Technical Question: What is the PROPER term?

[Jon Bailey]

What is the proper term for any push-button type mechanical electrical switch that locks into the inward On position when pressed and then releases to a more outward Off position when pressed again? What is the mechanical design of a switch of this type and how does it work? Is there some type of cam-follower action in these switches similar to the workings of a retractable ball-point pen? I disassembled this '95 Toyota Corolla A/C switch to see how it works. Really complex for a switch design. It has a printed circuit board inside the unit. Unfortunately, I seemed to have lost the parts for locking and releasing the switch as I disassembled it in the dark car one night like an idiot. Evidently there was some spring-loaded part that flew away somewhere never to be found by me again. I don't even know what this missing part looks like. I did observe some funny curved grooves and some grease in the sliding switch part indicating this switch must be locked ON by some trick cam-follower type mechanism. These switches seem to operate like magic: like a clickable ink pen.

Today, Monday, 12/29/2014, i found a replacement switch at MY LOCAL JUNKYARD and the missing mystery part: the cam follower spring, I call it: I can know show everybody here how it even works: