Base for a retrofit remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11569051-B2
Application number	US-202117376896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2021
Priority date	May 14, 2019
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A remote control device may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may include a control unit and a base that may be configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch. The base may include a frame, a biasing member, and/or a ribbon portion. The frame may be configured to secure the remote control device thereto. The frame may define a rear surface that is configured to abut a bezel of the mechanical switch. The biasing member may be configured to engage a rear surface of a faceplate of the mechanical switch. The ribbon portion may be configured to attach the biasing member to the frame. The ribbon portion may be configured to extend through a gap between the bezel and the faceplate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A base configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the base comprising:
a frame that is configured to secure a remote control device thereto, the frame defining an opening that is configured to receive a protruding portion of the paddle actuator therein, the frame defining a rear surface that is configured to abut a bezel of the mechanical switch;
a biasing member configured to engage a rear surface of a faceplate of the mechanical switch such that the biasing member is configured to apply a force on the rear surface of a faceplate; and
a ribbon portion that is configured to attach the biasing member to the frame, the ribbon portion configured to extend through a gap between the bezel and the faceplate such that the frame is located on a front side of the faceplate.

2. The base of claim 1 , wherein the ribbon portion is a thin flexible material that is configured to bend such that the base can extend through the gap between the bezel and the faceplate.

3. The base of claim 1 , wherein the ribbon portion is configured to wrap around a portion of the frame to connect the biasing member to the frame.

4. The base of claim 3 , wherein the frame defines a plurality of stakes that are configured to secure the ribbon portion to the frame.

5. The base of claim 4 , wherein the ribbon portion defines a plurality of holes configured to receive the plurality of stakes.

6. The base of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the frame against the bezel.

7. The base of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring support that is configured to extend into a wallbox to which the mechanical switch is installed.

8. The base of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring contact that is configured to engage a rear surface of the faceplate.

9. The base of claim 8 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring arm that is configured to connect the spring contact to the spring support, the spring arm configured to bias the spring contact from the spring support.

10. The base of claim 9 , wherein the spring contact is configured to apply, in a direction perpendicular to a structure in which the mechanical switch is installed, the force on the rear surface of the faceplate as the faceplate is attached to a yoke of the mechanical switch.

11. The base of claim 9 , wherein the ribbon portion is configured to wrap around a portion of the spring support to connect the ribbon portion to the spring support.

12. The base of claim 11 , wherein the spring support defines a plurality of stakes that are configured to secure the ribbon portion to the spring support.

13. The base of claim 9 , wherein the spring support defines a clip configured to receive the spring arm.

14. The base of claim 13 , wherein the spring arm defines a flat portion that is configured to be received by the clip of the spring support, the flat portion configured to abut the spring support.

15. The base of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises:
a first spring support configured to extend into a wallbox to which the mechanical switch is installed on one side of the paddle actuator;
a second spring support configured to extend into the wallbox on the other side of the paddle actuator;
a first spring contact configured to abut an upper portion of the rear surface of the faceplate;
a second spring contact configured to abut a lower portion of the rear surface of the faceplate;
a first spring arm configured to be secured to the first spring support and attach to the first and second spring contacts; and
a second spring arm configured to be secured to the second spring support and attach to the first and second spring contacts.

16. The base of claim 1 , wherein the frame defines attachment members configured to engage with complimentary features of the remote control device to secure the remote control device in an attached position relative to the mechanical switch.

17. A base configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the base comprising:
a frame that is configured to secure a remote control device thereto, the frame defining an opening that is configured to receive a protruding portion of the paddle actuator therein, the frame defining a rear surface that is configured to abut a bezel of the mechanical switch;
a coupling configured to engage a surface of a faceplate of the mechanical switch such that the coupling is configured to removably secure the base to the faceplate; and
a ribbon portion that is configured to attach the coupling to the frame, the ribbon portion configured to extend into a gap between the bezel and the faceplate such that the frame is located on a front side of the faceplate.

18. The base of claim 17 , wherein the coupling comprises a flap that is wedge-shaped with a thickness that increases toward a distal portion that is distal from the frame.

19. The base of claim 18 , wherein the flap is configured to be wedged in the gap between the bezel and the faceplate.

20. The base of claim 19 , wherein the flap is silicone and is configured to deform when wedged in the gap between the bezel and the faceplate.

21. The base of claim 17 , wherein the coupling comprises a plurality of flaps that extend from the rear surface of the frame.

22. The base of claim 17 , wherein the coupling comprises a biasing member that is configured to apply a force on the rear surface of the faceplate.

23. The base of claim 22 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring support that is configured to extend into a wallbox to which the mechanical switch is installed.

24. The base of claim 23 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring contact that is configured to engage a rear surface of the faceplate.

25. The base of claim 24 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring arm that is configured to connect the spring contact to the spring support, the spring arm configured to bias the spring contact from the spring support.

26. The base of claim 25 , wherein the spring contact is configured to apply, in a direction perpendicular to a structure in which the mechanical switch is installed, the force on the rear surface of the faceplate as the faceplate is attached to a yoke of the mechanical switch.

27. The base of claim 17 , wherein the ribbon portion is a thin flexible material that is configured to bend such that the base can extend through the gap between the bezel and the faceplate.

28. The base of claim 27 , wherein the ribbon portion is configured to wrap around a portion of the frame to connect the coupling to the frame.

29. The base of claim 28 , wherein the frame defines a plurality of stakes that are configured to secure the ribbon portion to the frame.

30. The base of claim 29 , wherein the ribbon portion defines a plurality of holes configured to receive the plurality of stakes.

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Dimberg Chris
• Killo Jason C

Classifications

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H01H2300/03

  Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring · CPC title

• F21V23/009

  the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device · CPC title

• F21V23/0435

  activated by remote control means · CPC title

• H01H23/205

  using a compression spring between tumbler and an articulated contact plate · CPC title