GB2287126A - A switch - Google Patents

Abstract

An in-situ switch assembly having a pivoting switch actuator 3. eg. a light switch, is adapted to be operable by a "rocker" style switch actuator 21. A facia plate 11 covers the in-situ switch assembly, the facia having an aperture 12 which exposes the in-situ actuator 3. An operating lever 21 is mounted over the aperture on the facia and has a forked end retaining a roller 25. An interfacing element 30 is fixed to the existing switch actuator and is engaged by the roller of the lever. When the lever is pivoted the roller runs along an arcuate surface 31 of the interfacing element and causes the actuator to switch thus illuminating or extinguishing the lights. The adaptation permits easy conversion of in-situ switch assemblies to give an aesthetically pleasing design which is easier to operate. <IMAGE>

Description

A SWITCH This invention relates to a switch and more particularly to a switch of the kind used to turn on or off lights.

Contemporary light switches comprise a planar plastics backing cover with a central planar pivotal switch actuator. This conventional design lacks aesthetic appeal and there is a demand for more ornate designs, particularly old "rocker" style switch assemblies which have an operating lever protruding significantly from the cover. The "rocker" style switches are no longer available as they do not meet with insulation safety requirements.

Furthermore, many people are reluctant to go to the trouble of replacing an in-situ switch with a preferred design as it involves disconnection and reconnection of the electrical wiring which can be dangerous to the uninitiated.

Furthermore, contemporary switches have actuator which do not protrude much from the backing cover and can be a problem to operate for people who have difficulty manipulating small object with their hands or fingers e.g. arthritis sufferers.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for adapting an in-situ switch assembly having a pivoting switch actuator, the kit comprising a facia for covering the in-situ switch assembly, the facia having an aperture which fits around the switch actuator when the kit is assembled, an operating lever mountable on the facia, and an interfacing element which is connectable to said existing switch actuator and is engageable with said lever to enable operation of the switch actuator by pivoting of the lever when the kit is assembled.

Preferably the operating lever is pivotally mounted over the aperture of the facia.

Preferably the interfacing element has arcuate surface against which the lever abuts.

The in-situ switch assembly may further comprise a cover plate on which the facia is mountable. The existing fixings used to fasten the cover plate in position may be used to fix the facia to the cover plate.

The operating lever preferably has a forked end which when the kit is assembled is adjacent the arcuate surface and a roller rotatably mounted between the forks.

Preferably pivoting of the lever causes the forked end to follow the arcuate surface with the roller in contact therewith.

The interfacing element may be fixed to the switch actuator by means of double sided adhesive tape.

The facia preferably has an ornamental or otherwise aesthetically pleasing design.

The lever may be pivotally mounted over the aperture in the facia on a bracket. The bracket may have a socket in which the lever is pivotally retained.

In one preferred embodiment the socket has an external thread to which may be connected a ornamental cover which hides the bracket, socket and forked end of lever and through which an operable end of the lever protrudes.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a switch according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a sectioned side view of the switch of figure 1 in a transient state.

Figure 3 corresponds to figure 2 with the switch in an ON position; and Figure 4 corresponds to figure 2 with the switch in an OFF position.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a conventional contemporary in-situ light switch assembly (designated generally by arrow 1) comprising a substantially square planar cover plate 2 with fixing holes 2a and a central pivotal planar switch actuator 3. The switch assembly covers a wall socket 4 to which it is fixed by means of screws 5 (one only shown) passing through the fixing holes 2a. The wall socket 4 contains electrical wiring for carrying the supply to and from a light (not shown). As is well known, by pressing a protruding edge of the switch actuator 3 the light can turned on or off.

An old style "rocker" switch assembly (generally designated by arrow 10) is shown in front of the contemporary in-situ switch 1. The "rocker" switch assembly 10 comprises a facia plate 11 with a decorative border 1 Ia and a central rectangular aperture 12 and mounting holes 13 on each side. The aperture 12 is bridged by a bracket 14 comprising a round open socket 15 with an external thread 16 and rearwardly depending legs 17 which terminate in apertured mounting feet 18. The apertures 19 of the mounting feet 18 align with corresponding holes 20 in the facia plate 11 at one end each side of the rectangular aperture 12 and the bracket 14 is fixed to the facia 11 by means of screws 20a which pass through the apertures in the mounting feet 18. The socket 15 is thus suspended over the rectangular aperture 12. A pivotal operating lever 21 has a central ball formation 22 which is designed to locate in said socket 15 and is pivotally mounted on a spindle 22a (hidden in figure 1). The lever 21 has a forked end 23 nearest the rectangular aperture 12, the forks being spanned by a spindle 24 on which a roller 25 is rotatably mounted. Protruding outwardly from the socket 15 is a free end 26 of the lever 21 which is capped by a wooden tip 27 to provide aesthetic appeal. The tip 27 can be manipulated to pivot the lever 21 about the spindle 22a so that the forked end 23 describes an arcuate path.

A fluted hemisphere 28, chosen to blend with the overall design of the assembly, has a central internally threaded aperture 29 screw connectable to the external thread 16 of the socket 15 so that when assembled the hemisphere 28 covers the bracket 14 with the free end 26 of the lever 21 protruding through the aperture 29.

The switch actuator 3 has an interface element 30 mounted thereon by means of double sided masking tape or the like. The element 30 has an upper arcuate surface 31 corresponding substantially to the arcuate path which the forked end 23 of the lever 21 describes when it pivots.

In order to assemble the switch a user simply sticks the interfacing element 30 to the in-situ switch actuator 3 and covers the existing cover plate 2 with the facia plate 11. The mounting holes 13 of the facia plate 11 align with the fixing holes 2a of the cover plate 2 and the screws 5 of the in-situ switch are used connect the facia 11 to the cover plate 2. The user may optionally use additional adhesive tape 32 between the cover 2 and facia plates 11 so that in future the two can be removed easily together to expose the wall socket 4. When assembled the roller 25 bears against the arcuate surface 31 of the interfacing element 30 (see figures 2 to 4).

Operation of the switch is shown in figures 2 to 4. The switch actuator 3, being of conventional design, is pivotal about triangular fulcrum 40 defined on each of its sides. This design ensures that switch actuator 3 is at rest in one of two equilibrium states (i.e. ON or OFF) shown in figures 3 and 4. Figure 2 shows the switch in a transient state with actuator 3 moving between the ON and OFF positions of figures 3 and 4.

When the tip 27 of the lever 21 is moved downwards (see figure 3) the lever 21 pivots about spindle 22a and the forked end 23 moves upwards causing roller 23 to run along the arcuate surface 31 of the interfacing element 30 whilst rotating about spindle 24. As the roller 23 progresses to the end of the surface 31 the contact pressure it applies to the element 30 forces the actuator 3 to pivot to the ON position and the light is illuminated in the usual manner. Moving the lever in reverse i.e. upwards (see figure 4) results in the actuator being switched to the OFF position.

Thus the design provides for a simple conversion kit allowing the customer to cover a conventional in-situ switch assembly with a more aesthetically appealing rocker style switch without the need for removing the in-situ switch or for any disconnection and reconnection of electrical wiring.

Moreover, a rocker switch is easier to manipulate as it protrudes further from the wall or cover plate surface enabling it to be operable with a palm of a hand.

It will be appreciated that the described switch can be adapted to have an outward appearance of the customer's choice and modified embodiments are envisaged to be used in relation to banks of switch actuators provided on a single cover plate.

Claims (15)

1. A kit of parts for adapting an in-situ switch assembly having a pivoting switch actuator, the kit comprising a facia for covering the in-situ switch assembly, the facia having an aperture which fits around the switch actuator when the kit is assembled, an operating lever mountable on the facia, and an interfacing element which is connectable to said existing switch actuator and is engageable with said lever to enable operation of the switch actuator by pivoting of the lever when the kit is assembled.

2. A kit of parts according to claim 1, in which the operating lever is pivotally mounted over the aperture of the facia.

3. A kit of parts according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interfacing element has arcuate surface against which the lever abuts.

4. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the in-situ switch assembly further comprises a cover plate on which the facia is mountable.

5. A kit of parts according to claim 4, wherein apertures in the facia are provided to accept existing fixings used to fasten the cover plate in-situ to permit fastening of the facia to the cover plate.

6. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the operating lever has a forked end which, when the kit is assembled, is adjacent the arcuate surface

7. A kit of parts according to claim 6, wherein a roller is rotatably mounted between forks of the forked end

8. A kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein pivoting of the lever causes the forked end to follow the arcuate surface with the roller in contact therewith.

9. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the lever may be pivotally mounted on a bracket so that it is disposed over the aperture in the facia.

10. A kit of parts according to claim 9, wherein the bracket has a socket in which the lever is pivotally retained.

11. A kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein the socket has an external thread to which an ornamental cover is connectible in order to hide the bracket and socket and through which an operable end of the lever can protrude.

12. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the interfacing element is fixed to the switch actuator by means of double sided adhesive tape.

13. A kit of parts according to any preceding claim, wherein the facia as an ornamental or otherwise aesthetically pleasing design.

13. A modified switch assembly constituted by an in-situ switch assembly and the kit of parts according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A modified switch assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.