Sliding dimmer switch

• US 4,947,054 A
• Filed: 03/31/1989
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Bryde, Gary, Flowers, Woodie
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US07/332,254
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/115, 307/125, 307/130, 307/131, 338/172, 338/176, 338/179, 338/198-200, 200/330, 200/335, 200/547, 200/5 E, 200/16 C, 200/16 A, 200/16 R
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/10 Operating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/0213 Combined operation of electric switch and variable impedance, e.g. resistor, capacitor H01H9/061 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for controlling power to an electrical load includes a linear slide dimmer and a switch, whose pushbutton actuator moves up and down with the dimmer slider. When the pushbutton is depressed, to actuate the switch, it rides in and out in the slider. The slider only moves up and down. In one embodiment, a light is visible through the pushbutton in a darkened environment. In another embodiment, a wallbox-mountable switch assembly includes a pushbutton-actuated, alternate-action mechanical power switch whose pushbutton, when depressed, moves within a bezel that is attached to the switch support.

Claims

1. A dimmer-and-switch system for controlling power to an electrical load, in which

(a) said dimmer comprises a sliding member positionable linearly along a first direction for determining the power provided to said load,

(b) said switch comprises a pushbutton-actuated switch and means for transmitting a force applied to said pushbutton to actuate said switch, and

(c) said pushbutton moves with said sliding member along said first direction and is actuated by being pushed in a second direction, substantially normal to said first direction, whereby said force can actuate said switch regardless of the position of said sliding member.

2. The system of claim 1, in which said dimmer and switch are adapted for mounting in a wallbox.

3. The system of claim 1, in which said sliding member moves up and down only.

4. The system of claim 1, in which said sliding member comprises a slide potentiometer shaft.

5. The system of claim 4, in which said shaft is adapted for passing through a rectangular slot about 12 mm wide.

6. The system of claim 5, in which said dimmer is operated by moving said shaft over a range of about 25 mm.

7. The system of claim 1, in which said pushbutton is captured in said sliding member.

8. The system of claim 1, in which said pushbutton is biased.

9. The system of claim 8, in which said pushbutton must be depressed a distance greater than about 1 mm to actuate said switch.

10. The system of claim 1, in which said switch is an alternate-action switch.

11. The system of claim 1, in which said pushbutton is a part of a replaceable knob.

12. The system of claim 1, in which said switch is a touch switch.

13. The system of claim 1, in which said switch is a mechanical power switch.

14. The system of claim 1, in which said force-transmitting means comprises a pivoted hinge bar.

15. The system of claim 1, in which said force-transmitting means comprises a fixed elongated slot having a long dimension parallel to said second direction and a frame attached to said pushbutton and constrained to move in said slot.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator lamp.

17. The system of claim 16, in which said lamp is a light-emitting diode.

18. The system of claim 17, in which said light-emitting diode moves with said sliding member.

19. A wallbox-mountable device for controlling power to an electrical load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a dimmer that includes a manually-movable member for determining the power provided to said load,

(b) a switch means that includes a pushbutton and a switch, said pushbutton adapted for moving with said manually-movable member in a first direction and for actuating said switch by being pushed in a second direction, substantially normal to said first direction, and

(c) a light source for providing light through said pushbutton in said second direction.

20. The device of claim 19 in which said switch is a mechanical power switch.

21. The device of claim 19 in which said pushbutton is formed of a generally opaque material and has a front surface and rear surface, said rear surface being interrupted by a recess that extends toward said front surface, whereby a thin section of material remains adjacent said front surface, said thin section of material having a light opacity and the intensity and direction of light provided by said light source being such that said light is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said light source is on.

22. The device of claim 21 in which said pushbutton comprises a molded thermoplastic material and said recess dimensions are selected to permit said thin section to have a thickness less than about 1 mm.

23. The device of claim 21 in which said recess is elongated in said second direction, said pushbutton further comprises an elongated transparent member within said recess, and said light source provides light in a direction whereby said light is totally internally reflected within said transparent member.

24. The device of claim 23 in which said transparent member has a front end adjacent to said thin section and an opposite end more distant from said thin section, said front end having a lateral dimension that is smaller than said lateral dimension of said opposite end.

25. The device of claim 19 in which said light source comprises a neon lamp.

26. The device of claim 19 further comprising means for adjusting the intensity of light from said light source through said pushbutton.

27. The device of claim 19 in which said light source moves with said manually movable member in said first direction.

28. The device of claim 19 in which said light source is substantially stationary.

29. The device of claim 28 in which said light source is elongated in said first direction.

30. The device of claim 19 in which said pushbutton further comprises a reflecting means to direct light emitted by said light source through said pushbutton.

31. The device of claim 19 further comprising means for transmitting a force applied to said pushbutton to actuate said switch.

32. The device of claim 31 in which said force-transmitting means comprises a pivoted hinge bar.

33. The device of claim 31 in which said force-transmitting means comprises a fixed elongated slot having a long dimension parallel to said second direction and a frame means constrained to move in said slot.

34. The device of claim 31, 32, or 33 in which said force-transmitting means comprises a light-transmitting section.

35. The device of claim 34 in which said light-transmitting section is adapted for accepting light from said light source and passing said light toward said pushbutton by total internal reflection.

36. The device of claim 35 in which said light-transmitting section has a front end adjacent to said pushbutton and an opposite end more distant from said pushbutton, said front end having a lateral dimension that is smaller than said lateral dimension of said opposite end.

37. The device of claim 34 in which said light-transmitting section further comprises a reflecting means to direct light emitted by said light source toward said pushbutton.

38. The device of claim 37 in which said reflecting means comprises a planar face of said light transmitting section to direct said light by total internal reflection.

39. The device of claim 37 in which said reflecting means comprises a substantially opaque face of said light transmitting section.

40. A wallbox-mountable device for controlling power to an electrical load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a switch means that includes a pushbutton and a switch,

(b) a potentiometer that includes a manually movable member for determining the power provided to said load, and

(c) a pivoted hinge bar for transmitting a force applied to said pushbutton to actuate said switch, said movable member being adapted for moving with said pushbutton along said hinge bar.

41. The device of claim 40 in which said potentiometer is a rotary potentiometer.

42. The device of claim 40 in which said potentiometer is a linear slide potentiometer.

43. The device of claim 40 further comprising a faceplate for covering said device when mounted in a wallbox, said faceplate having a front that is away from the wall when the device is mounted in said wallbox, said pushbutton, manually movable member, and faceplate being the only elements of said wall-mounted potentiometer and switch that are visible when said device is viewed from the front of said faceplate.

44. A wallbox-mountable device for controlling power to an electrical load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a switch means that includes a pushbutton and a switch,

(b) a potentiometer that includes a member manually movable in a first direction for determining the power provided to said load, and

(c) means for transmitting a force applied to said pushbutton to actuate said switch, said force transmitting means including a fixed elongated slot, having a long direction that is substantially normal to said first direction, and a frame means constrained to move in said slot, said movable member being adapted for moving with said pushbutton along said frame means.

45. The device of claim 44 in which said potentiometer is a rotary potentiometer.

46. The device of claim 44 in which said potentiometer is a linear slide potentiometer.

47. The device of claim 44 further comprising a faceplate for covering said device when mounted in a wallbox, said faceplate having a front that is away from the wall when the device is mounted in said wallbox, said pushbutton, manually movable member, and faceplate being the only elements of said wall-mounted potentiometer and switch that are visible when said device is viewed from the front of said faceplate.

48. A wallbox-mountable device for controlling power to an electrical load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a linear slide potentiometer that includes a manually-movable member for determining the power provided to said load,

(b) a switch means that includes a pushbutton and a switch, said pushbutton adapted for moving with said manually-movable member in a first direction and for actuating said switch by being pushed in a second direction, substantially normal to said first direction, and

(c) rail means deployed along said first direction for transmitting a force applied to said pushbutton to actuate said switch.