DUAL LOAD CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20100314226A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Patel, Parimal R., Estanislao, Danny F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/237
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/01 Off centre actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/066 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/018 Spring seat
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/028 Blade spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/006 Guided plunger or ball
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/167 Circuits for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/168 making use of an electromagnetic wave communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An electrical control device comprising a housing configured to be at least partially mountable within a single-gang electrical box; and including at least first and second switches disposed at least partially within the housing, each the at least first and second switches configured as providing a respective first and second input to the electrical control device and, the electrical control device being configured to be wired to a respective first and a second electrical load. A communications device disposed at least partially within the housing is configured to wirelessly transmit a control signal to control at least one additional electrical load.

Claims

1. An electrical control device comprising;

a housing, said housing is configured to be at least partially mountable within a single-gang electrical box;

at least first and second switches disposed at least partially within said housing, each of said at least first and second switches each configured as providing a respective first and second input to the electrical control device, the electrical control device being configured to be wired to a respective first and a second electrical load; and

,

a communications device disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to wirelessly transmit a control signal to control at least one additional electrical load.

2. The electrical control device of claim 1, wherein the first input to the electrical control device is disposed to control the first electrical load and the second input is disposed to control the second electrical load.

3. The electrical control device of claim 1, wherein one of the first or second inputs is disposed to control the at least one additional load.

4. The electrical control device of claim 1, further including:

a circuit board disposed in said housing including said at least first and second switches, each of said at least first and second switches coupled to respective circuitry configured to control a respective load;

said circuit board including communications circuitry coupled to said communications device for receiving wireless communication signals for enabling remote control of said at least one additional electrical load.

5. The electrical control device of claim 1, further including:

a circuit board including communications circuitry coupled to said communications device for generating wireless communication signals for enabling remote control of said at least one additional electrical load.

6. The electrical control device of claim 2, further including:

a frame assembly disposed to support at least first and second buttons, each said first and second button including a structure adapted to contact said respective first switch or second switch for when a respective first or second button is pressed.

7. The electrical control device of claim 6, further comprising at least one leaf spring mounted to said frame assembly, said at least one leaf spring associated with one of said first and second button to bias said one of first and second button in a first direction.

8. The electrical control device of claim 6, wherein each said first and second button is biased by two leaf springs mounted to said frame assembly, each said leaf spring comprising:

a platform mounting portion affixed to said frame assembly;

a pair of leaf arms extending outward and upward in opposing directions at an angle with respect to the platform mounting portion, each said leaf arms providing a respective button contact surface at a distal end thereof and disposed to bias said button.

9. The electrical control device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a platform, said platform having a surface disposed to engage said frame assembly, said platform and frame assembly each including a respective first set of openings aligned with a contact portion of a respective first and second switch, said first set of openings adapted to receive therethrough a respective said contact structure extending from a respective first or second button, such that, said contact structure of a respective first or second button when pressed, actuates a respective first or second switch provided on said circuit board.

10. The electrical control device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said platform includes an RF antenna mounted on a surface thereto and coupled to said communications circuitry, said frame assembly further comprising a channel shaped to accommodate said RF antenna.

11. The electrical control device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising at least first and second light emitting devices associated with a respective said first and second switches and disposed to emit light indicative of the state of respective said first or second switch.

12. The electrical control device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one light pipe disposed to receive light from a corresponding said at least first and second light emitting device.

13. The electrical control device as claimed in claim 12, said platform and frame assembly each including a respective second set of openings aligned with each said at least one light pipe to enable a top portion of a respective said at least one light pipe to extend there through.

14. The electrical control device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one light pipe extends through said second set of aligned openings for alignment with a respective opening provided on a button surface such that said light received by said at least one light pipe light pipe is channeled to a respective first and second button via said respective opening to indicate the state of said respective first and second switches.

15. A method for controlling a plurality of electrical loads using a single-gang electrical load control device, the method comprising:

opening or closing a first switch or a second switch, each of which is configured to be an input to the electrical load control device, the electrical load control device being wired to at least a first and second respective electrical load, said first or second switch being opened or closed via respective first or second buttons provided on said device; and

,

utilizing said first or second button on said device to further wirelessly control at least one additional electrical load.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

wirelessly controlling the at least a first and second respective wired electrical loads by receiving wireless communication signals, and controlling said respective wired electrical loads through the wires.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

wirelessly controlling the at least one additional electrical load by receiving wireless communication signals, and generating wireless control signals to control said at least one additional electrical load.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

displaying light via an opening in a respective surface of a first or second button in response to a state of a respective first switch or a second switch.

19. A button frame assembly for an electrical control device, said electrical control device disposed in a housing configured to be at least partially mountable within a single-gang electrical box, said electrical control device including circuitry including at least one switch for controlling a respective electrical load via a wired connection thereto, said button frame assembly comprising:

a frame base structure adapted to engage a platform attached to a housing of said electrical control device, said frame base structure including at least one button;

at least one leaf spring mounted to said frame base structure, said at least one leaf spring associated with said at least one button to bias said associated button in a first direction, said button having an actuating structure formed underneath a button surface;

first openings formed in said frame base structure in alignment with respective contact portions of a respective at least one switch of said electrical control device,

wherein, said actuating structure is adapted to extend through said first openings to contact a respective aligned switch contact of a respective said at least one switch in response to pressing a respective at least one button to thereby actuate said respective at least one switch.

20. The button frame assembly of claim 19, wherein each said at least one button is supported by two leaf springs mounted to said frame base structure, each said leaf spring comprising:

a platform mounting portion affixed to said frame base structure;

a set of leaf arms extending outward and upward in opposing directions at an angle with respect to the platform mounting portion, each said leaf arms providing a respective contact surface at a distal end thereof to bias said button, and,

said two leaf springs being mounted to said frame base structure at opposing sides thereof such that said contact surfaces of each said pair of leaf arms bias a button underneath said top portion to provide uniform spring action for said button.

21. The button frame assembly of claim 20, further comprising at least one light emitting device associated with a respective said at least one switch, and a light pipe disposed to receive light from a respective at least light emitting device to channel light to a respective button for display thereof, each said at least one light emitting device electrically coupled to said circuitry and disposed to emit light indicative of the state of a respective said at least one switch, said button frame assembly further comprising:

second openings formed in said frame base structure in alignment with a respective light pipe and disposed to enable a top portion of a respective said light pipe to extend there through

wherein a top portion of a respective said light pipe channels light from a respective light emitting device to a respective opening formed on a button surface for displaying light in response to actuating said respective at least one switch device.

22. The button frame assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein said electrical control device further includes a communications device disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to wirelessly control at least one additional electrical load.

23. The button frame assembly as claimed in claim 22, said attached platform including an RE antenna mounted on a surface thereof and coupled to the communications device, said frame base structure further comprising:

a channel shaped to accommodate said RF antenna.