Illuminated pushbutton switch

In an illuminated pushbutton switch comprising a housing, a switching component installed in a lower portion of the housing and having a reset spring, and an illuminator component having a lamp holder and a pushbutton which is removably installed in the housing, said pushbutton being vertically slidable within said lamp holder for relative movement over a predetermined stroke and having a lever for actuating the switching component,

• the improvement comprising
• a leaf spring secured at its base end to one of said lamp holder and pushbutton and disposed in a direction substantially parallel with said predetermined stroke,
• an engaging means formed in the other one of said lamp holder and pushbutton for engaging with a free end of said leaf spring, and
• a stationary member for transversely biasing said leaf spring out of engagement with said engaging means as said reset spring returns to its original position after said pushbutton is installed in said housing, wherein the length of said leaf spring is selected so as to prevent the motion of said pushbutton into a position which actuates said switching component while said pushbutton is being installed in the housing.