GB2260026A

GB2260026A - Dual function electrical control unit

Info

Publication number: GB2260026A
Application number: GB9120639A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Gibbs
Original assignee: Gibbs and Hill Ltd
Current assignee: Gibbs and Hill Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-27
Filing date: 1991-09-27
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-27
Also published as: GB9120639D0; GB2260026B

Abstract

A dual function electrical control unit (10) comprises a facing plate (11) provided with an opening (12), an electrical element (19) behind the plate (11), and an operating button (15) received in the opening (12) for operating the element (19). The button (15) is guided to be rotatable relative to the plate (11) for operation of regulating means of the element (19), eg a dimmer for a light, and axially displaceable relative to the plate (11) for operation of switching means of the element (19), eg an on-off switch, and has an actuating face which, when the button is in a rest state, is flush with a front face of the plate (11). The control unit may have a plurality of operating buttons (15) coupled to respective electrical elements (19). <IMAGE>

Description

DUAL FUNCTION ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT The present invention relates to a dual function electrical control unit, for example a unit for switching on and off and varying the intensity of a light.

In the case of electrical control units with a dual function initiated by an operating element capable of both rotary and reciprocating movement, it is usual for the operating element, for example a push button, to project from a surrounding facing surface so that it can be gripped for turning. Thus, on-off and dimming units for lights usually have the form of a facing plate with an electrical switching and regulating component mounted on the back of the plate and an operating push button projecting through an opening in the plate.

Whilst such a unit is functionally satisfactory, aesthetics are marred by the projection of the button from the plane of the facing plate front surface and cleaning of the plate, which is susceptible to soiling from constant use of the button, is inconvenient, particularly if the unit incorporates several electrical components and a corresponding number of buttons. A further disadvantage in the case of units of that kind when wall-mounted in rooms where crowding may occur, such as in conference centres and hotels, is that unintended operation of a push button can occur simply through leaning against the plate.

It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to overcome or reduce the disadvantages of existing control units of the kind referred to and to give the unit an appearance more in keeping with contemporary design practice. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

According to the present invention there is provided a dual function electrical control unit comprising a facing plate provided with opening extending between front and rear faces of the plate, an electrical element connected to the plate at the rear face thereof and comprising regulating means and switching means, and an operating button which extends in the opening in the plate at least in a rest state of the button and which is drivingly coupled to the regulating means and switching means of the electrical element and guided to be rotatable relative to the plate for operation of the regulating means and axially displaceable relative to the plate for operation of the switching means, the button being so arranged that an actuating face thereof is substantially flush with the front face of the plate when the button is in its rest state.

The button can be guided by, for example, a guide sleeve at the rear face of the facing plate. Depending on the stroke of the button and thickness of the facing plate, the button when depressed may travel completely out of the opening and the guide sleeve ensures that, if the rim of the opening relatively tightly encircles the button, there is no risk of interference between the plate and the button when the latter returns to its rest position.

The electrical element is preferably carried by a carrier plate connected to the facing plate by spacer means, but may be carried by the guide sleeve at a spacing from the facing plate. In the case of a thin facing plate, spacing of the electrical element from the facing plate allows the button to have a sufficient stroke to operate the switching means without protruding from the front face of the facing plate in the rest state. The electrical element is, moreover, preferably removable from the rest of the unit so that it can be replaced in the event of failure.

For preference the actuating face of the button is provided with engagement means, for example a slot or other shaped recess, to facilitate rotary actuation of the button. If the resistance to rotation of the button is relatively light, however, the button should be capable of being turned by means of slight turning pressure applied to its actuating face even when that face is flat and smooth.

The button can be drivingly coupled to the electrical element by, for example, a rod, and resilient means such as a coil spring can be provided to urge the button into the rest setting.

Depending on requirements, the unit may be comprise a plurality of such operating buttons each drivingly coupled to regulating means and switching means of a respective such electrical element and each extending in a respective such opening in the facing plate in the rest setting. For aesthetic reasons, the buttons are preferably arranged in a horizontal line with respect to an intended mounting orientation of the unit.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a dual function electrical control unit embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the unit of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a partly sectioned side view of the unit of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a dual function electrical control unit 10 in the form of an on-off and dimming unit for a light. Such a unit is suitable for domestic use as well as use in hotels, restaurants, convention centres and any other building where it may be desired to control the intensity of lighting. The unit 10 comprises an oblong facing plate 11 of, for example, brass, provided with four equally spaced circular openings 12 arranged in a horizontal line and two outlying holes 13 for reception of screws to enable fastening of the plate to a wall or other vertical surface.

Secured to the rear face of the plate 12 and in alignment with the openings 12 are four guide sleeves 14, each of which serves to provide rotational and axial guidance of a respective push button 15.

Each button 15 has a flat actuating face - that is to say the axial end face accessible from the front face of the plate 11 - with a slot 16 to facilitate rotation of the button and also to provide a visual indication of the rotational setting of the button.

Connected to the rear face of the plate 11 by means of spacers 17 is a carrier plate 18 which extends parallelly to the plate 11 and carries four electrical on-off and dimming elements 19. Each electrical element is removably mounted on the carrier plate by way of a threaded collar 21 and is operably coupled by a rod 22 to a respective one of the push buttons 15. A compression spring 23 and is arranged on each rod 22 and acts between the mounting collar 21 of the associated element 19 and the other axial end face of the associated button 15 to urge the button into its rest state. In this state, as shown in Fig. 3, the actuating face of the button is flush with the front face of the plate 11, in which case an end portion of the button is received in and closely surrounded by the rim of the respective opening 12.The position of the button in its rest state is determined by the length of the rod 15, which is captively retained in the element 19.

Each electrical element 19 incorporates over-centre switching contacts which are operated, both for closing the contacts and for opening the contacts, by pressing the associated button towards the element. The button is returned to its rest state after each movement of the contacts into a closed setting or into an open setting, return of the button being by way of a spring (not shown) within the element 19 with assistance from the associated spring 20.

The element 19 further incorporates a rheostat, or other current varying member, having a tap displaced by rotating the respective button 15. The button remains in any rotational setting into which it is moved. Rotation is effected by light pressure against, and turning, of the actuating face of the button, the button having a low resistance to rotation when in its rest state.

In use of the unit 10, the carrier plate 18 and electrical elements 19 are inserted into a wall cavity of such a size that the facing plate 11 can be secured, by way of the screws passing through the holes 13, to portions of the wall surface adjacent to the cavity. Except when the switching contacts of the elements 19 are operated, the actuating faces of the buttons remain flush with the front face of the plate 11 and provide a neat appearance as well as ease of cleaning and relative freedom from inadvertent actuation through pressure against the plate.

The described embodiment of the unit contains four buttons in a linear arrangement, but other numbers of buttons, including a single button, and other arrangements are possible according to requirements. Similarly, the or each electrical element in the unit can serve for switching and regulating functions other than control of lights.

Claims

1. A dual function electrical control unit comprising a facing plate provided with an opening extending between front and rear faces of the plate, an electrical element connected to the plate at the rear face thereof and comprising regulating means and switching means, and an operating button which extends in the opening in the plate at least in a rest state of the button and which is drivingly coupled to the regulating means and switching means of the electrical element and guided to be rotatable relative to the plate for operation of the regulating means and axially displaceable relative to the plate for operation of the switching means, the button being so arranged that an actuating face thereof is substantially flush with the front face of the plate when the button is in its rest state.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the button is guided by a guide sleeve at the rear face of the facing plate.

3. A unit as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electrical element is carried by a carrier plate connected to the facing plate by spacer means.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrical element is carried by the guide sleeve at a spacing from the facing plate.

5. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical element is arranged to be removable from the rest of the unit.

6. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating face of the button is provided with engagement means to facilitate rotary actuation of the button.

7. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the button is drivingly coupled to the electrical element by a rod.

8. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising resilient means urging the button into its rest setting.

9. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical element is an on-off and dimming element for a light.

10. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of such buttons each drivingly coupled to regulating means and switching means of a respective such electrical element and each extending in a respective such opening in the facing plate in the rest setting.

11. A unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the buttons are arranged in a horizontal line with respect to an intended mounting orientation of the unit.

12. A dual function electrical control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A dual function electrical control unit comprising a facing plate provided with an opening extending between front and rear faces of the plate, an electrical element connected to the plate at the rear face thereof and comprising regulating means and switching means, and an operating button which is guided to be rotatable and axially displaceable relative to the plate and to extend in the opening at least in an axial end setting of the button and which has an actuating axial end face disposed to be substantially flush with the front face of the plate when the button is in said axial end setting, the button being drivingly coupled to the regulating means and switching means of the electrical element and being actuable by way of the actuating end face for rotation while in said axial end setting to operate the regulating means and for axial displacement out of said end setting in direction towards the electrical element to operate the switching means.

8. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising resilient means urging the button into said axial.end setting.

10. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of such buttons each drivingly coupled to regulating means and switching means of a respective such electrical element and each extending in a respective such opening in the facing plate in said axial end setting.