POWER CONTROL DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A power control apparatus, comprising:
- a latching relay with a manual override, the latching relay including power terminals and a switching terminal for remote actual by a signal;
a switch housing of a size and shape customary for utilization in residential and commercial electrical power wiring for lighting and other purposes, 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 of the latching relay upon manual actuation by a person; and
a centering structure for maintaining the switch lever in a centered position to thereby allow unimpeded movement of the manual override,wherein the latching relay can be remotely actuated by a signal to its switching terminal to switch a power load connected to the power terminals on or off, andwherein the relay can be manually overridden by actuation of the switch lever.
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.
37 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A power control apparatus, comprising:
-
a latching relay with a manual override, the latching relay including power terminals and a switching terminal for remote actual by a signal; a switch housing of a size and shape customary for utilization in residential and commercial electrical power wiring for lighting and other purposes, 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 of the latching relay upon manual actuation by a person; and a centering structure for maintaining the switch lever in a centered position to thereby allow unimpeded movement of the manual override, wherein the latching relay can be remotely actuated by a signal to its switching terminal to switch a power load connected to the power terminals on or off, and wherein the relay can be manually overridden by actuation of the switch lever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. 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, 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 sized so that the manual override switch actuator is permitted free movement within the chamber when the latching relay switch is actuated, but is engaged by a surface of the actuation chamber to move the manual override switch to change the state of the latching relay switch upon manual movement of the switch lever; and a switch cover affixed to the switch housing for enclosing and retaining the latching relay switch and the switch lever, the switch cover including an opening defined in a surface through which the actuator element of the switch lever extends and is accessible for manual actuation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification