Apparatuses and methods for restraining a lighting fixture selector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11320127-B2
Application number	US-202016797651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2020
Priority date	Feb 21, 2020
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods that permit initial selection of a lighting fixture output characteristic and inhibit later change of the lighting fixture output characteristic are disclosed. Embodiments include one or more devices that inhibit a lighting fixture control switch from being moved between two different positions. In some embodiments the control switch extends through an aperture in the a housing of the lighting fixture and the one or more devices are inserted into the aperture and embrace the control switch in one of the control switch's operational positions. In some embodiments the configuration of the apertures and the devices permits the devices to be inserted into the apertures in a single orientation. Some embodiments include devices with an outer surface that defines the switch embracing portion, and some embodiments include devices that are difficult to remove by hand after insertion into the aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus limiting an ability of a user to change a position of a multi-position switch that affects at least one characteristic of a light emitting member, the apparatus comprising:
a body defining an outer surface and a switch receiving portion,
the outer surface configured to be held in position by interaction with an aperture surrounding the multi-position electrical switch of a lighting fixture, the switch affecting at least one characteristic of the light emitting member when moved from a first position to a second position, and
the switch receiving portion configured to receive the multi-position switch when the multi-position switch is in the first position and inhibit the multi-position switch from moving to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface defines the switch receiving portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the body is configured to be received within the aperture without damage in a single rotational orientation with respect to the aperture.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body is a first body, the apparatus comprising:
a second body defining a second outer surface and a second light switch receiving portion,
the second outer surface configured to be snugly received within the aperture surrounding the multi-position switch, and
the second switch receiving portion configured to receive the multi-position switch when the multi-position switch is in the second position and inhibit the multi-position switch from moving to the first position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein removing the body from the aperture results in damage to the body that is apparent to the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein removing the body from the aperture results in damage to the body that is apparent to the user when the body is reinserted into the aperture.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body is a body of unitary construction.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the body is constructed of an elastomeric material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch receiving portion is configured to receive a toggle switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user is unable to remove the body from the aperture without use of a tool.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the body is larger than the aperture resulting in the body being snugly received within the aperture.

12. A kit for a light fixture, comprising:
a light fixture housing defining an aperture;
a light emitting member mounted to the light fixture housing;
a switch connected to the light emitting member and configured to extend through the aperture, the switch affecting at least one aspect of the light being emitted from the light emitting member when moved between a first position and a second position;
a first body defining a first outer surface and a first body switch receiving portion, the first outer surface configured to be received by the aperture, and the first body switch receiving portion being configured to receive the switch when the switch is in a first position and inhibit the switch from moving to a second position; and
a second body defining a second outer surface and a second switch receiving portion, the second outer surface configured to be received by the aperture, and the second body switch receiving portion being configured to receive the switch when the switch is in the second position and inhibit the switch from moving to the first position.

13. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface are configured to be received within the aperture without damage, each being received in a single rotational orientation with respect to the aperture.

14. The kit of claim 12 , wherein removing the first body from the aperture results in damage to the first body that is apparent to a user when the first body is reinserted into the aperture, and wherein removing the second body from the aperture results in damage to the second body that is apparent to a user when the second body is reinserted into the aperture.

15. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the first body is an elastomeric body of unitary construction and the second body is an elastomeric body of unitary construction.

16. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the first outer surface defines the first body switch receiving portion and the second outer surface defines the second body switch receiving portion.

17. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the switch receiving portion is configured to receive a toggle switch.

18. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the first body is held in position within the aperture by the contact force between the outer surface of the first body and the aperture, and wherein the second body is held in position within the aperture by the contact force between the outer surface of the second body and the aperture.

19. A kit that limits movement of a light switch that controls at least one aspect of a light emitting from a light fixture, the light switch extending through an aperture in a housing of the light fixture, the kit comprising:
a first light switch movement inhibiting member including means for orienting the first light switch movement inhibiting member in a single orientation within a light housing aperture and inhibiting the light switch from moving from a first light switch position to a second light switch position when the first light switch movement inhibiting member is received within the aperture in the light housing; and
a second light switch movement inhibiting member including means for orienting the second light switch movement inhibiting member in a single orientation within the light housing aperture and inhibiting the light switch from moving from the second light switch position to the first light switch position when the second light switch movement inhibiting member is received within the light housing aperture.

20. The kit of claim 19 , wherein the means for orienting the first light switch movement inhibiting member includes a light switch embracing portion that embraces the light switch in the first light switch position and a key that orients the first light switch movement inhibiting member in a single orientation within the housing of the light fixture, and wherein the means for orienting the second light switch movement inhibiting member includes a light switch embracing portion that embraces the light switch in the second light switch position and a key that orients the second light switch movement inhibiting member in a single orientation within the housing of the light fixture.

Assignees

• Rab Lighting Inc

Inventors

• Thomas Cecil
• Gao Wengang

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title

• H01H9/02

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H2239/032

  Anti-tamper · CPC title