 38, forcing it out of the way in a direction to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3. The double-throw contacts illustrated will therefore be switched in a manner conventional in the art. Of course, the switch module 39 could have any desired internal construction, and the DPDT switches are illustrated by way of example only.

In the exemplification of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, the depression of push rod 21 will actuate

switch modules

39 and 42. These two modules are mounted adjacent each other directly in front of the push rod. Since the extending portion 36 of slider 35 is approximately as wide as a push rod, as can be seen in FIGURE 1, the portion 36 when latched in the third position illustrated by 36' in FIGURE 3 will abut the switch arms of both switch modules. The illustrated construction therefore allows either one or two switch modules to be used with each push rod. Of course, any switching means that can be actuated by a moving member can be utilized with the illustrated push button switch.

The push button switch illustrated also utilizes blockout sliders which permit the entry of only one push rod at a time into the aperture 68 of the latch bar 26. The blockout sliders '82 slide between latch bar 26 in a U- shaped indentation 83 in frame 25, as can be seen in FIGURES 3 and 5. When a single push rod is depressed so that the pin of slider 35 moves just beyond the position 75 shown in FIGURE 7, the pin extends between two individual sliders 8'2, forcing them apart. This in turn forces the remaining sliders to abut each other, preventing another pin from being depressed, in a manner well known in the art.

The push button switch mechanism described above can be provided with additional switching functions. In FIGURES 3 and 4 a single sliding contact switch 85 that is operated by pin 75 is illustrated. Switch 85 consists of normally closed

contacts

86 and 87 and normally

open contacts

88 and 89, each having double wipe clips extending toward frame 25. Pin 75 projects into an insulated member 91 that has mounted thereon conductive blades 93 and 94. Blade 93 normally electrically connects

contacts

86 and 87. As the push rod is depressed, overload spring 47 urges slider 35 in a downward direction. As a result, pin 75 will force member 91 in a downward direction. Blades 93 and 94 slide between the double wipe clips of the individual contacts. As member 91 is depressed, blade 93 will move away from contact 86 opening the circuit between

contacts

86 and 87, while blade 94 will contact 89, closing the circuit between the

contacts

88 and 89. Of course, these contacts can be spaced apart by any desired distance so that switch 85 will be actuated after any predetermined amount of depression of its corresponding push rod. This switch can be utilized, for example, to control auxiliary operations in a vending machine.

The spring loaded slider also allows a variety of overtravel switching functions to be added to the basic switch. In FIGURE 8 the normal latch position of pin 75 of slider 35 is illustrated. If the push rod corresponding to the illustrated pin is further depressed, the overload spring 47 will force slider 3-5 and its projecting pin 75 to a further depressed position within the slot 77. As can be seen in FIGURES 3, 5 and 10, the leg 63 of slider 35 is free to travel through an opening 61 in the horizontal portion 60' of frame 25. The overtravel depression of slider 35 could be utilized to actuate a momentary contact switch attached to leg 63, or a module similar to 39 could be actuated by a projection similar to 36 but displaced so as to be at the dotted position 36 when in the overtravel position only. A slider could furthermore be latched in the overtravel position in order to continue to actuate an additional switch.

One mechanism for latching the slider in an overtravel position is illustrated in FIGURE 9. A latching 6? rod is further depressed, pin 75 travels downward to the position shown in FIGURE 9. At this point, pawl 96 is urged over pin 75, latching the pin in the overtravel position illustrated. As previously mentioned, additional switching could be actuated when the slider is held in the overtravel latched position.

When the solenoid is deenergized by the breaking of its energizing circuit, spring 40 illustrated in FIGURE 1, which has been expanded by the retracted solenoid armature 33, forces latch bar 26 back to its normal nonactuated position. As a result, latch bar 26 is moved in a lateral direction as shown by the arrow 102 in FIGURES 8 and 9. Pin 75 is freed from the latched position as surface or pawl 96 moves away from the pin. The return spring 48 forces slider 35 upward to its nonactuated position. The sudden release of the slider produces high acceleration and a resultant high shock, which is absorbed by the overload spring bearing against the washer 55 which actually impinges on frame 25. This in turn releases any of the switch modules or auxiliary switching devices which have been actuated by the latched slider 35.

In many applications it is desirable to include program switching in the push button switch, i.e., the depression of a single push rod additionally actuates several of the switch modules associated with different push rods. As can be seen in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 5, a program cam plate 104 is slidably mounted between the sliders 35 and the switch modules. Each switch module has a

tab

105 and 106 which guides the plate 104. Each slider 35 has a small projection 107 which enters into a window 109 in the cam plate 104. The shape of each window 109 determines the motion of program cam plate 104 when projection 107 is depressed against the plate, e.g., no motion, left or right motion. Windows of various shapes for producing motion in a cam plate are well known in the art, and their exact disclosure forms no part of the invention.

In the windows illustrated in the diagrams, motion of a slider 35 would cause projection 107 to press against an inclined edge 110 formed by window 109 in plate 104. This causes the plate 104 to move to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1. Other window shapes cause other projections to be encaptured and depressed by the moving plate 104. In this manner, other sliders in addition to the slider associated with the depressed push rod will be depressed, causing a plurality of different switches to be actuated in response to the depression of a single push rod. The switch can be easily integrated with known methods of program switching in order to produce an extremely versatile push button switch which will provide a large variety of different switching operations by the depression of any one of a plurality of push rods.

In FIGURE 11 the novel push button switch disclosed herein has been diagrammatically illustrated as used in a post selection vending machine. The vending machine is generally indicated by the block 115. An external power source is connected to the terminals 116 and 117. Terminal 116 is connected to the solenoid 32 and through the normally open snap switch 30 to a cycle switch 119 in the vending machine 115. Switch 119 is connected in series with a coin acceptor 120 having a normally open switch 121 which in turn is connected to the other power terminal 117. The operation of the vending machine in conjunction with the cycle switch and coin acceptor is well known in the art and forms no part of applicants invention. The cycle switch 119 is normally closed and opens momentarily when a vending operation has been completed.

When the proper coins have been deposited in the coin selector 120, switch 121 will close, connecting power to the series connected snap switch 30 and solenoid 32. As an operator depresses a push rod by a predeterminated distance as heretofore described, arm 29 is depressed, closing switch 30 and energizing the solenoid 32. The resulting motion of latch bar 26 will actuate the switch modules 122 corresponding to both the depressed push rod and the action of the program cam plate previously described, producing one or more signals which will be fed through cable 123 to the vending machine 115. This in turn will cause the product associated with the depressed push rod to be released to the customer. Once the correct product has been released, cycle switch 119 opens, deenergizing solenoid 32 and causing the push rod to return to its nonactuated position. If a push rod is depressed without the operator depositing the proper amount of money, switch 121 remains open and the solenoid 32 will not be energized even though switch 30 closes. As the operator depresses the push rod, the spring loaded slider abuts the mechanical land contained on the latch bar, preventing the slider from being further depressed to actuate the switch modules 122.

We claim:

1. A push button mechanism comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods having a switch actuating portion slidably mounted on said frame; electromechanical means attached to said frame and actuable when one of said push rods is moved a predetermined distance to move the portion corresponding to said one moved push rod to a new position.

2. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods slidably mounted on said frame; a plurality of switches mounted on said frame, each switch corresponding to a push rod; a member with a plurality of surfaces, slidably mounted on said frame; means attached to said frame and actuable to move said member when one of said push rods is moved a predetermined distance; means for actuating the switch corresponding to the push rod moved a predetermined amount, said last named means being engaged by one of said surfaces as said member is automatically moved by said first mentioned means, thereby actuating said switch.

3. A push button switch, comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods slidably mounted on said frame, movable from a first to a second position, each push rod having a switch actuating portion; a bar with a plurality of surfaces, slidably mounted on said frame; means actuable by a push rod at said second position to move said bar, one of said surfaces of said bar engaging said actuating portion and moving said portion to a third position when said bar is moved by said means, and a plurality of switching means connected to said frame, said switching means being actuated by the actuating portion when said portion is moved to said third position.

4. A push button switch, comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods slidably mounted on said frame, movable from a first to a second position, each push rod having a switch actuating portion; a bar with a plurality of surfaces, slidably mounted on said frame, said bar being moved when one of said surfaces of said bar is engaged by a push rod being manually moved from said first position; means actuable by said push rod at said second position to continue the motion of said bar, one of said surfaces of said bar engaging said actuating portion and moving said portion to a third position when said bar is moved by said means, and a plurality of switching means connected to said frame, said switching means being actuated by the actuating portion when said portion is moved to said third position.

5. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods, each having a switch actuating portion, slidably mounted on said frame for movement in a first direction; a bar having an aperture therein for every push rod, slidably mounted to said frame for movement in a second direction, each aperture forming first and second working surfaces in said bar, a part of the switch actuated portion of each push rod extending into the aperture corresponding to that push rod, said first working surface being inclined to said second direction, said portion being moved from a first to a second position as a push rod is manually moved a predetermined distance, said part of said portion thereby pressing against said inclined first working surface, moving said bar in said second direction to an intermediate position when said portion is at said second position; means attached to said frame for sensing the movement of said bar in said second direction and actuable when said bar is at said intermediate position to move said bar further in said second direction, said second working surface being inclined to said second direction, positioned to press against said part of said portion when said bar is moved by said means, thereby moving said portion from said second position to a third position; and a plurality of switching means, each corresponding to a push rod, connected to said frame, said switching means being positioned to be actuated by Said portion at said third position.

6. The push button switch of claim 5 wherein said means includes an electromechanical device that is actuated by an electrical voltage.

7. The push button switch of claim 6 wherein each said aperture of said bar has a mechanical land formed in said first working surface, said land being positioned to abut said part of said portion after said bar has moved past said intermediate position, thereby preventing further motion in said first direction by said portion when said electromechanical device is not actuated by said electrical voltage.

8. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods slidably mounted on said frame for movement in a first direction, each push rod having mounted thereon a spring loaded slider movable in said first direction, said slider having a projection extending therefrom; a bar having an aperture for every push rod, slidably mounted to said frame for movement in a second direction, each aperture forming a first and a second working surface in said bar, said projection extending into the aperture corresponding to the push rod, said first working surface being inclined to said second direction; said slider being moved from a first to a second position by a spring of said spring loaded slider as a push rod is manually moved a predetermined distance, said projection thereby pressing against said inclined first working surface, moving said bar to an intermediate position when said slider is at said second position; a solenoid attached to said frame and actuable when said bar is at said intermediate position to further move said bar in said second direction; said second working surface being inclined to said second direction, positioned to press against said projection of said slider when .said bar is moved by said solenoid, thereby moving said slider from said second position to a third latched position; a plurality of switching means, each corresponding to a push rod, connected to said frame, said switching means being actuated by said latched slider; and means to deactivate said solenoid, thereby releasing said slider from said third position, deactivating said switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said slider can move in said first direction to a fourth position from said third latched position by manually moving said push rod beyond said predetermined distance; and additional switching means connected to said frame, actuated by said slider at said fourth position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said bar has mounted thereon an overtravel pawl associated with an aperture, said pawl engaging said projection of said slider to latch said slider when said slider reaches said fourth position, said means to deactivate said solenoid thereby releasing said slider from said fourth position.

11. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods slidably mounted on said frame; a plurality of switches mounted on said frame, each corresponding to a push rod; a common member slidably mounted on said frame; means moving said common member when any one of said push rods is moved a predetermined distance; and means responsive to movement of the common member for actuating the switch corremined distance.

9 10 sponding to the push rod initially moved said predeter- 3,172,519 3/ 1965 Albright et a1 221-129 3,208,373 9/1965 Bachelier 741 10 X References Cited 3,217,188 11/1965 Bauer. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,222,554 12/1965 Blomquist 31035 3/1937 Hoban 221 129 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1941 Wheeler 1 -5 991,082 5/ 1965 Great Britain. 5/ 1945 Thompson et a1 200--5 4/ 1954- Framhein 74-110 X WALTER SOBIN. Primary Examiner. 5/1960 Dumke et a1.

Claims

1. A PUSH BUTTOM MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FRAME; A PLURALITY OF PUSH RODS HAVING A SWITCH ACTUATING PORTION SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME AND ACTUABLE WHEN ONE OF SAID PUSH RODS IS MOVED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TO MOVE THE PORTION CORRESPONDING TO SAID ONE MOVED PUSH ROD TO A NEW POSITION.