Toggle switch and variable actuator control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11394181-B2
Application number	US-201916687884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2019
Priority date	Nov 19, 2018
Publication date	Jul 19, 2022
Grant date	Jul 19, 2022

Abstract

A color change kit for an electrical wiring device, the color change kit including: a frame having: a top surface, a second surface, a width, a length and a height; a bezel extending above the top surface of the frame and having a width, a length and a height, an interior surface and a top perimeter surface, and an opening formed therethrough; and an elongated recessed separator having a top surface and a bottom surface and being positioned within the opening and below the top perimeter surface, extending along an axis parallel to the length of the bezel, wherein the elongated recessed separator is configured to split a portion the opening into a first aperture and a second aperture; a toggle switch cover positioned through and actuatable within the first aperture, and a dimmer slider positioned and actuatable within the second aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A color change kit for an electrical wiring device, the color change kit comprising:
a frame having:
a top surface, a second surface, a width, a length and a height;
a bezel extending above the top surface of the frame and having a width, a length and a height, an interior surface and a top perimeter surface, and an opening formed therethrough; and
an elongated recessed separator having a top surface, a bottom surface, a wall surface, and being positioned within the opening and below the top perimeter surface, extending along an axis parallel to the length of the bezel, wherein the elongated recessed separator is configured to split a portion of the opening into a first aperture and a second aperture.

2. The color change kit of claim 1 , further comprising a toggle switch cover positioned through and actuatable within the first aperture.

3. The color change kit of claim 2 , further comprising a dimmer slider having a body with a vertical length and being positioned and actuatable within the second aperture.

4. The color change kit of claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes at least one connector configuring the frame to connect to and be removable from an electrical wiring device.

5. The color change kit of claim 4 , wherein the at least one connector is a flexible snap connector.

6. The color change kit of claim 5 , wherein a portion of the at least one flexible snap connector is configured to move from a first secured position to a second removable position with respect to the electrical wiring device.

7. The color change kit of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the snap connector is configured to be secured to and be removable from a heat sink of the electrical wiring device.

8. The color change kit of claim 3 , wherein the dimmer slider further includes a recessed separator contacting surface structured to slide along at least a portion of the top surface of the recessed separator.

9. The color change kit of claim 8 , wherein the dimmer slider further includes at least one leg shelf surface structured to slide along at least a portion of the bottom surface or the wall surface of the recessed separator or a bottom surface of the frame or a combination of such.

10. The color change kit of claim 9 , wherein a length of the at least one leg shelf surface is at least half the vertical length of the dimmer slider body.

11. The color change kit of claim 9 , wherein a length of the at least one leg shelf surface is less than half the vertical length of the dimmer slider body.

12. The color change kit of claim 9 , wherein the dimmer slider further includes a bezel contacting surface structured to slide along at least a portion of the top perimeter surface of the bezel.

13. An electrical wiring device, comprising:
a housing having an outside surface, an internal surface, and an interior space;
a color change kit removably connected to the housing, comprising a frame connected to the housing, the frame having:
a top surface, a second surface, a width, a length and a height;
a bezel extending above the top surface of the frame and having a width, a length and a height, an interior surface and a top perimeter surface, and an opening formed therethrough; and
an elongated recessed separator having a top surface and a bottom surface and being positioned within the opening and below the top perimeter surface, extending along an axis parallel to the length of the bezel, wherein the elongated recessed separator is configured to split a portion of the opening into a first aperture and a second aperture.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising a toggle switch cover positioned through and actuatable within the first aperture.

15. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a dimmer slider having a body with a vertical length and being positioned and actuatable within the second aperture.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the frame further includes at least one connector configuring the frame to connect to and be removable from an electrical wiring device.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one connector is a flexible snap connector and wherein a portion of the at least on flexible snap connector is configured to move from a first secured position to a second removable position with respect to the electrical wiring device.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the flexible snap connector is configured to be secured to and be removable from a heat sink of the electrical wiring device.

19. The device of claim 15 , wherein the dimmer slider further includes a recessed separator contacting surface structured to slide along at least a portion of the top surface of the recessed separator.

20. The device of claim 8 , wherein the dimmer slider further includes at least one leg shelf surface structured to slide along at least a portion of the bottom surface of the recessed separator or a bottom surface of the frame.

Assignees

• Pass & Seymour Inc

Inventors

• Murphy Patrick J
• Brindisi Alec J

Classifications

• H01H11/0018

  for allowing different operating parts · CPC title

• H01H23/14

  Tumblers · CPC title

• H01H11/0006

  for converting electric switches (H01H13/564 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• H01H23/025 Primary

  Light-emitting indicators · CPC title