Wall box dimming system and face plate and switch assembly therefor

Claim 2

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on and said recess providing a light indication having a shape which is essentially determined by the shape of said recess.

Claim 3

The face plate of claim 1, wherein said recess extends from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material is comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface.

Claim 4

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and said thin section of material being constituted of the generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 5

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and said thin section of material being constituted of the generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 6

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and said thin section of material being constituted of a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 7

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and said thin section of material being constituted of a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 8

The face plate of claim 4, wherein said optically less dense material is of a type which diffuses light.

Claim 9

The face plate of claim 4, wherein said thin section of material is formed by a partial backfilling, with said optically less dense material, of a through-going recess formed in said face plate.

Claim 10

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and said thin section of material being constituted by a first region of material formed of said generally opaque material of said face plate and a second region of material which is constituted of a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate and wherein said first and second regions of material are superposed.

Claim 11

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and said thin section of material being constituted by a first region of material formed of said generally opaque material of said face plate and a second region of material which is constituted of a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate and wherein said first and second regions of material are superposed.

Claim 12

The face plate of claim 2, wherein said recess is generally cylindrically shaped.

Claim 13

The face plate of claim 2, wherein said recess is annularly shaped.

Claim 14

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and wherein the front surface of said face plate overlying said recess is treated to diffuse the light passing through said front surface overlying said recess.

Claim 15

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and wherein the front surface of said face plate overlying said recess is treated to diffuse the light passing through said front surface overlying said recess.

Claim 16

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and wherein the front surface of said face plate overlying said recess is provided with at least one annular V-shaped groove therein.

Claim 17

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and wherein the front surface of said face plate overlying said recess is provided with at least one annular V-shaped groove therein.

Claim 18

The face plate of claim 2, further comprising a continuously variable dimmer for controlling the light intensity of said lamp means and a dimming adjusting member for controlling said dimmer.

Claim 19

The face plate of claim 12, wherein said dimming adjusting member comprises a linearly movable adjustment lever.

Claim 20

The face plate of claim 12, wherein said dimming adjusting member comprises a rotary knob.

Claim 21

The face plate of claim 12, wherein said dimming adjusting member comprises a screw adjustment.

Claim 22

The face plate of claim 12, wherein said dimming adjusting member is hidden.

Claim 23

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and further comprising mechanical dimmer means disposed between said lamp means and said thin section of material for controlling the intensity of light provided by said lamp means to said thin section of material.

Claim 24

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and said section of material being comprised of a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and further comprising mechanical dimmer means disposed between said lamp means and said thin section of material for controlling the intensity of light provided by said lamp means to said thin section of material.

Claim 25

The face plate of claim 17, wherein said mechanical dimmer means comprises a variable density filter.

Claim 26

The face plate of claim 1, wherein said recess is a through-going recess and wherein said section of material is formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 27

The face plate of claim 19, wherein said through-going recess is generally cylindrically shaped.

Claim 28

The face plate of claim 19, wherein said through-going recess is annularly shaped.

Claim 29

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and wherein the front surface of said optically less dense material is treated to diffuse the light passing through said front surface overlying said recess.

Claim 30

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and wherein the front surface of said optically less dense material is treated to diffuse the light passing through said front surface overlying said recess.

Claim 31

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and said optically less dense material being of a type which diffuses light.

Claim 32

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and said optically less dense material being of a type which diffuses light.

Claim 33

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and the front surface of said optically less dense material being provided with at least one annular V-shaped groove therein.

Claim 34

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and the front surface of said optically less dense material being provided with at least one annular V-shaped groove therein.

Claim 35

The face plate of claim 19, further comprising a continuously variable dimmer for controlling the light intensity of said lamp means and a dimming adjusting member for controlling said dimmer.

Claim 36

The face plate of claim 25, wherein said dimming adjusting member comprises a linearly movable adjustment lever.

Claim 37

The face plate of claim 25, wherein said dimming adjusting member comprises a rotary knob.

Claim 38

The face plate of claim 25, wherein said dimming adjusting member comprises a screw adjustment.

Claim 39

The face plate of claim 25, wherein said dimming adjusting member is hidden.

Claim 40

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and further comprising mechanical dimmer means disposed between said lamp means and said through-going recess.

Claim 41

A face plate with indicator lamp, comprising: face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces; a recess formed in said face plate; a section of material disposed in said recess; lamp means located adjacent said section of material located in said recess for directing light at said section of material; said section of material having a light opacity and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on; said recess being a through-going recess and said section of material being formed by the filling of substantially the entirety of said through-going recess with a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate; and further comprising mechanical dimmer means disposed between said lamp means and said through-going recess.

Claim 42

The face plate of claim 30, wherein said mechanical dimmer means comprises a variable density filter.

Claim 43

A face plate assembly for a dimmer assembly, said face plate assembly comprising: a support plate having an opening formed therein through which a moveable control member can extend; said support plate including a coupling section having a cam surface and a locking surface which intersect at a ridge; a window pivotally coupled to said coupling section of said support plate by a pin and being pivotable about an axis of said pin between a closed position, wherein said window covers said opening in said support plate, and an open position wherein said window exposes said opening in said support plate, an inner surface of said window sliding along said cam surface as said window moves from said closed position to said open position until it reaches said ridge and then contacting said locking surface after it moves past said ridge, said window covering approximately the top half of said support plate when it is in said closed position; said coupling section, said window and said pin cooperating to cause said inner surface to be biased radially inward towards said axis of said pin in such a manner that said inner surface is first biased into contact with said cam surface and is then biased into locking engagement with said locking surface as said window is moved form said closed to said open position; a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces and covering approximately the bottom half of said support plate; a recess formed in said face plate, said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and lamp means located adjacent said rear surface in the area of said recess for directing light at said thin section of material; and the thickness and opacity of said thin section of material and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on.

Claim 44

A face plate assembly for a dimmer assembly, said face plate assembly comprising: a support plate having an opening formed therein through which a moveable control member can extend; said support plate including a coupling section having a cam surface and a locking surface which intersect at a ridge; a window pivotally coupled to said coupling section of said support plate by a pin and being pivotable about an axis of said pin between a closed position, wherein said window covers said opening in said support plate, and an open position wherein said window exposes said opening in said support plate, an inner surface of said window sliding along said cam surface as said window moves from said closed position to said open position until it reaches said ridge and then contacting said locking surface after it moves past said ridge, said window covering approximately the top half of said support plate when it is in said closed position; said coupling section, said window and said pin cooperating to cause said inner surface to be biased radially inward towards said axis of said pin in such a manner that said inner surface is first biased into contact with said cam surface and is then biased into locking engagement with said locking surface as said window is moved form said closed to said open position; a face plate formed of a generally opaque material and having front and rear surfaces and covering approximately the bottom half of said support plate; a recess formed in said face plate, said recess extending from said rear surface to a position spaced from said front surface and a relatively thin section of material remaining adjacent said front surface; and lamp means located adjacent said rear surface in the area of said recess for directing light at said thin section of material; and the thickness and opacity of said thin section of material and the intensity of light generated by said lamp means being such that light generated by said lamp means is capable of being seen from a position in front of said front surface when said lamp means is on.

Claim 45

The face plate assembly of claim 32, wherein said thin section of material is constituted of the generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 46

The face plate assembly of claim 32, wherein said thin section of material is constituted by a material which is optically less dense than said generally opaque material of said face plate.

Claim 47

The face plate assembly of claim 32, wherein the front surface of said face plate overlying said recess is treated to diffuse the light passing through said front surface overlying said recess.

Claim 48

The face plate assembly of claim 32, further comprising a dimming adjusting member for controlling dimming of light produced by said lamp means.