Power control device and assembly
First Claim
1. A power control apparatus, comprising:
- a latching relay for controlling an electrical load and including a manual override switch actuator, the latching relay including power terminals and a switching terminal for remote actuation by a signal, the latching relay switching from a first state to a second state upon provision of the signal to the switching terminal or manual actuation by the manual override switch actuator;
a switch housing of a size and shape customary for utilization in residential and commercial electrical power wiring, the switch housing supporting and retaining the latching relay;
a switch lever extending from the body of the switch housing for manual actuation by a person to override the state of the relay, the switch lever engaging the manual override switch actuator of the latching relay upon manual actuation by a person, the switch lever comprising a pair of parallel arms extending into said switch housing, the parallel arms being resiliently deformable such that the arms partially deform towards each other during assembly by insertion into the switch housing but resiliently return to an initial undeformed state after insertion into the switch housing;
the switch housing further comprising a pair of recesses that are shaped and sized to receive and retain the parallel arms such that the arms are movable within the recesses upon manual actuation of the switch lever but confined in movement by interior surfaces of the recesses; and
a centering structure for maintaining the switch lever in a centered position to allow unimpeded movement of the manual override switch actuator.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power control apparatus in the form of a standard, toggle, wall-mounted light switch for remote actuation of an electrical load or local manual override. A switch housing supports and retains a latching relay that includes power terminals, a switching terminal for remote actuation by a control signal, and a manual override. A switch lever extends from the body of the switch housing for manual actuation to override the state of the relay. The switch lever engages the manual override of the latching relay upon manual actuation by a person. A centering structure maintains the switch lever in a centered position to allow unimpeded movement of the manual override. The latching relay can be remotely actuated by a signal at its switching terminal to switch a power load connected to the power terminals on or off, or the relay can be manually overridden by actuation of the switch lever.
42 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A power control apparatus, comprising:
- a latching relay for controlling an electrical load and including a manual override switch actuator, the latching relay including power terminals and a switching terminal for remote actuation by a signal, the latching relay switching from a first state to a second state upon provision of the signal to the switching terminal or manual actuation by the manual override switch actuator;
a switch housing of a size and shape customary for utilization in residential and commercial electrical power wiring, the switch housing supporting and retaining the latching relay;
a switch lever extending from the body of the switch housing for manual actuation by a person to override the state of the relay, the switch lever engaging the manual override switch actuator of the latching relay upon manual actuation by a person, the switch lever comprising a pair of parallel arms extending into said switch housing, the parallel arms being resiliently deformable such that the arms partially deform towards each other during assembly by insertion into the switch housing but resiliently return to an initial undeformed state after insertion into the switch housing;
the switch housing further comprising a pair of recesses that are shaped and sized to receive and retain the parallel arms such that the arms are movable within the recesses upon manual actuation of the switch lever but confined in movement by interior surfaces of the recesses; and
a centering structure for maintaining the switch lever in a centered position to allow unimpeded movement of the manual override switch actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a latching relay for controlling an electrical load and including a manual override switch actuator, the latching relay including power terminals and a switching terminal for remote actuation by a signal, the latching relay switching from a first state to a second state upon provision of the signal to the switching terminal or manual actuation by the manual override switch actuator;
-
14. A power control apparatus, comprising:
- a latching relay switch including a manual override switch actuator extending from a surface of the relay switch, the relay switch operative to switch an electrical load connected to its power terminals on and off in response to (a) an electrical signal provided on a relay input terminal from a remote control source, and (b) manual actuation of the manual override switch actuator;
a switch housing for retaining and supporting the relay switch, the switch housing including openings for receiving electrical wires for connection to the relay switch that are coupled to the electrical load and signal electrical wires that are connected to the relay input terminal, the switch housing further including a pair of recesses for receiving and retaining a switch lever for partial rotatable movement;
a switch lever including an actuator element, a bridge member, and a pair of parallel arms extending from opposite outer edges of the bridge member in a direction opposite the actuator element, the actuator element for manual actuation by a person, the pair of parallel arms being received and retained in the pair of switch housing recesses for partial rotatable movement; and
the switch lever including an actuation chamber defined in the bridge member opposite the actuator element for receiving and engaging the manual override switch actuator of the latching relay switch, the dimensions of the actuation chamber being larger than a throw travel path of the manual override switch actuator so that the manual override switch actuator moves freely within the actuation chamber while the switch lever is in a centered position when the latching relay switch is actuated by the remote control source, but is engaged by an inner surface of the actuation chamber to move the manual override switch actuator to change the state of the latching relay switch upon manual movement of the switch lever. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a latching relay switch including a manual override switch actuator extending from a surface of the relay switch, the relay switch operative to switch an electrical load connected to its power terminals on and off in response to (a) an electrical signal provided on a relay input terminal from a remote control source, and (b) manual actuation of the manual override switch actuator;
Specification