DIMMER SWITCH

• US 20090189542A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Likhanov, Azer, Chou, Cheng-Lung, Lombardi, Alfred J., Wu, Yun
• Granted Patent: US 7,985,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/26 one of which positions is unstable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021

Abstract

A switching device includes a paddle actuator biased to a rest position and configured to pivot relative to a housing to a depressed position to engage an air-gap switch disposed within the housing. The air-gap switch is configured to change a first state of a load connected to the switching device upon engagement by the paddle actuator. The paddle actuator is defined by a pair of opposing long sides and a pair of opposing short sides and has at least one slot defined therein parallel to the pair of opposing short sides thereof and centrally disposed between the pair of opposing long sides thereof. A rocker actuator is disposed in the at least one slot defined in the paddle actuator and is configured to pivot relative thereto to engage at least one switch. The at least one switch is configured to change a second state of the load connected to the switching device upon engagement by the rocker actuator.

Claims

1. A switching device, comprising:

a paddle actuator biased to a rest position and configured to pivot relative to a housing to a depressed position to engage an air-gap switch disposed within the housing, the air-gap switch configured to change a first state of a load connected to the switching device upon engagement by the paddle actuator, the paddle actuator defined by a pair of opposing long sides and a pair of opposing short sides and having at least one slot defined therein parallel to the pair of opposing short sides thereof and centrally disposed between the pair of opposing long sides thereof; and

a rocker actuator disposed in the at least one slot and configured to pivot relative thereto to engage at least one switch, the at least one switch configured to change a second state of the load connected to the switching device upon engagement by the at least one rocker actuator.

2. A switching device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is one of a connection of the switching device to a line phase and an interruption of the connection of the switching device to the line phase.

3. A switching device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is an intensity of power of a line phase connected to the switching device during at least one of the other states of the load.

4. A switching device according to claim 1, further comprising a light pipe operably coupled to the rocker actuator and having at least one LED configured to indicate at least one of the first state and the second state of the load upon actuation of at least one of the paddle actuator and the rocker actuator.

5. A switching device according to claim 1, further comprising a light pipe disposed on the paddle actuator and having at least one LED configured to indicate at least one of the first state and the second state of the load upon actuation of at least one of the paddle actuator and the rocker actuator.

6. A switching device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one LED disposed on the paddle actuator and configured to provide a visual status of the switching device.

7. A switching device according to claim 4, wherein the light pipe includes a plurality of sequentially disposed LEDs configured to illuminate to indicate at least one of the first state and the second state of the load upon actuation of at least one of the paddle actuator and the rocker actuator.

8. A switching device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of sequentially disposed LEDs are configured to sequentially illuminate to indicate at least one of the first state and the second state of the load upon actuation of at least one of the paddle actuator and the rocker actuator.

9. A switching device according to claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of sequentially disposed LEDs are configured to illuminate to indicate at least one of the first state and the second state of the load upon actuation of at least one of the paddle actuator and the rocker actuator.

10. A switching device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is a fan speed.

11. A switching device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is a thermostat setting.

12. A switching device according to claim 1, wherein the air-gap switch is configured to rotate clock-wise from the rest position upon one of pulling a bottom portion of the paddle actuator and depressing a top portion of the paddle actuator to change a first state of a load connected to the switching device.

13. A switching device, comprising:

a paddle actuator biased to a rest position and configured to pivot relative to a housing to a depressed position to engage an air-gap switch disposed within the housing, the air-gap switch configured to change a first state of a load connected to the switching device upon engagement by the paddle actuator, the paddle actuator defined by a pair of opposing long sides and a pair of opposing short sides and having at least one slot defined therein parallel to the pair of opposing short sides thereof and centrally disposed between the pair of opposing long sides thereof;

a rocker actuator disposed in the at least one slot and configured to pivot relative thereto to engage at least one switch, the at least one switch configured to change a second state of the load connected to the switching device upon engagement by the at least one rocker actuator; and

a light pipe operably coupled to the rocker actuator and having a plurality of LEDs disposed thereon configured to indicate at least one of the first state and the second state of the load connected to the switching device upon actuation of at least one of the paddle actuator and the rocker actuator.

14. A switching device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is one of an ON and OFF state.

15. A switching device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is one of a DIM and BRIGHT state.

16. A switching device according to claim 13, wherein the first state of the load is one of an ON and OFF state and the second state of the load is varied between a DIM and BRIGHT state.

17. A switching device according to claim 13, wherein the first state of the load is varied between a DIM and BRIGHT state and the second state of the load is one of an ON and OFF state.

18. A switching device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is one of a connection of the switching device to a line phase and an interruption of the connection of the switching device to the line phase.

19. A switching device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state of the load is an intensity of power of a line phase connected to the switching device during at least one of the other states of the load.