Movable electric switches that move to reveal underlying control areas

• US 6,570,106 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven L. Merrick
• Original Assignee: Steven L. Merrick
• Inventors: Merrick, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Easthom, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Kyung S.
• Application Number:
  US09/614,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1.R, 200/4, 200/6.A, 200/6.R, 200/17.R, 200/18, 200/1.B, 200/329, 200/333, 200/296, 200/52.R
• US Class Current: 200/5.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

Electric switches are disclosed that cover underlying control areas and that can be moved to reveal these underlying control areas. The underlying control area will preferably be a control panel, such as a touch screen or hard-switched control panel. These movable electric switches are made to blend in with the surrounding decor, preferably by having a decorative plate as the predominate artifact that is seen. These movable electric switches are also functional, in that pressing on areas of the decorative plate will allow different electric switch positions to be chosen and different functions to occur that correspond to the particular electric switch position.

Thus, the present invention allows any underlying control area to be covered by a movable electric switch, allows the electric switch to be used to control various electrical devices, and allows the electric switch to be moved to provide access to the underlying control area.

Claims

1. A movable electric switch comprising:

a base unit comprising an opening, the opening containing at least one control area;

an electric switch comprising at least one position, the electric switch covering the opening; and

a movement mechanism coupled to the electric switch and the base unit and allowing the electric switch to be moved to reveal at least part of the opening such that the at least one control area may be accessed, the electric switch remaining in electrical contact with the base unit when the control area is revealed.

2. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein each position of the electric switch completes an electric circuit when the electric switch is moved to select that position.

3. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein the electric switch further comprises a bottom plate having first and second edges, wherein the movement mechanism is coupled to the base unit and further comprises two parallel rails and the first and second edges, each rail comprising a groove, wherein the first edge slidably engages the groove in one of the rails and the second edge slidably engages the groove in the other rail, whereby the movement mechanism allows the electric switch to be slid in the two parallel rails thereby revealing at least part of the opening.

4. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein the electric switch further comprises a bottom plate having a left edge, wherein the movement mechanism further comprises a hinge, the hinge coupled to the base unit and to the bottom plate proximate the left edge, whereby the movement mechanism allows the electric switch to be rotated about the hinge thereby revealing at least part of the opening.

5. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein the electric switch comprises four positions.

6. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein the electric switch comprises two positions, wherein the electric switch further comprises bottom switch unit comprising a bottom plate having a top surface, two contacts attached to the top surface of the bottom plate, and a first contacting spring having a middle end and two outer ends, wherein the first contacting spring is attached to the top surface of the bottom plate near the middle of the spring, the first contacting spring shaped such that each of the two outer ends of the first contacting spring is positioned a distance away from the bottom plate, wherein the two contacts are separated by a second distance and each is positioned underneath the first contacting spring between the middle of the first contacting spring and one of the outer ends of the first contacting spring, whereby the first contacting spring and the two contacts provide the two positions of the electric switch.

7. The movable electric switch of claim 6 wherein the electric switch comprises an additional two positions, wherein the bottom plate further comprises an additional two contacts attached to the top surface of the bottom plate, and a second contacting spring having a middle end and two outer ends, wherein the second contacting spring is attached to the top surface of the bottom plate near the middle of the spring, wherein the second contacting spring is placed perpendicular to the other contacting spring, the second contacting spring shaped such that each of the two outer ends of the second contacting spring is positioned a distance away from the bottom plate, wherein the additional two contacts are separated by a third distance and each is positioned underneath the second contacting spring between the middle of the second contacting spring and one of the outer ends of the second contacting spring, whereby the second contacting spring and additional contacts provide the additional two positions of the electric switch.

8. The movable electric switch of claim 7 wherein the bottom switch unit further comprises a pivot connected to the bottom plate.

9. The movable electric switch of claim 8 wherein the pivot comprises a thinner location, wherein the electric switch further comprises a top switch unit comprising a pivot plate having a back surface and a pivot pin having a notch, the pivot pin coupled to the back of the pivot plate and spaced a fifth distance from the back of the pivot plate, wherein pivot plate is positioned such that each of the outer ends of the first and second contacting springs abuts the back surface of the pivot plate and such that the thinner location of the pivot and the notch of the pivot pin mate, whereby the thinner location and notch allow pivoting motion in a plurality of directions.

10. The movable electric switch of claim 9 wherein the pivot plate comprises four alignment depressions in its back surface, wherein each of the alignment depressions is positioned to abut and mate with each of the outer ends of the first and second contacting springs.

11. The movable electric switch of claim 10 further comprising a decorative cover plate coupled to a front surface of the pivot plate.

12. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein the electric switch comprises a decorative cover plate.

13. The movable electric switch of claim 1 wherein the electric switch comprises at least two positions and a pivot mechanism, the pivot mechanism allowing each of the at least two positions to be selected.

14. A movable electric switch system comprising:

an underlying control area;

an electric switch comprising at least one position, the switch covering the underlying control area; and

a movement mechanism coupled to the electric switch and allowing the electric switch to be moved to reveal at least part of the underlying control area such that the underlying control area may be accessed, the electric switch remaining in electrical contact with the base unit when the control area is revealed.

15. The movable electric switch system of claim 14 wherein the underlying control area comprises a control panel.

16. The movable electric switch system of claim 14 wherein the electric switch is electrically coupled to the underlying control area.

17. A method of controlling electronic devices, the method comprising the steps of:

moving an electric switch to reveal an opening containing a control panel, the electric switch remaining in electrical contact with a base unit containing the opening when the electric switch is moved; and

accessing the control panel.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of moving the electric switch to completely cover the opening containing the control panel.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of moving an electric switch to reveal an opening containing a control panel comprises the step of sliding the electric switch in a first direction, thereby revealing the opening.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of moving an electric switch to reveal an opening containing a control panel comprises the step of pivoting the electric switch about at least one pivot point, thereby revealing the opening.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of moving an electric switch to reveal an opening containing a control panel comprises the step of moving the electric switch from a fully covered position, wherein the opening is completely covered and the electric switch overlies the opening, to a fully exposed position, wherein the opening has a substantial amount of its area exposed.