Overhead electrical switching device

Claim 2

An overhead electrical switching device usable on a suspended ceiling having ceiling panels carried by frame members, the device positionable above an aperture in the ceiling, comprising: a mounting strap including a rigid, generally flat web positionable above the ceiling panels, said web having a pair of box channels, a box channel extending from said web at opposite sides of said web, each said box channel being attachable to a frame member of the ceiling to thereby rigidly fix said strap to the frame members of the ceiling; an electrical junction box fixed to said web of said mounting strap with its open side facing downwardly and confronting the aperture in the ceiling; a switch mounting plate having a plurality of guide sockets therein, said mounting plate attached to and within said junction box; electrical switch means including a button, said switch means operable between on and off conditions by displacing said button a predetermined distance, said switch means being rigidly mounted to said switch mounting plate; an actuating plate having an inner face positioned to confront said button of said electrical switch means and an outer substantially flat face; a plurality of guide rods, each rod having an end fixed to said actuating plate and a free end, said free ends extending within said plurality of guide sockets of said mounting plate for sliding movement therethrough as said actuating plate moves relative to said mounting plate from a rest position wherein said button is not displaced said predetermined distance by said actuating plate, to a depressed position wherein said button is displaced said predetermined distance by said actuating plate to operate said switch means between on and off conditions; a plurality of stops Positioned at the free ends of a plurality of said guide rods to contain said free ends of said guide rods within said guide sockets in said mounting plate; and spring means connected between said actuating plate and said mounting plate urging said actuating plate to said rest position and yieldably retaining said actuating plate in said rest position permitting said actuating plate to be depressed by an operator.

Claim 3

The overhead electrical switching device of claim 1 and further including a substantially flat cover plate having an access opening therein and mounted to said junction box below, parallel to, and against the plane of the adjacent ceiling surface, covering the aperture in the ceiling, said spring means cooperating with said plurality of guide rods and said guide sockets to yieldably urge said actuating plate toward said cover plate to align said actuating plate parallel to the plane of the ceiling and flush therewith for flush engagement against said cover plate thereby avoiding manual alignment of the switching device with the ceiling.

Claim 4

The overhead electrical switching device of claim 1 wherein said electrical switch means includes a circuit breaker to interrupt current flow when a predetermined current level is reached.

Claim 5

The overhead electrical switching device of claim 1 wherein said flat web of said strap is generally parallel to the ceiling and each said box channel includes a leg extending downwardly from said web at right angles to said web, said leg of said box channels further including a base extending from each said leg at a right angle and being generally parallel to the ceiling and a tab extending upwardly from said base and parallel to said leg.

Claim 6

An overhead electrical switching device positioned on a suspended ceiling having ceiling panels, above an aperture in the ceiling comprising: a pair of parallel frame members usable for supporting the ceiling panels, each frame member having a longitudinal channel therealong; a mounting strap including a rigid, generally flat web positionable above the ceiling, said web having a pair of box channels, a box channel extending from said web at opposite sides of said web, each box channel being inserted within and mounted to a said longitudinal channel of a said frame member to thereby retain said mounting strap to the frame members; an electrical junction box fixed to said web of said mounting strap with its open side facing downwardly and confronting the aperture in the ceiling; a switch mounting plate having a plurality of guide sockets therein, said mounting plate attached to and within said junction box; electrical switch means including a button, said switch means operable between on and off conditions by displacing said button a predetermined distance, said switch means being mounted to said switch mounting plate; an actuating plate having an inner face positioned to confront said button of said electrical switch means and an outer substantially flat face; a plurality of guide rods, each rod having an end fixed to said actuating plate and a free end, said free ends extending within said plurality of guide sockets of said mounting plate for sliding movement therethrough as said actuating plate moves relative to said mounting plate from a rest position wherein said button is not displaced said predetermined distance by said actuating plate, to a depressed position wherein said button is displaced said predetermined distance by said actuating plate to operate said switch means between on and off conditions; a plurality of stops positioned at the free ends of a plurality of said guide rods to contain said free ends of said guide rods within said guide sockets in said mounting plate; and spring means connected between said actuating plate and said mounting plate urging said actuating plate to said rest position and yieldably retaining said actuating plate in said rest position, permitting said actuating plate to be depressed by an operator.

Claim 7

An overhead electrical switching device positioned on a suspended ceiling having ceiling panels, above an aperture in the ceiling comprising: a pair of parallel frame members usable for supporting the ceiling panels, each frame member having a longitudinal channel therealong; a mounting strap including a rigid, generally flat web positionable above the ceiling, said web having a pair of box channels, a box channel extending from said web at opposite sides of said web, each box channel being inserted within and mounted to a said longitudinal channel of a said frame member to thereby retain said mounting strap to the frame members; an electrical junction box fixed to said web of said mounting strap with its open side facing downwardly and confronting the aperture in the ceiling; a switch mounting plate having a plurality of guide sockets therein, said mounting plate attached to and within said junction box; electrical switch means including a button, said switch means operable between on and off conditions by displacing said button a predetermined distance, said switch means being mounted to said switch mounting plate; an actuating plate having an inner face positioned to confront said button of said electrical switch means and an outer substantially flat face; a plurality of guide rods, each rod having an end fixed to said actuating plate and a free end, said free ends extending within said plurality of guide sockets of said mounting plate for sliding movement therethrough as said actuating plate moves relative to said mounting plate from a rest position wherein said button is not displaced said predetermined distance by said actuating plate, to a depressed position wherein said button is displaced said predetermined distance by said actuating plate to operate said switch means between on and off conditions; a plurality of stops positioned at the free ends of a plurality of said guide rods to contain said free ends of said guide rods within said guide sockets in said mounting plate; and spring means connected between said actuating plate and said mounting plate urging said actuating plate to said rest position and yieldably retaining said actuating plate in said rest position, permitting said actuating plate to be depressed by an operator.