Remote control system for controlling wall-mounted switches

• US 20070176788A1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yitzhak Oren, Zion Mor
• Original Assignee: Yitzhak Oren, Zion Mor
• Inventors: Mor, Zion, Oren, Yitzhak
• Application Number:
  US11/345,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.720
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A remote control system for controlling the operation of a wall-mounted switch includes: a remote control unit adapted to be located at a remote location with respect to the wall-mounted switch and having a depressible switch button; a local control adapted to be mounted on the wall of the wall-mounted switch and including a displaceable actuator to overlie the depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch; and a wireless communication system between the remote control unit and the local control unit effective, upon depression of the depressible switch button of the remote control unit, to displace the actuator of the local control unit such as to depress the switch button of the wall-mounted switch.

Claims

1. A remote control system for controlling the operation of a wall-mounted switch having a depressible switch button for controlling an electrical circuit, comprising:

a remote control unit adapted to be located at a remote location with respect to said wall-mounted switch and having a depressible switch button;

a local control adapted to be mounted on the wall of said wall-mounted switch and including a displaceable actuator to overlie said depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch;

and a wireless communication system between said remote control unit and said local control unit effective, upon depression of said depressible switch button of the remote control unit, to displace said actuator of the local control unit such as to depress said switch button of the wall-mounted switch.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said displaceable actuator includes an electromagnet within said local control unit.

3. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein said local control unit includes two electromagnets, each having a plunger displaceable by the energization of the respective electromagnet, said local control unit being mountable to said wall such that one of said plungers overlies one end of said depressible switch button for pivoting it in one direction, and the other of said plungers overlies the opposite end of said depressible switch button for pivoting it in the opposite direction.

4. The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said plungers are extended to project outwardly of the local control unit such as to make them accessible to the user to enable the user to directly actuate the wall-mounted switch.

5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said local control unit includes a housing configured such that a part of the depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch is aligned with said displaceable actuator, and another part of the depressible switch button is exposed for direct manual depression by a user.

6. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication system is an RF system and includes an RF transmitter in said remote control unit, and an RF receiver in said local control unit.

7. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control unit is also in the form of a wall-mounted switch adapted to be mounted to a wall at a remote location with respect to said wall-mounted switch whose operation is to be controlled via said wireless communication system.

8. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said local control unit includes a chargeable battery for supplying the electrical power thereto, and an induction-type charging circuit for inductively charging said battery by the electrical circuit controlled by said wall-mounted switch.

9. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said local control unit includes a housing mountable by fasteners to the wall of said wall-mounted switch, with the displaceable actuator of the local control unit overlying said depressible button of the wall-mounted switch.

10. The remote control system according to claim 9, wherein said housing of the local control unit is configured such that a part of the depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch is aligned with said displaceable actuator, and another part of the depressible switch button is exposed for direct manual depression by a user.

11. A remote control system for controlling the operation of a wall-mounted switch having a depressible switch button for controlling an electrical circuit, comprising:

a remote control unit adapted to be located at a remote location with respect to said wall-mounted switch and having a depressible switch button;

a local control adapted to be mounted on the wall of said wall-mounted switch and including a displaceable actuator to overlie said depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch;

and a wireless communication system between said remote control unit and said local control unit effective, upon depression of said depressible switch button of the remote control unit, to displace said actuator of the local control unit such as to depress said switch button of the wall-mounted switch;

said local control unit including a housing configured such that a part of the depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch is aligned with said displaceable actuator, and another part of the depressible switch button is exposed for direct manual depression by a user.

12. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said displaceable actuator includes an electromagnet within said local control unit.

13. The remote control system according to claim 12, wherein said local control unit includes two electromagnets, each having a plunger displaceable by the energization of the respective electromagnet, said local control unit being mountable to said wall such that one of said plungers overlies one end of said depressible switch button for pivoting it in one direction, and the other of said plungers overlies the opposite end of said depressible switch button for pivoting it in the opposite direction.

14. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said remote control unit is also in the form of a wall-mounted switch adapted to be mounted to a wall at a remote location with respect to said wall-mounted switch whose operation is to be controlled via said wireless communication system.

15. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said local control unit includes a battery for supplying the electrical power thereto.

16. A remote control system for controlling the operation of a wall-mounted switch having a depressible switch button for controlling an electrical circuit, comprising:

a remote control unit adapted to be located at a remote location with respect to said wall-mounted switch and having a depressible switch button;

a local control adapted to be mounted on the wall of said wall-mounted switch and including a displaceable actuator to overlie said depressible switch button of the wall-mounted switch;

and a wireless communication system between said remote control unit and said local control unit effective, upon depression of said depressible switch button of the remote control unit, to displace said actuator of the local control unit such as to depress said switch button of the wall-mounted switch;

said local control unit including a chargeable battery for supplying the electrical power thereto, and an induction-type charging circuit for inductively charging said batter by the electrical circuit controlled by said wall-mounted switch.

17. The remote control system according to claim 16, wherein said displaceable actuator includes an electromagnet within said local control unit.

18. The remote control system according to claim 17, wherein said local control unit includes two electromagnets, each having a plunger displaceable by the energization of the respective electromagnet, said local control unit being mountable to said wall such that one of said plungers overlies one end of said depressible switch button for pivoting it in one direction, and the other of said plungers overlies the opposite end of said depressible switch button for pivoting it in the opposite direction.

19. The remote control system according to claim 16, wherein said remote control unit is also in the form of a wall-mounted switch adapted to be mounted to a wall at a remote location with respect to said wall-mounted switch whose operation is to be controlled via said wireless communication system.

20. The remote control system according to claim 16, wherein said wireless communication system is an RF system and includes an RF transmitter in said remote control unit, and an RF receiver in said local control unit.