Abstract:
A decorative electrical switch actuator ( 50, 150 ) acts in combination with a conventional light switch ( 10 ) having a toggle switch arm ( 12 ) mounted in a base such that when the toggle switch arm pivots from a first position to a second position, electrical contacts in the base are moved from a contacting condition to a non-contacting condition or vice versa. The decorative switch actuator has a face plate ( 52 ), an actuating assembly ( 54 ), and a cap assembly ( 56, 156 ). The actuating assembly is mounted on the face plate, and has a means ( 106 ) for receiving the toggle switch arm such that a linear movement of the receiving means moves the toggle switch arm from the first to the second position or vice versa. The cap assembly ( 56, 156 ) is mounted on the face plate, and is structurally independent of the actuator.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional application No. 60/298,627 filed Jun. 14, 2001. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to an actuator for an electrical switch, particularly a standard wall toggle switch. The present invention provides a decorative yet functional alternative to the toggle switch, the invention providing a fluid switching motion between the ends of the range of motion of the toggle switch. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     The standard wall toggle switch is well known in the United States and in many other countries. This type of switch is used to control electric current flow to electrical outlets, lights, ceiling fans and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,665 to Houssian distinguishes itself from some prior art actuators or switch covers in that Houssian teaches a switch actuator that moves in a circular arc motion rather than linearly. Since the toggle switch arm is a lever that is pinned to and pivots about a central point, the end of the arm away from the pivot point moves in a circular arc with respect to that point. The linear actuators do not move smoothly through their range of motion when required to accommodate this arcuate action of the arm end. In Houssian, the actuator is seated atop the arm end and rides in a channel on an arcuate face plate or cover, albeit one with a larger radius of curvature than that of the toggle arm end. 
     Certainly a large number of design alternatives are available to the person who is willing to disconnect the electrical contacts to the standard toggle switch assembly, remove that switch assembly from the housing and replace the entire switch assembly. Such persons may, for example, install a switch that offers a resilient “on-off” compression member in combination with a rheostatically controlled rotary element that dims or brightens the light. 
     A reason for inventions such as Houssian is to provide efficient yet attractive alternatives to the toggle switch while not requiring the installer to work with the electrical connections. An advantage of the present invention is to provide another such alternative. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This advantage and others are provided by a device for actuating an electrical switch having a toggle switch arm mounted in a base such that when the toggle switch arm pivots from a first position to a second position, electrical contacts in the base are moved from a contacting condition to a non-contacting condition or vice versa. The device comprises a face plate, an actuating assembly and a cap assembly. The actuating assembly is mounted on the face plate. It comprises a means for receiving the toggle switch arm such that a linear movement of the receiving means moves the toggle switch arm from the first to the second position or vice versa. The cap assembly is mounted on the face plate, and is structurally independent of the actuating assembly. 
     In some embodiments of the device, the cap assembly is a singular piece, comprising a cap. 
     In other embodiments, the cap assembly comprises an annular ring, mountable in the face plate, and a cap, mountable on the annular ring. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical parts are identified with identical reference numerals and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a standard toggle switch; 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the actuator of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows an external view of the assembled actuator of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 shows an external view of the assembled actuator of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 shows an isolated view of the ring of either the first or second embodiment device; 
     FIG. 6 shows an assembled view of the face plate and actuator of the second embodiment, with the cap assembly removed; 
     FIG. 7 shows an isolated view of the face plate of the second embodiment, with the actuator removed; and 
     FIG. 8 shows an isolated view of the bridging assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The standard wall toggle switch  10  known in the prior art is shown in FIG.  1 . In this switch  10 , the arm  12  is pivotably mounted in a base of the switch, the base containing electrical contacts capable of making and breaking an electrical circuit as the arm moves from a first position to a second position or vice versa. The range of motion of the arm  12  in going from either end position to the other is about thirty degrees. The switch  10  conventionally has a face plate  14  which is generally parallel to and offset from a wall W in which the switch  10  is mounted. This face plate  14  is conventionally attached to the switch  10  by a pair of screws  16 , the screws passing through the face plate in holes  18 . Additionally, a larger hole  20  allows passage of the arm  12  therethrough, the arm being conventionally seated in an arm housing  22  with a rectangular face  24  that is slightly smaller than the hole  20 . Removal and replacement of the face plate  14  presents only an extremely remote danger of electrical shock to the person making the replacement. 
     The light switch actuator  50  of a first embodiment of the present invention is now shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the components and FIG. 3 shows an assembled view. The actuator  50  comprises a face plate  52 , an actuating assembly  54  and a cover or cap assembly  56 . In the particular embodiment shown, the cover or cap assembly  56  actually comprises two separate pieces, the first being an elliptical annular ring  58  and the second being a cap  60 . It will be understood that in some embodiments, the cap assembly  56  will consist only of a single part comprising all the features of the ring  58  and the cap  60 . 
     Attention is now directed to the face plate  52 , which is different from the face plate  14  of the prior art. Face plate  52  has a pair of holes  18  which correspond to the holes  18  in the prior art face plate  14  and a hole  20  which corresponds to the arm housing receiving hole  20  of the prior art face plate. Particularly, the face plate  52  is also provided with a means  62  for receiving and retaining the actuating assembly  54 . In the specific embodiment illustrated, the receiving and retaining means  62  is a set of rectangular holes  64 , with a pair of such holes straddling each of the holes  18 . The face plate  52  also is provided with a means  66  for receiving and retaining the cap assembly  56 . In the particular embodiment shown, the receiving and retaining means  66  is an elliptical ridge  68 , particularly one molded into the upper surface of the face plate  52 . 
     Further attention to FIG. 2 shows details of the cap assembly  56 , which comprises the elliptical annular ring  58  and the cap  60 . Elliptical annular ring  58  is generally unremarkable, but it will be provided with means so that it will assist the face plate  52  in receiving and retaining the cap  60 . Absent such means being provided, the elliptical annular ring  58  will not be included in the cap assembly  56 . Cap  60  is shown as comprising an elliptical base  70  upon which is based a dome member  72 . In the particular embodiment shown, this dome member  72  is shaped as one-half of a solid of rotation of an ellipse. The dome member  72  is effectively hollow, the thickness of the wall that defines both the dome member and the elliptical base being effectively constant. This hollow dome member  72  thereby provides a cavity within which the toggle arm  12  may move freely within its normal range of motion. The dome member  72  has a first and a second cutout portion  74 ,  76 , the use of which will become obvious as further description is provided. 
     Attention is now directed to the actuating assembly  54 , which has a base  78  with first and second ends  80 ,  82 . Connecting arms  84 ,  86 , join the first and second ends  80 ,  82 , to provide structural stability. Each end  80 ,  82 , is also provided with means  90  corresponding with the means  62  for receiving and retaining on the face plate  52 . In the embodiment illustrated, the means  90  is a set of legs of rectangular cross-section. Each end  80 ,  82 , is also provided with a pair of spaced apart, upstanding legs  94 . These legs  94  define a clevis for supporting a pivot bar  96 . A first pivot element  98  is held in the clevis formed by the upstanding legs  94  at the first end  80  of the actuating assembly  54  and a second pivot element  100  is held in the clevis formed by the upstanding legs  94  at the second end  82  thereof. A bar member  102  has its first end  104  pinned into the first pivot element  98  and its second end  105  pinned into the second pivot element  100 , so that pivoting motion of either pivot element causes co-action in the other pivot element. A means  106  for receiving the toggle arm  12  is positioned on an intermediate portion of the bar member  102 . In this manner, the pivoting motion of either of the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , results in motion of the toggle arm  12 . The toggle arm receiving means is shown in the embodiment as a pair of downwardly extending tangs or posts  108 ,  110 , with an intermediate cavity or cradle  112  into which the toggle arm  12  is seated. When the actuating assembly  54  is properly constructed, a pivoting rotation of either the first or second pivot element  98 ,  100 , through about 90 degrees will result in a full range motion of about thirty degrees in the toggle arm  12 . Each of the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , pivot in the same direction, so that, in the embodiment shown, a counterclockwise rotation of the pivot elements moves the toggle arm  12  counterclockwise and a clockwise rotation of the pivot elements moves the toggle arm clockwise. It will also be appreciated that the bar member  102  remains generally parallel to the face plate  52  as it moves through its range of motion, with the bar member being closest to the face place at the ends of the range and farthest from the face plate at the middle of the motion. 
     Further attention is now directed to the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , which, in the embodiment shown, are mirror images of each other. Each pivot element  98 ,  100  has a first pivot point  120  and a second pivot point  122 . The respective first pivot points  120  provide the pivot between the pivot element  98 ,  100  and the upstanding legs  94  of the bridging assembly. the respective second pivot points  122  provide the pivot between the pivot element  98 ,  100  and the respective ends  104  of the bar member  102 . A periphery of each of the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , is irregular when viewed from the side and the first pivot point  120  is offset from a center of the planar surface defined by the periphery. Because of this, a portion  124  of each pivot element  98 ,  100 , can extend outwardly through one of the cutout portions  74 ,  76  when the pivot element is in one position, but the pivot element  98 ,  100  will be effectively flush with the surface of the dome member when the pivot element is in a second position. 
     It will be understood from the foregoing that when pivot element  98  is in the first position, the pivoting of it about its first pivot point moves pivot element  98  to the second or flush position and the action of bar member  102  not only moves the toggle arm, but also changes pivot element  100  from the second or flush position to the first or outwardly extended position. FIG. 3 shows an example of this situation with pivot element  98  in the flush position and pivot element  100  in the extended position. 
     While this motion of the pivot elements should move smoothly, it may be desirable in some embodiments to connect the bar member  102  to the face plate  52  or the actuating assembly  54  with a biasing means, such as a spring. This biasing means will urge the bar member  102  to be in one of the ends of its range of motion rather than in any intermediate position, meaning that the toggle arm  12  will likewise be at one end of its motion range also, rather than being in an intermediate position. 
     A second embodiment of the light switch actuator  150  is now shown in FIGS. 4 through 8. This actuator  150  comprises a face plate  152 , a actuator  154  and a cover or cap assembly  156 . In the particular embodiment shown, the cover or cap assembly  156  actually comprises two separate pieces, the first being an elliptical annular ring  58  and the second being a cap  160 . It will be understood that in some embodiments, the cap assembly  156  will consist only of a single part comprising all the features of the ring  58  and the cap  160 . The assembled device  150  is shown in FIG. 4, in a manner similar to FIG. 3 for the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the ring  58  in isolation. FIG. 6 shows the face plate  152  and actuator  154  together. FIG. 7 shows the isolated face plate  152  and FIG. 8 shows the isolated actuator  154 . 
     Attention is now directed to the face plate  152 , which is different from the face plate  14  of the prior art. Face plate  152  has a pair of holes  18  which correspond to the holes  18  in the prior art face plate  14  and a hole  20  which corresponds to the arm housing receiving hole  20  of the prior art face plate. Particularly, the face plate  152  is also provided with a means  162  for receiving and retaining the actuator  154 . Unlike the first embodiment, in which the receiving and retaining means  62  is a set of rectangular holes  64 , the receiving and retaining means  162  on the face plate  152  is a pair of upstanding legs  165 . Instead of straddling the holes  18 , the legs  165  straddle hole  20 , so they are more centrally positioned. In the embodiment shown, the legs  165  are not parallel to each other, but they are positioned so as to splay apart slight as the distance from a point of attachment to the face plate increases. Further, each leg is provided with an enlarged lip or edge  167  at the end of the leg that is distant from the attachment point. These legs  165  interact with corresponding means on the actuator  154  as described in more detail below. 
     The face plate  152  also is provided with a means  66  for receiving and retaining the cap assembly  56 . In the particular embodiment shown, the receiving and retaining means  66  is an elliptical ridge  68 , particularly one molded into the upper surface of the face plate  152 . This means may be accompanied by an even further or second means for receiving and retaining the cap assembly, that further means being the upstanding legs  165 , or more particularly, the edges or lips  167  on the legs. This second means is also described in more detail below. 
     Further attention to FIG. 4 shows details of the cap assembly  156 , which comprises the elliptical annular ring  58  and the cap  160 . Elliptical annular ring  58  is generally unremarkable, but it will be provided with means so that it will assist the face plate  52  in receiving and retaining the cap  160 . Absent such means being provided, the elliptical annular ring  58  will not be included in the cap assembly  56 . Cap  160  is shown as comprising an elliptical base  70  upon which is based a dome member  172 . In the particular embodiment shown, this dome member  172  is shaped as one-half of a solid of rotation of an ellipse. The dome member  172  is effectively hollow, the thickness of the wall that defines both the dome member and the elliptical base being effectively constant. This hollow dome member  172  thereby provides a cavity within which the toggle arm  12  may move freely within its normal range, of motion. The dome member  172  has a first and a second cutout portion  74 ,  76 , the use of which will become obvious as further description is provided. 
     Dome member  172  differs from dome member  72  of the first embodiment in that it is further provided on the inside surface with a pair of linear depressions or detents  173  which correspond spatially to the lips or edges  167  of the upstanding legs  165  when the dome member is properly seated on the face plate  152 . The depressions or detents coact with the edges  167  to frictionally hold the dome member and the face plate in proper position. 
     Attention is now directed to the actuator  154 , which has a base  78  with first and second ends  80 ,  82 . Connecting arms  184 ,  186 , join the first and second ends  80 ,  82 , to provide structural stability. Each connecting arm  184 ,  186  is provided with means  190  corresponding with the means  162  for receiving and retaining on the face plate  152 . In the second embodiment, the means  190  is a pair of holes  191 , one such hole in each connecting arm  184 ,  186  so that one of the upstanding legs  165  may be passed through the hole  191 . The slight outward splay of the legs  165  relative to each other urges the actuator  154  against the face plate  152 , securing it in place. As in the first embodiment, each end  80 ,  82 , is also provided with a pair of spaced-apart, upstanding legs  94 . These legs  94  define a clevis for supporting a pivot point. A first pivot element  98  is held in the clevis formed by the upstanding legs  94  at the first end  80  of the actuator  154  and a second pivot element  100  is held in the clevis formed by the upstanding legs  94  at the second end  82  thereof. A bar member  102  has its first end  104  pinned into the first pivot element  98  and its second end  105  pinned into the second pivot element  100 , so that pivoting motion of either pivot element causes co-action in the other pivot element. A means  106  for receiving the toggle arm  12  is positioned on an intermediate portion of the bar member  102 . In this manner, the pivoting motion of either of the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , results in motion of the toggle arm  12 . The toggle arm receiving means is shown in the embodiment as a pair of downwardly extending tangs or posts  108 ,  110 , with an intermediate cavity or cradle  112  into which the toggle arm  12  is seated. When the actuator  154  is properly constructed, a pivoting rotation of either the first or second pivot element  98 ,  100 , through about 90 degrees will result in a full range motion of about thirty degrees in the toggle arm  12 . Each of the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , pivot in the same direction, so that, in the embodiment shown, a counterclockwise rotation of the pivot elements moves the toggle arm  12  counterclockwise and a clockwise rotation of the pivot elements moves the toggle arm clockwise. It will also be appreciated that the bar member  102  remains generally parallel to the face plate  52  as it moves through its range of motion, with the bar member being closest to the face place at the ends of the range and farthest from the face plate at the middle of the motion. 
     As in the first embodiment, the pivot elements  98 ,  100  are mirror images of each other. Each pivot element  98 ,  100  has a first pivot point  120  and a second pivot point  122 . The respective first pivot points  120  provide the pivot between the pivot element  98 ,  100  and the upstanding legs  94  of the bridging assembly. The respective second pivot points  122  provide the pivot between the pivot element  98 ,  100  and the respective ends  104 ,  105  of the bar member  102 . A periphery of each of the pivot elements  98 ,  100 , is irregular when viewed from the side and the first pivot point  120  is offset from a center of the planar surface defined by the periphery. Because of this, a portion  124  of each pivot element  98 ,  100 , can extend outwardly through one of the cutout portions  74 ,  76  when the pivot element is in one position, but the pivot element  98 ,  100  will be effectively flush with the surface of the dome member when the pivot element is in a second position. 
     It will be understood from the foregoing that the when pivot element  98  is in the first position, a pivoting of it about its first pivot point moves pivot element  98  to the second or flush position and the action of bar member  102  not only moves the toggle arm, but also changes pivot element  100  from the second or flush position to the first or outwardly extended position. FIG. 4 shows an example of this situation with pivot element  98  in the flush position and pivot element  100  in the extended position. 
     While this motion of the pivot elements should move smoothly, it may be desirable in some embodiments to connect the bar member  102  to the face plate  52  or the actuating assembly  54  with a biasing means, such as a spring. This biasing means will urge the bar member  102  to be in one of the ends of its range of motion rather than in any intermediate position, meaning that the toggle arm  12  will be at one end of its motion range also, rather than being in an intermediate position. 
     In the first embodiment, the pinning of the pivot elements  98 ,  100  to the upstanding legs  94  and the bar member  102  is accomplished by pins, typically a metal pin  96  passing through holes in the respective parts, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . However, it is also possible to provide tangs on one of the parts, the tangs fitting into the hole and effectively replacing the pivot bar. 
     It will be further understood from the foregoing that all elements of the present invention responsible for switching the toggle arm  12  from one position to the other are structurally independent from the cap assembly. 
     It is known in the prior art to have a light source, typically a small incandescent bulb or even a light emitting diode (“LED”) light installed in a light switch, especially behind the face plate of a conventional wall switch. In some instances, especially with dimmer switches, the light that is installed is lighted when the switch is in the open or “off” position and is not lighted when the switch is in the closed or “on” position. Because the present invention teaches a light switch actuator involving a cap assembly that covers over the toggle arm, there i sat least as much room for installation of such a light source. While the prior art the tendency has been to use alternating current available in the house electrical supply to power the light source, the increasing use of small “button”-type batteries suggests that they could be used in this application.