SWITCH ACTUATOR
First Claim
1. A removable electrical switch control device for interchangeable use between both rocker and toggle type switches, the electrical switch control device having a reciprocating actuator with a first and second end which travels in a curved path so that a rocker switch is pressed at the ends of the rocker rather than near the centre where a higher force is required, the device comprising;
- a housing adapted to be removably mountable to at least one of an existing rocker switch plate and an existing toggle switch plate without modification to the existing rocker switch plate and the existing toggle switch plate;
an actuator that reciprocates back and forth within the housing whilst following a curved path so that the two ends of the actuator move up and down relative to the switch plate as they reciprocate enabling the actuator to alternately press each end of the rocker switch near the end of the rocker and with the first and second ends of the actuator being alternately closer and further away from the switch plate as the actuator reciprocates;
a cam follower mounted on the actuator;
a recess in the center of the actuator to receive a toggle lever of a conventional toggle switch and to flip it from one position to another as the actuator reciprocates;
a motor mechanically connected to the actuator;
a battery pack electrically connected to the motor and to supply power to the motor; and
a control element electrically connected between the motor and the battery pack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a retrofit actuator that can be fitted interchangeably to either a toggle switch or a rocker switch and which mimics both the up and down action required to operate a toggle switch and the pushing force required to operate a rocker switch, the retrofit actuator capable of being operated either directly by pressing an on/off button on the switch actuator itself or remotely by sending a signal from a remote control or other sender unit such as a passive infra red detector or a programmable central sender unit that can control one or more switch actuators from a remote location.
120 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A removable electrical switch control device for interchangeable use between both rocker and toggle type switches, the electrical switch control device having a reciprocating actuator with a first and second end which travels in a curved path so that a rocker switch is pressed at the ends of the rocker rather than near the centre where a higher force is required, the device comprising;
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a housing adapted to be removably mountable to at least one of an existing rocker switch plate and an existing toggle switch plate without modification to the existing rocker switch plate and the existing toggle switch plate; an actuator that reciprocates back and forth within the housing whilst following a curved path so that the two ends of the actuator move up and down relative to the switch plate as they reciprocate enabling the actuator to alternately press each end of the rocker switch near the end of the rocker and with the first and second ends of the actuator being alternately closer and further away from the switch plate as the actuator reciprocates; a cam follower mounted on the actuator; a recess in the center of the actuator to receive a toggle lever of a conventional toggle switch and to flip it from one position to another as the actuator reciprocates; a motor mechanically connected to the actuator; a battery pack electrically connected to the motor and to supply power to the motor; and a control element electrically connected between the motor and the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification