Patent ID: 7601928

Claim:
A pedestrian push button for activating a traffic control device associated with a support surface, the push button comprising: a housing comprising: a cover comprising a front face and a substantially solid side wall terminating in an open rear end, wherein the front face defines a plunger recess; and a body comprising a rear panel and a side wall extending forward of the rear panel and terminating in an open front end and wherein the rear panel is connectable to the support surface inside the side wall of the body; wherein the side wall of the body is shaped to be telescopically received inside the side wall of the cover, and wherein the side wall of the body and the side wall of the cover are cooperatively configured to form a twist lock engagement therebetween that is hidden in the assembled push button and a switch inside the housing operable between an on and an off position, wherein the switch is operatively connectable to the traffic control device so that in the on position the switch activates the traffic control device, and wherein the switch is biased in the off position; and a plunger mounted in the housing for movement between a resting position and a pressed position, wherein the plunger comprises a head accessible through the plunger recess in the face of the cover and a switch-engaging member extending rearwardly from the head into the housing, wherein the plunger is positioned and shaped so that in the pressed position the switch-engaging member moves the switch to the active position and so that in the resting position the head permits the switch to return to the off position, and wherein the plunger is biased in the resting position.