Actuator construction having releasable lock in actuated and deactuated

Abstract

An actuator comprises a housing having a bore with an opening and having a recess stop surface defined along the bore. A push button actuator is displaceable in the bore and projects through the opening so that it may be moved by hand between a non-actuated position to an actuated position. The push button includes a cross-bore or cavity with a lock bolt movable in the cavity and biased by a spring so that it engages with the stop surface when the push button is in a deactivated position. The housing also has a crossbore or recess containing a release member which has a push button end which is engageable from the exterior of the housing to displace the release member. In the locked deactivated position, the release member is engaged with the locking member so that the displacement thereof forces the locking member against its biasing spring to a position in which it is moved out of engagement with the stop surface so that the push button may be moved to an activated position. In the activated position, the release member is engageable behind an extension on the push button so as to block the return movement of the push button and to hold it in an activated position. The push button may be moved against a biasing spring in the activated position to move the extension beyond the release member and cause the release member to move out of the way so that the push button may be returned to the deactivated position.