Wiring Device with Metal Switch Cover

• US 20140158510A1
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Lacey, Darron, Goyal, Rahul Natwar, Dodal, Rohit Sumerchand, Salas, Luis F., Restrepo, Carlos Eduardo, Gouhl, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 9,153,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/339
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/22 Operating parts, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/145 the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

An electrical wiring device includes a metal switch cover as a user contact point. The metal switch cover has antimicrobial properties that reduces microorganisms that are present on the wiring device, and helps reduce the spread of infections or disease from user to user. The metal switch cover is disposed on a switch in the wiring device, such that users touch the metal switch cover when operating the switch. In some exemplary embodiments, the metal switch cover is coupled to a paddle-style switch and takes on the profile of a paddle. In some exemplary embodiments, the metal switch cover is coupled to a toggle-style switch and take on the profile of a toggle.

Claims

1. An electrical wiring device, comprising:

a housing forming a cavity therein;

a paddle assembly disposed at least partially within the cavity, the paddle assembly comprising;

a paddle base comprising a first side and a second side, wherein a portion of the paddle base is pivotally coupled to the housing within the cavity via the second side; and

a metal member coupled to the paddle base and disposed substantially on the first side of the paddle base,

wherein the paddle assembly is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position.

2. The electrical wiring device of claim 1, wherein the first side of the paddle base comprises a wall extending orthogonally away from the first side about the perimeter of the first side, the wall defining a cavity that receives at least a portion of the metal member therein.

3. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the metal member comprises a first side and a second side, the second side comprising one or more walls extending from one or more edges, at least a portion of the walls encasing at least a portion of the paddle base when the metal member is disposed onto the first side of the paddle base.

4. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the paddle assembly comprises an obtuse angle, wherein the vertex of the obtuse angle defines a pivot about which the paddle assembly is pivotally movable between the first position and the second position.

5. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a rod disposed within and along a width of the cavity;

wherein the paddle base comprises a groove along a width of the second side; and

wherein the rod is coupled to the groove when the paddle assembly is disposed within the cavity and coupled to the housing.

6. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the metal member is disposed over approximately the entire first side of the paddle base.

7. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the metal member is fabricated using an antimicrobial material.

8. The electrical wiring system of claim 7, wherein the antimicrobial material is selected from a group consisting of at least one of copper, silver, stainless steel, plated steel, and gold.

9. A paddle apparatus, comprising:

a paddle base comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the second side is configured to be partially disposed within and pivotally coupled to a housing of an electrical wiring device; and

a metal member coupled to the paddle base and disposed substantially along the first side of the paddle.

10. The paddle apparatus of claim 9, wherein the paddle base comprises a first coupling mechanism and the metal member comprises a second coupling mechanism, wherein the first coupling mechanism is securely coupled to the second coupling mechanism.

11. The paddle apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of slots and the second coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of tabs, wherein the plurality of tabs disposed through the plurality of slots to couple the paddle base to the metal member.

12. The paddle apparatus of claim 9, wherein the metal member is selected from a group consisting of at least one of copper, silver, stainless steel, plated steel, and gold.

13. The switching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the metal member is fabricated using an antimicrobial material.

14. The switching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first side of the paddle base comprises a first profile, and the metal member comprises a second profile substantially matching the first profile.

15. A method of manufacture, comprising:

forming a switch assembly, comprising;

disposing a metal member onto a switch, wherein the metal member comprises a first coupling mechanism and the switch comprises a second coupling mechanism; and

securely coupling the first coupling mechanism to the second coupling mechanism.

16. The method of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the switch comprises a paddle base;

wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of tabs extending from one or more edges of the metal member at approximate right angles;

wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of slots; and

wherein securely coupling the first coupling mechanism to the second coupling mechanism comprises;

inserting the plurality of tabs into the plurality of slots from a first side of the paddle base, wherein the tabs extend past the slots; and

bending the plurality of tabs around respective edges of the plurality of slots.

17. The method of manufacture of claim 15, comprising:

pivotally coupling the switch assembly to a housing, wherein the housing comprises at least a portion of an electric wiring device.

18. The method of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the metal member is fabricated using a material having antimicrobial properties.

19. An electrical wiring device, comprising:

a housing comprising an opening formed therein;

a toggle partially disposed within the opening, the toggle comprising a base portion and an interface portion, wherein the base portion of the toggle is coupled to one or more components within the housing and the interface portion extends outwardly from the base portion and is substantially external to the housing; and

a metal member disposed over at least a portion of the toggle.

20. The electrical wiring device of claim 19, wherein the metal member is fabricated using an antimicrobial material.

21. The electrical wiring device of claim 20, wherein the antimicrobial material is selected from a group consisting of at least one of copper, silver, stainless steel, plated steel, and gold.