Feather-touch dimming switch

• US 8,525,372 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huadao Huang
• Original Assignee: Huadao Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Huadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THAI N
• Application Number:
  US12/789,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/113, 307/115, 307/139, 307/157, 315/136, 315/291, 200/43.21, 200/61.19, 200/237, 200/329, 200/339, 200/341, 200/542
• US Class Current: 307/139
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

A dimming switch comprises an enclosure with a mounting surface, a flat plate button mounted on the mounting surface, a dimming button, a tripping button, a dimmer mounted inside the enclosure, a resetting/tripping device, a dimming control circuit, a power input end configured to connect to a live wire of a power supply, and a power output end configured to connect to an electrical load. Pressing the flat plate button resets the resetting/tripping device, thereby electrically connecting the power input end with the power output end through the dimming control circuit. The dimming button is configured so that rotating the dimming button and pressing the dimming button up and down regulates the output voltage of the dimming control circuit. The tripping button and resetting/tripping device trip so that the electrical connection between the power input end and the power output end will be cut off.

Claims

1. A dimming switch, comprising:

an enclosure comprising a mounting surface;

a flat plate button mounted on the mounting surface;

a dimming button;

a tripping button;

a dimmer mounted inside the enclosure;

movable first and second elastic metal sheets;

a resetting/tripping device comprising;

a resetting guide column below the flat plate button, the guide column comprising a lock groove near a distal end;

a resetting spring covering a portion of the resetting guide column;

a T-shaped tripper abutting the first and second elastic metal sheets, the tripper comprising;

lifting arms extending outwards from left and right sides;

a central hole; and

an outer surface;

a lock comprising a lock hole, an inner wall, and an outer wall; and

a lock spring between the outer surface of the tripper and the inner wall of the lock;

a dimming control circuit;

a power input end configured to connect to a live wire of a power supply; and

a power output end configured to connect to an electrical load,

wherein the resetting guide column passes through the central hole of the tripper and is configured with the resetting spring to selectively pass the lock groove in and out of contact with the lock,

wherein the flat plate button is configured so that pressing the flat plate button moves the first and second elastic metal sheets to reset the resetting/tripping device, thereby electrically connecting the power input end with the power output end through the dimming control circuit,

wherein the dimming button is configured so that rotating the dimming button and pressing the dimming button up and down regulates the output voltage of the dimming control circuit through the dimmer, and

wherein, when the tripping button is pressed, the tripping button is configured to push the outer wall of the lock and trip the resetting/tripping device so that the first and second elastic metal sheets move and the electrical connection between the power input end and the power output end is cut off through the dimming control circuit.

2. The switch of claim 1, further comprising:

respective first and second ends on each of the first and second elastic metal sheets;

first and second moving contacts on each first end of the first and second elastic metal sheets;

a power input metal sheet having a first input sheet end and a second input sheet end, the second input sheet end comprising a first breakback contact; and

a power output metal sheet having a first output sheet end and a second output sheet end, the second output sheet end comprising a second breakback contact,

wherein the resetting/tripping device is located below the flat plate button,

wherein the T-shaped tripper is located below the flat plate button and is interlocked with the flat plate button,

wherein the first ends of first and second elastic metal sheets are located above the lifting arms and are configured to move up and down along with the tripper,

wherein a portion of the first end of first elastic metal sheet is welded to the dimming control circuit and the second end of the first elastic metal sheet is suspended below the power input metal sheet,

wherein a portion of the first end of second elastic metal sheet is welded to the dimming control circuit and the second end of the second elastic metal sheet is suspended below the power output metal sheet,

wherein the first input sheet end of the power input metal sheet is welded to the dimming control circuit and is connected to the power input end and the second input sheet end of the power input metal sheet is suspended above the first elastic metal sheet,

wherein the first output sheet end of the power output metal sheet is welded to the dimming control circuit and is connected to the power output end and the second output sheet end of the power output metal sheet is suspended above the second elastic metal sheet,

wherein, when the resetting/tripping device is in a tripped state, the power input metal sheet and the power output metal sheet do not contact the first and second elastic metal sheets and the dimming switch is not configured to output power, and

wherein, when the resetting/tripping device is in a reset state, the first and second breakback contacts contact first and second moving contacts and the dimming switch is configured to output power.

3. The switch of claim 2, wherein:

the resetting guide column is configured to move up and down along the central hole, and the resetting guide column comprises

a tip-shaped bottom surface,

a portion of the resetting guide column protrudes downwardly through the central hole,

the lock is movable and comprises a metal material,

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is not pressed, the tip-shaped bottom surface is located above the lock and is semi-offset with the lock hole,

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is not pressed, the portion of the resetting guide column that protrudes downwardly through the central hole is semi-offset with the lock hole,

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is pressed, the tip-shaped bottom surface of the resetting guide column penetrates the lock hole, the lock is pushed, and the lock spring is compressed, and

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is released from a pressed state, the resetting guide column moves up, the lock groove is clutched in the lock hole, the tripper moves up via a driving force from the lock, and the resetting/tripping device is reset.

4. The switch of claim 3, wherein:

the switch further comprises;

a tripping bar below the tripping button, the tripping bar having a bottom surface;

a tripping spring covering a portion of the tripping bar; and

a convex block located at the bottom surface of the tripping bar,

the resetting/tripping device further comprises an inner wall,

the convex block is selectively located above the inner wall of the resetting/tripping device and the outer wall of the lock, and

the tripping button is configured so that when the tripping button is pressed, the tripping bar moves downward, the convex block inserts between the inner wall of the resetting/tripping device and the outer wall of the lock, the lock moves in an unlocking direction, the lock groove disengages from the lock hole, and the resetting/tripping device trips.

5. The switch of claim 4, wherein:

the switch further comprises;

a dimming bar below the dimming button, the dimming bar having a first end and a second end; and

a dimmer below the dimming button,

the first end of the dimming bar is connected to the dimming button and the second end of the dimming bar is connected to the dimmer, and

the dimmer is installed in the dimming control circuit.

6. The switch of claim 5, wherein:

the dimmer comprises an adjustable resistor, and

the dimming button in configured to rotate and press up and down to change the output resistance of the dimmer.

7. The switch of claim 6, further comprising:

a row of indication lamps on the dimming control circuit;

a light leading tube; and

a frame for receiving the flat plate button, the frame comprising a lighting hole,

wherein the indication lamps are configured to emit light, and emitted light passes through the light leading tube and out the lighting hole.

8. The switch of claim 7, wherein:

the enclosure comprises;

a panel comprising a panel hole in the middle; and

a base,

the frame is installed in the panel hole, and the frame further comprises a first pin-joint interface,

the flat plate button further comprises a second pin-joint interface, the second pin-joint interface comprising a shaft,

the first pin-joint interface and the second pin-joint interface co-act to enable the flat plate button to rotate up and down when the flat plate button is pressed, and

the dimming button, the tripping button, and the lighting hole are mounted on the frame.

9. The switch of claim 8, wherein the flat plate button further comprises a dimming button hole at an end of the flat plate button, and the dimming button is located in the dimming button hole such that the dimming button is elevated higher than the flat plate button.

10. The switch of claim 5, further comprising:

a row of indication lamps on the dimming control circuit;

a light leading tube; and

a frame for receiving the flat plate button, the frame comprising a lighting hole,

wherein the indication lamps are configured to emit light, and emitted light passes through the light leading tube and out the lighting hole.

11. The switch of claim 10, wherein:

the enclosure comprises;

a panel comprising a panel hole in the middle; and

a base,

the frame is installed in the panel hole, and the frame further comprises a first pin-joint interface,

the flat plate button further comprises a second pin-joint interface, the second pin-joint interface comprising a shaft,

the first pin-joint interface and the second pin-joint interface co-act to enable the flat plate button to rotate up and down when the flat plate button is pressed, and

the dimming button, the tripping button, and the lighting hole are mounted on the frame.

12. The switch of claim 11, wherein the flat plate button further comprises a dimming button hole at an end of the flat plate button, and the dimming button is located in the dimming button hole such that the dimming button is elevated higher than the flat plate button.

13. The switch of claim 3, wherein, when the flat plate button receives pressure and then when the pressure on the flat plate button is released, the resetting guide column moves upward via the spring force of the resetting spring.

14. The switch of claim 13, wherein, when the flat plate button is pressed, the resetting guide column moves along with the movement of the flat plate button and the flat plate button moves along with the resetting guide column and the resetting spring.

15. The switch of claim 1, wherein:

the resetting guide column is configured to move up and down along the central hole, and the resetting guide column comprises a tip-shaped bottom surface,

a portion of the resetting guide column protrudes downwardly through the central hole,

the lock is movable and comprises a metal material,

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is not pressed, the tip-shaped bottom surface is located above the lock and is semi-offset with the lock hole,

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is not pressed, the portion of the resetting guide column that protrudes downwardly through the central hole is semi-offset with the lock hole,

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is pressed, the tip-shaped bottom surface of the resetting guide column penetrates the lock hole, the lock is pushed, and the lock spring is compressed, and

the switch is configured so that when the flat plate button is released from a pressed state, the resetting guide column moves up, the lock groove is clutched in the lock hole, the tripper moves up via a driving force from the lock, and the resetting/tripping device is reset.

16. The switch of claim 1, wherein:

the switch further comprises;

a tripping bar below the tripping button, the tripping bar having a bottom surface;

a tripping spring covering a portion of the tripping bar; and

a convex block located at the bottom surface of the tripping bar,

the resetting/tripping device further comprises an inner wall,

the convex block is selectively located above the inner wall of the resetting/tripping device and the outer wall of the lock, and

the tripping button is configured so that when the tripping button is pressed, the tripping bar moves downward, the convex block inserts between the inner wall of the resetting/tripping device and the outer wall of the lock, the lock moves in an unlocking direction, the lock groove disengages from the lock hole, and the resetting/tripping device trips.

17. The switch of claim 1, wherein, when the flat plate button receives pressure and then when the pressure on the flat plate button is released, the resetting guide column moves upward via the spring force of the resetting spring.

18. The switch of claim 1, wherein, when the flat plate button is pressed, the resetting guide column moves along with the movement of the flat plate button and the flat plate button moves along with the resetting guide column and the resetting spring.

19. A dimming switch, comprising:

an enclosure comprising a mounting surface;

a flat plate button mounted on the mounting surface;

a dimming button;

a dimmer mounted inside the enclosure;

movable first and second elastic metal sheets;

a resetting/tripping device comprising;

a resetting guide column below the flat plate button, the guide column comprising a lock groove near a distal end;

a resetting spring covering a portion of the resetting guide column;

a T-shaped tripper abutting the first and second elastic metal sheets, the tripper comprising;

lifting arms extending outwards from left and right sides;

a central hole; and

an outer surface;

a lock comprising a lock hole, an inner wall, and an outer wall; and

a lock spring between the outer surface of the tripper and the inner wall of the lock;

a power input end configured to connect to a live wire of a power supply; and

a power output end configured to connect to an electrical load,

wherein the resetting guide column passes through the central hole of the tripper and is configured with the resetting spring to selectively pass the lock groove in and out of contact with the lock,

wherein the flat plate button is configured so that pressing the flat plate button moves the first and second elastic metal sheets to electrically connect the power input end with the power output end,

wherein the dimming button is configured so that rotating the dimming button and pressing the dimming button up and down regulates the dimmer.

20. The switch of claim 19, further comprising a tripping button, wherein, when the tripping button is pressed, the tripping button is configured to push the outer wall of the lock and trip the resetting/tripping device so that the first and second elastic metal sheets move and the electrical connection between the power input end and the power output end is cut off.