Timed switch control for electric devices

• US 20050023118A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Stephen Dunfield, Linda Williams Dunfield
• Original Assignee: John Stephen Dunfield, Linda Williams Dunfield
• Inventors: Dunfield, Linda Williams, Dunfield, John Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 6,903,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/200
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/003 acting only at one preselected time or during one adjustable time interval

Abstract

A power switch control unit for controlling the operation of a controlled electric device connected to the unit includes a housing having a timing mechanism therein; a power cord having a plug on one end thereof, for connection to a power supply, and having the housing on the other end thereof, for supplying electrical power to the unit and to a connected-electric device controlled by the power switch control unit, and a receptacle for receiving a power cord from an electric device to be controlled by the power switch control unit; control buttons, including: an on/off button for connecting a controlled electric device to the power supply; a timer activation button for activating the timing mechanism, wherein, when the timing mechanism is activated, it connects a controlled electric device to the power supply for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle, and then disconnects the connected-electric device from the power supply; and a clear timer button for terminating the predetermined amount of time, and a display for displaying time remaining in the predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A power switch control unit for controlling the operation of a controlled electric device connected to the unit, comprising:

a housing having a timing mechanism therein;

a power cord having a plug on one end thereof, for connection to a power supply, and having said housing on the other end thereof, for supplying electrical power to the unit and to a connected-electric device controlled by the power switch control unit, and a receptacle for receiving a power cord from an electric device to be controlled by the power switch control unit;

control buttons, including;

an on/off button for connecting a controlled electric device to the power supply;

a timer activation button for activating said timing mechanism, wherein, when said timing mechanism is activated, it connects a controlled electric device to the power supply for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle, and then disconnects the connected-electric device from the power supply; and

a clear timer button for terminating the predetermined amount of time, and a display for displaying time remaining in said predetermined period of time.

2. The power switch control unit of claim 1 wherein said power switch control unit includes plural receptacles for connection of plural electric devices to said power switch control unit.

3. The power switch control unit of claim 2 which further includes a selector switch for selectively operating said plural electric devices.

4. The power switch control unit of claim 3 wherein said display includes an indicator for indicating which of said plural electric devices is selected by said selector switch for control.

5. The power switch control unit of claim 1 wherein said timing mechanism operates for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle upon operation of the timer activation button, and wherein multiple operations of the timer activation button program the timing mechanism to operate for multiple, sequential timed cycles.

6. The power switch control unit of claim 1 wherein the length of a timed cycle is user adjustable.

7. The power switch control unit of claim 1 wherein said plug includes safety and power conditioning devices taken from the group of safety and power conditioning devices including GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter), AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) and circuit breakers.

8. The power switch control unit of claim 1 wherein said housing includes an interchangeable decorative housing cover.

9. The power switch control unit of claim 1 which further includes a dimmer for controlling the intensity of a light connected to said power switch control unit.

10. The power switch control unit of claim 1 which further includes a dimmer for adjusting brightness of said display.

11. A power switch control unit for controlling the operation of a controlled electric device connected to the unit, comprising:

a housing having a timing mechanism therein;

a power cord having a plug on one end thereof, for connection to a power supply, and having said housing on the other end thereof, for supplying electrical power to the unit and to a connected-electric device controlled by the power switch control unit, and a receptacle for receiving a power cord from an electric device to be controlled by the power switch control unit;

control buttons, including;

an on/off button for connecting a controlled electric device to the power supply;

a timer activation button for activating said timing mechanism, wherein, when said timing mechanism is activated, it connects a controlled electric device to the power supply for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle, and then disconnects the connected-electric device from the power supply, wherein said timing mechanism operates for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle upon operation of the timer activation button, and wherein multiple operations of the timer activation button program the timing mechanism to operate for multiple, sequential timed cycles; and

wherein the length of a timed cycle is user adjustable; and

a clear timer button for terminating the predetermined amount of time, and

a display for displaying time remaining in said predetermined period of time.

12. The power switch control unit of claim 11 wherein said power switch control unit includes plural receptacles for connection of plural electric devices to said power switch control unit.

13. The power switch control unit of claim 12 which further includes a selector switch for selectively operating said plural electric devices.

14. The power switch control unit of claim 13 wherein said display includes an indicator for indicating which of said plural electric devices is selected by said selector switch for control.

15. The power switch control unit of claim 11 wherein said plug includes safety and power conditioning devices taken from the group of safety and power conditioning devices including GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter), AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) and circuit breakers.

16. The power switch control unit of claim 11 wherein said housing includes an interchangeable decorative housing cover.

17. The power switch control unit of claim 11 which further includes a dimmer for controlling the intensity of a light connected to said power switch control unit;

and a dimmer for adjusting brightness of said display.

18. A power switch control unit for controlling the operation of a controlled electric device connected to the unit, comprising:

a housing having a timing mechanism therein;

a power cord having a plug on one end thereof, for connection to a power supply, and having said housing on the other end thereof, for supplying electrical power to the unit and to a connected-electric device controlled by the power switch control unit, and plural receptacles for receiving a power cord from plural, connected-electric devices to be controlled by the power switch control unit;

control buttons, including;

an on/off button for connecting a controlled electric device to the power supply;

a timer activation button for activating said timing mechanism, wherein, when said timing mechanism is activated, it connects a controlled electric device to the power supply for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle, and then disconnects the connected-electric device from the power supply;

a selector switch for selectively operating said plural electric devices;

a clear timer button for terminating the predetermined amount of time, and

a display for displaying time remaining in said predetermined period of time, including an indicator for indicating which of said plural electric devices is selected by said selector switch for control.

19. The power switch control unit of claim 18 wherein said timing mechanism operates for a predetermined amount of time in a timed cycle upon operation of the timer activation button, and wherein multiple operations of the timer activation button program the timing mechanism to operate for multiple, sequential timed cycles;

and wherein the length of a timed cycle is user adjustable.

20. The power switch control unit of claim 18 wherein said plug includes safety and power conditioning devices taken from the group of safety and power conditioning devices including GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter), AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) and circuit breakers.