US2389220A

US2389220A - Switch actuator

Info

Publication number: US2389220A
Application number: US466306A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl W Tredeau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-11-20
Filing date: 1942-11-20
Publication date: 1945-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1962-11-20

Description

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E. W. TREDEAU SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed Nov. 20, 1942 f7 fr? A @y f Patented Nov. 20, 1945 IUNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE assazzo swrrcn Ac'rUA'roa Earl W. Tredeau, West Allis, Wis. i Application November 2o, 1942, serial No. 466,306

(ol. zoo-m) 2 Claims.

switch actuators and enable a child This invention relates to more particularly to an actuator to to operate a standard light switch.

In the home, light switches are placed in the wall at an elevation which is convenient for adults. Small children, so called toddlers, therefore can not reach the switch to turn on the light and as a result are likely to trip and fall in the dark.

One object of the present invention is to provide a switch actuator applicable to a standard wall light switch to enable a small child to operate the switch.

Another object is to provide a switch actuator which is readily applied to the face plate of a standard wall switch, and which will be simple to Ause and economical to manufacture.

Further objects will become apparent upon considering the following specication, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrates two forms of the invention.

In the drawing: y

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an ordinary lever action snap switch used in home lighting circuits, showing the actuator comprising the present invention in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l showing details of the actuator;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a push button type of domestic light switch, showing a modified form of actuator included in the present invention in place thereon;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the modiiled form of actuator; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4

showing the modified form of actuator.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 which show a lever type of home lighting switch II) mounted in a wall box II. The switch I0 has a retaining piece I2 secured. on the outer edge thereof which positions the switch III in the box II, by means of screws I3 which pass through the outer ends of the retaining piece I2 and are secured in the rim of the box I I.

A face plate I4 covers the open end of the switch I0 and iits ush on the wall I5. The face plate I4 is normally secured in position by means of. screws I6 which pass through the face plate I4 and engage threaded holes in the retaining piece I2. In a standard switch the screws having fiat heads iit into countersunkrecesses in the plate I4. In this invention these screws are reeither up or down.

placed by longer screws I6 'having heads with a nat rear face, such as round head screws.

The switch has an actuating lever I1 which projects through the face plate and moves on a pivot to an on position and an off position.

The secondary actuator which forms the subject matter of the present invention comprises a plate 20 having an aperture 2I therein which receives the switch levers I1, and a pair of spaced

alined apertures

22, 22 through which the screws I6 pass. The plate 20 is held spaced from the face plate I4 by spacer sleeves 24--24 against which the plate 20 abuts and which have reduced ends 25 extending through the apertures 22-22 against which the screws I6 abut, to give free rectilinear movement to the plate 20 while clamping the face plate I4 securely in place.

A stick 26 or other compression resisting member is loosely secured on a pivot 21 to the lower end of the plate 20 and extends downwardly to a point within the easy reach of a small child.

To operate the light switch a child wishing to turn on the light grips the stick 26 and moves it The movement of the stick 26 is transmitted to the plate 20 which moves up or down guided by the screws I6. The edges of the aperture 2| engage the switch lever I1 to transmit the motion of the plate 20 to the lever I1 and actuate the switch.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, for use with the push button type of switch, a plate 30 is secured to the face plate I4 by the screws I6'. The plate 30 has ears 3| which turn outwardly and pivotally receive an actuat7 ing lever 32. The actuating lever has arms 33-33 which engage the two buttons 34--34 of the conventional push button switch. A stick or other compression resisting member 35 is pivotally attached to the outer end of the lever 32 on a pin 36.

To operate stick 35 and by moving it up lever 32 to rotate on its pivot arms 33-33 to press one of the actuate the switch.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention the screws I6' serve to secure both plates 20-30 and the face plates I4-I4 in position and that the screws I6' pass through the holes provided in the standard switch for securing the face plates.

Having thus described the invention it is realized that it is susceptible to various changes and modifications and it is not therefore desired to limit the invention to the precise forms herein the light switch a child grips the or down causes the 31 which causes the buttons 34 to shown and described but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed by Letters Patent is:

1. For a iight switch having a retaining strip with a pair of spaced threaded holes therein, a i'ace plate having apertures therethrough in alinement with said threaded holes and a primary switch `actuator projecting through said face plate, a secondary actuator structure adapted to be mounted on the switch without removing or reversing said face plate comprising a secondary actuator having elongated apertures therein and an aperture receiving said primary switch, spacing means projecting through said elongated apertures and forming guides for said secondary actuator, a pair o! screws for securing said spacing means against said face plate and the face plate in assembled position and passing through the apertures in said i'ace plate and the threaded holes o! said strip, and means on said secondary actuator to enable the primary switch actuator tovbe moved from a point remote therefrom and within the reach oi a toddler.

2. For a iight switch having a retaining strip as new and desired to secure assaaao with a pair of spaced threaded holes face plate having apertures therethrough in mary switch actuator projecting through said face plate. a secondary actuator structure adapt ed to be mounted on the switch without removing or reversing said face plate comprising an actuator member having spaced slots therein and an aperture receiving said primary switch actuator,

y clamp said spacers against the face plate and the tace plate in assembled position, said actuator member being loosely mounted between said point remote therefrom and within the reach of a