US5290983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wall switch
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1993-05-10
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Granted: 1994-03-01
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Expires: 2013-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A wall switch (12) includes a face plate body (14) containing an aperture (20) and wall projections (22, 23, 24) carrying an actuator rocker (30) with a board (40) carrying switch contacts (58) momentarily closed by the rocker to effect a closure of circuits carried on the board and interconnected to a cable (88) through terminals in a connector (44) carried on the board and a connector (80) carried by the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Lincoln E. Roberts
- 👤 Dale E. Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H1/00; H01H1/58; H01H1/5805; H01H23/025; H01H23/08; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/03; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0271; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A wall switch including a face plate having a planar body with a decorative face facing outwardly of a wall and of an area adapted to cover over a hole in the wall in which the wall switch is mounted, said face plate including an aperture having peripheral edges, the body including walls integrally joined to said peripheral edges of said aperture and extending to free ends thereof, said walls extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said face plate, an actuator rocker fitted in said aperture, a board having a switch with normally open contacts thereon, said board being mounted on said free ends of said walls and engaging said actuator to hold said actuator in position within said aperture, said contacts being operable by depression of said actuator to effect a momentary switch action, circuit means carried on said board to generate switching signals from said switch responsive to switch closure and means on said face plate to anchor said face plate to a wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A wall switch including a face plate having a planar body with a decorative face facing outwardly of a wall and of an area adapted to cover over a hole in the wall in which the wall switch is mounted, said face plate including an aperture having peripheral edges, the body including walls integrally joined to said peripheral edges of said aperture and extending to free ends thereof, said walls extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said face plate, an actuator rocker fitted in said aperture, a board having a switch with normally open contacts thereon, said board being mounted on said free ends of said walls and engaging said actuator to hold said actuator in position within said aperture, said contacts being operable by depression of said actuator to effect a momentary switch action, circuit means carried on said board to generate switching signals from said switch responsive to switch closure and means on said face plate to anchor said face plate to a wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The wall switch according to claim 1 wherein the said contacts include spring elements positioned to be deformed by operation of said rocker from a first position to a second position to effect a circuit closure and operable to drive said rocker from the second to the first position to effect an opening of said circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wall switch according to claim 1 wherein projections extend directly from said free ends of said walls, with said board being mounted on said projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wall switch according to claim 1 wherein said board includes mounted thereon a connector including terminals adapted to interconnect to a connector carrying wires within said wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wall switch according to claim 1 wherein said board includes a series of components thereon including an indicator lamp and said planar body includes an aperture aligned with said lamp to provide an indication of switch condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The wall switch of claim 1 wherein the said board has a series of terminals mounted thereon adapted to be interconnected to effect a mode of operation of switch action caused by contact closure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wall switch of claim 1 wherein said walls include a pair of opposing walls located on opposite sides of said aperture and having opposing recesses in said free ends defining bearing surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wall switch according to claim 7 wherein said rocker includes complementary bearing surfaces engaging the bearing surfaces on said pair of opposing walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A wall switch including a printed circuit board with at least one keyboard switch mounted on the printed circuit board, the wall switch including a one-piece molded face plate having an aperture having peripheral edges the face plate including walls integrally joined to said peripheral edges of the aperture to form four sides of a box, said walls extending to free ends thereof, said walls being substantially perpendicular to said face plate, a switch actuator being located within said box and enclosing a front of the box, the printed circuit board being secured to said free ends of said walls to enclose a rear of said box and hold said actuator within said aperture wherein the keyboard switch is located within said box.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A wall switch including a printed circuit board with at least one keyboard switch mounted on the printed circuit board, the wall switch including a one-piece molded face plate having an aperture having peripheral edges the face plate including walls integrally joined to said peripheral edges of the aperture to form four sides of a box, said walls extending to free ends thereof, said walls being substantially perpendicular to said face plate, a switch actuator being located within said box and enclosing a front of the box, the printed circuit board being secured to said free ends of said walls to enclose a rear of said box and hold said actuator within said aperture wherein the keyboard switch is located within said box.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wall switch of claim 9 wherein said faceplate and walls are molded in one piece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The wall switch according to claim 9 wherein the actuator is a rocker.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-28 | 1997-08-30 | 1998-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-28 | 2001-08-30 | 2002-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-28 | 2005-08-30 | 2006-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |