US1521553A

US1521553A - Plaster shield for inclosed switches

Info

Publication number: US1521553A
Application number: US594474A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin E Getchell
Original assignee: Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1922-10-14
Filing date: 1922-10-14
Publication date: 1924-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1941-12-30

Description

Dec, 3Q,

B. E. GETCHELL PLASTER SHIELD FOR INCLOSED SWITCHES Filed Oct. 14, 1922 INVENTOR eiaizazfl 35 dle to Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,521,553 PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUM- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PLASTER SHIELD FO'R INGLOSED SWITCHES.

Application filed October 14, 1922. Serial No. 59%,474.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. GET- oHELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Plainville, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Plaster Shield for Inclosed Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Electric switches for controlling house lighting circuits are usually located in the cellar or basement where they are inconspicuous, but in some constructions such for instance as houses and cottages of the bungalow type, there are no cellars and it is therefore desirable to conceal the conduits and switches as much as possible in the walls. A suflicient clearance must, of course, be left for the operating member or handle which is usually at the side of the box. As

a considerable part of the handle is thus let into the wall, a means should be provided to guard the normal operating path of the handle.

In other instances, the switch may be mounted on the surface of a .,wall or post, or

perhaps on some part of a machine and in all cases it is very desirable to guard the external part of the handle particularly ad- 'acent the bearing so that nothing can get into its path of movement.

The main object of my invention is to provide a construction which will guard or shield the operating handle and prevent the entrance of plaster or other forei matter into the normal operating path 0 the hanprevent interference with its operation.

Another object of m invention is to provide a means for guar ing the external part of the operating handle so that nothing can be set or placed in a position to interfere with the normal operation of the switch.

Figure l'is a erspective view of an inclosed switch em odying the improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary section of wall with my improved construction installed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of shield member.

Fig. 4c is a pers ective view of another form of shield mem er.

The switch mechanism proper is mounted in some form of box or receptacle consisting of a body 6 and a cover 7 The cover is usu- 'metal or formed of cast metal.

ally hinged at one edge for instance, the edge 8 and is usually provided with a flange which overstands the body of the box as herein indicated. A

The switch mechanism proper may be of any suitable type having an exterior operating handle 9 of any suitable form. The handle usually swings along side one edge of the box to operate the switch and open and close the circuit. When the switch box is mounted in the wall the cover and outer end of the handle are left exposed.

The shield or guard for the handle may be in any suitable form for instance, it may have inclined

sides

10 and 11 and an. outer wall 12. .The

sides

10 and 11 may be secured to the body of the box in any suitable manner as for instance by riveting or welding. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 flanges 13, are provided which serve to stiffen the shield as well as to afford means of connection to the box. This shield is so shaped and located as to permit free operation of the handle of the switch, to keep plaster and dirt away from the journal of the handle and afford a permanent wall adjacent the handle. This also acts as a stop to limit the throw of the handle. The shield may also be provided withan extension ear 14: having a hole for a padlock or other locking device. The shield may also be provided with an opening 15 for a sealin wire. 7

When the switch is installed during the construction of the house it would be fastened in place and lath or plaster erected around it. When the installation occurs after a house is complete a hole would be cut in the wall sufficiently large to admit the switch box and the shield. After the switch is installed the wall would be repaired around the box and the shield. The outer edge of the shield is preferably approximately on the plane of the edge of the cover so that when the box is set to its maximum depth in the wall the edge of the shield will be substantially flush with the outer surface of the wall.

The shield may be formed in various ways for instance, by being blanked and bent out of sheet. metal or drawn from sheet In Fig. at I have shown a somewhat difi'erent shape of shield with

lugs

16 and 17 adapted to be inserted into slots in the side of the box for the purpose of securing the shield in place.

Various other modifications may be made in the shape and arrangement of this shield within the scope of my invention.

I claim 1. An inclosed switch construction comprising a box open at the front, a cover for the front of said box, a switch inclosed in said box and having an external operating handle at one side of said box, and a plaster shield secured to a side of the box around the axis ofsaid handle.

2. An inclosed switch construction comprising a switch box open at the front, a

' cover having flanges overlapping the front edges of the box, an operating handle extending from one side, of the box, and a plaster shield for the handle at the side of the box in rear of a flange'of the cover.

3. An inclosed switch construction comrising a box 0 en at the front, a cover iiinged to one si e of the box and covering the front opening, a switch handle pivoted to swing along the side of thebox opposite the hinge of the cover and a plaster shield secured to the side of the box and forming a pocket around the pivotal part of the handle in rear of the cover.

4. A. construction of the character described comprising a switch box, means for securing the rear of said box within a wall, 'said box being open at the front and having edges adapted to project beyond the outer surface of a wall, a switch mounted within said box, an operating member mounted in BENJAMIN E. eriTcHELL.