GB2174547A - Switch actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

A switch actuator permits small children to operate light switches which are beyond their normal physical reach. The actuator body 1 is releasably secured to the light switch 8, whereby an actuator shaft 2, which is contained within the actuator body, is held against the operating lever 16 of the light switch 8. Two pullcords 3,4 are wound around, and anchored to, the actuator shaft 2. Pulling the 'on' pullcord 3 causes the actuator shaft 2 to rotate through an arc and, by means of an integral cam 15 or similar device, depress the operating lever 16 of the light switch 8 until the 'on' position is attained. Similarly, pulling the 'off' pullcord 4 causes the actuator shaft 2 to rotate through an arc in the opposite direction and, by means of an integral cam 14 or similar device, depress the operating lever 16 of the switch 8 until the 'off' position is attained. The actuator shaft 2 has an operating lever 13 to enable the switch 8 to be operated without using the pullcords 3,4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Switch actuator The purpose of the Switch Actuator is to enable small children who have attained a measure of mobility, and therefore independance, to operate light switches which are byond their normal physical reach.

The device may also be of assistance to some types of disabled people.

The Switch Actuator is fitted to the front of a conventional light switch and is secured in position by two replacement, extra-length, fixing screws which utilise the existing fixing holes in the body of the switch.

The operating lever of the existing switch is moved to the 'on' or 'off' position by the action of two cams, or other similar devices, which project from a central axle. Movement is imparted to the axle, and thus the cams, by two operating pulicords each of which are of a length sufficient to ensure that when the Switch Actuator is fitted to a light switch a child is easily able to reach the pullcords.

By operating the pullcords the child can select the 'on' or 'off' switch position and thus operate the light to which the switch is connected. This enables the child to exercise it increasing independance and also frees adults from the necessity of accompanying the child on its every move from room to room. An additional advantage is the reduction in the damage caused to wallpaper and paint finishes by small childrens jumping up and attempting to knock switches to the 'on' or 'off' positions.

The design of the Switch Actuator enables the existing switch to be operated in the normal manner by an adultortall child.

The construction of the Switch Actuator is shown, by way of example, in Figures 1,2,3 and 4, which form part of this Specification.

Figure 1 is a view from the front, Figure 2 is a view from the top, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 'AA' in Figure 1, and Figure 4 shows, diagrammatically, the manner in which the pullcords are wound around the axle.

The Switch Actuator consists of an actuator body, and actuator shaft, an 'on' pullcord, an 'off' pullcord and two replacement, extra-length, fixing screws.

The actuator body (1) and the actuator shaft (2) are designed not only to fulfill their operational functions but also to facilitate easy, and therefore cheap, manufacture by injection moulding, spray moulding or similar production processes.

However, the actuator body and the actuator shaft can also be constructed from other materials and by other manufacturing processes. The pullcords (3 and 4) are manufactured from nylon or other suitable material and terminate, at their lower end, in hollow toggles (6). The pullcords can be cut to any length to suit the requirements of the children who are to use the Switch Actuator. The extra-length fixing screws (5) replace the two fixing screws which originally secured the light switch to its conduit box or surface-mounted patten.

The actuator body (1) incorporates two flat external lugs or flanges (7) which are used to secure the Switch Actuator to the front plate (8) of the existing light switch. Each flange contains a single countersunk hole (9) through which passes one of the replacement fixing screws (5).

The screws (5) pass through the clearance holes (10) in the switch front plate (8) and engage with the tapped fixing holes in the existing switch conduit box or surface-mounted patten.

The interior cavity of the actuator body (1) is shaped at each end to form two shoulders or bearing surfaces (11). These bearing surfaces provide support for each end of the actuator shaft (2) and hold the shaft in the position necessary for correct operation.

A vertical slot (12) is formed in the front face of the actuator body )1 ) to accomodate a spur (13) which projects from the actuator shaft (2). This projecting spur (13) enables an adult or tall child to operate the Switch Actuator in the manner of a normal switch.

Within the interior cavity of the actuator body (1), the actuator shaft (2) carries two cams (14 and 15) for depressing the operating lever (16) of the existing switch.

Two small holes (17 and 18) are formed in the bottom of the actuator body (1 ) to accomodate the two pullcords (3 and 4). The positions of these holes (17 and 18) are important because they ensure that the pullcords (3 and 4) rotate the actuator shaft (2) in the correct manner. ie. with the pullcords winding onto and off the actuator shaft (2) without becoming jammed between the existing switch operating lever (16) and the cams (14 and 15).

The actuator shaft (2) can be considered as four components incorporated into one item. ie. the two switching cams (14 and 15), the projecting spur (13) and a large-diameter central axle on which the pullcords (3 and 4) are anchored and around which they are wound.

The central axle has a large diameter because, when rotated through a short arc by the pullcords (3 and 4), it has to exert enough torque to push the switching cams (14 and 15) against the existing switch lever (16) with sufficient force to operate the switch mechanism.

One switching cam (14) projects from the upper surface of the central axle and is positioned about the vertical centreline of the existing switch. The other switching cam (15) projects from the lower surface of the central axle and is similarly positioned on the vertical centreline. The spur (13) projects radially from the central axle at a point diametrically opposite the mid-point of the arc between the two cams.

A small hole (19) is formed in the lower switching cam (15). The upper ends of the pullcords (3 and 4) are passed through this hole and then knotted to provide the necessary pullcord anchor points.

Figure 3 shows the Switch Actuator mounted on a flat-fronted switch with a rocker-type switching action. However, the design of the actuator body (1 ) and the actuator shaft (2) and its integral cams (14 and 15) can be varied to suit other configurations and designs of switch front and switching action.

The existing fixing holes in some types of switch front plate, particularly in the U.S.A., are located on the vertical centreline rather than the horizontal centreline shown in Figure 3. The design of the actuator body can be varied to suit such vertically arranged fixing holes.

The design of the actuator shaft can also be varied to suit switch front plates which contain two switch operating levers.

This variation is achieved by manufacturing the actuator shaft in two sections, each of which incorporates two switching cams and a projecting spur.

The two sections are joined by a spigot and socket type joint and thus afford mutual support to each other whilst being able to rotate independantly when turned by their associated puilcords.

Claims (8)

1. A switch actuator comprising an actuator body, an actuator shaft (which incorporates two cams, a pullcord anchoring point and a projecting spur lever), means for releasably securing the switch actuatorto a light switch and pullcords whereby the actuator shaft can be rotated through arcs to move the light switch operating lever to the 'on' or 'off' positions.

2. A switch actuator as claimed in Claim 1 wherein integral bearing means are provided on the actuator body to support the ends of the actuator shaft whilst allowing the actuator shaft to rotate through arcs about is longitudinal axis within the actuator body.

3. A switch actuator as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein integral means are provided on the actuator body to retain the actuator shaft within the actuator body whilst allowing the actuatorshaftto rotate through arcs about its longitudinal axis within the actuator body.

4. A switch actuator as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein integral means are provided on the actuator body to hold the actuator shaft rotating puilcords in their necessary positions of alignment.

5. A switch actuator as claimed in any preceding Claims wherein an actuator shaft is provided to depress the operating lever of a switch to attain either the 'on' or 'off' switch position.

6. A switch actuator as claimed in any preceding Claims wherein means are provided on the actuator shaft to depress the operating lever of a switch to attain either the 'on' or 'off' switch position.

7. A switch actuator as claimed in any preceding Claims wherein means additional to pulicords are provided on the actuator shaft to allow the actuator shaft to be rotated through an arc.

8. A switch actuator as claimed in any preceding Claims wherein means are provided on the actuator shaft to securely anchor one or more puilcords.