US3024339A

US3024339A - Switch cosntrol

Info

Publication number: US3024339A
Application number: US839470A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johnson Paul Christian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-09-11
Filing date: 1959-09-11
Publication date: 1962-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-06

Description

March 6, 1962 P. c. JOHNSON SWITCH CONTROL Filed Sept. 11, 1959 United States Patent 3,024,339 SWITCH CONTRCBL Paul Christian Johnson, Rte. 3, S. 36th St., South Omaha, Nebr. Filed Sept. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 839,470 1 Claim. (Cl. 200-172) This invention relates to a switch control, and more particularly to a control means for an electric switch.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch control wherein a switch Such as an off and on switch can be readily operated or controlled from a remote location.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch control which is constructed so that a movable switch member can be actuated from a remote location, as for example such a switch member can be actuated or moved by a person in a different room or area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch control which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away and in sections illustrating the switch control of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the switch control per se.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view showing a modified arrangement.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of another modification.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a further modification.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a portion of a wall member such as a wall member in a home, building or the like, and extended through the wall member 10 is a rod 11, which is rotatably supported in the wall member. The numeral 12 indicates an escutcheon which has the rod 11 extending therethrough, and the escutcheon or bearing 12 is adapted to be fastened in place to one surface of the wall 10 as at 13. The numeral 14 indicates a manually operable knob or handle which is mounted on the end of the rod 11 as at 15 and wherein the numeral 15 indicates a set screw or securing element.

The numeral 16 indicates a conventional switch housing which is suitably mounted in the wall member in the usual manner, and a plate 17 is arranged contiguous to the housing 16, the plate 17 being secured in place by means of screws 18. The numeral 19 indicates the usual movable switch which is mounted for movement through an opening in the plate 17, so as to turn on or off lights or other electrical appliances.

The rod 11 extends through a bearing 20 which is continguous to the plate 17, and mounted on the end of the rod 11 is a movable lever 21. The lever 21 serves to.actuate or engage a movable switch 19 as the rod 11 is rotated by means of the knob 14, so that the switch 19 can be moved to an on or off position as desired.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification wherein a support 22 is suitably fastened to an end of the rod 11,

l as pressure is applied thereto.

r 3,024,339 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 f3 15: and the numeral 23 indicates a lever which is in the form of an open rectangular bracket that has a hollow interior as indicated by the numeral 24. The lever 23 is adapted to receive therein the projecting end of the movable switch 19 so that as the rod 11 is rotated, the lever 23 will move the switch 19 to an off or on position The lever 23 includes spaced parallel side portions 25 as well as

end portions

26 and 27, and the end portion 27 is pivotally mounted to the support 22. This pivotal arrangement permits the lever 23 to be swung from the solid to the broken line position of FIGURE 4 as for example when it is desired to manually actuate th switch 19 without the use of the lever and rod.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a further modification wherein the plate 28 is of the type which has an outlet 29 as well as one or more switch members 30 adjacent thereto. In FIG- URE 5 the actuating lever 31 for moving a switch such as switch 30 is mounted on the rod such as the rod 11, and the lever 31 is adapted to be arranged adjacent one end of the plate 28, as for example it is shown arranged adjacent to the upper end of the plate instead of being arranged adjacent to the side edge as illustrated previously.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there is illustrated a further I modification wherein the numeral 32 indicates a switch plate which is provided with a push button type of on and oil switch 33 that includes a rounded or raised surface, FIGURE 7. The switch 33 is of the type which serves to turn electric appliances or fixtures on or oif In FIGURES 6 and 7 the numeral 34 indicates a lever which is mounted on a rod such as the rod 11, and the lever 34 carries a cam such as the cam 35 which engages the push button switch 33 as the rod 11 is rotated from a remote location.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified rod 35 which is adapted to be used in lieu of or instead of the rod 11, and the rod 36 includes a main straight portion 37 as well as a downturned end portion 38. The numeral 39 indicates a lever which is adapted to be made of metal stock, and the lever 39 includes spaced apart side portions 40 as well as a back portion 41 and tabs 42 which are adapted to be bent or folded around the portion 38 of the rod 36 in order to fasten the lever 39 to the rod 36. The hollow interior of the lever 39 provides a space for receiving a switch such as the switch 19 so that as the rod 36 is rotated by means of a knob such as knob 14, the switch such as the switch 19 can be turned or moved as desired.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a switch control mechanism which is especially suitable for use in controlling a movable switch from a remote location. In the arrangement of FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the rod 11 is adapted to extend through a wall member 10 which may be a wall in a home, or other building and with the switch housing 16 contiguous to one side of the wall and with the knob 14 adjacent to the other side of the wall, it will be seen that by manually moving the knob 14, the lever 21 will engage the movable switch 19 and position the switch 19 at the desired on or off setting or position. Thus, the switch 19 can be operated or actuated from a remote location without he necessity of actually manually gripping or engaging the switch 19.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 the rod 11 is adapted to be actuated by a knob such as the knob 14, from a remote location and with the support 22 fastened to the rod 11, and with the lever 23 carried by the support 22, it will be seen that manual rotation of the rod 11 will cause the lever 23 to move the switch 19 to the desired position.

The lever may be arranged adjacent to the upper end of the plate as indicated by the numeral 31 in FIGURE or else it may be positioned off to one side as desired. The arrangement in FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrates a means for actuating a push button type of switch 33 wherein the cam 35 carried by the lever 34 will actuate the push button switch 33 as the lever 34 is moved by the rod 11. In FIGURE 8, there is illustrated a method of fabricating or mounting the lever 39 on the rod 36 and the tabs 42 are adapted to be bent over so as to retain the lever 39 on the rod.

The parts can be made of any suitable mtaerial and in different shapes or sizes.

The instant invention thus provides a mechanical device for operating an electric light switch from outside areas of a house or building by a manual means. The present invention is adapted to be used with a conventional light switch and manual power is applied to the knob 14 and this manual power is transmitted by means of a rod such as rod 11. The inside bearing mount 20 may be made of thin metal which is bent angularly to give it suificient strength and the mount is provided with openings so that the same can be fastened on the electric box. The device is easy to install and for example it can be used to turn on porch and yard lights from outside of the house and it eliminates use of expensive waterproof three-way switches as well as additional wiring and other installation work which is normally required. The rod may be made long enough so that it can be cut to the desired length so that it will fit walls of different thicknesses. In addition to providing a means for operating outside switches, the device can also be used on inside walls such as from one room to another as desired. The lever 31 of FIG- URE 5 can either be placed at the top or bottom of the plate 28. The bearing mount 20 is adapted to be fastened on the bolt holes of the electric box.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the character described, a wall member, a rod extending through said wall member, an eseutcheon fastened to one surface of the said wall member and having said rod extended therethrough, a knob mounted on an end of said rod and arranged contiguous to said escutcheon, a securing element extending through said knob and engaging said rod, a housing contiguous to the other end of the rod, a plate adjacent to the housing and said plate having said rod extending therethrough, a bearing for said rod arranged contiguous to said plate, a movable switch contiguous to said plate, a lever mounted on an end of the rod for actuating the switch, said lever comprising a support member of rectangular formation rigidly secured to said rod with the axis of said support member extending at right angles to the axis of said rod and a rectangular shaped bracket having a hollow interior and including spaced parallel side portions and spaced parallel end portions, with one of said end portions being pivotally connected to said support member whereby said bracket may be selectively moved into and out of engagement with said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,380 Woods Aug. 16, 1932 2,068,408 Greulach Jan. 19, 1937 2,582,379 Goldberg Jan. 15, 1952 2,604,583 Torre July 22, 1952 2,639,356 Savage May 19, 1953 2,878,348 Haydon et al. Mar. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,147 Canada Apr. 26, 1949