Patent ID: 7306265

Claim:
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.