Switch with shaped face
US7250580B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 31, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02G3/14
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
There is disclosed structure which overcomes the deficiencies with respect to prior art devices by providing a wiring device such as a switch having a paddle that pivots about its upper end and is biased to assume the same at rest position when either in its on position or off position. Repeated pressing and releasing the lower portion of the face of the switch paddle alternately closes and opens a set of contacts within the switch to alternately connect and disconnect a load form a source of electricity each time the paddle is pressed. Thus, regardless of whether adjacent switches are on-off switches or 3-way switches, they will always be in alignment. An on-off indicator such as a small light is provided to indicate to a user when the contacts of the switch are opened or closed. The paddle of the switch has a length-width ratio dimension that is proportioned to provide a finger contact surface of increased area to allow a user to more easily and quickly identify and operate a particular switch. The vertical axis of the switch has a surface of positive first differential, comprised of splines drawn between points of varying distance from a datum plane, and has along the horizontal…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.