Protective cover assembly for magnetically actuating an electrical wall switch

A protective cover assembly for an electrical wall switch disposed on a wall, the electrical wall switch having an actuator physically contactable and actuatable by a user for controlling electrical power to an electrical load from an electrical power source, said protective cover assembly comprising:

• an enclosure having a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a connector for connecting said enclosure over the electrical wall switch to inhibit a user from physically contacting and actuating the actuator of the electrical wall switch;
• at least one first magnetic material member attachable to the actuator;
• a tool having a second magnetic material member, said first magnetic material member and said second magnetic material member forming a magnetic force therebetween;
• wherein when the user moves said tool in a first direction adjacent to said outer surface of said enclosure covering said at least one first magnetic material member attached to the actuator, the magnetic force acting through said enclosure is operable to move the actuator from a first position to a second position for controlling the electrical power to the electrical load;
• wherein when the user moves said tool a second direction adjacent to said outer surface of said enclosure covering said at least one first magnetic material member attached to the actuator, the magnetic force acting through said enclosure is operable to move the actuator from the second position to the first position for controlling electrical power to the electrical load;
• and
• at least one of:
• said at least one first magnetic material member comprises an adhesive layer having a first surface attached to said at least one first magnetic material member, and a release layer attached to a second surface of said adhesive layer;
• and
• said at least one first magnetic material member comprises a cap expendable over a toggle lever of the actuator.

A protective cover assembly for an electrical wall switch disposed on a wall, the electrical wall switch having an actuator physically contactable and actuatable by a user for controlling electrical power to an electrical load from an electrical power source, said protective cover assembly comprising:

• an enclosure having a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a connector for connecting said enclosure over the electrical wall switch to inhibit a user from physically contacting and actuating the actuator of the electrical wall switch;
• at least one first magnetic material member attachable to the actuator;
• a tool having a second magnetic material member, said first magnetic material member and said second magnetic material member forming a magnetic force therebetween;
• wherein when the user moves said tool in a first direction adjacent to said outer surface of said enclosure covering said at least one first magnetic material member attached to the actuator, the magnetic force acting through said enclosure is operable to move the actuator from a first position to a second position for controlling electrical power to the electrical load;
• wherein when the user moves said tool a second direction adjacent to said outer surface of said enclosure covering said at least one first magnetic material member attached to the actuator, the magnetic force acting through said enclosure is operable to move the actuator from the second position to the first position for controlling the electrical power to the electrical load, and further comprising said electrical wall switch comprising:
• a housing;
• a controller disposed in said housing for controlling the electrical power to the electrical load;
• said actuator movable between the first position and the second position, said actuator having an outer surface;
• and
• wherein said at least one magnetic material member attachable to the actuator comprises the at least one magnetic material member disposed in said actuator below said outer surface;
• and
• wherein said actuator comprises a toggle having a toggle lever, and wherein said at least one magnetic material member is disposed in said toggle lever.

A method for operating an electrical wall switch for controlling electrical power to an electrical load from an electrical power source, the method comprising:

• moving, via a magnetic force acting through an enclosure disposed over an actuator of the electrical wall switch, the actuator from a first position to a second position without physically contacting the actuator to control the electrical power to the electrical load;
• moving, via the magnetic force acting through the enclosure disposed over the actuator of the electrical wall switch, the actuator from the second position to the first position without physically contacting the actuator to control the electrical power to the electrical load;
• and
• wherein the said actuator comprises a toggle having a toggle lever, and wherein at least one magnetic material member is disposed in the toggle lever.