Electrical load controller having a frame with an integrally formed backlightable indicator region

• US 9,767,973 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kevelos, Adam, Mathew, Renjith
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US15/139,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20160268074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 323318, 323320, 323905, 200310, 200313, 200314, 200315, 200317
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/455 with phase control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/145 the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward

Abstract

An electrical load controller includes an electrical switching device and an actuator assembly having at least one user actuator for use in turning power on and off to the load and for use in adjustably controlling the level of power to the load. A frame attached to the actuator includes an integrally formed backlightable indicator region having an outer continuous solid surface. Light from an illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is directable onto a portion of an inner surface of the backlightable indicator region, transmittable through the backlightable region from the inner surface to the outer surface, emittable from a portion of the outer surface, and observable by the user.

Claims

1. An actuator assembly comprising:

at least one user actuator actuatable by a user for use in turning on and off electrical power to a load and for use in adjustably controlling a level of power to the load;

a frame comprising an integrally formed backlightable indicator region comprising an outer continuous solid surface; and

wherein light from an illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is directable onto a portion of an inner surface of said backlightable indicator region, transmittable through said backlightable indicator region from said inner surface to said outer surface, emittable from a portion of said outer surface, and observable by the user.

2. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said indicator region is not discernible as an indicator region by a user in ambient light when electrical power is turned off to the load.

3. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said indicator region and said frame comprise a generally uniform observable surface color in ambient light when electrical power is turned off to the load.

4. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recessed portions or a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions, and wherein light from said illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is emittable from said plurality of spaced-apart recessed portions or said plurality of spaced-apart raised portions of said outer surface.

5. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said indicator region comprises an elongated raised land relative to said frame.

6. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said indicator region does not comprise an aperture opening onto the outer surface, extending from said outer surface to said inner surface, and opening onto said inner surface.

7. The actuator assembly of claim 1 further comprising an opaque member operable with said indicator region to inhibit bleeding of light along said outer surface of said indicator region.

8. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein light emittable from said outer surface of said indicator region related to the level of power to the load comprises a plurality of spaced apart illuminated outer surface portions.

9. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said indicator region comprises at least one first portion comprising a first thickness and at least one second portion comprising a second thickness, and wherein said first thickness is different from said second thickness.

10. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said illumination assembly comprises at least a portion of one light guide.

11. The actuator assembly of claim 10 wherein said illumination assembly comprises at least one light emitting diode operable to emit light and the emission of light being disposed at an angle relative to the light guide.

12. The actuator assembly of claim 10 wherein said illumination assembly comprises at least one light emitting diode operable to emit light and the emission of light being offset relative to the light guide.

13. The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuator assembly is releasably attachable to a housing of an electrical load controller.

14. A frame for use with an electrical load controller for use in controlling electrical power to a load from an electrical power source, said frame comprising:

an integrally formed backlightable indicator region comprising an outer continuous solid surface; and

wherein light from an illumination assembly related to a level of power to the load is directable onto a portion of an inner surface of said backlightable indicator region, transmittable through said backlightable indicator region from said inner surface to said outer surface, emittable from a portion of said outer surface, and observable by the user.

15. The frame of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of light guides that direct light from the illumination assembly towards said indicator region.

16. The frame of claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of light guides comprises a lower end and an upper end, and upper ends being receivable in cavities in said indicator region.

17. The frame of claim 16 wherein said lower end is larger than said upper end.

18. The frame of claim 15 wherein said plurality of light guides comprises a monolithic structure.

19. The frame of claim 14 wherein said indicator region in ambient light is not discernible as an indicator region by a user when electrical power is turned off to the load.

20. The frame of claim 14 wherein said frame and said indicator region comprise the same observable color when electrical power is off to the load.

21. The frame of claim 14 further comprising an opaque member operable with said indicator region to inhibit bleeding of light along said outer surface of said indicator region.

22. The frame of claim 14 wherein light emittable from said outer surface of said indicator region related to the level of power to the load comprises a plurality of spaced-apart illuminatable outer surface portions.

23. The frame of claim 14 wherein said indicator region comprises a first portion comprising a first thickness and a second portion comprising a second thickness, and wherein said first thickness is different from said second thickness.

24. The frame of claim 14 wherein said indicator region does not comprise an aperture opening onto the outer surface, extending from said outer surface to said inner surface, and opening onto said inner surface.

25. The frame of claim 14 wherein said outer surface of said indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recessed areas, and wherein light from the illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is emittable from said plurality of spaced-apart recessed portions of said outer surface.

26. The frame of claim 14 wherein said inner surface of said indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recessed portions, and wherein light from the illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is receivable in said spaced-apart recessed portions of said inner surface.

27. The frame of claim 14 wherein said outer surface of said indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions, and wherein light from the illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is emittable from said plurality of spaced-apart raised portions of said outer surface.

28. The frame of claim 14 wherein said outer surface of said indicator region comprises an elongated raised land relative to said frame.

29. The frame of claim 14 wherein at least one of said inner surface of said indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions that act as lenses for receiving light, and said outer surface of said indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions that act as lenses for emitting light.

30. The frame of claim 14 further comprising a housing, and wherein said frame is releasably attachable to said housing.