Pull out air gap switch for wallbox-mounted dimmer

• US 7,365,282 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Nearhoof, Jeremy, Altonen, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/169,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 200/18, 200537-542, 200329-331
• US Class Current: 200/331
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/102 comprising cam devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/127 Details of the key cap concerning the actuation by fingernails or having provision to allow usage with long fingernails
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 27/04 Insulating plug or plate inserted between normally closed contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources structurally associated with the incandescent lamps H01K1/62

Abstract

A push/pull switch control is incorporated into the surface pattern of a wall box dimmer having a planar face surface. The switch control is finger nail operated and contains a finger nail groove which is accessible on the bottom end surface of the operator so it can be withdrawn to an open position. A switch position indicia is exposed when the operator is withdrawn. The notch is preferably curved with the cross-curvature of the human finger nail

Claims

1. A wall box lighting control comprising a wall box having a generally planar face plate and a generally planar bezel protruding through an opening in said face plate;

said wall box containing a pair of cooperating air-gap contacts interiorly thereof and an elongated air gap switch operator mechanically cooperable with said pair of contacts and movable between a first and second position to cause the opening and closing respectively of said pair of contacts;

one end portion of said elongated air gap switch operator being disposed adjacent and parallel to an edge portion of said bezel and being movable from a flush position with said bezel when said air gap contacts are closed to a position above the plane of said bezel when said air gap contacts are open;

an outer bottom edge portion of said air gap switch operator which is spaced away from said edge portion of said bezel containing a finger nail receiving notch for easy operation of said air gap switch operator to open said air gap contacts;

an electronic on/off circuitry, and a planar on/off operator disposed in said bezel and coupled to said electronic on/off circuitry, said on/off operator including a beveled edge providing a gap between a top edge of said one end portion of said air gap switch operator and said beveled edge, said gap being hidden by a shadow effect but providing access to said top edge of said one end of said air gap switch operator whereby said air gap switch operator may be manually operated by accessing said top edge of said one end as well as said finger nail receiving notch.

2. The lighting control of claim 1, wherein said notch has at least one cross-curvature surface which corresponds to the cross-curvature of the human finger nail.

3. The lighting control of claim 1, wherein said notch is tapered outwardly from the bottom.

4. The lighting control of claim 1, wherein said notch extends for substantially a full width of said air gap switch operator but is closed at the ends for ruggedness.

5. The lighting control of claim 1, wherein said outer edge portion of said operator has an exposed surface perpendicular to the plane of said bezel when said operator is moved to said position to open said air gap switch and above the plane of said bezel;

said exposed surface having a visual operating position indicia thereon.

6. The lighting control of claim 1, which further includes a dimmer circuit disposed within said wall box and a generally elongated dimmer operator in said bezel and connected to said dimmer circuit;

said elongated dimmer operator further presenting an unbroken planar appearance with said on/off operator and said air gap switch operator.

7. The lighting control of claim 6, wherein said notch has at least one cross-curvature surface which corresponds to the cross-curvature of the human finger nail.

8. The lighting control of claim 7, wherein said notch is tapered outwardly from the bottom.

9. The lighting control of claim 8, wherein said notch extends for substantially a full width of said air gap switch operator but is closed at the ends for ruggedness.

10. The lighting control of claim 9, wherein said outer edge portion of said operator has an exposed surface perpendicular to the plane of said bezel when said operator is moved to said position above the plane of said bezel;

said surface having a visual operating position indicia thereon.

11. The lighting control of claim 6, wherein said outer edge portion of said operator has an exposed surface perpendicular to the plane of said bezel when said operator is moved to said position above the plane of said bezel;

said surface having a visual operating position indicia thereon.

12. A finger nail operated switch comprising a pair of relatively moveable contacts;

an elongated switch operator operatively coupled to said contacts;

an enclosing housing enclosing said contacts and receiving said elongated switch operator;

said elongated switch operator being moveable between a switch-open and switch-closed position for opening and closing said contacts respectively;

one end of said elongated switch operator protruding slightly above a surface of said housing and being movable to a further withdrawn position above the surface of said housing for opening said contacts;

a surface of said operator which is perpendicular to said surface of said housing and which is exposed when said contacts are closed containing a finger nail notch for engaging said operator with a finger nail to withdraw said operator to said switch-open position, and a second notch opposite to said finger nail notch and accessible to a user.

13. The switch of claim 12, wherein said finger nail notch has a cross-curvature to correspond to the curvature of the human finger nail.

14. The switch of claim 12, wherein one of said pair of contacts is fixed relative to said housing and the other contact is flexibly carried on a spring mounted relative to said housing and is biased toward contact with said fixed contact;

said operator having a cam surface which operatively engages said other contact for moving said contact out of engagement with said fixed contact when said operator is withdrawn to said switch-open position.