Pushbutton switch with light-transmitting indicia on the pushbutton

Abstract

An illuminated pushbutton for a pushbutton switch having a light transmitting pushbutton and an indicia cover that is attached to a front end of the light transmitting pushbutton. The indicia cover has non-light transmitting regions and light transmitting regions on its front surface, wherein the light transmitting regions provide visible, light-transmitted indicia on the light transmitting pushbutton. The indicia cover has an adhesive on its rear surface to attach the indicia cover to the front end of the light transmitting pushbutton. An LED in the pushbutton switch is constructed to transmit light to the indicia cover. The light passes through the light transmitting regions (symbols and letters) but not through the non-light transmitting regions. As the light passes through the light transmitting symbols and letters, the symbols and letters are lighted and visible in the dark.

I claim: 
     
       1. An illuminated pushbutton for a pushbutton switch, comprising:
 a) a pushbutton having a hollow interior, a front end with an opening, and a stem, wherein the front end of said pushbutton is positioned in a front end of a housing and a light source is positioned in a rear end of the housing;   b) an indicia cover having a front surface with a dark background and a rear surface, wherein the indicia cover is attached to the front end of said pushbutton; and   c) said indicia cover is non-light transmitting and does not allow the passage of light from the light source through said indicia cover except for indicia positioned on said indicia cover, the indicia being light transmitting and allowing the passage of light through said indicia cover, wherein the light source transmits light from the rear end of the housing to the front end of the housing and to the rear surface of said indicia cover and wherein the light from the light source passes through the indicia and lights the indicia, making the indicia visible on the front surface of said indicia cover and on the front end of said pushbutton.   
     
     
       2. The illuminated pushbutton of claim  1  8 further comprising a lens positioned adjacent to the front end of said pushbutton and covered with a light transmitting cap. 
     
     
       3. The illuminated pushbutton of claim  1  8, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       4. The illuminated pushbutton of claim  1  8 further comprising said indicia cover having an adhesive on its rear surface to attach said indicia cover to the front end of said pushbutton. 
     
     
       5. The illuminated pushbutton of claim  1  8 further comprising components in the housing between the light source and said pushbutton being constructed to allow transmission of light from the light source to said pushbutton. 
     
     
       6. An illuminated pushbutton for a pushbutton switch, comprising:
 a) a pushbutton having a hollow interior, a front endwith an opening, and a stem wherein the front end of said pushbutton is positioned in a front end of a housing and a light emitting diode is positioned in a rear end of the housing transmits light through the housing to the pushbutton; 
 b) an indicia cover having a front surface with a dark background and a rear surface, wherein the indicia cover is attached to the front end of said pushbutton; 
 c) said indicia cover is non-light transmitting and does not allow the passage of light from the light emitting diode through said indicia cover except for indicia positioned on said indicia cover, the indicia being light transmitting and allowing the passage of light through said indicia cover, wherein the light emitting diode transmits light from the rear end of the housing to the front end of the housing and to the rear surface of said indicia cover and wherein the light from the light emitting diode passes through the indicia and lights the indicia, making the indicia visible on the front surface of said indicia cover and on the front end of said pushbutton; 
 d) said pushbutton being connected to a multipin pushbutton switch by connection of the stem of the push button to a silicon cap, the silicon cap having a ratchet system whereby said pushbutton operates the multipin pushbutton switch, wherein the front surface of said indicia cover is colored black or a dark color and the indicia are made of clear plastic or are openings in the indicia cover;  
 de) said indicia cover having an adhesive on its rear surface to attach said indicia cover to said front end of said light transmitting pushbutton; and 
 ef) components in the housing between the light source and said pushbutton being constructed to allow transmission of light from the light source to said pushbutton. 
 
     
     
       7. The illuminated pushbutton of claim  6  10 further comprising a lens positioned adjacent to the front end of said pushbutton and covered with a light transmitting cap. 
     
     
       8. An illuminated pushbutton for a pushbutton switch, comprising:
 a) a pushbutton having a hollow interior, a front endwith an opening, and a stem, wherein the front end of said pushbutton is positioned in a front end of a housing and a light source is positioned in a rear end of the housing transmits light through the housing to the pushbutton; 
 b) an indicia cover having a front surface with a dark background and a rear surface, wherein the indicia cover is attached to the front end of said pushbutton; 
 c) said indicia cover is non-light transmitting and does not allow the passage of light from the light source through said indicia cover except for indicia on said indicia cover, the indicia being light transmitting and allowing the passage of light through said indicia cover, wherein the light source transmits light from the rear end of the housing to the front end of the housing and to the rear surface of said indicia cover and wherein the light from the light source passes through the indicia and lights the indicia, making the indicia visible on the front surface of said indicia cover and on the front end of said pushbutton; and 
 d) said pushbutton being connected to a multipin pushbutton switch by connection of the stem of the push button to a silicon cap, the silicon cap having a ratchet system whereby said pushbutton operates the multipin pushbutton switch, wherein the front surface of said indicia cover is colored black or a dark color and the indicia are made of clear plastic or are openings in the indicia cover. 
 
     
     
       9. The illuminated pushbutton of  claim 8  further comprising a lens positioned adjacent to the front end of said pushbutton and covered with a light transmitting cap. 
     
     
       10. An illuminated pushbutton for a pushbutton switch, comprising:
 a) a pushbutton having a hollow interior, a front endwith an opening, and a stem, wherein the front end of said pushbutton is positioned in a front end of a housing and a light source is positioned in a rear end of the housing and wherein a lens is positioned adjacent to said the front end of said light transmitting pushbutton, said lens being covered with a light transmitting cap transmits light through the housing to the pushbutton; 
 b) an indicia cover having a front surface with a dark background and a rear surface, wherein the indicia cover is attached to the light transmitting cap front end of said pushbutton; and 
 c) said indicia cover is non-light transmitting and does not allow the passage of light from the light source through said indicia cover except for indicia positioned on said indicia cover, the indicia being light transmitting and allowing the passage of light through said indicia cover, wherein the light source transmits light from the rear end of the housing to the front end of the housing and to the rear surface of said indicia cover and wherein the light from the light source passes through the indicia and lights the indicia, making the indicia visible on the front surface of the said indicia cover and on the light transmitting cap. front end of said pushbutton; 
 d) said pushbutton being connected to a multipin pushbutton switch by connection of the stem of the push button to a silicon cap, the silicon cap having a ratchet system whereby said pushbutton operates the multipin pushbutton switch, wherein the front surface of said indicia cover is colored black or a dark color and the indicia are made of clear plastic or are openings in the indicia cover; 
 e) said indicia cover having an adhesive on its rear surface to attach said indicia cover to the front end of said pushbutton; and 
 f) components in the housing between the light source and said pushbutton being constructed to allow transmission of light from the light source to said pushbutton, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.