US3767879A

US3767879A - Circuit breaker with improved lighted indicator

Info

Publication number: US3767879A
Application number: US00203583A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Nicol
Original assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
Current assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
Priority date: 1971-12-01
Filing date: 1971-12-01
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23
Also published as: CA1001195A

Abstract

A lighted indicator for use in connection with a circuit breaker or switch adapted for mounting to a panel to indicate the condition thereof. The lighted indicator comprises a unitary assembly coupled to the circuit breaker case and located between the panel and the case. The indicator attaches directly to a support bracket which is carried by the case. An operating member movable toward and away from the case is mounted on the support bracket and is operable to move the circuit breaker between open and closed conditions. The indicator houses a lamp which projects light upon a portion of the operating member, the lamp being connectable to a source via contact terminals included in the indicator assembly.

Description

United States Patent [191 Nicol Oct. 23, 1973 I CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH IMPROVED 3,316,527 4/1967 Murray 200/167 A x LIGHTED INDICATOR Primar Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer 75 Inv tor: R nald Ni 1 T Y [Y 1 o co remon N J Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith [73] Assignee: Heinemann Electric Company, AttorneyJ0seph G. Denny, III et al.

Trenton, NJ.

[22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [211 App]. No.: 203,583 A lighted indicator for use in connection with a circuit breaker or switch adapted for mounting to a panel to indicate the condition thereof. The lighted indicator [52] US. Cl. 200/167 A, 200/168 R comprises a unitary assembly coupled to the circuit 1111;. C1. breaker case and located between h p l and h [58] Fleld of Search 200/167 A,153,G, case. The indicator attaches directly to a pp 200/168 R bracket which is carried by the case. An operating member movable toward and away from the case is [56] References C'ted mounted on the support bracket and is operable to UNITED STATES PATENTS move the circuit breaker between openand closed 3,597,563 8/1971 Schmiedel et al. 200/167 A Conditions- The indicator houses a lamp which proj- 3,60l,567 8/1971 Shah 200/167 A ects light upon a portion of the operating member, the 3,604,874 9/1971 ue 200/153 6 lamp being connectable to a source via contact termi- 39 12/ 1966 McLaughhn- 200/157 A nals included in the indicator assembly. 3,610,860 10/1971 Balowin 200/167 A 3,308,260 3/1967 Krieger et al. 200/167 A X 34 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 3'6 47 Z ff {6 f5 1/ CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH IMPROVED LIGHTED INDICATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to switches and circuit breakers and the like and, more particularly to lighted indicators for use in cmbination with known circuit breakers adapted for mounting to a panel.

Circuit breakers are known in the art which include a stationary contact, a movable contact and an operating mechanism for moving these contacts between closed and open positions by means of an operating member. These circuit breakers also include a device for automatically opening the contacts upon the occurrence of a preselected condition.

Circuit breakers of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,329,913, 3,329,793 and 3,422,235 in which the operating mechanism is controlled by a pivotal link which has formed integral therewith an operating handie or toggle which projects out of the case through an opening therein and is manually operable to open and close the contacts of the circuit breaker.

In order to adapt the circuit breaker shown in the above noted patents for operation by a push-push type actuating means the operating handle or toggle shown in the above noted patents is omitted and the pivotal or operating link is modified as described in detail U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,235 to be operable in response to a plunger mounted for reciprocal movement. Also, the circuit breaker may be actuated by a rocker handle by suitable modification of the pivotal link and omission of the operating handle, as described in copending patent application Ser. No. 107,618 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Each of the above noted actuating mechanisms for the same basic circuit breaker noted above may incorporate a mounting bracket for supporting the manual operator adjacent the pivotal link and for mounting the circuit breaker case to a panel. In panel mounted circuit breakers of this type, it is sometimes desirable to provide a lighted indicator to illuminate the operating member so as to disclose the condition of the circuit breaker, and it is particularly desirable to provide a lighted indicator which may be attached to a known circuit breaker and mounting bracket without modification of these components and without enlarging the space required for mounting the circuit breaker in place.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the invention is the provision of a lighted indicator which may be coupled to a known circuit breaker or switch without requiring extensive modification of the breaker or switch or any change in the space occupied by the breaker when mounted to a panel.

It is a further object to provide an indicator assembly which can be preassembled into a unit and conveniently attached to the'circuit breaker case.

A still further object is to provide an indicator assembly which is carried in the space between the circuit breaker case, and the panel to which it is mounted.

The invention provides an indicator assembly which is attachable as a unit to a known circuit breaker and which is carried in the space between the circuit breaker case and the panel to which it is mounted. In one embodiment, for use with a push button type of actuating mechanism, the indicator comprises an insulator housing containing a lamp and contact means for connecting the lamp to a source. The housing further includes a resilient clip for conveniently mounting the indicator to the mounting bracket of the circuit breaker. The housing is shaped to channel light from the lamp into the translucent push button of the actuating means to illuminate it in order to signal whether the circuit breaker contacts are open or closed.

In the other embodiment for use with a rocket type actuator, the light from the indicator lamp infringes upon a translucent rocker actuator.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, the principle of the invention, and the best mode in which it is contemplated applying such principles will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawing in illustration thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the lighted indicator displaced from the circuit breaker case;

FIG. 2 is a view looking into the indicator assembly and taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, with the push button actuator shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the interior parts of the indicator and the push button actuator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second type of lighted indicator for use with a circuit breaker having a rocker type actuator and showing the indicator displaced from the circuit breaker case;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the indicator showing its components parts displaced from each other; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the indicator taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, one embodiment of the invention comprises a lighted indicator 11 for use in combination with a known circuit breaker l2 and actuator assembly 13. The operating mechanism and actuator assembly 13 of the circuit breaker 12 are generally similar to that described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,329,913 and 3,593,235 and the teachings of those patents are hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, however, the circuit breaker 12 comprises a case 40 which contains an operating mechanism (only the pivotal link of the operating mechanism is shown in FIG. 3) for moving a pair of main contacts not shown between open and closed positions. The case 40 comprises side walls 110, end walls 111, a top wall 1 12 and a bottom wall 113. The case 40 also comprises an auxiliary cavity 14 located in the area of the bottom wall 113 in which is carried an auxiliary switch 15, the switch 15 being responsive to the operating mechanism to indicate whether the main contacts of the circuit breaker are open or closed. The details of the auxiliary cavity 14 and the switch 15 are given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,793. The case 40 has an opening in the top wall 112 thereof overlying the pivotal link 60, the opening being defined by an upstanding annular boss 28.

The actuator assembly 13 generally comprises a mounting bracket 20 which has a flat main body portion 21 generally parallel to and spaced from the top of the case 40. The bracket 20 includes two pairs of legs 23, each pair of legs fitting into corner depressions on opposite ends of the case 40 to straddle the upper margin of the case. The legs 23 have holes aligned with holes through the upper corners of the casing 40 through which rivets are passed to connect the bracket 20 to the case 40.

The main body portion 21 also has a hole therein which coincides with the opening in the top margin of the case 40 defined by the boss 28. Mounted above this hole is a sleeve 33 which houses a reciprocally movable operating member or push button 26 which is made of a translucent plastic material. An actuator bar or plunger 27 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the push button 26 by means of a pin 44 which is carried by the button and extends into slots 62, FIG. 1, in the sleeve 33, the slots 62 serving to limit the upward and downward axial movement of the push button 26. A return spring 30 is provided to move the button 26 upward subsequent to manual downward movement thereof. The push button 26 also includes an inner recess 29 which houses a centering mechanism comprising a cap 42 and a spring 41 which realigns the plunger 27 along the axis of the sleeve 33 when it is out of engagement with the pivotal link 60.

The sleeve 33 also includes a hole 32 in a sector thereof located adjacent the indicator lamp 51 of the indicator 11 to permit light from the lamp 51 to impinge upon the lower portion of the translucent push button 26.

The upper portion of the sleeve 33 has a threaded portion on which two

nuts

36 and 37 are mounted to hold the circuit breaker 12 in engagement with a panel 25. The lower nut 37 is moved downwardly on the threads to a portion adjacent the top of the indicator housing 50. The sleeve 33 is then inserted into the hole in the panel 25 and the second nut 36 is moved downwardly on the threaded portion of the sleeve until it abuts the upper surface of the panel 25.

The indicator 11 comprises an insulator housing 50 having a top wall 47, side walls 48 and 49 and an end wall 46. The housing 50 is generally open at the bottom and on one end thereof facing the actuator assembly 13. An approximately semi-circular recess 63 is formed in the top wall 47 at the end thereof opposite the end wall 46.

The side walls 48 and 49, top wall 47 and the end wall 46 jointly define a channel or cavity in which an indicator lamp 51 is carried. The lamp 51 is supported in place and connectable to a source of electrical potntial by means of the electrically

conductive contacts

52 and 53 which are held in passages in the end wall 46, each of the

contacts

52 and 53 projecting out of the housing v on one end, and into engagement with portions of the indicator lamp 51 on the other end. The contact 52 is generally L-shaped and has its longer leg extending into and through the lower passage. The shorter leg 54 of the contact 52 extends at an angle to the horizontal in the direction of the lamp 51 and into contact with the base terminal 55 of the lamp.

The contact 53 has a first L-shaped portion generally similar to the contact 52, which extends through the upper passage in the end wall 46. Integral with this first portion is a lamp support portion 56 which is generally U-shaped in cross section, FIG. 2. The legs 57 of the U are resilient and sufficiently long to securely hold the lamp 51. The support portion 56 also maintains contact with the other lamp terminal so as to complete the electrical circuit through the lamp via

contacts

52 and 53.

The contact 53 also includes a groove 66 in which the lip 58 of the lamp 51 is held to locate the lamp properly within the housing 50.

The side walls 48 and 49 extend beyond the end of the lamp 51 in the direction of the actuator assembly 13 and partially encircle the sleeve 33 thereof to create a light tight chamber defined by the top wall 47, end wall 46, side walls 48 and 49, the top surface of the bracket 20, and portions of the sleeve 33 adjacent the hole 32 therein. By means of this chamber, light emitted by the lamp 51 is prevented from being scattered and is concentrated and directed through the hole 32 in the sleeve 33 into the translucent push button 26.

The housing 50 has formed integrally therewith an arm or clip 59 to grasp the end portion of the bracket 20, the clip 59 extending into the space between the main body portion 21 of the bracket 20 and the top of the case 40, when the indicator 11 is mounted in place, FIG. 3.

The

contacts

52 and 53 are prevented from moving out of the passages in the end wall 46 in the direction of the actuator assembly 13 by means of resilient flanges 18 which interfit into notches spaced along the interior of passages. The contacts are prevented from moving out of the passages in the direction away from the actuator assembly 13 by means of shoulders 19 formed in each of the contacts which abut the inner surface of the end wall 46. The

contacts

52 and 53 are assembled to the housing 50 by inserting them into the passages via the channel or cavity in the housing 50 until the shoulders 19 abut the inner surface of the end wall 46 and the flanges l8 snap into place in the notches formed in the passages.

Referring to FIG. 3 which shows the indicator 11 in place and the circuit breaker 12 mounted to a panel 25, it is seen that the indicator is located generally in the space between the panel 25 and the circuit breaker case 40, the space having been created by the use of a known mounting bracket to mount the circuit breaker to a panel 25. More specifically, the indicator 11 is located between the panel 25 and the case 40 and the side walls 48 and 49 of the indicator do not extend beyond the planes occupied by the side walls of the case 40. The end wall 46 of the indicator does not extend beyond the plane occupied by the end wall 111 of the case 40. The provision of an indicator 1 1 to occupy this space results in the advantage of not having to provide additional space for mounting the lighted indica- 01.

The lamp 51 is inserted into the housing 50 through the open bottom thereof and is press fit between the legs 66 of the contact 53 with the lip of the lamp coming to rest in the groove 66 of the contact 53. This arrangement permits easy and fast replacement of the lamp without the aid of special tools and without the necessity of disassembling the whole switch device or circuit breaker when replacement of the lamp is required.

A second embodiment of the lighted indicator for use with a circuit breaker having a rocker actuator is shown in FIGS. 4-6. The rocker actuator 91 and mounting bracket 99 of this embodiment are known in the prior art and are generally described in copending application Ser. No. 107,618 which has been assigned to the assignee of this invention, except that, contrary to the mode of operation in the above noted application, rocker handle of the instant invention is operable to manually move the circuit breaker mechanism (not shown) on and off. For this purpose, the portion of the rocker handle 91 which engages the pivotal link of the circuit breaker operating mechanism has walls which are engageable to move the pivotal link both clockwise or counterclockwise as desired by manual depression of rocker handle 91.

The mounting bracket 99 of FIG. 4 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a flat main body portion which when the actuator is mounted to the case 40 lies generally parallel to and spaced slightly from the upper surface of the circuit breaker case 40. The main body portion includes two inverted L-shaped

flanges

93 and 94, each flange having an upper portion which is spaced from and approximately parallel to the plane occupied by the main body portion of the bracket 99 and the upper surface of the case 40. These upper portions of the

flanges

93 and 94 extend away from the rocker handle 91 and contain threaded holes 101 which may be used for mounting the circuit breaker to a panel 50, as illustrated in the last mentioned application, with the rocker handle 91 projecting through a hole in the panel. The upper portions of the flanges are connected to the main body portion by intermediate portions which extend away from the main body portion at right angles thereto. The main body portion further contains an approximately circular opening which registers with a circular boss (not shown) on the upper surface of the circuit breaker case 40, the boss 32 circumscribing an opening (not shown) in the top surface of the circuit breaker case 40 overlying thepivotal link (not shown).

The intermediate portion of the flange 93 has formed therein an opening 92 which permits light emitted by the lamp 85 to impinge on the rocker handle 91. The mounting bracket 99 further includes a recess 102 located generally beneath the upper portion of the flange 93 and extending to the end of the bracket. The indicator assembly 70 is mounted in the recess 102 as will be explained in greater detail below.

The main body portion of the bracket 99 also includes two spaced apart, inverted V-shaped ears 97 integral with and projecting upwardly from opposite sides of the bracket 99. The apexes of the ears 97 include holes which jointly carry a mounting pivot pin 96 on which the rocker handle 91 is pivotally supported.

The rocker handle 91 is made of a translucent plastic material and comprises two sections indicated generally as on" and off which diverge outwardly and upwardly from the center of the rocker handle to form a shallow 'V. These sections alternately present raised surfaces for movement of the rocker handle between on and off positions in response to manual pressure on said sections.

The indicator assembly 70 of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 comprises a mounting blade 71 on which is stacked (FIG. 5) in vertical sequence, a first insulating spacer 72, a first contact blade 73, a second insulating spacer 74 and a second contact blade 75. The stack is held together as a unit by means of a screw 76 made of an insulator material such as nylon, which is inserted into aligned holes in each of the stacked components. The

contact blades

73 and 75 are made of metal and electrically conductive.

The contact 73 has a terminal portion 84 which projects outwardly from one side of the stack and is connectable to one side of a source of electrical potential.

The contact blade 73 also includes an upstanding flange 80 extending upwardly at an angle to the major portion of the blade 73 the flange 80 providing electrical contact with the lamp terminal 103 at the base of the lamp 85.

The contact blade 77 is generally U-shaped in cross section, the base of the U being generally rectangular in shape. A terminal portion 79 projects outwardly from the side of the stack opposite that on which terminal portion 84 is located. The legs 77 of the U are resilient and are of suitable size to grasp and support the lamp 85 therebetween while also maintaining electrical contact with the other lamp terminal. 7

The insulating

spacers

72 and 74 are generally square in shape and of sufficient thickness to prevent electrical contact between the

blades

71, 73 and 75.

The support blade 71 comprises a generally flat T- shaped metal base portion 81 out of which are cut two spaced rectangular flanges 82, the flanges 82 being bent upwardly in the shape of an L to serve as a means for grasping the inner surfaces of the bracket 99 which define the recess 102 for mounting the stack to the bracket.

The indicator assembly is preassembled into a unit as described above and the lamp 85 is mounted to the indicator assembly by press fitting it between the resilient legs 77 of the blade with the base of the lamp making contact with the contact portion 80 of the blade 73. The lamp has an enlarged lip adjacent the base thereof to facilitate alignment of the lamp 85 in the assembled stack.

The indicator assembly is then coupled to the case 40 by inserting the base portion 81 of the support blade 71 into the small space between the upper surface of the case 40 and the lower wall of the bracket 99. Concurrently, the flanges 82 grasping the interior walls of the bracket which define the recess 102. The indicator assembly 70 is moved toward the flange 93 until the lamp 85 is immediately adjacent the opening 92. When the assembly 70 is mounted to the case 40 it is located generally between the top surface of the case 40 and the panel (not shown) to which the case is to be mounted and more specifically is. located between the upper portion of the flange 93 and the main body portion of the bracket.

In the embodiments of the invention, the indicator lamps may be connected to a source of electrical potential via a switch, such as the auxiliary switch 15 of FIG. 1, which is responsive to the open and closed condition of the circuit breaker. Alternatively, the lamps may be connected in the same line as the circuit breaker so that when the circuit breaker is on the lamp will be energized from the line and when it is off the lamp will be de-energized.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In combination, an electrical switch adapted for mounting to a panel comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism including an operating member movable toward and away from said case and engageable with said operating mechanism, a mounting bracket for connecting said case to said panel, and a unitary indicator assembly coupled to said bracket, said assembly including an indicator lamp and contact means for connecting said lamp to a source of electrical potential, said indicator assembly being located adjacent said member and in the space between said panel and said case.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises a unitary assembly.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said assembly includes means for coupling said assembly to said case.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said operating member is made of a translucent material.

5. In combination, an electrical switch including a case and a unitary actuator assembly mounted on said case, said actuator assembly comprising a mounting bracket and a translucent operating member carried by said bracket, and a unitary indicator assembly comprising a lamp, means for coupling said indicator assembly to said actuator assembly, and light containing means for placing said lamp in light tight communication with said operating member.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said mounting bracket includes a flat portion spaced from said case and said indicator assembly includes resilient clip means located in part between said flat portion and said case for grasping said flat portion.

7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said case comprises a generally closed container having a top wall, said top wall defining an opening, opposed side walls, said side walls being located in planes parallel to and spaced from each other, and opposed end walls, said end walls being located in planes parallel to and spaced from each other, said bracket overlying said top wall and said indicator assembly located intermediate the planes occupied by said side walls.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said indicator assembly is located intermediate the portion of said operating member farthest from said mounting bracket, and said case.

9. In combination, an electrical switch including a case and a unitary actuator assembly mounted on said case, and a unitary indicator assembly comprising a lamp and means for coupling said indicator assembly to said actuator assembly, said indicator assembly including a housing defining a cavity, said lamp being located within said cavity.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said housing is made of an electrical insulating material and said means for coupling comprises a resilient clip integral with said housing.

11. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said indicator assembly further includes contact means carried by said housing, a portion of said contact means supporting said lamp within said cavity.

12. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said actuator assembly includes an upstanding sleeve and a translucent operating member mounted within said sleeve for motion toward and away from said case, said sleeve defining an opening intermediate said member and said cavity whereby light emitted by said lamp passes from said cavity to said operating member.

13. A lighted indicator comprising a housing have a top wall, opposed side walls and an end wall jointly defining a cavity, a lamp located in said cavity, contact means carried by said housing, said contact means projecting out of said housing on one end and into said cavity on the other end into contact with said lamp, said housing being open on the end opposite said end wall and means for mounting said housing to an external wall.

14. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said housing is made of an insulator material and said means comprises a resilient clip integral with said housing.

15. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said contact means comprises a support portion located within said cavity for carrying said lamp.

16. The combination recited in claim 15 wherein said housing is open opposite said top wall, and said support portion is U-shaped in cross section, the open portion of said U shape facing said open bottom.

17. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said side walls and top wall jointly define an approximately semi-circular recess.

18. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said side walls extend beyond said top wall to jointly define with said top wall, a recess.

19. In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case defined by opposed side walls, opposed end walls, a top wall having an opening therein, a bottom wall, and a translucent operating member overlying said opening, a lighted indicator comprising a lamp and means for coupling said lamp to said case, in a position external to said case and in light communication with said operating member, said indicator being located intermediate the end of said member farthest removed from said top wall and said case.

20. The combination recited in claim 19 wherein said indicator is located intermediate the planes occupied by said side walls of said case.

21. The combination recited in claim 19 wherein said indicator is located intermediate said member and one of said end walls of said case.

22. The combination recited in claim 19 wherein said means for coupling said lamp to said case comprises a mounting bracket, means for connecting said bracket to said case, said member being carried by said bracket, and means carried by said indicator for connecting said indicator to said bracket.

23. The combination recited in claim 22 wherein said indicator further comprises an insulator housing defining a cavity, contact means carried by said housing, in contact with said lamp, said lamp being located in said cavity, said housing located intermediate the plane occupied by said side walls and intermediate the portion of said member farthest from said top wall and said bracket.

24. For use with an electrical switch having a case and a translucent operating member carried by the case, a unitary indicator assembly comprising a housing defining a cavity, a lamp mounted within said cavity, and means for locating said lamp external to said case in light communication with said operating member 25. The combination recited in claim 24 wherein said means for locating said lamp comprises a resilient clip integral with said housing.

26. The combination recited in claim 24 wherein said means for locating said lamp comprises wall means on said housing for directing the light emitted from said lamp onto said operating member.

27. The combination recited in claim 24 wherein said operating member is carried by a mounting bracket comprising a generally flat portion spaced from said case, and legs integral with and extending from said flat portion toward said case, said means comprising a resilient clip integral with said housing for grasping the flat portion of said bracket.

28. The combination recited in claim 24 wherein said means includes wall means partially circumscribing said operating member to contain the light emitted by said lamp and direct it to said member.

29. In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case defined by opposed side walls, opposed end walls, a top wall having an opening therein, a bottom wall, and a translucent operating member overlying said opening, a lighted indicator comprising a lamp and means for coupling said lamp to said case in a position external to said case and in light communication with said operating member, said indicator being located intermediate the end of said member farthest removed from said top wall and said case, said indicator being located intermediate the outer surfaces of the planes occupied by said side walls of said case and intermediate said member and one of said end walls of said case, said means for coupling said lamp to said case comprising a mounting bracket and means for connecting said bracket to said case, said member being carried by said bracket, and means carried by said indicator for connecting said indicator to said bracket. 30. In combination, an electrical switch adapted for mounting to a panel comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism including an operating member movable toward and away from said case and engageable with said operating mechanism, a unitary indicator assembly coupled to said case, said assembly comprising a housing made of an insulating material and defining a cavity, an indicator lamp located within said cavity, and contact means for connectingsaid lamp to a source of electrical potential, said indicator assembly being located in the space between said panel and said case, said housing including portions shaped to direct light from said lamp onto said actuator mechanism.

31. The combination recited in claim 30 wherein said contact means are shaped to support said lamp within said cavity.

32. In combination, an electrical swich adapted for mounting to a panel comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism including an operating member movable toward and away from said case and engageable with said operating mechanism, a unitary indicator assembly coupled to said case, said assembly comprising an insulator housing defining a cavity, an indicator lamp located within said cavity, contact means for connecting said lamp to a source of electrical potential, said indicator assembly being located in the space between said panel and said case, said housing including wall means for directing light from said lamp onto said operating member.

33. In combination, an electrical switch adapted for mounting to a panel comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism including a-support bracket for connecting said switch to a panel, a cylindrical sleeve mounted on said bracket and a translucent pushbutton operating member mounted for movement within said sleeve and movable toward and away from said case, said operating member being engageable with said operating mechanism, and an indicator coupled to said case comprising an indicator lamp and contact means for connecting said lamp to a source of electrical potential, said indicator being located in the space between said panel and said case.

34. The combination recited in claim 33 wherein said assembly includes a housing which partially encloses said sleeve, and further including an opening in said sleeve to permit the light from said lamp to impinge on said push button.

Claims

13. A lighted indicator comprising a housing having a top wall, opposed side walls and an end wall jointly defining a cavity, a lamp located in said cavity, contact means carried by said housing, said contact means projecting out of said housing on one end and into said cavity on the other end into contact with said lamp, said housing being open on the end opposite said end wall and means for mounting said housing to an external wall.

24. For use with an electrical switch having a case and a translucent operating member carried by the case, a unitary indicator assembly comprising a housing defining a cavity, a lamp mounted within said cavity, and means for locating said lamp external to said case in light communication with said operating member .

25. The combination recited in claim 24 wherein said means for locating said lamp comprises a resilient clip integral with said housing.

29. In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case defined by opposed side walls, opposed end walls, a top wall having an opening therein, a bottom wall, and a translucent operating member overlying said opening, a lighted indicator comprising a lamp and means for coupling said lamp to said case in a position external to said case and in light communication with said operating member, said indicator being located intermediate the end of said member farthest removed from said top wall and said case, said indicator being located intermediate the outer surfaces of the planes occupied by said side walls of said case and intermediate said member and one of said end walls of said case, said means for coupling said lamp to said case comprising a mounting bracket and means for connecting said bracket to said case, said member being carried by said bracket, and means carried by said indicator for connecting said indicator to said bracket.

30. In combination, an electrical switch adapted for mounting to a panel comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism including an operating member movable toward and away from said case and engageable with said operating mechanism, a unitary indicator assembly coupled to said case, said assembly comprising a housing made of an insulating material and defining a cavity, an indicator lamp located within said cavity, and contact means for connecting said lamp to a source of electrical potential, said indicator assembly being located in the space between said panel and said case, said housing including portions shaped to direct light from said lamp onto said actuator mechanism.

33. In combination, an electrical switch adapted for mounting to a panel comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism including a support bracket for connecting said switch to a panel, a cylindrical sleeve mounted on said bracket and a translucent pushbutton operating member mounted for movement within said sleeve and movable toward and away from said case, said operating member being engageable with said operating mechanism, and an indicator coupled to said case comprising an indicator lamp and contact means for connecting said lamp to a source of electrical potential, said indicator being located in the space between said panel and said case.