GB2337855A

GB2337855A - Ceiling mounted electrical dimmer switch

Info

Publication number: GB2337855A
Application number: GB9801448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Handscombe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-26
Filing date: 1998-01-26
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-26
Also published as: GB2337855B; GB9801448D0

Abstract

The switch may be turned on or off by pulling on cord 8 which operates a toggle switch 3. The light can be dimmed or brightened by rotating the dimmer control shaft 7 which operates the dimmer unit 4. These functions are independent of each other so that the light can be switched on or off at a predetermined level of brightness. The dimmer switch may also be converted to a conventional pull operated on/off light switch by detaching the dimmer control shaft 7 complete with the universal joint 6, allowing the brightness to be preset.

Description

-I- CEILING MOUNTED DIMMER SWITCH 2337855 This invention relates to

electrical dimmer switches which are well known devices and are normally wall mounted. They can be operated by way of a rotary control knob, push switch or by touch. The rotary and push switch devices incorporate electro-mechanical components. The touch operated devices incorporate capacitance sensitive micro-circuits. For reasons of safety these devices are unsuitable for use in bathrooms, saunas or any environment where water or wet conditions would compromise the safety of a person operating such devices.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dimmer switch device which can be mounted on a ceiling. The light is switched on or off by a pull cord as would be the case with a conventional ceiling mounted switch but a knowledgeable user can also adjust the light intensity to the desired level. These two functions are operated separately and independent of each other and the light can therefore be switched on or off at any pre-determined level of brightness from the lowest to the highest setting. The invention also allows for the device to be converted to a conventional pull operated onloff switch by removing the dimmer control shaft 7 complete with its universal joint 6. This feature therefore allows for the device to be set at a pre-determined brightness level and then that pre-set brightness is rendered tamper proof. The fact that this invention utilises electromechanical components rather than micro circuits to achieve the switching and dimming functions makes it very resilient to high humidity or damp conditions that may make micro circuits unreliable.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the folloWng drawings.

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Shows the general arrangement of the dimmer switch device Shows the ceiling housing with off set fixing lug feature Shows an exploded view of the intemal components of the dimmer switch and mounting plate Shows the general arrangement of the dimmer switch.

The dimmer switch device comprises a housing 1 which is secured to the ceiling. It has an aperture through which the electrical cables will be entered, an earth connection and two fixing lugs onto which the mounting plate 5 can be attached. The off set lugs in the housing 1 and mounting plate 5 ensure that they can only be assembled in one direction thereby preventing any possibility of the electrical cable fouling the toggle switch 3 or the pull cord 8 when fully assembled. The dimmer switch assembly Fig 3 consists of the dimming unit 4 which has been modified so that the toggle switch pull cord 8 can pass centrally through the potentiometer control shaft and emerge through the top of the dimmer unit. The dimmer unit contains no mechanical switching capability. The switching of the dimmer unit is by way of the external toggling switch 3. The toggle switch 3 is posifloned and secured to the dimmer unit by way of a mounting bracket 2 which also has a small pulley wheel 2A incorporated in the bracket that acts as a guide for the pull cord 8 to be connected to the toggle switch 3. The mounfing bracket 2 completed Mth the toggle switch 3 and pulley wheel 2A is trapped between the dimmer unit 4 and the mounting plate 5 as illustrated in Fig 3 by way of a standard nut supplied with the dimmer unit.

The potentiometer shaft of the dimmer unit protrudes through the mounting plate 5 as can be seen in Fig 4. The universal joint 6 is secured to the potentiometer shaft by way of a grub screw. The universal joint 6 has a hole through which the pull cord 8 can pass. The dimmer control shaft 7 is secured into the other end of the universal joint 6. The dimmer control shaft 7 being hollow allows for the pull cord 8 to pass through. The universal joint 6 allows for the dimmer unit housing 1 to be installed onto a sloping or mis-aligned ceiling and allows for any movement required during its operation but will always return to the perpendicular. The light can be switched on or off by pulling down on the handle 9 located at the bottom of the dimmer control shaft 7 the pull cord 8 is fastened into the handle by way of a screw The light brightness can then be adjusted up or down by twisting the dimmer control shaft 7 in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The dimmer control shaft 7 is hexagonally shaped to afford the operator a secure finger grip to easily rotate the shaft.

If required the dimmer unit can be converted to a pull light switch only by releasing the pull cord 8 from the handle 9 then releasing the universal joint from the potentiometer shaft and pulling the switch cord 8 from the dimmer control shaft 7 and universal joint 6.

This feature allows for the light brightness to be pre-set to the required level and then rendered tamper proof by the removal of the control shaft as described above. When this removal procedure has been completed the handle 9 can be reattached to the cord 8.

Claims

3 1 A dimmer switch for electric light bulbs comprising means for switching light bulbs on and off, means for varying the electric current to light bulbs, said switching means and current varying means being operable independent of each other, means being provided for manually operating the switching means and current varying means when both are inaccessible to an operator.

A dimmer switch according to claim 1 wherein the switching means is achieved by way of a toggling switch operated in a longitudinal direction.

J A dimmer switch according to claim 1 wherein the current varying means is achieved by way of a potentiometer operated by way of rotation.

4 A dimmer switch according to claim 2 whereby the switching means is operated by way of a cord made from electrically insulated material.

A dimmer switch according to claim 3 whereby the current varying means is operated by way of a shaft provided with a universal joint made from electrically insulated material.

A dimmer switch according to claims 1 to 3 provides the longitudinal switching means and rotatable current control means in one unit.

A switch according to claim 6 whereby the switching means and current control means are independently operable by way of a single shaft provided with a universal joint.

8 A dimmer switch according to any of claims 1 to -7 for mounting on a ceiling.

9 A dimmer switch substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.