Extension control device and tubing member for controlling switch actuation

• US 4,419,556 A
• Filed: 01/29/1982
• Issued: 12/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick H. Hare
• Original Assignee: Patrick H. Hare
• Inventors: Hare, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kidorf, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/344,036
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 200/331, 74/554, 16/225, 16/DIG. 13, 403/223, 403/302, 403/313
• US Class Current: 200/331
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/141 provided with extensions, e.g. for actuation by a child
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/13 Plastic hinge

Abstract

An extension control device and a tubing member usable therewith for use with a wall-mounted toggle switch assembly having a switch with a protruding lever. The control device has an elongated member with a lower or distal end portion graspable by a user of the device and a tubing member connected to an upper end portion of the elongated member. The tubing member has a proximal end with two spaced apart pronged portions protruding from a hollow tubular portion. The switch lever is insertable into the hollow tubular portion so that the hollow tubular portion releasably grips the switch lever. Should the cavity of the tubular portion be greater than the exterior circumference of the switch lever, one or both of the pronged portions are inserted into the cavity to reduce its dimensions. Alternatively, the tubing member has a flat proximal end, and all or a portion of a split ring is insertable into the internal cavity of the tubing member to reduce its size. In both versions, a notch portion is formed in the tubing member intermediate its ends so that an upper portion of the tubing member is angularly movable with respect to a lower portion of the tubing member. Up and down movement of the elongated member results in corresponding movement of the lower portion of the tubing member so that the upper portion is angularly moved to thereby move the switch between on and off positions. The invention further provides a method of making the tubing member used with the extension control device.

Claims

1. An extension control device for use with a wall-mounted toggle switch assembly having a switch with a protruding lever comprising:

a. an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion graspable by a user of the extension control device; and

b. a tubing member connected to a portion of said elongated member in the vicinity of the proximal end thereof, said tubing member having;

1. a distal end portion connected to the elongated member,

2. a proximal end portion defining means for engaging a switch lever and having two spaced apart pronged portions protruding from a hollow tubular portion, the switch lever being insertable between the pronged portions into the hollow tubular portion so that the hollow tubular portion releasably grips the switch lever, one of said pronged portions being insertable into said hollow tubular portion prior to insertion of the switch lever to thereby reduce the interior cavity of said hollow tubular portion so that the hollow tubular portion releasably grips the switch lever is a secure manner, and

3. An extension control device according to claim 1, wherein both of said pronged portions are insertable into said hollow tubular portion prior to insertion of the switch lever to thereby reduce the interior cavity of said hollow tubular portion so that the hollow tubular portion releasably grips the switch lever in a secure manner.

4. An extension control device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said tubing member is connected to said elongated member at a location spaced from the proximal end of said elongated member, said extension control device further comprising a decorative member encompassing the proximal end of said elongated member.

5. An extension control device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the tubing member notched portion is formed by angular notches extending into the tubing member, a line connecting the apices of the angular notches being perpendicular to an axis of the tubing member.

8. An extension control device according to one of claims 1 or 5, wherein said tubing member is a hollow tubular member and said distal end portion of said tubing member is connected coaxially with said elongated member.

9. An extension control device according to claim 5, further comprising a split ring carried by said elongated member, said split ring being removable from said elongated member and at least a portion of said split ring being insertable into said internal cavity of said hollow tubular member to reduce the size of said internal cavity so that the switch lever is tightly gripped.

2. a notched portion defining a hinge intermediate said tubing member distal end portion and said tubing member proximal end portion so that an upper portion of said tubing member above said notched portion is angularly movable with respect to a lower portion, the lower portion extending substantially vertically when the tubing member is engaged with a switch lever and the upper portion extending skewed to the lower portion whereby up and down movement of said elongated member moves said upper portion to thereby control movement of said switch lever.

6. An extension control device for use with a wall-mounted toggle switch assembly having a switch with a protruding lever comprising:

a. an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion graspable by a user of the extension control device;

b. a constant diameter tubing member connected to a portion of said elongated member in the vicinity of the proximal end of said elongated member, said tubing member having;

1. a distal end portion connected to the elongated member,

2. a hollow tubular proximal end portion defining means for engaging a switch lever, the switch lever being insertable into an internal cavity of the hollow tubular portion so that the hollow tubular portion releasably grips the switch lever, and

7. a notched portion defining a hinge intermediate said tubing member distal end portion and said tubing member proximal end portion so that an upper portion of said tubing member above said notched portion is angularly movable with respect to a lower portion of said tubing member below said notched portion, the lower portion extending substantially vertically when the tubing member is engaged with a switch lever and the upper portion extending skewed to the lower portion whereby up and down movement of said elongated member moves said upper portion to thereby control movement of said switch lever.

10. An extension control device according to claim 7, wherein all of said split ring is insertable into the internal cavity.

14. An extension control device according to one of claims 3, 5, or 10, wherein said tubing member is a hollow tubular member and has a slitted portion formed in the lower portion thereof defining a collar, said elongated member passing through said collar.

11. A tubing member for engaging a switch lever protruding from a wall-mounted toggle switch assembly comprising:

two spaced apart pronged portions protruding from a hollow proximal end portion of the tubing member, each of said pronged portions being movable between a first position in which the pronged portion extends inside the hollow proximal end and a second position in which the pronged portion is exterior of the periphery of the proximal end, the switch lever being insertable into the proximal end after movement of the pronged portions; and

a notched portion defining a hinge positioned intermediate end of the tubing member so that an upper portion of the tubing member is angularly movable with respect to a lower portion.

12. An extension control device for use with a wall-mounted toggle switch assembly having a switch with a protruding lever comprising:

a. an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion graspable by a user of the extension control device; and

b. a tubing member connected to a portion of said elongated member in the vicinity of the proximal end thereof, said tubing member having;

1. a distal end portion connected to the elongated member,

2. a proximal end portion defining means for engaging a switch lever and having two spaced apart pronged portions protruding from a hollow tubular portion, the switch lever being insertable between the pronged portions into the hollow tubular portion so that the hollow tubular portion releasably grips the switch lever, and

13. a notched portion defining a hinge intermediate said tubing member distal end portion and said tubing member proximal end portion so that an upper portion of said tubing member above said notched portion is angularly movable with respect to a lower portion of said tubing member below said notched portion, the lower portion extending substantially vertically when the tubing member is engaged with a switch lever and the upper portion extending skewed to the lower portion whereby up and down movement of said elongated member moves said upper portion to thereby control movement of said switch lever said tubing member being connected to said elongated member at a location spaced from the proximal end of said elongated member, said extension control device further comprising a decorative member encompassing the proximal end of said elongated member.