Automatic light switch with manual override
First Claim
1. An automatic switch control that fits over a switch on a wall to move a toggle of the switch between an on position and an off position, the automatic switch control comprising:
- a housing;
a wheel member rotatably supported by said housing, said wheel member having a cam member with a ramp surface;
an electric motor that is operable to rotate said wheel member about an axis of rotation that is generally perpendicular to the wall;
a first plunger mechanism having a first spring member that is operable to urge a first cam follower into sliding engagement with said ramp surface; and
a second plunger mechanism having a second spring member that is operable to urge a second cam follower into sliding engagement with said ramp surface, said second plunger mechanism disposed on an opposite side of the toggle from said first plunger mechanism when the automatic switch control is installed over the switch;
said electric motor operable to rotate said cam member to position said first plunger mechanism in a retracted condition and to position said second plunger mechanism in an extended condition that is operable to move the toggle to the on position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic switch control includes a wheel member having a cam member with a ramp surface. A first plunger mechanism has a first spring member that is operable to urge a first cam follower into sliding engagement with the ramp surface. A second plunger mechanism has a second spring member that is operable to urge a second cam follower into sliding engagement with the ramp surface. The second plunger mechanism is disposed on an opposite side of the toggle from the first plunger mechanism when the automatic switch control is installed over the switch. An electric motor is operable to rotate the cam member to position the first plunger mechanism in a retracted condition and to position the second plunger mechanism in an extended condition that is operable to move the toggle to the on position.
84 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automatic switch control that fits over a switch on a wall to move a toggle of the switch between an on position and an off position, the automatic switch control comprising:
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a housing; a wheel member rotatably supported by said housing, said wheel member having a cam member with a ramp surface; an electric motor that is operable to rotate said wheel member about an axis of rotation that is generally perpendicular to the wall; a first plunger mechanism having a first spring member that is operable to urge a first cam follower into sliding engagement with said ramp surface; and a second plunger mechanism having a second spring member that is operable to urge a second cam follower into sliding engagement with said ramp surface, said second plunger mechanism disposed on an opposite side of the toggle from said first plunger mechanism when the automatic switch control is installed over the switch; said electric motor operable to rotate said cam member to position said first plunger mechanism in a retracted condition and to position said second plunger mechanism in an extended condition that is operable to move the toggle to the on position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automatic switch control that fits over a switch on a wall to move a toggle of the switch between an on position and an off position, the automatic switch control comprising:
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a housing; a yoke member having a first aperture that receives the toggle, said yoke member movably supported by said housing between a first yoke position and a second yoke position; a drive member rotatably supported by said housing, said drive member connected to said yoke member; an electric motor connected to said housing and operable to move said yoke member between the first and second yoke positions by moving said drive member; and a centrifugal clutch that connects said drive member to said electric motor; wherein placement of said yoke member in said first yoke position is configured to position the toggle in an on position, wherein placement of said yoke member is said second yoke position is configured to position the toggle in an off position, wherein said first aperture in said yoke member is sized to permit manual movement of the toggle from the on position to the off position when said yoke member is in said first yoke position, and wherein said first aperture in said yoke member is sized to permit manual movement of the toggle from the off position to the on position when said yoke member is in said second yoke position; and wherein said centrifugal clutch permits the toggle to be moved manually and by the switch when the yoke member is not moving the toggle to the on position or the off position with said electric motor by opening said centrifugal clutch to disconnect said electric motor from said drive member so that motion imparted on said yoke member by manual movement of the toggle is prevented from back driving said electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An automatic switch control that fits over a switch on a wall to move a toggle of the switch between an on position and an off position, the automatic switch control comprising:
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a housing; a spring member connected to said housing; an electric motor connected to said housing and operable to load said spring member; a toggle mover member connected to said housing and operable to move the toggle to the on position or the off position; a control module that rotates said electric motor to load said spring member and that permits said spring member to unload and move said toggle mover member to move the toggle from the on position to the off position; and a plunger mechanism and a wheel member, said wheel member having a cam member with a ramp surface, said plunger mechanism having a post member connected to a stop member with said spring member, said stop member connected to said housing, said post member includes a cam follower and a head member, said spring member is operable to urge said cam follower into sliding engagement with said ramp surface, said head member is operable to move said toggle mover member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An automatic switch control that fits over a switch on a wall to move a toggle of the switch between an on position and an off position, the automatic switch control comprising:
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a housing; a spring member connected to said housing; an electric motor connected to said housing and operable to load said spring member; a toggle mover member connected to said housing and operable to move the toggle to the on position or the off position; a control module that rotates said electric motor to load said spring member and that permits said spring member to unload and move said toggle mover member to move the toggle from the on position to the off position; and a yoke member supported by said housing and movable by said electric motor, said toggle mover member is pivotally supported by said yoke member and connected to said yoke member with said spring member, said control module moves said yoke member to move said toggle mover member into contact with a pin member to deflect said toggle mover member and load said spring member and permits said toggle mover member to skip past said pin member and unload by contacting and moving the toggle of the switch.
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Specification