AU2008100210A4 - A remote switch assembly - Google Patents

Description

04-MAR-2008 15:58 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:062837999 -1 00 0 A REMOTE SWITCH ASSEMBLY ct SFIELD OF INVENTION SThe present invention relates to electrical switches and power boards. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for use with household electrical appliances.

00 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0S The use of power boards in homes enables electricity from a single power point to be distributed to several connected electrical appliances positioned hear one another. For example, power boards are used with audio-visual equipment; such as televisions, DVD players, video players and tuners. The power boards connected to various appliances is unsightly and concealed behind furniture. The concealed power board is consequently not readily accessible when a person wishes to turn off a particular electrical appliance. Due to the inconvenience of accessing the power board, the electrical appliance is left either continuously turned on or on stand-by mode. With power left on, there is wastage of electricity and the user incurs higher electricity costs.

Even when the power board is readily accessible, it is difficult for a person to know which electrical appliance is connected to a particular socket outlet of the power board. As the person fears unintentionally disconnection of the wrong electrical appliance, they will leave all the connected electrical appliances turnmed on or on stand-by mode.

A power board wired to and controlled by a remotely operated switch unit is described in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-152740. The power board COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 15:59 From:WYNNES PRT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:026837999 P.6 -2- 00 0 o has several socket outlets. The switch unit has the same number of switches as the socket outlets of the power board. Each of the socket outlets of the power board is Scontrolled by one of the switches of the switch unit. The socket outlet and the S controlling each switch are visually linked by the same number.

The arrangement of the numbered switches of the switch unit and numbered socket outlets of the power board described in Japanese Patent Publication No.

S 2004152740 enables a person to match a particular switch to the associated socket 00 outlet, However, the person cannot readily know which electrical appliance is controlled by which switch. This is because it is not readily apparent from looking at the numbers on the switch unit what electrical appliance is controlled by each switch.

The inconvenience of unintentionally turning off the wrong electrical appliance is not removed by use of the electrical device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004152740.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate remote switch assembly which overcomes at least in part one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present Invention broadly resides in a remote switch assembly including a power outlet means including a plurality of socket outlets, each of the plurality of socket outlets is connectable to an electrical appliance; and COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 15:59 From:WYNNES PfT&TM FTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.7/28 -3- 00 Sa switch means operatively associated with the power outlet means, the switch means including a plurality of switch members and a plurality of switch display Smembers each of which are associated with a separate and distinct switch member, o each of the plurality of switch display members is adapted to display an electrical appliance type, each of the plurality of Switch members controls power supply to a separate and individual socket outlet of the plurality of socket outlets, wherein in use o each of the switch members controls the power supply to an electrical appliance 00 connected to the operatively associated socket outlet and each of the plurality of switch display members indicates the electrical appliance type controlled by the respective associated switch member, The power outlet means preferably includes a power board, with the plurality of socket outlets, wired or wirelessly connected to the switch means.

The switch means preferably includes a switch unit with the plurality of switch members and switch display members locatable remotely from the power outlet means.

Each switch display member preferably displays one or more words describing the electrical appliance type connected to the operationally-associated socket outlet.

Each switch member is preferably positioned adjacent the associated !switch display member in an arrangement that enables a person to identify from the associated switch display member the electrical appliance that is turned on or off by the switch member. In one embodiment the associated switch display member is preferably beneath the switch member.

COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MRR-2008 15:59 From:WYNNES PRT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:062837999 P.8-128 -4.

00 0 The one or more words displayed by the associated switch display member are preferably changeable to enable different words to be displayed upon connection G of a different electrical appliance type to the operationally-associated socket outlet.

Each switch display member preferably includes a switch LCD screen.

Preferably, the display on the switch LCD screen is controlled by a button that is located adjacent the switch LCD screen.

The switch LCD screen preferably has a pre-programmed list of names of 00 electrical appliance types.

SOne of the names of electrical appliance types is preferably displayed on the switch LCD screen by scrolling through the pre-programmed list by pressing the button to select a particular appliance type.

Each switch member is preferably a push-button.

Preferably, each switch member Is illuminated by a back light when the supply of electricity is turned on.

Each switch member is preferably associated with a separate switch on-off indicator that indicates when there is power supplied to the electrical appliance connected to the operationally-associated socket outlet.

Each socket outlet preferably has a power outlet on-off indicator that indicates when there is power supplied to the connected electrical appliance.

Both the power outlet and switch on-off indicators preferably have LED: lights that illuminated when the power is supplied to the connected electrical appliance.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of switch members has a switch alignment indicator that associates each of the switch members with a socket outlet.

In this embodiment, the socket outlet has an outlet alignment indicator that aligns the socket outlet with the switch member with the corresponding alignment indicator.

COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:00 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.9/26 00 o The switch alignment indicator and the power outlet alignment indicator are preferably in the form of a number wherein the number associated with one of the switch members corresponds to the same number associated with the operationally- S associated socket outlet.

The switch alignment indicator and the power outlet alignment indicator are 0 preferably LED lights shaped in the form of a number wherein the same number- 0 shaped LED light is associated with one of the switch members and the 00 operationally-associated socket outlet.

0 Preferably, the switch alignment indicator and the corresponding power outlet alignment indicator are illuminated when a electrical appliance is connected to the operationally-associated socket outlet.

The switch alignment indicator is preferably located above the associated of the switch members.

The power outlet alignment indicator is preferably located above the associated socket outlets.

The power outlet means preferably has a plurality of power outlet display members wherein each of the power outlet display members is associated with a separate and distinct socket outlet.

Preferably, each of the power outlet display members is any one of the types of display members described above in respect of the switch display members.

In a preferred embodiment, the type of power outlet display member is preferably substantially the same as the switch display member.

In a further preferred embodiment, the power outlet display member is operationally connected to the switch display member so that when a particular electrical appliance type is selected for display on one of the switch display members COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MRR-2008 16:00 From:WYNNES PFT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.10/28 00 o or the power outlet display members the corresponding operationally connected power outlet display member or switch display member respectively also disp'lays the Ssame electrical appliance type.

o In another embodiment, the switch means is preferably electrically wired to the power outlet means.

In a different embodiment, the switch means is wirelessly connected to the S power outlet means by wireless means.

00 The wireless means preferably includes a transceiver in both the switch Smeans and the power outlet means and each of the transceivers are able to communicate with each other.

The transceiver preferably uses a suitable radio frequency or infra red signal.

Where the switch processor is electrically wired to the power outlet processor, the switch means is preferably a wall mountable switch unit.

Where the switch means and the power outlet means communicates wirelessly, the switch means is preferably a portable remote control unit.

The wall mountable switch unit preferably has a night light.

The remote switch assembly may also include an over-ride switch which stops power being supplied to all the socket outlets and consequently to the connected appliances.

In a second aspect the present invention broadly resides in a remote switch assembly including a power outlet means including a plurality of socket outlets and a plurality of power outlet on-off indicators, each of the plurality of socket outlets is associated with one of the plurality of power outlet on-off indicators, each of the plurality of socket outlets is connectable to an electrical appliance, each of the plurality of power COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:00 From:WYNNES PRT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:026837999 P.11/28 -7- 00 o outlet on-off indicators provides an indication when power is supplied to the connected electrical appliance; and Sa switch means operatively associated with the power outlet means, the S switch means including a plurality of switch members, a plurality of switch on-off indicators and a plurality of switch display members each of which are associated 0 with a separate and distinct switch member and a separate and distinct switch on-off S indicators, each of the plurality of switch display members is adapted to display an 00 electrical appliance type, each of the plurality of switch members controls power c, supply to a separate and individual socket outlet of the plurality of socket outlets, each of the plurality of power outlet on-off indicators provides an indication when power is supplied to the connected electrical appliance, wherein in use each of the switch members controls the power supply to an electrical appliance connected to the operatively associated socket outlet and each of the plurality of switch display members indicates the electrical appliance type controlled by the respective associated switch member.

The features discussed above in respect of the first aspect of the invention also apply to the second aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Figures 1A and 1 B are diagrammatic views of a remote switch assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention showing a power board unit (Fig 1A) and a switch panel unit (Fig 1B); COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MRR-2008 16:01 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.12/28 -8- 00 o Figures 2A and 2B diagrammatic views of a remote switch assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention showing a power board G unit (Fig 2A) and a switch panel unit (Fig 2B); o Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the switch panel unit of Figure 2B Showing one of the switches with the associated switch display window and switch alignment number before an electrical appliance is connected to the operationally-associated o socket outlet of the power board unit after the electrical appliance is connected 00 to the operationally-associated socket outlet and after the supply of electricity is 0 turned on and Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are diagrammatic views of the switch panel unit of an remote switch assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention showing a front view and wire connection to the switch panel unit (Fig 4A), a front side view of the switch panel unit (Fig 4B) and a side view of the switch panel unit (Fig 4C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a two part remote switch assembly that has a power board unit 11 and a switch panel unit 12 for controlling power to the power board unit 11, The power board unit 11 is electrically connected to the switch panel unit 12 in a manner that enables the switch panel unit 12 to be located remotely from the power board unit 11. The switch panel unit 12 can therefore be wall mounted at a location that is readily accessible to a person to conveniently control the supply of electricity to the connected electrical appliances.

The power board unit 11 has four socket outlets 14, 15, 16, 17 and four power outlet on-off indicators 19, 20, 21, 22. Each power outlet on-off indicator is in the COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:01 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:062837999 P.13/28 -9- 00 o form of a power outlet LED light 19, 20, 21, 22. Each one of the four power outlet LED lights 19, 20, 21, 22 is associated with the socket outlet 14, 15, 16, 17 Srespectively. When an electrical appliance is connected to a particular socket outlet o 14, 15, 16, 17 the associated power outlet LED light 19, 20, 21, 22 is automatically illuminated.

The switch panel unit 12 has four switches 24, 25, 26, 27. Each one of the o switches 24, 25, 26, 27 controls power to one of the four socket outlets 14, 15, 16, 00 17 respectively. Each of the switches 24, 25, 26, 27 is in the form of a push-button Sc switch that is illuminated by a back light when the supply of electricity is on.

There are four switch on-off indicators 29, 30, 31,32 and four switch display windows 34, 35, 36, 37 located on the switch panel unit 12. Each one of the switches 24, 25, 26, 27 is associated with one of the switch on-off indicators 29. 31, 32 and one of the switch display windows 34, 35, 36, 37 respectively. The associated switch on-off indicator 29, 30, 31, 32 is located above the respective switch 24, 25, 26, 27, The associated switch display window 34, 35, 36, 37 is located below the respective switch 24, 25, 26, 27.

Each switch on-off indicator 29, 30, 31, 32 is in the form of a switch LED light.

When an electrical appliance is connected to a particular socket outlet 14, 15, 16, 17 the respective associated switch LED light 29, 30, 31,32 is automatically illuminated.

Each switch display window 34, 35, 36, 37 is a switch LCD screen. Each switch LCD screen 34, 35, 36, 37 displays the name of the electrical appliante to indicate the electrical appliance type controlled by the associated switch 24, 25, 26, 27. For example, if supply of electricity to a television is controlled by switch 24, the word "TELEVISION" is displayed by the switch LCD screen 34. The arrangement of the switch LCD screens 34, 35, 36, 37 in close proximity to the associated switch 24, COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:01 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.14/28 00 0 o 25, 26, 27 enables a person to identify from the switch LCD screens 34, 35, 36, 37 the electrical appliance that is turned on or off by the associated switch 24, 25, 26, G 27- The person can therefore quickly turn a particular switch to the on or off position S without the fear of turning the wrong electrical appliance on or off.

Each of the switch LCD screens 34, 35, 36, 37 has a pre-programmed list of names of electrical appliances. The display on each of the switch LCD screens 34, S 35, 36, 37 is controlled by a respective switch LCD button 39, 40, 41, 42 that is 00 positioned adjacent each switch LCD screen 34, 35, 36, 37. A particular electrical C-i appliance name is displayed on the switch LCD screen by scrolling through the preprogrammed list by pressing the switch LCD button 39, 40, 41 or 42 to select a particular electrical appliance name. The electrical appliance name can therefore be changed when a different electrical appliance is connected the operationallyassociated socket outlet 14, 15, 16, 17.

The switch panel unit 12 has a switch processor and the power board Unit 11 has a power board processor (not shown in the Figures) that communicates with each other. The switch processor is electrically wired to the power board processor in an arrangement whereby each one of the switches 24, 25, 26, 27 is operationally connected to only one of the socket outlets 14, 15, 16, 17 and each one of the socket outlets 14, 15, 16, 17 is operationally connected to only one of the switches 24, 25, 26, 27. When a particular switch is turned on, electricity is supplied to only the operationally-associated socket outlet and provides electricity to the connected electrical appliance.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown a second embodiment of the two part remote switch assembly of the present invention that is very similar to the first embodiment of the remote switch assembly described above. The second COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:01 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.15/2e -11- 00 o embodiment of the remote switch assembly has a power board unit 51 and a switch panel unit 52 for controlling power to the power board unit 51.

G The power board unit 51 is very similar to the power board unit 11 described Sabove except that each one of the power outlet on-off indicators 53, 54, 55, 56 is a power outlet LED light shaped in the form of a number. Each number-shaped power outlet LED light 53, 54, 55, 56 is associated with one of four socket outlets 58, 59, 61 of the power board unit 51.

00 The switch panel unit 52 is very similar to the switch panel unit 12 described 0 above except that each one of the switch on-off indicators 63, 64, 65, 66 is a switch LED light that is shaped in the form of the same number as the power outlet LED light 53, 54, 55, 56 of the respective operationally-associated socket outlet 58, 59, 61. Each number-shaped switch LED light 63, 64, 65, 66 is associated with one of four switches 68, 69, 70, 71 of the switch panel unit 52.

The provision of LED lights that are shaped in the form of numbers eriables a person to easily align a particular electrical appliance connected to one of the socket outlets 58, 59, 60, 61 with a corresponding operationally-associated switch 68, 69, 71. The power outlet LED lights of the second embodiment of the remote switch assembly therefore functions both as power outlet on-off indicators and power alignment indicators while the switch LED lights function both as switch on-off indicators and switch alignment indicators.

Where there is no electrical appliance connected to a socket outlet, for example, socket outlet 59, the associated switch LED light 64 in the form of the number two is not illuminated. This is shown in Figures 2B and 3A. Upon connection of an electrical appliance, say a computer, to socket outlet 59, the switch LED light 64 is illuminated as shown in Figure 3B. The name "COMPUTER" can be COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:02 From:WYNNES PAT&TM FlTT 0733421292 To:026837999 P.16/2e -12- 00 0 o selected for display on the switch LCD screen 73. A person also knows from the number type of the switch LED light 64 and power LED light 54 that the switch 69 is G aligned with the socket outlet 59.

0 With reference to Figure 4, there is shown a third embodiment of the switch panel unit 80. The switch panel unit 80 is functionally similar to the switch panel units shown in the earlier figures and has switches 81, display panels 82 and o associated buttons 83 to scroll through the selection of electrical appliance type.

0 0 The switch panel unit 80 can be opened and supported with a hinge mounting 65 so C- to be conveniently located on a table top (Fig 4B) or closed for mounting on a wall (Fig 4C).

ADVANTAGES

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the remote switch assembly includes enabling a person to accurately identify from the switch panel unit itself which switch is associated with a particular electrical appliance. This idertification enables a person to accurately switch individual electrical appliances on and! off.

Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the remote switch assembly is the provision of switch alignment numbers located near each switch that match with power outlet alignment numbers located near the corresponding and operationally-associated socket outlets. The switch and power outlet alignment numbers enables a person to readily match a particular electrical appliance with the corresponding switch on the switch panel unit, A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the remote switch assembly is the ability to position the switch panel unit at a convenient and readily accessible location that is remote from the power board unit. The readily accessible COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MAR-2008 16:02 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:262837999 P.1/28 -13- 00 o location of the switch panel unit enables a person to easily switch individual electrical appliances on and off.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of 0 illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations 0 thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within 00 the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

O

0 Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04

Claims (1)

1. 04-MFR-2008 16:02 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.18128 -14- 00 SCLAIMS 1. A remote switch assembly including oa power outlet means including a plurality of socket outlets, each of the plurality of socket outlets is connectable to an electrical appliance; and a switch means operatively associated with the power outlet means, the o switch means including a plurality of switch members and a plurality of switch display 0 0 members each of which are associated with a separate and distinct switch member, 0S each of the plurality of switch display members is adapted to display an electrical appliance type, each of the plurality of switch members controls power supply to a separate and individual socket outlet of the plurality of socket outlets, wherein in use each of the switch members controls the power supply to an electrical appliance connected to the operatively associated socket outlet and each of the plurality of switch display members indicates the electrical appliance type controlled by the respective associated switch member. 2. A remote switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power outlet means preferably includes a power board, with the plurality of socket outlets, wired or wirelessly connected to the switch means; the switch means includes a switch unit with the plurality of switch members and switch display members; each switch display member displays one or more words describing the electrical appliance type connected to the operationally-associated socket outlet; each switch display member includes a switch LCD screen and a button that can be used to scroll through a pre- programmed list of names of electrical appliance types; and each switch member is associated with a separate switch on-off indicator that indicates when there is power COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04 04-MRR-2008 16:02 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.19/28 1.5 00 o supplied to the electrical appliance connected to the operationally-associated socket outlet. S3. A remote switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each of the plurality of switch members has a switch alignment indicator that associates leach of the switch members with a socket outlet and each of the socket outlets has an outlet Salignment indicator that aligns the socket outlet with the switch member with the 00 corresponding alignment indicator; and the switch alignment indicators and the Spower outlet alignment indicators are LED lights shaped in the form of a number wherein the same number-shaped LED light is associated with one of the switch members and the operationally-associated socket outlet. 4. A remote switch assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the switch alignment indicator and the corresponding power outlet alignment indicator are illuminated when an electrical appliance is connected to the operationally-associated socket outlet. A remote switch assembly as substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: ARCS-181725 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:15 Date 2008-03-04