An operating device having a control button that is tiltable relative to the operating device housing, and where the device has switch elements for actuating on manipulation of the control button, e.g., by tilting, at least one of the switch elements. The control button has a downward projecting, central, spring-supported boss that is rounded at the bottom, is tiltably supported in a tiltable shaft in the housing and, preferably against spring action, is displaceable along a limited portion of the shaft. Projecting from the boss, transverse to the direction of the shaft there is provided a pair of oppositely oriented projections. Located in the housing and spaced from the underside of the control button is a plurality of switch elements that are positioned two-dimensionally. In a first pair of switch elements, each of the elements is designed to be actuated by a respective end area of the shaft on the tilting thereof in one direction or the other. In a second pair of switch elements, each of the elements is designed to be actuated by a respective projection on the tilting of the control button and its boss about the shaft in one direction or the other. In a third pair of switch elements, each of the elements is designed to be actuated by the boss on its sliding movement in a respective direction of the shaft. |