US3077789A - Toggle switch extension actuator - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1963 F` ed April 6, 1960 ,H-,

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y' b h H 4- -Ro er1 F DeLlllWsENzTvt-)zlz /2 8 BY @4% @@M geni 3,677,789 TGGLE SWETCH EXTENSGN AETUATJR Robert F. De Lashniutt, 120i@ 5E. Woodward Piace, Portiand, Utreg. Filed Apr. 6, Een, Ser. No. 29,4%9 l Ciaim. (Cl. iid-593) This invention pertains to electric switches, and relates particularly to an extension actuator by which to accommodate the operation of a conventional toggle switch by `small children who are not able to reach to the height at which the switch normally is located for convenient operation by adults.

lt is a principal object of the present invention to provide a toggle switch extension actuator which is of extremely simplied construction for economical manufacture, which is capable of mounting in operative position by means of the securing screws for the switch cover plate without modiiication of the lswitch assembly, which accommodates operation of the switch by manipulation of the toggle either directly at its elevated position or indirectly from a lower position, and which assures proper operation without jamming and without breakage or other damage to the switch.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FlG. l is a foreshortened view in front elevation of a toggle switch extension actuator embodying the features of this invention, the same being shown in operative asn sociation with a conventional toggle switch and cover plate assembly;

FIG. 2 is a foreshortened sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. l.

For purposes of explanation, there is shown in the drawing a conventional electric switch lil provided with an attaching bracket 12 by which to secure the switch in a conventional outlet box (not shown). A cover plate 14 normally overlies the switch to conceal the latter and the electrical connections thereto, and the cover plate is supported in position by means oi the screws i6 which extend through openings i8 in the cover plate and are received in tapped openings in the bracket i2. A central opening 2t? in the cover plate receives freely therethrough the pivoted toggle 22 of the switch lo.

The extension actuator of the present invention comprises, in a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, a cover member 2d and an elongated handle member 26. The latter is received slidably within an elongated groove 28 which extends from the lower end of the cover member 24 and terminates inwardly of the upward end of the latter. Groove 28 is formed by a rearwardly projecting marginal extension at the upper end and sides of the cover member 2d. Registering openings Sil and 32 in the cover member 24 and handle member 26, respectively, receive the outwardly extending toggle 22 therethrough. The opening 3i? is dimensioned to permit movement of the toggle through its operative range, and the opening 32 is dimensioned only slightly larger than the dimensions of the toggle 22 so that the latter may be manipulated by movement of the handle member. This arrangement of the cover member and handle member eflfectively resists the entrance of objects and other matter between the relatively moving parts, thus assuring proper operation without jamming.

Openings 34 are provided in the cover member for alignment with the openings 18 in the cover plate and reception of the screws 16. These openings 34 extend through spacers 36, 3S which are equal in thickness to the depth of the groove Z8. These spacers thus function to maintain the depth of the groove 28 when the screws 16 are drawn tight.

An enlarged opening dit is provided in the handle member 26 to receive the spacer 38 freely therethrough, whereby to permit longitudinal movement of the handle member within the guide groove 2S, for remote manipulation of the toggle 22. An enlarged finger grip 42 is provided on the lower end of the handle for manipulating the latter. The handle member is guided during this movement by the side walls of the groove 28. Lateral strain on the toggle Z2 thus is avoided, insuring against its breakage or other damage to the switch.

ln mounting the extension actuator upon a switch assembly, the securing screws 16 are removed from the cover plate i4, the handle member 26 is placed within the guide groove Z3 with the opening it? surrounding the spacer 38, and the assembly of the cover member 24 and handle member Zo then is placed against the cover plate i4, with the toggle 22 projecting outwardly through the aligned openings Sait, 32,. The openings 34 and 18 then are aligned with the tapped openings in the mounting bracket 12, and the screws i6 tightened into place.

Manipulation of the toggle may be made by those tall enough to reach the toggle directly, a sufficient portion of the latter projecting outwardly beyond the cover member 24 for this purpose. Smaller children may manipulate the toggle by grasping the finger piece 42 and moving the handle member 26 in the appropriate direction.

The cover member 24 preferably is constructed of a synthetic thermosensitive resin material, of the thermosetting or thermoplastic types, by conventional molding technique. This method of manufacture accommodates the incorporation of the guide groove 2S and the spacers 36, 38 integrally with the cover member in one operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the details of construction described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A toggle switch extension actuator comprising, in combination with an electric switch cover plate having a front face and retainer screw apertures, a cover member having openings therethrough registering with the retainer screw apertures in the cover plate for securing the cover member on the face of the cover plate; the cover member having therein a transverse toggle-receiving opening; a rearwardly projecting marginal extension on the upper end and sides of the cover member, said marginal extension spacing the cover member from the cover plate to form a bottom-opening, elongated, guide groove; said egroove thus being defined by the rear surface of the cover member, the front face of the cover plate, and the upper end and side marginal extensions on the cover member; said groove intercepting the transverse toggle-receiving opening; and an elongated toggle actuator handle member having a portion thereof enclosed in said groove for guided movement therein, said portion of the handle member having therein a transverse toggle receiving opening and a longitudinally elongated transverse retainer screw receiving opening for accommodating longitudinal movement of the handle member relative to a mounted retainer screw extending through said elongated opening, the remaining length of the handle member projecting beyond the cover member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,211,818 Innis Aug. 20, 1940 2,493,581 Hood Ian. 3, 1950 2.668.456 Meistrell Feb. 9, 1954

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