US3742172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wall-switch-mounted extension operator for toggle switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-23
•
Granted: 1973-06-26
•
Expires: 1991-12-23
Abstract
Abstract This amusement device enables a small child to actuate the operating lever of a toggle switch by swinging an imitation double-pole single-throw knife switch having knurled or toothed quadrant gears on the inner ends of its blades meshing with correspondingly-knurled or toothed gears rotatably mounted in a flanged casing bolted to the toggle switch. Pivoted to the peripheries of the casing-mounted gears are the lower ends of links, the upper ends of which are pivoted to a slide containing a vertical coupling slot, through which the wall switch operating lever projects. In a modification, the knife switch blades carry quadrant gears which are of approximately half the radii of the casing-mounted gears such that an approximately 180 degree swing of the knife switch blades produces an approximately 90 degree travel of the wall switch lever.
Inventors
- 👤 P Velez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/12; H01H23/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator for shifting the toggle switch lever of a wall switch having a removable screwattached facia plate, said extension operator comprising a casing having a base, means for securing said casing to the switch, a slide reciprocably mounted in said casing for motion along a vertical path of travel adjacent said base and having a coupling portion adapted to engage the switch lever, an elongated knife switch blade means pivotally mounted on said base and swingable relatively thereto in an arcuate path between an upper ''''on'''' position and a lower ''''off'''' position corresponding to energization and deenergization respectively of the switch, detent means for yieldingly holding said switch blade means in its upper ''''on'''' position, link means connected to said slide and extending downward therefrom, and gearing operatively connecting said switch blade means to said link means and responsive to upward swinging of said switch blade means to move said link means and slide upward and consequently shift the switch lever from its lower ''''off'''' position to its upper ''''on'''' position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator for shifting the toggle switch lever of a wall switch having a removable screwattached facia plate, said extension operator comprising a casing having a base, means for securing said casing to the switch, a slide reciprocably mounted in said casing for motion along a vertical path of travel adjacent said base and having a coupling portion adapted to engage the switch lever, an elongated knife switch blade means pivotally mounted on said base and swingable relatively thereto in an arcuate path between an upper ''''on'''' position and a lower ''''off'''' position corresponding to energization and deenergization respectively of the switch, detent means for yieldingly holding said switch blade means in its upper ''''on'''' position, link means connected to said slide and extending downward therefrom, and gearing operatively connecting said switch blade means to said link means and responsive to upward swinging of said switch blade means to move said link means and slide upward and consequently shift the switch lever from its lower ''''off'''' position to its upper ''''on'''' position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator, according to claim 1, wherein said switch blade means includes a pair of switch blade members disposed in spaced parallel relationship and a cross member interconnecting said blade-simulating members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator, according to claim 1, wherein said gearing includes a peripherally-roughened circularly-arcuate driving portion associated with said switch blade means in spaced relationship to the pivotal mounting thereof on said base, and crank means pivotally mounted on said base in operative connection with said link means and having a roughened circularly-arcuate peripheral driven portion disposed in driven engagement with said arcuate driving portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator, according to claim 1, wherein said slide is horizontally elongated with said coupling portion disposed intermediate the ends thereof and wherein said link means includes a pair of links disposed in spaced parallel relationship and connected at their upper ends to said slide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator, according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a vertically-elongated slot in said slide providing a lost-motion connection between said slide and the toggle switch actuator such that an approximately 180 degree motion of said knife switch lever simulator produces an approximately 90 degree motion of the toggle switch actuator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A knife-switch-simulating extension operator, according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a peripherally-roughened circularly-arcuate driving portion associated with said switch lever simulator disposed at a predetermined radius from the pivotal mounting thereof on said base and crank means pivotally mounted on said base in operative connection with said link means and having a roughened circularly-arcuate peripheral driven portion disposed at a radius from the pivotal mounting thereof a plurality of times of said predetermined radius and disposed in driven engagement with said driving portion such that an approximately 180 degree motion of said knife switch lever simulator produces an approximately 90 degree motion of the toggle switch actuator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |