US 12,676,267 B2Granted

Control devices having independently suspended buttons for controlled actuation

AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC

InventorsNikhil Vithal Bhate, Rich Destremps, James Harrison, Jason Edward Jennings, Eric Jonathan Mace, Stephen Phillips

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Abstract

A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A wallbox mountable control apparatus, comprising:

a button assembly that includes:
a plurality of buttons;
and
a button carrier coupled about at least a portion of a perimeter of each of the plurality of buttons;
a control module that includes:
a plurality of light source pairs, each of the plurality of light source pairs associated with a respective one of the plurality of buttons;
wherein each light source pair includes a first light source and a second light source;
and
wherein, for each light source pair, the first light source and the second light source are disposed proximate opposing sides of one of the plurality of buttons;
and
a light guide layer disposed between the button assembly and the control module, the light guide layer including:
a first reflector strip disposed along at least a portion of a first edge of the light guide layer, the first edge of the light guide layer disposed proximate the first light source included in each of the plurality of light source pairs;
a second reflector strip disposed along at least a portion of a second edge of the light guide layer, the second edge of the light guide layer disposed proximate the second light source included in each of the plurality of light source pairs.

10 more elements

A wallbox mountable control device, comprising:

a button assembly that includes:
a plurality of buttons;
and
a resilient button carrier coupled about at least a portion of a perimeter of each of the plurality of buttons;
a control module that includes, for each button included in the plurality of buttons:
a first light source and a second light source to backlight the respective button;
and
at least one normally open set of electrical contacts that close upon actuation of the respective button;
and
a light guide layer disposed between the button assembly and the control module, that includes, for each button included in the plurality of buttons:
a light dispersion region separated by a gap from one or more adjacent light dispersion regions;
and
at least one reflector strip disposed along a first edge of the light guide layer;
wherein the first light source is disposed proximate a first edge of the light guide layer;
and
wherein the second light source is disposed proximate a second edge of the light guide layer, the second edge of the light guide layer disposed transversely across a light dispersion region.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/442,313Filed 15 Feb 2024 · continuation
Priority: 20 Apr 2015
Published: US 2024/0222046 A14 Jul 2024
Granted: 7 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

H01H 13/83
Having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard: characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid…
H01H 13/70
Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch:…
H01H 13/84
Having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard: characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for…
H01H 2209/006
Layers: force isolators

Family

Application62/150,227Us provisional application · filed 20 Apr 2015
Application15/134,299Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Apr 2016
Application16/223,507Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Dec 2018
US 10,181,385 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Jan 2019
Application17/403,509Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Aug 2021
US 11,094,482 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Aug 2021
Application17/980,636Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Nov 2022
US 11,495,422 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Nov 2022
US 2024/0222046 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Jul 2024
US 11,935,709 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0307714 A1Published application
US 2019/0122839 A1Published application
US 2021/0375563 A1Published application
US 2023/0066815 A1Published application
US 12,676,267 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.