US1747758A - Adapter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1 930. v. R. DEsPARD 1,747,758

ADAPTER Filed Aug. le. 1928 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT FFC VICTOR R. DESPARD, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO MCG-ILL )MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA ADAPTER Application filed August 16, 1928.

My invention relates to adapters and more specifically to a device for attachment to the operating lever of a switch which lever is to be operated by a pull cord or the like to carry the pull cord laterally from the operating lever so that the downwardly extending portion thereof will clear fixtures located below and controlled by the switch.

This device is particularly useful where lighting fixtures are suspended from a canopy which canopy contains a controlling switch for turning the lights of the fixtures on or off.

If the pull cord were dropped directly from the canopy, the cord would, when pulled downwardly to turn on the switch, swing the fixture out of position or bear against it in case the fixture was rigidly mounted and this is of course objectionable as it tends not only to keep the fixture moving, but also to wear out the cord where it contacts with the ture.

Rigid horizontal extensions from the switch housing have been suggested, but the difficulty with this lies in the fact that, if very much of a pull is exerted on the pull cord, there is danger of distorting the canopy or breaking the switch mechanism due to the long leverage obtained by the rigid horizontal extensions.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide an adapter of this character which may be readily applied to a switch operating handle and which is sufficiently sti to carry the pull cord outwardly to the proper distance from the canopy and which is sufliciently ilexible or resilient to prevent any damage in case of an unexpectedly hard pull applied to the pull cord.

It is also a purpose of this invention to provide an adapter of this character which will also be simple to manufacture and attach to the switch.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred form of the device is shown. It is obvious, however, that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and such modifications as fall within the scope of Serial No. 300,129.

the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

In the drawings:

F ig. 1 illustrates my device as applied to a canopy switch of the type shown for instance in the patent to Despard No. 1,633,005; and

Fig. 2 is a view similar to F ig. 1 showing the device as it appears when the pull cord is pulled to operate the switch.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the usual ceiling canopy in which is mounted the switch 6 for controlling the lighting fixture suspended therefrom. This switch as shown is provided with means for connecting with the lighting circuit consisting of the leads 7 and 8 and is clamped to the canopy by means of the knurled nut 9.

The operating lever 10 of the switch is the type shown in the patent hereinbefore mentioned which is to be rocked about a seat formed in a screw threaded extension 11 of the switch frame to exert a pull on the switch operating link 12. The details of this structure is, of course, old and well known and need not be further described here as it forms no part of the invention.

The usual pull cord 13 is attached to the end of the switch operating lever 10.

My invention consists of the member 1d which is a length of resilient wire having the end 15 thereof coiled about the lever 10 and gripping it tightly. The enlarged bead 16 on the lever 10 aids in preventing the detachment of the member 1f-l by a straight pull away from the lever. At the free end of the member 14 it is provided with a coiled portion 17 forming an eyelet through which the pull cord is extended. The pull cord, of course, then hangs vertically from the eyelet 17 as indicated at 18. This vertical portion 1S isV therefore brought out suiiiciently far enough away from the canopy to clear whatever nxture may be suspended from the canopy.

Now when it is desired to operate the switch, the pull on the pull cord will tend first to bend the member 14 downwardly. This member, however, is sufficiently stid so that before it is bent very far the pressure applied to the lever 10 will rock it sufficiently to operate the switch. The resiliency of the member 14 also prevents any undue strain on the switch mechanism since it would be necessary to pull the pull cord tar enough ldown to bend the member 14 until it extends directly downward from the switch lever before any damage could be done. lWhen the member 14 is bent to such an extent, it ot' course does not give the long leverage provided for slight pulls and therefore it would require a much greater pull to cause any damage to the switch mechanism or the canopy as would be the case if the member '14 were rigid.

This adapter has the additional advantage that it may be readily applied to existing installations without the necessity of changing the pull cord or switch lever in any manner.-

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extension for a lever operated device in which said lever is adapted to be operated by a pull cord secured thereto, said extension having means whereby the same may be mounted on said lever with the cord attached and having means at the end remote trom said lever for supporting an intermediate portion of said cord.

2. An extension for a lever operated device in which said lever is adapt-ed to be operated by a pull cord secured thereto, said extension having means readily attachable to said lever with the cord in place and resiliently gripping' said lever, and having means at a distance from said lever tor supporting said cord. Y

3. An extension for a lever operated device in which said lever is adapted to be operated by a pull cord secured thereto, saidY extension having means consisting oa coiled portion which may be iitted on said lever when the cord is in place and having means spaced from said coiled portionthrough which the cord may extend.

4L. A switch operating device for operating the switch mechanism from a point spaced therefrom without disturbing the electrical devices controlled thereby comprising a switch operating lever, and a resilient extension on said lever extending axially of said lever, the resiliency of said extension preventing dama-ge to said switch mechanismr by giving in response to excessive pulls applied to said extension, and means at the tree end of said extension for supporting a pull cord. l

' 5. A flexible extension for a switch operating lever which is adapted to be' loperated by a pull cord secured thereto, said extension having means whereby the same may be readfor readily attaching the same to said lever' and having means at its tree end for support-v ing a pull cord. Y Y

Y 1n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 'my name this 8th day ot August, A. D. 1928.

VICTOR R. DESPARD.

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