Light switch extension

• US 5,875,886 A
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illumination Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Illumination Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Elster, Simon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/982,548
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 74/543, 74/544, 200/17 R, 200/38 R, 200/52 R, 200/330, 200/331
• US Class Current: 200/331
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/141 provided with extensions, e.g. for actuation by a child

Abstract

A switch extension device for actuating a switch having an actuator projecting from a fascia plate. The actuator has upward and downward positions corresponding to "on" and "off" positions of the actuating member. The switch extension device has a front cover plate where the back surface includes grooves for receiving in slidable relationship a slider device. The front cover plate is secured to the fascia plate. The slider device has lower and upper parts, the upper part being slidably mounted on the back surface of the front cover plate in the grooves and the lower part of the slider device protruding downwardly from the front cover plate. The slider device may be adapted to actuate a flat rocker-type switch or a conventional toggle switch. The lower part of the switch extension device further has an extension strip of an appropriate length to extend downwardly the possibility of actuating the switch. In an embodiment, the extension strip is pivotably connected to the lower part of the slider device. The switch extension device is easy to install and provides for smooth movement.

Claims

1. A switch extension device for actuating a flat rocker-type switch having a pivotable actuating member projecting from a fascia plate, the actuating member having upper and lower rocker portions, the upper and lower portions being in a longitudinal planar relationship to each other, said rocker portions pivoting between upward and downward positions corresponding to "on" and "off" positions of the actuating member, said switch extension device comprising:

a front cover plate having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, the back surface including holding means for receiving in slidable relationship a slider device;

attaching means for securing said front cover plate to the fascia plate;

the slider device having an upper and lower part, the upper part being slidably mounted on the back surface of the front cover plate in said holding means, the lower part of the slider device protruding downwardly from the front cover plate, the upper part of the slider device comprising a first knob projecting towards said actuating member and biasing means for forcing said first knob to constantly exert pressure on said actuating member to make contact therewith, said first knob sliding between up and down positions so that when said knob is at said up position, pressure is exerted on the upper rocker portion and, alternatively, when the knob is at said down position, pressure is exerted on the lower rocker portion so as to actuate said actuating member between said "on" and "off" position through the sliding of said slider member.

2. A switch extension device according to claim 1, wherein:

said slider device has two opposite sides;

the holding means comprise a set of grooves substantially parallel to each other; and

each of said opposite sides is slidingly engaged within a respective one of said grooves.

3. A switch extension device according to claim 2, wherein:

said front cover plate has a longitudinal opening for receiving manual actuating means, said manual actuating means being a second knob fixed to the upper part of the slider device and projecting in a direction opposite from said first knob through said longitudinal opening, where said longitudinal opening and said second knob limit said sliding of said first knob at said up and down positions.

4. A switch extension device according to claim 3, wherein said biasing means include a spring.

5. A switch extension device according to claim 4, wherein said device further includes an extension strip secured to the lower part of the slider device.

6. A switch extension device according to claim 5, wherein the extension strip is pivotably secured to the slider device, allowing lateral movement of the extension strip about a pivot point.

7. A switch extension device according to claim 3, wherein:

said attaching means includes a switch plate having a top, a bottom and an aperture positioned and sized to receive the actuating member of the flat rocker-type switch, said switch plate being screwed to said fascia plate and further including a protruding cylinder at each of said top and bottom of said switch plate;

said front cover plate is provided with two holes in registered positions with said protruding cylinders of said switch plate and said front cover plate being screwed to said switch plate through said holes; and

the upper part of the slider device is provided with an opening for receiving the lower protruding cylinder at the bottom of the switch plate.

8. A switch extension device according to claim 7, wherein:

said actuating member has a width;

the upper part of said slider device further includes an opening having an upper end, a lower end, a width at least equal to the width of said actuating member, said opening defining a contour, said first and second knob being located on said contour proximate said upper end of said opening, and said means for receiving the lower protruding cylinder at the bottom of the switch plate include a longitudinal recess provided at said lower end of said opening.

9. A switch extension device for a conventional toggle switch, the toggle switch having an actuating member projecting from a fascia plate, the actuating member pivoting between upward and downward positions corresponding to "on" and "off" positions of the actuating member, said switch extension device comprising:

a front cover plate having a front surface and a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, the back surface including holding means for receiving in slidable relationship a slider device;

attaching means for securing said front cover plate to the fascia plate;

said attaching means including a switch plate having a top, a bottom and an aperture positioned and sized to receive the actuating member of the conventional toggle switch, said switch plate being screwed to said fascia plate and further including a protruding cylinder at each of said top and bottom of said switch plate;

said front cover plate being further provided with two holes in registered positions with said protruding cylinders of said switch plate and said front cover plate being screwed to said switch plate though said holes;

the slider device having an upper and a lower part, the upper part being slidably mounted on the back surface of the front cover plate in said holding means, the lower part of the slider device protruding downwardly from the front cover plate, the upper part of the slider device comprising an opening shaped and sized to engage said actuating member, said slider device sliding between up and down positions so that when said slider device is at said up position, said opening toggles the actuating member to the "on" position and, alternatively, when said slider device is at said down position, said opening toggles the actuating member to the "off" position;

the upper part of the slider device further including a longitudinal opening for receiving the protruding cylinder at the bottom of the switch plate, said longitudinal opening having a predetermined length to allow said slider device to slide between said up and down positions; and

an extension strip secured to the lower part of the slider device.

10. A switch extension device according to claim 9, wherein:

said slider device has two opposite sides;

the holding means comprise a set of grooves substantially parallel to each other; and

each of said opposite sides is slidingly engaged within a respective one of said grooves.

11. A switch extension device according to claim 10, wherein:

said front cover plate has a longitudinal opening for receiving manual actuating means, said manual actuating means being a knob fixed to the upper part of the slider device and projecting through said longitudinal opening, where said longitudinal opening and said knob limit said sliding of slider device at said up and down positions.

12. A switch extension device according to claim 11, wherein said extension strip is pivotably secured to the slider device, allowing lateral movement of the extension strip about a pivot point.

13. A switch extension device for actuating a switch having an actuating member protecting from a fascia plate, the actuating member having upward and downward positions corresponding to "on" and "off" positions of the actuating member, said switch extension device comprising:

a front cover plate having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, the back surface including holding means for receiving in slidable relationship a slider device;

attaching means for securing said front cover plate to the fascia plate;

said attaching means including a switch plate having a top, a bottom and a aperture positioned and sized to receive the actuating member of the switch, said switch plate being screwed to said fascia plate and further including a protruding cylinder at each of said top and bottom of said switch plate;

said front cover plate being further provided with two holes in registered positions with said protruding cylinders of said switch plate and said front cover plate being screwed to said switch plate through said holes;

the slider device having an upper and lower part, the upper part being slidably mounted on the back surface of the front cover plate in said holding means, the lower part of the slider a device protruding downwardly from the front cover plate, the slider device including means for actuating said actuating member, said slider device sliding between up and down positions so that when said slider device is at said up position, said slider device actuates said actuating member to said "on" position and, alternatively, when said slider device is at said down position, said slider device actuates said actuating member to said "off" position, said slider device including means for receiving the protruding cylinder at the bottom of the switch plate so as to allow said slider device to slide between said up and down positions.

14. A switch extension device according to claim 13, wherein:

said slider device has two opposite sides;

the holding means comprise a set of grooves substantially parallel to each other; and

each of said opposite sides is slidingly engaged within a respective one of said grooves.

15. A switch extension device according to claim 14, wherein:

said front cover plate has a longitudinal opening for receiving manual actuating means, said manual actuating means being a knob fixed to the upper part of the slider device and projecting through said longitudinal opening, where said longitudinal opening and said knob limit said sliding of said slider device at said up and down positions.

16. A switch extension device according to claim 15, wherein said device further includes an extension strip secured to the lower part of the slider device.

17. A switch extension device according to claim 16, wherein the extension strip is pivotably secured to the slider device, allowing lateral movement of the extension strip about a pivot point.