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US4745243A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Decorative light switch cover

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-12-15
•
Granted: 1988-05-17
•
Expires: 2006-12-15
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Abstract

Abstract A decorative light switch cover for a child's room which may be easily mounted over an existing wall switch, and which serves to turn the wall switch on and off when respective actuator cords are pulled by the child. The cover also includes a decorative design with one or more moving elements that are shifted from one position to another as the wall switch is actuated. The light switch cover may be easily mounted in place over the light switch merely by removing the standard light cover by unscrewing the mounting screws, and by replacing the standard cover with the decorative cover of the invention.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul S. Wang

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 22:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H17/00; H01H17/02; H01H17/06; H01H17/08; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/12; H01H23/14; H01H23/141

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 303 words
A decorative switch actuator assembly for a wall switch to replace the standard cover plate of the switch, the wall switch including an actuating arm, and the actuator assembly comprising: a decorative cover plate adapted to be mounted over the wall switch, said decorative cover plate having an opening therein for receiving the actuating arm of the wall switch; a lever arm pivotally mounted on the rear side of said decorative cover plate having an opening therein for receiving the actuating arm of the wall switch and for moving said actuating arm from one operating position to another to turn the wall switch on and off when said lever arm is angularly turned about its pivot point between first and second angular positions; a first cord secured at one end of said lever arm to move said lever arm to said first angular position as said first cord is pulled; a pair of pulleys mounted on the rear side of said decorative cover plate and said first cord extending around said pulleys; a second cord secured at said one end of said lever arm to move said lever arm to said second angular position when said second cord is pulled; said first and second cords extending through the lower edge of said decorative cover plate; a moveable design element positioned on the front side of said decorative cover plate and coupled to said lever arm to cause said design element to move from one position to another as said lever arm is operated by said cords; and a pin-like member attached to said movable design element and extending at right angles to the plane of movement of said design element through a slot in said decorative cover plate and attached to said lever arm for coupling said design element to said lever arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 303 words
A decorative switch actuator assembly for a wall switch to replace the standard cover plate of the switch, the wall switch including an actuating arm, and the actuator assembly comprising: a decorative cover plate adapted to be mounted over the wall switch, said decorative cover plate having an opening therein for receiving the actuating arm of the wall switch; a lever arm pivotally mounted on the rear side of said decorative cover plate having an opening therein for receiving the actuating arm of the wall switch and for moving said actuating arm from one operating position to another to turn the wall switch on and off when said lever arm is angularly turned about its pivot point between first and second angular positions; a first cord secured at one end of said lever arm to move said lever arm to said first angular position as said first cord is pulled; a pair of pulleys mounted on the rear side of said decorative cover plate and said first cord extending around said pulleys; a second cord secured at said one end of said lever arm to move said lever arm to said second angular position when said second cord is pulled; said first and second cords extending through the lower edge of said decorative cover plate; a moveable design element positioned on the front side of said decorative cover plate and coupled to said lever arm to cause said design element to move from one position to another as said lever arm is operated by said cords; and a pin-like member attached to said movable design element and extending at right angles to the plane of movement of said design element through a slot in said decorative cover plate and attached to said lever arm for coupling said design element to said lever arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The decorative actuator assembly defined in claim 1, in which said decorative cover plate has bushings therein for receiving mounting screws to enable the cover plate to be mounted over the wall switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The decorative actuator assembly defined in claim 1, in which said movable design simulates a cloud.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB101912A Cited
US2461614A Cited
US2466820A Cited
US2574933A Cited
US2712582A Cited
US2919334A Cited
US4221946A Cited
US4282591A Cited
US4562325A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-05-17 1991-11-16 1992-05-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-05-17 1995-11-16 1996-05-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-05-17 1999-11-16 2000-05-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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