Patent ID: 8115122

Claim:
A push button switch comprising: an operation portion including a push button to be subjected to a push-in operation; and a switch portion, removably coupled with the operation portion, the switch portion including a switching contact unit whose contacts are opened/closed in connection with the push-in operation of the push button of the operation portion; wherein the switch portion includes a contact opening mechanism including a lever which is rotatably supported and has one end acting on a part of the operation portion coupled with the switch portion and the other end acting on a contact switching mechanism of the switching contact unit in the switch portion so as to operate to open/close contacts, and a spring which urges the lever in a fixed rotation direction; and wherein the contact switching mechanism of the switching contact unit is urged to move a movable contact from a standby state position toward an operating state position by the contact opening mechanism when the switch portion is separated from the operation portion, while the contact switching mechanism of the contact unit is released from urging when the switch portion is coupled with the operation portion.