1980results about "Tumbler/rocker switch details" patented technology

A receptacle assembly for use in connecting an energy source to an energy delivering device is described herein. The receptacle assembly includes a face plate defining an aperture. The receptacle also includes an adapter assembly including an adapter plate, supporting a terminal that is operatively connected to the energy source. Additionally, the receptacle includes a spacer member interposed between an inner surface of the aperture of the face plate and an outer surface of the adapter plate, wherein the spacer member permits omni-directional movement of the adapter plate and terminal relative to the face plate.

A waterproof button knob includes an elastic button seat with a housing trough mating with a button port of a case. The button seat isolates the interior and the exterior of the case to achieve waterproofing. The housing trough has a plurality of apertures on the bottom. The housing trough holds a button cap that has a plurality of button stems extended downwards to pass through the apertures and form a tight coupling. The button stems may be moved to hit switches located in the case.

A load control system (e.g., a dimmer switch) operates in a normal mode of operation and an energy-saver mode and displays a visual indication when the system is operating in the energy-saver mode. The system comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between a power source and a lighting load, a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device for adjusting the intensity of the lighting load, and a visual indicator for providing the visual indication that the system is in the energy-saver mode of operation. The control circuit controls the intensity of the lighting load between a minimum intensity and a first maximum intensity when the system is in the normal mode of operation, and between the minimum intensity and a second maximum intensity less than the first maximum intensity when the system is in the energy-saver mode.

A power distribution system, suitable for use in a building, comprising a junction box, a hub, a junction device, and a cover plate. Wiring from the building is connected to the hub using alternative means such as stab-in connections, set screws, or loop screws, and color coding facilitates proper wiring. Also, the junction device is a modular piece that can be attached to the junction box via interference there between. Furthermore, a cover plate can be attached to the junction device via interference there between, or the cover plate can be integrally attached to the junction device. One embodiment of the hub accommodates circuitry that functions with the junction device while simultaneously accommodates circuitry wholly independent of the junction device. As such, the power distribution system enables wiring to be completed more quickly and accurately, in a wider variety of applications, thereby advantageously reducing associated costs.

An adjustable mounting bar and electrical box assembly for hanging a light fixture, fan, or other electrical device from a ceiling. All hardware required for mounting the electrical device is included with the assembly. The adjustable mounting bar includes sliding tubular members with end flanges for spanning between adjacent overhead joists. An electrical box is connected to the tubular members by a clamp and outer clamping fasteners, which can be loosened to adjust the length of the adjustable mounting bar. The end flanges include penetrable tabs that can be driven into the overhead joists to temporarily secure the adjustable mounting bar to the joists and thereby free the installer's hands. The outer face of the end flanges include a series of rows of slots arranged horizontally thereon and forming a plurality of bend lines. To accommodate ceiling coverings of various thickness, the end flanges can be bent outwards at the proper bend line to position the lower end of the electrical box flush with the ceiling surface. Load bearing bar fasteners threadably engaged in temporary storage receptacles in the sliding tubular members are removed therefrom and fastened through the end flanges to securely fasten the mounting bar to the joists. Load bearing device fasteners threadably engaged in temporary storage receptacles in the electrical box are removed therefrom and driven into receptacles in the clamp to secure the electrical device to the mounting bar. Oversize openings are provided in the top wall of the electrical box to ensure that the entire suspended load is borne by the clamp and mounting bar and not the electrical box.

A remote control electrical device which can communicate with a remote control device. The electrical control device is adapted to fit into a housing which fits into a wall mounting. The remote control electrical device can comprise a control circuit disposed in the housing, a transmitter disposed in the housing, a receiver disposed in the housing wherein said transmitter and said receiver are in communication with the control circuit. There is also a support plate having an inside face facing into the housing and an outside face facing away from the housing body. The support plate is coupled to the housing, wherein there is also an antenna disposed on the outside face of the support plate. This antenna does not receive any power-line AC frequencies or DC, instead it is capacitively coupled to the rest of the electrical components and disposed on the outside face of the support plate.

A safety module electrical distribution system comprises a wiring module adapted to mount within an electrical box, the wiring module having a functional side and a wiring side. A terminal set is disposed at least partially within the wiring module and is adapted to terminate a power cable proximate the wiring side. A plurality of structured sockets are disposed on the functional side, the structured sockets incorporate a portion of the terminal set. A functional module having a front side and a back side is adapted to removably install in the wiring module proximate the functional side. A contact set is disposed at least partially within the functional module and is adapted to conduct electrical power to an electrical distribution function accessible from the front side. A plurality of shielded plugs are disposed on the back side. The shielded plugs incorporate a portion of the contact set. The structured sockets are configured to interlock with the shielded plugs so as to provide electrical communication between the terminal set and said contact set.

A plastic mounting plate closes a electrical box which delivers wires to an alarm unit or emergency light or the like. The alarm unit is mounted to the mounting plate by a snap connection and a tab-in-slot connection, without requiring the use of a tool. The mounting plate is connected to the electrical box by screws which engage threaded holes provided by the electrical box. The mounting plate can be mounted to either a single-wide electrical box or a double-wide (4×4) electrical box and provides corresponding holes for connection to either box. An alternate mounting plate for a single-wide electrical box is also provided.

A modular expandable irrigation controller has controls for manual entry or selection of a watering program and a memory for storing the watering program. A processor executes the stored watering program and controls one or more station modules each including a station module circuit for energizing at least one solenoid actuated valve in accordance with the watering program. The irrigation controller has a plurality of receptacles for each removably receiving a station module and for providing an operative connection to the processor. A manually movable locking member is grasped and moved between UNLOCKED and LOCKED positions to positively secure each station module in a corresponding receptacle.

An electrical box is mounted on a wall stud, and a wiring panel is installed within the electrical box so as to partition the interior of the electrical box into a user inaccessible wiring compartment and a user accessible module compartment. A protective cover is attached to the wiring panel so as to protect the wiring panel during a makeup phase of wall panel installation and painting. After the makeup phase, the protective cover is removed from the wiring panel and a module having a user operable electrical function is mounted to the wiring panel within the user accessible module compartment.

A light switch assembly to replace an existing light switch, which generally includes a mounting bracket attached to an electrical box. The assembly slides into the mounting bracket and is locked into place with the mounting bracket. A decorative light switch cover and custom artwork within the frame snaps and locks onto the outer perimeter of the mounting bracket to complete the assembly. The assembly provides for a battery hack-up system for power failure situations to illuminate the white, light emitting diodes in the event of a loss of power. The assembly senses the loss of power and unlocks the switch assembly from attachment to the mounting bracket. Unsnapping the decorative cover exposes the switch assembly so it can be removed from the mounting bracket. The switch assembly then becomes a mobile, hand-held emergency flashlight. The battery back-up system also allows for communication with first responders.

An automation device to control a pre-existing light switch is described which attaches to the light switch by internal magnets at locations corresponding to the magnetic screw heads of the light switch. This makes installation a simple process requiring no hand tools or electrical connections be made with the light switch. The automation device can be wired or wirelessly controlled and works with both toggle light switches and rocker light switches. Additional functionalities include various timed and automated operations as well as device and user location determinations.

A light switch cover for converting a standard toggle switch into a remote-controlled toggle switch. In one embodiment, the light switch cover comprises a switch toggle member for acting upon a toggle light switch member to place the toggle light switch member into either an on position or an off position, a gear train coupled to the switch toggle member that causes the switch toggle member to act upon the toggle light switch member, an electric motor, coupled to the gear train, for driving the gear train in a first direction to cause the switch toggle member to place the toggle light switch member into the on position, and for driving the gear train in a second direction to cause the switch toggle member to place the toggle light switch member into the off position, motor driving circuitry coupled to the electric motor, a receiver for receiving signals that cause actuation of the standard toggle switch, and processing circuitry coupled to the receiver and the motor driving circuitry that causes the light switch cover to receive a signal to turn the toggle switch into the on position and, in response, causing the electric motor to rotate in a direction to cause the switch toggle member to place the toggle light switch member into the on position.

The present invention is directed to a weatherproof electrical outlet box assembly for shielding and protecting electrical components from moisture comprising a faceplate for attaching to an outlet box, the faceplate being substantially planar, and perimetrically bounded by a substantially rectangular side edge, the faceplate having at least one aperture for receiving an electrical component and; the faceplate including a first hinge socket and a second hinge socket extending respectively from the side edge in substantially orthogonal orientation. The weatherproof electrical outlet box assembly further including a cover having a front wall, an opposed open end and a substantially rectangular perimetrical side wall therebetween defining a cover interior, the side wall having a rim bounding the open end, the cover including at least one access port through the side wall adjacent the open end for providing separate passageways into the interior of the cover; the cover including a first hinge pin and a second hinge pin extending respectively from the side wall adjacent the open end in substantially orthogonal orientation; and the cover being pivotally affixed to the faceplate by operative engagement of the hinge socket with the hinge pin of corresponding orientation and movable between an open and a closed position and wherein the hinge pin and the hinge socket that are not in operative engagement are not aligned.

A switch assembly includes a switch casing and a button pivotally connected with the switch casing. The switch casing has at least two sets of fastener slots disposed at two sides of the switch casing, respectively. The cover plate has a set of hooks corresponding to the fastener slots. The hooks are engaged with either set of the fastener slots. In addition, an upper side of the switch casing where the button is pivotally connected includes at least one positioning protrusion that is correspondingly engaged with a positioning groove provided on the cover plate to prevent erroneous assembly of the cover plate with the switch casing.

An operation device is provided with an outer support section 1c which projects towards an outer face of a button 1, an inner support section 1e which projects towards an inner face of said button 1, a maintaining section 5b which is provided on a decorative front panel 5 and which maintains said outer support section in free rotation, a maintaining section 3a which is provided on a button depression member 3 and which maintains said inner support section 1e in free rotation and a flange 1b which is provided continuously on the outer edge of the aperture of the button 1. Thus it is possible to provide a smaller device than the conventional example while maintaining the rigidity of the outer support section 1c. A smaller button 1 and smooth see-saw operation can be realized as well as reductions in escaped light.

A remote control device is provided that is configured for use in a load control system that includes one or more electrical loads. The remote control device includes a mounting structure and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to be attached to the mounting structure in a plurality of different orientations. The control unit includes a user interface, an orientation sensing circuit, and a communication circuit. The control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the control unit via the orientation sensing circuit. The control unit is also configured to translate a user input from the user interface into control data to control an electrical load of the load control system based on the orientation of the control unit and / or provide a visual indication of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the orientation of the control unit.

The present invention relates to a hearing aid multifunctional switch comprising a base part, an externally activable switch arm, and a first and a second set of contact surfaces disposed at a surface of said base part. The first set of contact surfaces is adjacently positioned so as to form a substantially continuous surface, whereas the second set of electrically isolated contact surfaces is adjacently positioned so as to form a substantially continuous surface. The second set of contact surfaces is oppositely arranged to said first set so that the two sets have pairs of corresponding contact surfaces. A contact member is movable between said pairs of contact surfaces for providing electrical contact between a pair of corresponding contact surfaces. A pressure pad, wherein at least part of said pressure pad is positioned between a resilient member and the contact member, is biased by the resilient member against the contact member so as to ensure continuous contact between the contact surfaces and the contact member.

A support bracket and method for supporting an electrical junction box. The support bracket has a substantially flat base with a pair of conduit receiving holes, a pair of legs extending from the base at an angular relationship to the base, and a flange extending from each of the legs at an angular relationship such that each flange is substantially parallel to the base. The junction box is connected to the base of the support bracket with a junction box and the base in a face to face contact and a conduit receiving opening of the junction box aligned with one of the conduit receiving holes of the support bracket.

An electrical connection box for wall mounting provides a recessed external plug for receiving or transmitting power to electronic components. The connection box is configured to receive a variety of signal connection modules for interconnecting associated audio / visual electronics such as DVD players, displays and the like in adjacent apertures. The signal connection modules are inserted or extracted from the face of the connection box; replacing blanking plates, and is optionally recessed from the face of the box into the wall cut-out. The configuration and mating features of the box and modules also provides for a common and isolated ground reference for surge protection of the connected components.

The present invention is directed to a modular wall plate system accommodating N-wiring devices within a wall box. N is an integer greater than or equal to one (1). The system includes a left-end cap configured to be mounted to an exterior portion of a left most wiring device of the N-wiring devices disposed in the wall box, the left-end cap including a left-end cap finish surface. A right-end cap is configured to be mounted to an exterior portion of a right most wiring device of the N-wiring devices disposed in the wall box, the right-end cap including a right-end cap finish surface. N-1 alignment couplers are disposed between each of the N-wiring devices. The N-1 alignment couplers are configured to align adjacent ones of the N-wiring devices at least in two-dimensions. Each of the N-1 alignment couplers includes a coupler finish surface. N-wall plates are configured to cover each of the N-wiring devices. Each of the N-wall plates includes a wall plate finish surface.

A dimmer switch has a user adjustable high-end trim. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, such as a triac, for controlling the amount of power delivered from a source of alternating current power to a lighting load, such as an electric lamp. A user-adjustable timing circuit controls the conduction time of the triac from a minimum time to a maximum time. The maximum possible conduction time of the triac is the high-end trim. The minimum possible conduction time of the triac is the low-end trim. The timing circuit includes a user-accessible switch that allows a user to reduce the high-end trim from a first nominal level to a second reduced level, lower than the first level, without substantially affecting the low-end trim. The switch allows a user to switch a transient voltage suppressor into and out of parallel connection with a resistor that is part of an RC timing circuit for the triac. The dimmer switch advantageously uses less energy and the lifetime of the lamp is extended when the second reduced level of the high-end trim is selected.

A fiber optic cable enclosure having a rectangular box with a sliding cover and containing a cable reel disposed and supported therein on protuberances projecting from the bottom of the reel with the side panels of the enclosure supported in C section channels for horizontal sliding intermittent reciprocating motion whereby a cable wound on said reel can be extracted and utilized as a jumper cable for establishing emergency connections in a telecommunications network.

The present invention, in certain embodiments, is an exterior-wall-mounted accessory outlet unit for a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home. The apparatus includes a housing and a mounting plate. The housing is adapted to be positioned through the exterior wall of a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home. The housing includes a mounting lip and side walls, which form an interior space, and a receiving ridge. The mounting plate is shaped to fit into the receiving ridge of the housing, such that the outwardly-facing planar surface is generally parallel to a plane defined by the exterior wall of a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home. Within the mounting plate is at least one aperture for accommodating at least one electrical power accessory outlet, at least one coaxial cable mount, at least one modular telephone connector and at least one exterior speaker outlet.

An adjustable hanger bar assembly securable to a support structure including an elongate first member and an elongate second member. The first member is telescopically received within the second member. A securement section is supported on the second member. The securement member captures the first member within the second member and permits relative movement between the first and second members in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the first and second members, and restricts motion between the first and second members in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.