초록 ▼

A panel-mountable push button actuator assembly for operating a latch or other apparatus having a link, trigger or other operating element that must move a short distance includes a housing having a front portion configured to be inserted through a panel opening from the rear side of the panel, and

A panel-mountable push button actuator assembly for operating a latch or other apparatus having a link, trigger or other operating element that must move a short distance includes a housing having a front portion configured to be inserted through a panel opening from the rear side of the panel, and a generally annular retaining cap that is releasably connected to the front portion of the housing to hold the housing in the panel opening. The cap preferably is held in its installed position on the housing by a compressed foam rubber washer that provides a seal between the cap and the panel. Also disclosed are an O-ring seal that optionally may be interposed between a push button of the actuator assembly and the housing, and a rigidified cam that may be used with the present and other types of push button actuator assemblies to engage and move a link, trigger or other operating element in response to depression of the push button.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central ax

The invention claimed is: 1. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a one-piece elongate cam formed from metal and having a substantially flat first portion defining a rounded first end region extending in a plane that substantially perpendicularly intersects the central axis and being rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the rounded first end region defined by the substantially flat first portion is bounded, at least in part, by a curved edge segment of the cam that is turned out of the plane of the flat first portion to form a generally C-shaped arc that curves about and at least partially encircles the central axis, and serves to rigidify at least a part of the cam to resist bending when the cam transmits force from the push button to said component of another mechanism for moving said component. 2. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a one-piece cam formed from metal and having a substantially flat first portion extending in a plane that substantially perpendicularly intersects the central axis and being rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the substantially flat first portion is bounded, at least in part, by a curved edge segment of the cam that is turned out of the plane of the flat first portion and serves to rigidify at least a part of the cam to resist bending when the cam transmits force from the push button to said component of another mechanism for moving said component; e) wherein the curved edge region forms substantially a half-circle arc about the central axis. 3. The push button actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the first and second portions of the cam are connected by an intermediate portion of the cam, wherein an inner part of the intermediate portion that connects with the first portion is substantially flat and extends in the plane of the flat first portion, and wherein the intermediate portion is bounded, at least in part, by at least one straight edge segment of the cam that is turned out of the plane of the flat first portion so as to provide a contiguous extension of the curved edge segment to assist the curved edge segment in rigidifying at least a part of the cam to resist bending when the cam transmits force from the push button to said component of another mechanism for moving said component. 4. The push button actuator assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least one straight edge segment includes first and second straight edge segments that bound opposite sides of the intermediate portion and provide contiguous extensions of the curved edge segment. 5. The push button actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the first and second straight edge segments extend substantially parallel to each other. 6. The push button actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the push button to which the cam is rigidly connected can be turned about the central axis between an unlocked position wherein the cam is aligned with said component of another mechanism and a locked position wherein the cam is disaligned with said component in response 1) to insertion into the push button of a correctly configured key and 2) to the inserted key being turned about the central axis, with the disalignment of the cam with said component when the cam is turned to the locked position being sufficient to ensure that, when the push button is depressed and moved rearwardly, the cam does not engage and move said component. 7. The push button actuator assembly of claim 6 additionally including an O-ring seal carried in the passage adjacent the forward end region of the housing and extending about a smooth, substantially cylindrical outer surface of the push button to seal the passage from the entry of moisture, with the O-ring engaging only a forwardly facing shoulder of the push button and only when the push button is in the first position. 8. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a one-piece cam formed from metal and having a substantially flat first portion extending in a plane that substantially perpendicularly intersects the central axis and being rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the substantially flat first portion is bounded, at least in part, by a curved edge segment of the cam that is turned out of the plane of the flat first portion and serves to rigidify at least a part of the cam to resist bending when the cam transmits force from the push button to said component of another mechanism for moving said component; e) additionally including a retainer disc carried in the passage and engaging the O-ring to hold the O-ring in the passage, and a snap ring installed in a groove that opens into the passage to hold the retainer disc in the passage. 9. The push button actuator assembly of claim 8 wherein the retainer disc has a curved surface that faces rearwardly and engages a forward side of the O-ring. 10. The push button actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the forward end region of the housing has an external configuration suited to be inserted through a panel opening from a rear side of the panel, wherein the push button actuator assembly includes an annular cap that can be easily, manually, removably connected to the forward end region of the housing after the forward end region of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel, and wherein the annular cap has a rearwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening to retain the forward end region of the housing in the panel opening when the annular cap has been manually, removably connected to the forward end region of the housing. 11. The push button actuator assembly of claim 10 additionally including a resilient foam rubber washer configured to surround a portion of the forward end region of the housing at a location interposed between the annular cap and the front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening. 12. The push button actuator assembly of claim 11 wherein the resilient foam rubber washer has a thickness sufficient to ensure that the washer will be compressed along the central axis when the washer is installed on the forward end region of the housing at said location and the annular cap is removably connected to the forward end region of the housing. 13. The push button actuator assembly of claim 12 wherein the annular cap is removably connected to the forward end region of the housing by inserting radially extending formations of the housing into recesses of the annular cap that are configured to receive the radially extending formations. 14. The push button actuator assembly of claim 13 wherein each of the recesses of the annular cap is configured to receive a separate associated one of the radially extending formations of the housing. 15. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a one-piece cam formed from metal and having a substantially flat first portion extending in a plane that substantially perpendicularly intersects the central axis and being rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the substantially flat first portion is bounded, at least in part, by a curved edge segment of the cam that is turned out of the plane of the flat first portion and serves to rigidify at least a part of the cam to resist bending when the cam transmits force from the push button to said component of another mechanism for moving said component; e) wherein each of the recesses of the annular cap has a rearwardly facing opening configured to receive a separate associated one of the radially extending formations of the housing therein when the cap is moved rearwardly along the central axis relative to the housing; has a circumferentially extending passage connected to the rearwardly facing opening configured to receive the separate associated one of the radially extending formations when the cap is rotated about the central axis relative to the housing at a time when the separate associated one of the radially extending formations is received in the rearwardly facing opening; and has a rearwardly extending region connected to the circumferentially extending passage configured to receive the separate associated one of the radially extending formations therein when the cap is moved forwardly along the central axis relative to the housing at a time when the separate associated one of the radially extending formations is positioned in the circumferentially extending passage in alignment with the rearwardly extending region, with the rearwardly extending region being configured to prevent the cap from being turned about the central axis so long as the separate associated one of the radially extending formations is seated in a rearward end region of the rearwardly extending region. 16. The push button actuator assembly of claim 15 wherein the resilient washer compressed between the panel and the rearwardly facing shoulder of the annular cap biases the cap forwardly to thereby maintain the separate associated one of the radially extending formations seated in the rearwardly extending region. 17. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a cam having a first portion rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the forward end region of the housing has an external configuration smaller in size than a panel opening and therefore suited to be inserted through the panel opening from a rear side of the panel, wherein the push button actuator assembly includes an annular cap larger in size than the panel opening that can be easily, manually, removably connected to the forward end region of the housing after the smaller in size forward end region of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel, and wherein the annular cap has a rearwardly facing shoulder larger in size than the panel opening and configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening to retain the smaller in size forward end region of the housing in the panel opening when the annular cap has been manually, removably connected to the smaller in size forward end region of the housing; and, e) wherein the annular cap is removably connected to the smaller in size forward end region of the housing by inserting radially extending formations of the housing into recesses of the annular cap that are configured to receive the radially extending formations. 18. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a cam having a first portion rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the forward end region of the housing has an external configuration suited to be inserted through a panel opening from a rear side of the panel, wherein the push button actuator assembly includes an annular cap that can be easily, manually, removably connected to the forward end region of the housing after the forward end region of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel, and wherein the annular cap has a rearwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening to retain the forward end region of the housing in the panel opening when the annular cap has been manually, removably connected to the forward end region of the housing; e) wherein the annular cap is removably connected to the forward end region of the housing by inserting radially extending formations of the housing into recesses of the annular cap that are configured to receive the radially extending formations; and, f) a resilient foam rubber washer configured to surround a portion of the forward end region of the housing at a location interposed between the annular cap and the front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening. 19. The push button actuator assembly of claim 18 wherein the resilient foam rubber washer has a thickness sufficient to ensure that the washer will be compressed along the central axis when the washer is installed on the forward end region of the housing at said location and the annular cap is removably connected to the forward end region of the housing. 20. The push button actuator assembly of claim 17 wherein each of the recesses of the annular cap is configured to receive a separate associated one of the radially extending formations of the housing. 21. A push button actuator assembly for engaging and moving a component of another mechanism in response to depression of an operating element of the push button actuator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having a passage formed therethrough that extends along a central axis of the housing and opens through a forward end region and a rearward end region of the housing; b) a push button supported in the passage for movement along the central axis and having a front end region and a rear end region, with the front end region of the push button defining said operating element and being configured to be manually engaged so that force can be applied to the front end region of the push button to depress and rearwardly move the push button along the central axis from a first position to a second position; c) a cam having a first portion rigidly connected to the rear end region of the push button at a location along the central axis so the cam will move forwardly and rearwardly with the push button, and having a second portion that extends away from the central axis for engaging and moving said component of another mechanism in response to depression and rearward movement of the push button; d) wherein the forward end region of the housing has an external configuration suited to be inserted through a panel opening from a rear side of the panel, wherein the push button actuator assembly includes an annular cap that can be removably connected to the forward end region of the housing after the forward end region of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel, and wherein the annular cap has a rearwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening to retain the forward end region of the housing in the panel opening when the annular cap is connected to the forward end region of the housing; e) wherein the annular cap is removably connected to the forward end region of the housing by inserting radially extending formations of the housing into recesses of the annular cap that are configured to receive the radially extending formations; f) wherein each of the recesses of the annular cap is configured to receive a separate associated one of the radially extending formations of the housing; and, g) wherein each of the recesses of the annular cap has a rearwardly facing opening configured to receive a separate associated one of the radially extending formations of the housing therein when the cap is moved rearwardly along the central axis relative to the housing; has a circumferentially extending passage connected to the rearwardly facing opening configured to receive the separate associated one of the radially extending formations when the cap is rotated about the central axis relative to the housing at a time when the separate associated one of the radially extending formations is received in the rearwardly facing opening; and has a rearwardly extending region connected to the circumferentially extending passage configured to receive the separate associated one of the radially extending formations therein when the cap is moved forwardly along the central axis relative to the housing at a time when the separate associated one of the radially extending formations is positioned in the circumferentially extending passage in alignment with the rearwardly extending region, with the rearwardly extending region being configured to prevent the cap from being turned about the central axis so long as the separate associated one of the radially extending formations is seated in a rearward end region of the rearwardly extending region. 22. The push button actuator assembly of claim 21 additionally including a resilient foam rubber washer configured to surround a portion of the forward end region of the housing at a location interposed between the annular cap and the front surface portions of the panel extending about the panel opening. 23. The push button actuator assembly of claim 22 wherein the resilient foam rubber washer has a thickness sufficient to ensure that the washer will be compressed along the central axis when the washer is installed on the forward end region of the housing at said location and the annular cap is removably connected to the forward end region of the housing. 24. The push button actuator assembly of claim 23 wherein the resilient washer compressed between the panel and the rearwardly facing shoulder of the annular cap biases the cap forwardly to thereby maintain the separate associated one of the radially extending formations seated in the rearward end region of the rearwardly extending region. 25. A push button operator assembly mountable in a panel opening, comprising: a) a housing having a front exterior portion of generally cylindrical shape insertable forwardly through the panel opening from a rear side of the panel and having an interior configured to surround a central passage wherein a push button is supported for translation relative to the housing along an imaginary forwardly-rearwardly extending central axis of the central passage between a normally extended position and a depressed position, and at least one spring connected to the housing and biasing the push button forwardly away from the depressed position toward the extended position; b) a generally annular cap that is easily, manually, removably connectable to the front exterior portion of the housing after the front exterior portion of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel and configured to surround a front portion of the push button passage, wherein a rear portion of the cap defines a rearwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel in the vicinity of the panel opening to prevent the housing from being withdrawn rearwardly from the panel opening once the annular cap has been manually, removably connected to the front exterior portion of the housing; c) wherein the front exterior portion of the housing and the rear portion of the cap are provided with radially extending formations that can be brought into a first overlying relationship by rotating the housing and the cap relative to each other about the central axis to thereby establish said connection; and, d) wherein the front exterior portion of the housing and the rear portion of the cap also are provided with axially extending surfaces that can be brought into a second overlying relationship by axially moving the cap forwardly relative to the housing while the first overlying relationship is maintained to thereby prevent such relative rotation of the cap and the housing as would disestablish the first overlying relationship. 26. A push button operator assembly mountable in a panel opening, comprising: a) a housing having a front exterior portion of generally cylindrical shape insertable forwardly through the panel opening from a rear side of the panel and having an interior configured to surround a central passage wherein a push button is supported for translation relative to the housing along an imaginary forwardly-rearwardly extending central axis of the central passage between a normally extended position and a depressed position, and at least one spring connected to the housing and biasing the push button forwardly away from the depressed position toward the extended position; b) a generally annular cap connectable to the front exterior portion of the housing after the front exterior portion of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel and configured to surround a front portion of the push button passage, wherein a rear portion of the cap defines a rearwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel in the vicinity of the panel opening to prevent the housing from being withdrawn rearwardly from the panel opening once a connection has been established between the cap and the housing; c) wherein the front exterior portion of the housing and the rear portion of the cap are provided with radially extending formations that can be brought into a first overlying relationship by rotating the housing and the cap relative to each other about the central axis to thereby establish said connection; d) wherein the front exterior portion of the housing and the rear portion of the cap also are provided with axially extending surfaces that can be brought into a second overlying relationship by axially moving the cap forwardly relative to the housing while the first overlying relationship is maintained to thereby prevent such relative rotation of the cap and the housing as would disestablish the first overlying relationship; e) wherein the radially extending formation of the housing defines a first radially extending surface that extends through an arc which extends about the central axis, wherein the radially extending formation of the cap defines a second radially extending surface that faces toward and overlies the first radially extending surface when the first overlying relationship is established, and wherein the housing and the cap are configured a) such that the first and second radially extending surfaces are caused to extend in spaced-apart planes as the housing and the cap are turned relative to each other to establish the first overlying relationship, and b) such that the first and second radially extending surfaces are brought into engagement with each other when the housing and the cap are moved axially relative to each other to establish the second overlying relationship. 27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the housing defines a forwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie rear surface portions of the panel in the vicinity of the panel opening to prevent the housing from being withdrawn forwardly from the panel opening once a connection has been established between the cap and the housing. 28. The assembly of claim 27 additionally including a resilient annular member having an opening through which the exterior portion of the housing may be inserted so the resilient annular member can be installed on the front exterior portion of the housing at a location between the forwardly facing shoulder and the rearwardly facing shoulder. 29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein such portions of the resilient annular member and such portions of the panel as are situated between the forwardly and rearwardly extending shoulders when said connection is established are selected so the resilient annular member is caused to be compressed during establishment of the first and second overlying relationships, whereby the compression of the resilient annular member biases the first and second radially extending surfaces toward engagement with each other when once the first and second overlying relationships are established. 30. A push button operator assembly mountable in a panel opening, comprising: a) a housing having a front exterior portion of generally cylindrical shape insertable forwardly through the panel opening from a rear side of the panel and having an interior configured to surround a central passage wherein a push button is supported for translation relative to the housing along an imaginary forwardly-rearwardly extending central axis of the central passage between a normally extended position and a depressed position, and at least one spring connected to the housing and biasing the push button forwardly away from the depressed position toward the extended position; b) a generally annular cap connectable to the front exterior portion of the housing after the front exterior portion of the housing has been inserted through the panel opening from the rear side of the panel and configured to surround a front portion of the push button passage, wherein a rear portion of the cap defines a rearwardly facing shoulder configured to overlie front surface portions of the panel in the vicinity of the panel opening to prevent the housing from being withdrawn rearwardly from the panel opening once a connection has been established between the cap and the housing; c) wherein the front exterior portion of the housing and the rear portion of the cap are provided with radially extending formations that can be brought into a first overlying relationship by rotating the housing and the cap relative to each other about the central axis to thereby establish said connection; d) wherein the front exterior portion of the housing and the rear portion of the cap also are provided with axially extending surfaces that can be brought into a second overlying relationship by axially moving the cap forwardly relative to the housing while the first overlying relationship is maintained to thereby prevent such relative rotation of the cap and the housing as would disestablish the first overlying relationship; e) additionally including a cam having a substantially flat inner end region extending in a first plane substantially perpendicularly intersected by the central axis, with the flat inner end region being connected to a rear end region of the push button, and with the flat inner end region being rigidified by being joined by substantially a right angle bend to an arcuate formation that extends out of the first plane to form a generally C-shaped arc that curves about and at least partially encircles the central axis. 31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the arcuate formation has an edge surface, portions of which extend in a second plane spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the first plane. 32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the arcuate formation curves about 180 degrees around the central axis. 33. A push button operator assembly, comprising: a) a housing having an interior configured to surround a central passage wherein a push button is supported for translation relative to the housing along an imaginary forwardly-rearwardly extending central axis of the central passage between a normally extended position and a depressed position, and at least one spring connected to the housing and biasing the push button forwardly away from the depressed position toward the extended position; and, b) an elongate cam having a substantially flat inner end region extending in a first plane substantially perpendicularly intersected by the central axis, with the flat inner end region being connected to a rear end region of the push button, and with the flat inner end region being rigidified by being joined by substantially a right angle bend to a formation that extends out of the first plane to define a substantially C-shaped arc that curves about and at least partially encircles the central axis. 34. The assembly of claim 33 wherein the arcuate formation has an edge surface, portions of which extend in a second plane spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the first plane. 35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the arcuate formation curves through a range of between about 135 to about 180 degrees about the central axis. 36. A push button actuator assembly having a housing, a push button translatably movable in a forwardly and rearwardly extending passage of the housing along a central axis of the passage, an engagement member carried by a rear end region of the push button for engaging and moving an operating element of another apparatus in response to rearward movement of the push button along the central axis in opposition to a spring interposed between the push button and the housing that biases the push button forwardly along the axis, and an annular cap that can be easily, manually, removably connected to a front portion of the housing, wherein the cap has a rearwardly opening recess configured to receive the front portion of the housing therein at a time after the front portion has been inserted from behind a panel through an opening defined by the panel, wherein the recess and the front portion are configured to latch together as the result of the cap and the housing first being moved along the central axis toward each other to bring the front portion into the recess, second being rotated relative to each other about the central axis to bring elements of the cap and housing into overlying relationship, and third being moved along the central axis a short distance away from each other to a fully installed position of the cap to manually, removably connect the cap to the front portion of the housing. 37. The push button actuator assembly of claim 36 additionally including a compressible, resilient, foam rubber member installable about the front portion of the housing at a location between the panel and the cap for being compressed between the panel and the cap so as to apply a biasing force to the cap tending to move the cap forwardly along the central axis to thereby retain the cap in the fully installed position. 38. The push button actuator assembly of claim 37 wherein the foam rubber member is a foam rubber washer of substantially uniform thickness having an opening formed centrally therethrough that permits the washer to be installed on the front portion of the housing.