US3816752A

US3816752A - Door lock push-button control structure

Info

Publication number: US3816752A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-19
Filing date: 1973-06-19
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11

Abstract

A push-button switch assembly is provided and includes one or more banks of push-button switches. Each switch includes a switch body shiftable between first and second limit positions and a third intermediate position. Each switch also includes a switch actuator also shiftable between first and second limit positions and a third intermediate position. A pair of push-buttons is provided for each switch and each pair of push-buttons is operable to shift the corresponding switch actuator between the first and second limit positions thereof. The switch bodies each include a pair of spaced terminals and the switch actuators each include terminal bridging means for bridging the corresponding terminals when the actuator is in a position thereof corresponding to the position of the associated switch body. In the instant invention, the switch assembly is disclosed as operatively associated with a door latch operating mechanism of the solenoid type and selected switches of the bank of switches may be operatively associated with the door latch operating mechanism and must have a proper button actuator thereof depressed in order to enable the door latch actuator to operate. Any of the switches not operatively associated with the door latch operating mechanism may be connected to suitable alarm systems, porch lights, and warning systems in an adjacent neighbors house, or remote police station. Also, the door lock push-button control is adapted for actuation not only by house current, but also includes a provision whereby a battery may be positioned in place from outside the associated door and electrically connected to the push-button control assembly in the event of failure of the domestic house current, the insertion of a battery into its proper position automatically opening the circuit by which the switch is normally supplied current from domestic supply and connecting the battery to the control system in lieu of the domestic current.

Description

United States Patent [191 Goodwin June 11, 1974 DOOR LOCK PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: Charles M. Goodwin, Rt. No. 2,

Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 [22] Filed: June 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,418

[52] US. Cl 307/66, 307/40, 317/134,

200/ 153 [51] Int. Cl. H02j 7/00 [58] Field of Search 307/66, 40, 10 AT;

317/134; 340/365 R; 200/42 R, 43, 44, 45, 153 R, 153 A, 61.27; 70/278 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,612 2/1905 Clark 200/153 R 3,582,583 6/1971 Paterson 200/43 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant ExaminerM. Ginsburg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. -Jacobson 57 ABSTRACT tions and a third inten'nediate position. A pair of pushbuttons is provided for each switch and each pair of push-buttons is operable to shift the corresponding switch actuator between the first and second limit positions thereof. The switch bodies each include a pair of spaced terminals and the switch actuators each include terminal bridging means for bridging the corresponding terminals when the actuator is in a position thereof corresponding to the position of the associated switch body. In the instant invention, the switch assembly is disclosed as operatively associated with a door latch operating mechanism of the solenoid type and selected switches of the bank of switches may be operatively associated with the door latch operating mechanism and must have a proper button actuator thereof depressed in order to enable the door latch actuator to operate. Any of the switches not operatively associated with the door latch operating mechanism may be connected to suitable alarm systems, porch lights, and warning systems in an adjacent neighbors house, or remote police station. Also, the door lock push-button control is adapted for actuation not only by house current, but also includes a provision whereby a battery may be positioned in place from outside the associated door and electrically connected to the push-button control assembly in the event of failure of the domestic house current, the insertion of a battery into its proper position automatically opening the circuit by which the switch is normally supplied current from domestic supply and connecting the battery to the control system in lieu of the domestic current.

15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUR 11 m4 3316752 SHEET 4 IF 4 DOOR LOCK PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL STRUCTURE This invention is adaptable in numerous places, such as public transportation terminals, meat lockers, cash registers, file cabinets, school lockers, post office boxes, bank vaults, laboratories in hospitals, and in homes. The invention is constructed whereby when an unauthorized person attempts to actuate the control that person will inadvertently actuate a segment of the control operatively connected to a warning light or buzzer. When used in conjunction with school lockers, each control structure would have warning light actuating buttons as well as direct lock opening buttons with the result that tampering of a locker by an unauthorized person would most certainly actuate the warning light as opposed to opening the locker.

In places where extreme security must be maintained, two stages of control systems may be used with a first control system providing access to outer areas of security and a second control assembly being necessarily actuated to gain access to inner security areas. Of course, each inner and outer control structure could have warning systems built thereinto with the result that the chance of unauthorized persons gaining access to inner security areas would be substantially nonexistent.

The main object of this invention is to provide a push-button control structure which may be utilized in numerous environments and which will include a plurality of double position switches with preselected switches having predetermined position contacts thereof connected in series for actuating the desired electrical apparatus. Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a pushbutton control system or structure wherein the terminals of the contact positions not connected in series for actuating the aforementioned electrical apparatus may be connected to silent alarms, audible alarms and/or remote alarms, whereby not only will the unauthorized person be able to actuate the proper push-buttons for operating the associated electrical apparatus, but he will, in attempting to actuate the associated electrical apparatus, operate a warning system or alarm.

Another very important object of this invention is to provide a push-button control system specifically adapted for use in controlling entrance through a door and including reserve standby electrical power whereby authorized access through the door may be gained in the eventof failure of domestic current.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pushbutton control structure which may be readily reset having been used.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a push-button control assembly which may be readily removed for repair thereon and for the purpose of changing the combination of push-buttons which are required to actuate the associated electrical apparatus.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a push-button control structure in accordance with the preceding objects and which conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part herein, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional door structure with which the door lock push-button control assembly of the instant invention is operatively associated, the weather door on the outer side of the control assembly being illustrated in the open position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the control assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 and with the switch and corresponding switch actuator being illustrated in the neutral position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating one of the switches in a shifted position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view of one of the switches and an associated switch actuator illustrating the area of electrical contact when the switch is electrically actuated;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one of the switches, its actuator and push-button operators together with the switch position retaining structure and a portion of the cancelling frame for returning the switch operators to their neutral positions;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the push-button control structure;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the structure by which a storage battery may be introduced into the system and automatically electrically connected therein while at the same time disconnecting the control system from conventional house current;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the storage battery is received into the housing for the push-button control system; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an electrical solenoid system to which the push-button control assembly may be electrically connected, the solenoid operating system being adapted for use to release the latch mechanism of the door illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in the numeral 10 generally designates a wall having a doorway 12 formed therein. A door 14 is hung in the doorway l2 and the door 14 has an upper opening 16 formedtherethrough in which the housing 18 of the push-button control assembly of the instant invention may be secured in any convenient manner. The pushbutton control system is referred to in general by the reference numeral 20 and it may be seen that the housing 18 includes a front wall 22 having an opening 24 formed in a lower central portion thereof. The front wall 22 is also provided with horizontal spaced apart pairs of vertically spaced push-button receiving

recess

26 and 28. A cover panel 30 is also provided and hinged to the lower marginal portion of the front of the housing 18, as at 32. The cover panel 30 may be swung from the open position thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 of th drawings proving access to the front of the housing 18 and the closed position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings whereby the front wall 22 of the housing 18 is closed behind the cover panel 30.

The front wall 22 is provided with

bores

36 and 38 which open rearwardly through the front wall 22 and forwardly into the

corresponding recesses

26 and 28, respectively. Also, the housing 18 includes top and

bottom walls

40 and 42 as well as opposite side walls 44. The

recesses

26 and 28 have push-

buttons

46 and 48 slidably received therein and each push-

button

46 and 48 is mounted on the outer end of a shaft 50 and the inner ends of the shaft 50 are slidable through the

bores

36 and 38. Compression springs 52 are disposed about the shaft 50 between the push-

buttons

46 and 48 and the inner ends of the

recesses

26 and 28 and thereby urge the push-

buttons

46 and 48 toward outermost positions, which outermost positions may be determined by a suitable stop means operatively associated with the shafts 50.

The rear of the housing 18 includes a hinged closure panel 54 and a solenoid operated latch assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 56 is carried by the rear portion of the top wall 40 and operatively associated with the upper free swinging edge of the closure panel 54 for latching the latter in the closed position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The solenoid actuated latch structure 56 includes a solenoid 58 and a pivoted latch 60 which is engageable with and upturned flange 62 carried by the free swinging edge of the closure panel 54 and receivable through an opening 64 formed in the housing portion 66 of the latch structure 56, the housing 66 being secured to the top wall by means of suitable fasteners 68 which may not be readily removed. Further, the closure panel 54 includes a stop flange 70 for closing the opening or slot 64 when the closure panel 54 is in the closed position.

A support frame referred to in general by the reference numeral 72 is longitudinally slidable forwardly through the open rear of th housing 18 when the panel 54 is in the open position and the support frame 72 is limited in its forward movement by means of an abutment portion 74 carried by the bottom wall 42 of the housing 18. When in the forwardmost position, the support frame 72 may be secured within the housing 18 by means of a fastener 76.

A plurality of switch bodies referred to in general by the reference numeral 80 are pivotally supported from a support shaft 82 and for each support body there is also provided a switch actuator 84 pivotally supported from the shaft 82, the shaft 82 having its opposite ends supported from opposite side stands 86 carried by the frame 72. Each switch body 80 includes a pair of side plates 88 each having a terminal 90 secured therethrough and to a terminal plate 92 having upper and lower terminal legs 94. A bowed spring 96 and insulating strip 98 are provided between adjacent switch bodies 80 as may best be seen from FIG. 6 of the drawings, so as to maintain proper spacing between adjacent switch bodies 80. The side plates 88 are provided with bores 100 through which the shaft 82 is rotatably received and each switch actuator 84 includes a bore 102 through which the shaft 82 is rotatably received. Also, the terminals 90 are secured through bores 104 and counter bores 106 thereof formed in the side plates 88 with which bores 108 formed in the switch actuators 84 are registrable. Each bore 103 has a compression spring 110 disposed therein and a contact cup 112 is disposed over each end of each compression spring 1 10.

When the switch bodies and switch actuators 84 are in the positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 2, the cups 112 are disposed in electrical contact with the terminals and thus the terminal plates on the opposite sides of each switch body 80 are electrically connected so that either terminal leg 94 on one terminal plate 92 is electrically connected with either terminal leg 94 on the other terminal plate 92. However, when the switch body 80 is moved out of the center position illustrated in FIG. 2 to an angularly displaced position such as that illustrated in FIG. 3, the terminals 90 are moved out of electrical contact with the cups 1 12 and thus the terminal plates 92 of the switch body 80 are not electrically connected. Furthermore, from the phantom line position of the swtich actuator 84 illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the switch actuator 84 may be rotated to a position with its cups 112 electrically connecting the terminal 90 of the associated switch body 80 and it will also be understood that the switch bodies 80 and switch actuators 84 may also be oppositely angularly displaced from the centered position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2.

A pair of opposite side rear stands 114 are carried by the support frame 72 of a pair of opposite side front to rear extending fixed rack gears 116 extend between the

corresponding stands

86 and 114. Also, a sliding rack gear 118 is longitudinally slidably supported from each pair of

stands

86 and 114 and the forward end of one of the rack gears 118 projects forwardly through the front wall 22 through a bore 120 formed therein and is provided with a knob 122 disposed behind the cover plate 30 when the latter is in a closed position.

A centering frame which may also be termed a cancelling frame is referred to in general by the reference numeral 124 and is slidably supported from the opposite side upper and

lower gears

118 and 116. The opposite sides of the cancelling frame 124 are notched as at 126, see FIG. 7, and the forward ends of a pair of side straps 128 are anchored to pins 130 carried in the notches 126 and the rear ends of the straps 128 have the opposite ends of a transverse shaft 132 journaled therethrough, the end portions of the shaft 132 having gear wheels 134 mounted thereon for rotation therewith and the opposite side gear wheels 134 being in meshed engagement with the corresponding rack gears 116 and 118. One end portion of the shaft 132 is aligned with a front to rear extending horizontal slot 136 formed in one of the side walls 44 of the housing 18 and a control knob 140 is slidably and rotatably received in the slot 136 and is keyed to the shaft 132 for rotation therewith.

Accordingly, when the knob 140 is rotated from the exterior of the housing 18, the shaft 132 is caused to move along the lower stationary rack gears 116. If the knob 140 is turned in a direction to cause the gear wheels 134 to roll forwardly on the lower rack gears 116, the connecting straps 128 carried by the opposite ends of the shaft 132 and anchored to the opposite sides of the cancelling frame 124 push the latter forwardly so that the downwardly and upwardly projecting portions 142 of the cancelling frame 124 will engage either the upper or lower surface 146 of any switch actuator 84 out of the centered position illustrated in FIG. 2, and urge that switch actuator 84 back to the centered position of FIG. 2.

1 Each switch body 80 includes a rearwardly projecting support pin 1S0 clamped between the corresponding side plates 88, which side plates 88 of each switch body 80 are secured together by means of suitable fasteners 151. Each pin 150 has a knob 152 slidably mounted thereon and each pin 150 has a compression spring 154 disposed thereabout between the corresponding knob 152 and the associated switch body 80. The knobs in clude diametrically enlarged inner ends 156 and stop flanges 158 and the knobs 152 are swingable through upstanding slots 160 formed in an arcuate slotted plate 162 supported from the top wall 40 and front stands 86 by means of

fasteners

164 and 166. The upper and lower ends of each slot include enlargements 168 and the center portion of each slot includes an enlargement 170. The diametrically enlarged portions 156 of the knobs 152 are seatingly receivable in the enlargements 168 and 170 in order to retain the knobs 152 in position and, if it is desired to rotate a switch body 80 from one position to the other, the corresponding knob 152 is pushed forwardly so as to compress the corresponding spring 154 and disengage the diametrically enlarged portion 156 thereof from the associated enlarged portion of the corresponding slot. Then, with the knob 152 pushed forwardly, the knob may be utilized to swing the switch body 80 to a different position whereupon the knob 152 may be released so as to seat the diametrically enlarged portion 156 thereon in the enlargement of the corresponding slot associated with that new position. It may, therefore, be readily appreciated that each switch body 80 may be secured in three different positions.

The knob 140 may be removed through the slot 136 when desired and the knob 122 may be removed together with the fasteners 164 and also the fastener 76 in order to enable the entire support frame, the cancelling frame 124 and all of the switch actuators 84 and switch bodies 80 to be removed from the rear of the housing 18 as a unit after the cover plate 54 has been opened.

It is to be understood that various terminal legs 94 of the switch bodies 80 may be serially connected in a circuit, which circuit includes an input terminal at 176, see FIG. 9. The terminal 176 comprises one terminal of a knife switch including a second terminal 178 and a conductor 180 has one end thereof connected to the terminal 178, the

terminals

176 and 178 being secured to the front wall 22 of the housing 18 adjacent the opening 24. The conductor 180 is, of course, the conductor in which various terminal legs 94 of the switch bodies 80 may be connected in series and the conductor 180 is also connected to a push-button switch A, see FIG. 1, secured through the front wall 22 of the housing 18. The push-button switch A is then connected to a pair of electric solenoids (a), see FIG. 1 l, for actuation thereof. Actuation of either one or both of the solenoids (a) will cause the actuating rod 182 to be raised, it being understood that the rod 182 is operatively connected to a latch mechanism for the door 14.

It may also be seen from FIGS. 9 and of the drawings that a cover door 184 is also provided and may be swung between open and closed positions relative to the opening 24, the cover door 184 being hingedly supported from the front wall 22 of the housing 18. Se-

cured to the inner side of the cover door 184 is a battery receiving structure referred to in general by the reference numeral 186 and the battery receiving structure 186 includes

end plate terminals

188 and 190 with which the opposite ends of an associated battery 192 may be operatively engaged upon insertion of the battery into the structure 186 through the opening 24. The end plate terminals 188 are electrically connected to

conductors

194 and 196 and it may be seen that the conductors 194 is also connected to a terminal 198 of a knife switch including a second terminal 200. A conductor 202 extends between the terminal 200 and the conductor and a speing clip 204 is carried by the portion of the inner surface of the front wall 22 above the center of the opening 24. Also, a pair of

switch arms

206 and 208 are hingedly supported from the inner side of the front wall 22 and the free end of the switch arm 206 includes a bridging element 209 which normally bridges the

terminals

176 and 178 and thus electrically connects the terminal 176 to the conductor 180. It is to be understood that reduced household current will be supplied to the terminal 176.

When the closure door 184 is swung to the open position, the structure 186 is swung through the opening 24 to the front side of the wall 22. When thus positioned, the structure 186 is extended to receive the battery 192 and upon swinging movement of the structure 186 back through the opening 24 to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings, the battery 192 contacts the switch arm 208 and thus causes the arm 206 to swing inwardly away from the

terminals

176 and 178 and the free end of the arm 208 to swing downwardly and bridge the

contacts

198 and 200.

It may, therefore, be seen that in the event there is an interruption to household current, the door 184 may be swung open and the battery 192 may be placed in the structure 186. As the structure 186 is swung back to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings, the spring clip 204 will automatically engage and maintain the battery 192 in position within the structure 186 and yieldingly retain the door 184 in the closed position while at the same time causing the battery 192 to urge the free end of the arm 208 downwardly thereby disconnecting the conductor 180 from household current and connecting the battery 192 to the conductor 180. Also, it may be seen from FIG. 1 of the drawings that a second push-button switch B is secured through the front Wall 22 and will also be understood that the conductor 180 is electrically connected to the push-button B. The push-button B is in turn electrically connected to the electric solenoids (b) illus trated in FIG. 11 of the drawings. By this manner, either the solenoids (a) or the solenoids (b) may be actuated utilizing either household current in reduced form or battery current from the battery 192. This double actuating system for the latch operating rod 182 insures that even in the event of failure of the household current or three of the four solenoids, one of the solenoids may be electrically actuated to operate the latch control rod 182.

From FIG. 1 of the drawings, it may be seen that the various push-

button

46 and 48 are alternately upwardly and downwardly offset relative to each other so as to provide adequate spacing between the push-

buttons

46 and 48. Also, it will be seen that there are eight pairs of push-buttons and eight corresponding switch bodies 80.

When it is desired to preset the control assembly for actuation of the door lock operating rod 182, three, four or five of the switch bodies 80 may be electrically connected in the control circuit in series and shifted to alternate positions or whatever positions are desired in order to make it necessary to accurately push three, four or five specific push-buttons 46 and/or 48 in order to enable either the switch A or th switch B to actuate the solenoids (a) or the solenoids (11). Certain of the other remaining switch bodies 80 may also be shifted to selected positions and may be serially connected in audible alarm circuits, visual alarm circuits and perhaps even an alarm circuit for operating an alarm in a remote police station or an adjacent neighbors house. Therefore, an unauthorized person attempting to gain entrance through the door 14 will not only have a very small chance or correctly pushing the three, four or five buttons which are required to enable either the button A or the button B to be pushed in order to open the door 14, but there will be a very good chance that the unauthorized person attempting to gain entrance will actuate the various alarm systems.

If the owner of a house in which the instant invention has been installed intends to leave the premises for an extended period, he may connect six of the switch bodies 80 in the electrical circuit for controlling the solenoids to open the door so as to substantially eliminate any possibility of an unauthorized person passing the correct buttons to open the door 14. However, if a person wishes his neighbor to have temporary access to his home in his absence, he may designate one or two of the switch bodies at those bodies which are to have one button pushed and he may electrically connect the two buttons in the circuit for electrically actuating the solenoids (a) or the solenoids (b). Of course, the solenoid 58 controlling the latch for the inner cover panel 54 of the assembly may also be actuated through correct pressing of two or more of the

buttons

46 and 48 and in this manner unauthorized tampering with the control system even by persons within the house may be prevented. If it is not desired to utilize a lock assembly for the inner cover panel 54 actuatable by the

buttons

46 and 48, a conventional key-operated tumbler lock may be used for the cover panel 54.

After a person has properly gained entrance through the door 14, the cancelling knob 140 may be turned in order to reset all of the switch actuators 84 which were angularly displaced due to the proper pushing of the

predetermined buttons

46 and 48. In this manner, the assembly will be ready to be subsequently actuated only by persons knowing the right combination of buttons to push. Further, when a person inside a structure under the control of the assembly of the instant invention leaves that structure through the doorway 12, it is merely necessary for that person to reach up and pull the knob 122 after having left the building in order to reset all of the switch actuators 84. Then, after pushing the knob 122 inwardly to move the cancelling frame 124 back out of position, the closure or cover panel 30 may be swung to the closed position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

With attention again invented to FIG. 11, it may be seen that the solenoids (a) include pull shafts or rods 214 which are connected to the opposite ends of a cross head 216 whose mid-portion is pivotally connected to the upper end of the operating rod 182. The lower ends of the pull shafts or rods 214 are slotted longitudinally and the opposite ends of the cross head or bar 216 are longitudinally slotted. Also, the solenoids (b) include longitudinally slotted push rods or shafts 218 and the slotted ends of the

shafts

214 and 218 are connected to the slotted ends of the cross head 216 by means of a transverse pin structure 220. Accordingly, sufficient slack is provided whereby the shaft 182 may be raised by operation of eithe one of the solenoids (a) and (b).

Further, as previously hereinbefore set forth, only three or four of the switches or switch bodies need serially connected in a circuit for controlling the door latch solenoids. The other four switches may be used for different purposes. One or two may be serially connected in a circuit controlling a separate electrical apparatus such as a porch light and one or two other of the switches may be connected in a low voltage circuit extending to a neighbors house for actuation of a silent of low volume alarm. in this latter instance, an unauthorized person attempting to open the door 14 by random pushing of the

various buttons

46 and 48 will undoubtedly actuate such an alarm and thus neighbors may be signalled as to the attempt of an unauthorized person to open the door 14 while such an attempt is being made. Of course, the various buttons or switches which control several electrical circuits under the control of the push-button control system 20 may be changed at any time in addition to the combination of upper and lower buttons which must be pushed in order to properly actuate each control circuit. The switches 80 are constructed to adequately handle conventional -115 volt household current as well as lesser voltages such as 6 and 12 volt circuits. Accordingly, substantially any household circuit may be serially connected to one or more of the switches for control of that circuit by the push-button control system.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A push-button control assembly including a support having a plurality of switch bodies supported therefrom for independent shifting relative to said support between first and second limit positions as well as third positions intermediate said first and second posi tions, each of said switch bodies including thereon an associated switch actuator also supported from said support for shifting relative thereto between the same first, second and third positions, each of said switch actuators including a pair of corresponding push-buttons operatively associated therewith for alternately shifting said actuators between said first and second positions thereof in response to alternate actuation of the corresponding push-buttons, said switch bodies each including a pair of spaced terminals shiftable therewith and said switch actuators each including terminal bridging means operative to electrically bridge the corresponding body terminals in response to said actuator being disposed in the first or second position thereof when the corresponding switch body is disposed in its first or second position, respectively.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including selectively actuatable return means operative to shift all of said switch actuators to said third positions thereof.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said support and switch bodies include releasably actuatable means operative to retain said switch bodies in selected shifted positions.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said support includes first electric current input means electrically connected to a conductor adapted for selective connection, in series, with the terminals of selected switch bodies.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said support includes selectively actuatable second alternate current input means.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said alternate current input means includes means operative, when actuated, to disconnect said first current input means from said conductor and to connect said second current input means to said conductor.

7. The assembly of claim 1 in combination with a door, said assembly being supported from said door with said push-buttons accessible from one side of said door and said switch bodies accessible from the other side of said door.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said control assembly includes selectively actuatable return means operative to shift all of said switch actuators to said third positions thereof, said return means including a first actuator operable from said one side of said door and a second actuator operable from said other side of said door.

9. The assembly of claim 1 including a housing, said support bein removably supported in said housing.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said support and switch bodies include releasably actuatable means operative to retain said switch bodies in selected shifted 10 positions.

11. The assembly of claim 10 in combination with a door, said assembly being supported from said door with said push-buttons accessible from one side of said door and said switch bodies accessible from the other side of said door.

12. A push-button control assembly including a support having a plurality of switch bodies supported therefrom for independent shifting relative to said support between first and second limit positions, each of said switch bodies including therein an associated switch actuator also supported from said support for shifting relative thereto between the same first and second positions, manually operable means for selectively shifting said actuators independenendently of said switch bodies between their first and second positions, said switch bodies including pairs of spaced terminals, said switch actuators each including terminal bridging means operative to electrically bridge the corresponding body terminals in response to said actuator being disposed in a position corresponding to the position of the associated switch body.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said control assembly includes selectively actuatable return means operative to shift all of said switch actuators to third positions thereof.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said support includes first electric current input means electrically connected to a conductor adapted for selective connection, in series, with the terminals of selected switch bodies.

15. The assembly of claim 12 in combination with a door, said assembly being supported from said door with said actuators accessible from one side of said door and said switch bodies accessible from the other side of said door.

Claims

1. A push-button control assembly including a support having a plurality of switch bodies supported therefrom for independent shifting relative to said support between first and second limit positions as well as third positions intermediate said first and second positions, each of said switch bodies including thereon an associated switch actuator also supported from said support for shifting relative thereto between the same first, second and third positions, each of said switch actuators including a pair of corresponding push-buttons operatively associated therewith for alternately shifting said actuators between said first and second positions thereof in response to alternate actuation of the corresponding push-buttons, said switch bodies each including a pair of spaced terminals shiftable therewith and said switch actuators each including terminal bridging means operative to electrically bridge the corresponding body terminals in response to said actuator being disposed in the first or second position thereof when the corresponding switch body is disposed in its first or second position, respectively.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said support and switch bodies include releasably actuatable means operative to retain said switch bodies in selected shifted positionS.