Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of preventing unintentional actuation of a wall switch of the type having an actuating lever protruding through an aperture in a switch plate, said switch plate being attached to the wall switch on opposite sides of the actuating lever by a pair of screws spaced apart a predetermined distance, the method comprising: providing a thin flexible body member having a flat configuration throughout its length and a pair of spaced apart apertures for receiving said screws, said spaced apart apertures being spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the predetermined distance between the screws of the wall switch such that when the threaded fasteners are received by the spaced apart apertures attaching the body member to the switch plate, the body member flexes from said flat configuration into an arcuate configuration covering the actuating lever sufficiently to prevent accidental actuation of the lever but to allow intentional actuation of the lever, and removing said screws from the wall switch, placing said flat body portion over the switch plate with one of the apertures through the body member aligned with one of the screws through the wall plate, inserting one of the screws through the aligned opening in the body member and the wall plate and tightening said screw, flexing the central portion of the body member outwardly from said flat configuration into such an arcuate configuration and positioning said body member such that the other aperture of the body member is aligned with the other screw opening through the wall plate, and inserting the other screw through the other aligned opening and tightening said other screw to maintain the body member and the switch plate in position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of preventing unintentional actuation of a wall switch of the type having an actuating lever protruding through an aperture in a switch plate, said switch plate being attached to the wall switch on opposite sides of the actuating lever by a pair of screws spaced apart a predetermined distance, the method comprising: providing a thin flexible body member having a flat configuration throughout its length and a pair of spaced apart apertures for receiving said screws, said spaced apart apertures being spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the predetermined distance between the screws of the wall switch such that when the threaded fasteners are received by the spaced apart apertures attaching the body member to the switch plate, the body member flexes from said flat configuration into an arcuate configuration covering the actuating lever sufficiently to prevent accidental actuation of the lever but to allow intentional actuation of the lever, and removing said screws from the wall switch, placing said flat body portion over the switch plate with one of the apertures through the body member aligned with one of the screws through the wall plate, inserting one of the screws through the aligned opening in the body member and the wall plate and tightening said screw, flexing the central portion of the body member outwardly from said flat configuration into such an arcuate configuration and positioning said body member such that the other aperture of the body member is aligned with the other screw opening through the wall plate, and inserting the other screw through the other aligned opening and tightening said other screw to maintain the body member and the switch plate in position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 in which said body member has a pair of creases in the upper wall thereof to form tabs on opposite ends of the flexible body portion, said creases facilitating the flexing of the body portion outwardly and maintaining the tabs flat against the switch plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which the body portion is of a synthetic polymeric material having sufficient flexibility to be flexed into such an arcuate configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 in which the switch plate has apertures with screw threaded fasteners with centers 23/8 inches apart and the spaced apart apertures are spaced approximately 3 inches from center to center thereby providing for such an arcuate configuration when the body member is fastened in position by the screw threaded fasteners.