Patent Document

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/921,682, filed 3 Apr. 2007, titled “Handheld Housing for Wall-Mount Controller.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This description relates to handheld housings for controllers. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Wall-mount electrical controllers, such as light switches and dimmers, have been around for many years. These controllers are designed, configured, and dimensioned to be installed into standardized electrical junction boxes. As such, these controllers have mounting brackets, tabs, and mounting holes having specific configurations and dimensions. These controllers are installed into the junction box and usually covered by standardized cover plates. The problem with these wall-mount controllers is that the user must be near the junction box to operate the electrical device. 
         [0005]    In recent years, small handheld remote-control devices have been developed that allow users to control electrical devices, such as lights and ceiling fans, remotely. With these remote control devices, the user can operate the electrical device from anywhere within the operational range of the remote control. These remote control devices usually include a small housing and one or more self-powered internal circuit boards that are connected to input buttons and switches that can be accessed by the user. The housing and the circuit boards are designed together so that the circuit boards fit properly into the housing. The problem with these remote control devices is that the housing can only be used with its corresponding circuit boards and control circuitry. 
         [0006]    Although the foregoing devices represent great strides in the area of electrical controllers, many shortcomings remain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a handheld housing for a wall-mount controller assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present application. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, oblique top view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, oblique bottom view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a handheld housing for a wall-mount controller assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the present application. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 4  taken at V-V. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an end cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 4  taken at VI-VI. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a remote-control assembly  11 , comprising a wall-mount remote-control module  13  and a handheld housing  15 .  FIG. 1  shows the components assembled together, and  FIGS. 2 and 3  are exploded views of assembly  11 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , module  13  is a self-powered remote-control module configured for attachment to a standardized electrical junction box (not shown), such that a faceplate  17  is positioned to allow a user to interact with module  13 . Controls, such as fan switch  19  and light switch  21 , are located on faceplate  17 . One or more signaling devices, such as light  23 , may also be located on faceplate  17  for providing selected indications during operation. A mounting plate  25  has opposing mounting flanges  27  for attaching module  13  to the standardized electrical junction box, which is accomplished by inserting, for example, a threaded fastener through holes  29  and into a corresponding receptacle on the junction box. A switch housing  31  is located on the opposite side of mounting plate  25  from faceplate  17  for enclosing the electrical components and circuitry of module  13 . Module  13  is shown with fan switch  19  and light switch  21 , which may be used to wirelessly control the operation of associated electrical devices, such as a ceiling fan and an attached light. Switches  19 ,  21  may include provisions for on/off control and dimming/variable-speed control. Additional switches and/or functionality may be provided within wall-mount module  13 . Wireless control may be accomplished through the use of radio-frequency, infra-red, or other types of wireless communication. 
         [0015]    In the embodiment shown, handheld housing  15  comprises an upper portion  33  and a lower portion  35 . Portions  33 ,  35  are sized to allow module  13  to be installed within a volume formed when portions  33 ,  35  are assembled together. Upper portion  33  has a faceplate  37 , and lower portion  35  has a base plate  39 . Four posts  41  protrude from an inner surface of faceplate  37 , and portions  33 ,  35  may be assembled together by aligning portions  33 ,  35  and inserting each post  41  into one of four corresponding cylindrical receptacles  43 , which protrude from an inner surface of base plate  39 . When portions  33 ,  35  are assembled, faceplate  37  and base plate  39  are spaced from each other, such that a sufficient space is created for module  13  within housing  15 . Module  13  is attached to upper portion  33  at mounting posts  45 , which also protrude from an inner surface of faceplate  37  and correspond to the positions of holes  29  in mounting flanges  27 . Module  13  may be secured to posts  45  using, for example, a threaded fastener, or module may be secured using other types of connections, such as by press fitting holes  29  onto posts  45 . Alternatively, posts  45  may protrude from an inner surface of base plate  39  on lower portion  35 . Another type of mounting involves inserting posts  45  into holes  29  for longitudinally and laterally locating module  13  within housing  15 , while base plate  39  is used to maintain the positioning of module  13  on posts  45 . When portions  33 ,  35  are assembled to form housing  15 , housing  15  preferably has a comfortable, ergonomic shape and may have, for example, a narrowed section  47  to provide for user comfort when gripping housing  15 . 
         [0016]    When installed in housing  15 , module  13  is positioned so that controls  19 ,  21  are visible and accessible through an aperture  49  formed in faceplate  37 , and this positioning is readily seen in  FIG. 1 . Likewise, an aperture  51  is formed in faceplate  37  for allowing light emitted by light  23  to be visible to the user. During operation, a user grips housing  15  about narrowed section  47 , which preferably positions the thumb of the user near controls  19 ,  21 . User may then operate the associated devices by actuating controls  19 ,  21 . In an alternative embodiment, aperture  49  may be replaced or modified by a flexible or movable cover portion that allows access to switches  19 ,  21 . 
         [0017]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate another embodiment of a remote-control assembly  53 , comprising a wall-mount remote-control module  55  and a handheld housing  57 .  FIG. 4  shows assembly  53  in a top view, and  FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sectional views of assembly  53 . 
         [0018]    Remote-control module  55  is similar in construction and function to module  13 , described above, and is a self-powered remote-control module configured for attachment to a standard wall box. Controls, such as fan switches  59  and light switches  61 , are located on faceplate  63 , and a mounting plate  65  has opposing mounting flanges  67  for attaching module  13  to a wall box. A switch housing  69  is located on the opposite side of mounting plate  65  from faceplate  63 . 
         [0019]    Handheld housing  57  comprises an upper portion  71  and a lower portion  73 , and portions  71 ,  73  are sized to allow module  55  to be installed within a volume formed when portions  71 ,  73  are assembled together. Module  55  is located within housing  57  using mounting posts  75 , which protrude from an inner surface of upper portion  71  and correspond to the positions of holes in mounting flanges  67 . When portions  71 ,  73  are assembled to form housing  57 , housing  57  preferably has a comfortable, ergonomic shape to provide for user comfort when gripping housing  57 . In the embodiment shown, portions  71 ,  73  are assembled together using a snap-fit configuration, and this is visible in the areas indicated by reference number  77 . 
         [0020]    When installed in housing  57 , module  55  is positioned so that switches  59 ,  61  are visible and accessible through an aperture  79  formed in upper portion  71 , and this positioning is readily seen in  FIG. 4 . During operation, a user preferably grips housing  57  and uses a thumb to actuate switches  59 ,  61  for operating the associated devices. 
         [0021]    It should be noted that the module and housing of each embodiment may be sold or otherwise provided to the user separately or as a kit. One embodiment of a kit may include one remote-control module and one handheld housing, and another embodiment of a kit may include two remote-control modules and one handheld housing, allowing the user to install one module in a wall box and another module in the handheld housing. It should also be noted that each handheld housing may incorporate a weather-resistant seal or seals for allowing reliable use of the remote-control assembly in an outdoor setting. Also, though each illustrated embodiment of the handheld housing is shown as being formed from two portions, the housing may be formed as one piece that is configured for receiving the remote-control module. The invention of the present application has many benefits and advantages, including, providing the ability to use a wide variety of standardized wall-mount remote-control controllers in a handheld housing. 
         [0022]    While illustrative embodiments have been described above, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description.

Technology Category: 5