A delayed actuator mechanism with visco-elastic timer is provided including a support section and an actuator section mounted to the support section. A compression spring biases the actuator section in a first state and permits the actuator section to be selectively switched to a second state. In that state a cocked torsion spring urges a detent carried by the actuator into engagement with a shoulder of the support section to restrain the actuator section in the second state. A visco-elastic delay mechanism gradually relaxes the torsion spring until the compression spring overcomes the detent shoulder restraint to abruptly switch the actuator section to the first state.