Illuminated toggle switch
US4291211A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 3, 1979 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 3, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H21/025
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The toggle is of transparent plastic so that a lamp inside the switch case can illuminate the inner end of the toggle and thereby light up that portion of the toggle projecting outwardly of the case. Two colors are possible, to reflect the on/off condition of the switch. A transparent red colored plastic actuator is provided at the inner end of the toggle to contrast with the clear plastic toggle itself, and light from the lamp, in one position of the toggle must first pass through this red actuator prior to reaching the toggle, thereby making the toggle appear red. In the other toggle position, the light from the lamp strikes the inner end of the clear plastic toggle directly without first passing through the actuator, thereby giving the toggle a clear light. In an alternative embodiment, the clear plastic toggle has its inner end portion fitted with a green plastic sleeve, which is also transparent, to provide green and red contrasting colors for the two conditions of the switch corresponding to two alternative toggle positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.