# US 2014/0151203 A1 · Wiring Device with Color Change Kit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151203 A1 - Document ID: US20140151203A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,661 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Cooper Technologies Company - Inventors: Erik Gouhl; Yogesh Vitthal Borkar; Robin Lu; Rohit Sumerchand Dodal; Oscar Neundorfer; Jerry Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151203A1 ## CPC - H01H 9/02: Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) - H01H 11/0006: {for converting electric switches (H01H13/564 takes precedence)} - H01H 23/146: {having a generally tubular or conical elongated shape, e.g. dolly} - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - H01H 9/18: Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks - Y10T 29/4973: Replacing of defective part - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a wiring device having a color change kit. The color change kit includes a removable skirt and switch cover. The skirt and switch cover, which are disposed on the wiring device and accessible by an end-user, are easily detachable from the wiring device. Thus, the skirt and the switch cover are replaced without replacing the entire wiring device. Further, the skirt and switch cover is replaced without removing the wiring device from a wall box or further disassembling the entire wiring device. In certain exemplary embodiments, the skirt is disposed within a housing of the wiring device, and the switch cover is disposed within the skirt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wiring device, comprising: a housing forming a cavity therein; a switching device comprising a switch, at least a portion of the switch disposed within the cavity; and a color change kit comprising a switch cover and a skirt, the switch cover being replaceably disposed over the switch and the skirt being replaceably coupled to at least a portion of the housing and surrounding at least a portion of the switch cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wiring device of claim 1, wherein the switch cover and the skirt are configured to be detachable from and attachable to the switching device without disassembling the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wiring device of claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises a toggle switch, and the switch cover comprises a toggle switch cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wiring device of claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises a paddle switch, and the switch cover comprises a paddle switch cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wiring device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an opening formed in the housing, the skirt being disposed within the opening and replaceably coupled to the housing via a snap-fit coupling mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The wiring device of claim 5, wherein the skirt is detachable from the switching device by releasing the snap-fit coupling mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wiring device of claim 1, wherein the switching device further comprises a dimmer and a dimmer slider for controlling the dimmer, wherein a portion of the dimmer slider extends outwardly from the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The wiring device of claim 7, wherein the skirt is coupled to or decoupled from the housing when the dimmer slider is in a first position. ### Claim 9 A wiring device color change kit, comprising: a switch cover capable of being replaceably disposed over a switch of a wiring device; and a skirt capable of being replaceably coupled to at least a portion of a housing of the wiring device and surrounding at least a portion of the switch cover when installed onto the wiring device, wherein the switch cover is configured to extend through an opening formed within the skirt when installed onto the wiring device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wiring device color change kit of claim 9, wherein the skirt is disposed within an opening formed in the housing, the skirt having an outer perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The wiring device color change kit of claim 9, wherein the switch cover includes a base portion configured to be disposed over a bottom portion of the switch and an interfacing portion configured to be disposed over a top portion of the switch, wherein the interfacing portion extending through the opening formed within the skirt, and wherein the switch cover is capable of being moved into one or more positions within the opening formed in the skirt, the switch cover moving the switch in a similar manner. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The wiring device color change kit of claim 9, where the switch cover and the skirt are fabricated from at least one polymer material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The wiring device color change kit of claim 10, wherein the skirt comprises a first mating feature for coupling to the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wiring device color change kit of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises a second mating feature adjacent to the opening formed within the housing for mating with the first mating feature of the skirt, wherein the skirt is configured to replaceably couple to the housing via the first and second mating features. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The wiring device color change kit of claim 9, wherein the skirt comprises a raised portion, the raised portion surrounding the opening formed within the skirt. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The wiring device color change kit of claim 9, wherein the switch cover comprises a first portion and a second portion configured to be disposed over a top portion of the switch and a bottom portion of the switch, respectively, wherein the first portion and the second portion are adjacently formed at an angle between 180 degrees and 135 degrees. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a color change kit of a wiring device, comprising: detaching a first skirt from a housing of a wiring device; detaching a first switch cover from the wiring device; attaching the first switch cover or a second switch cover to the wiring device; and attaching the first skirt or a second skirt to the housing of the wiring device, wherein the first skirt and first switching cover are attachable to and detachable from the housing and wiring device without disassembling the housing or wiring device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: moving a dimmer slider to a first position before detaching the first skirt or the first switch cover from the housing or wiring device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: releasing a coupling mechanism to detach the first skirt from the housing of the wiring device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second switch covers are configured to be disposed over a switch in the wiring device.