# US 2023/0127259 A1 · Base for a retrofit remote control device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0127259 A1 - Document ID: US20230127259A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/087,282 - Filed: 2022-12-22 - Published: 2023-04-27 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-14 - Assignees: Lutron Technology Company LLC - Applicants: Lutron Technology Company LLC - Inventors: Chris Dimberg; Jason C. Killo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230127259A1 ## CPC - H01H 9/08: Arrangements to facilitate replacement of a switch, e.g. cartridge housing - H01H 23/145: {the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward} - F21V 23/009: {the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device} - F21V 23/0435: {activated by remote control means} - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - H01H 9/0271: {structurally combining a switch and an electronic component (for relays H01H50/021)} - H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere - H01H 23/04: Cases; Covers - H01H 23/205: {using a compression spring between tumbler and an articulated contact plate} - H01H 23/24: with two operating positions - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - H05B 47/196: {characterised by user interface arrangements} - H01H 2300/03: Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring - H05B 47/1975: {Gesture control} - Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) - Y04S 20/14: Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers - 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) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A remote control device may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may include a control unit and a base that may be configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch. The base may include a frame, a biasing member, and/or a ribbon portion. The frame may be configured to secure the remote control device thereto. The frame may define a rear surface that is configured to abut a bezel of the mechanical switch. The biasing member may be configured to engage a rear surface of a faceplate of the mechanical switch. The ribbon portion may be configured to attach the biasing member to the frame. The ribbon portion may be configured to extend through a gap between the bezel and the faceplate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A base configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the base comprising: a frame that defines a first end wall, a second end wall, and opposed side walls that extend between the first end wall and the second end wall, the frame defining an opening and a rear surface, wherein when the base is mounted over the paddle actuator, the opening receives a protruding portion of the paddle actuator therein and the rear surface abuts a bezel of the mechanical switch; a biasing member comprising: a pair of spring supports; a pair of spring contacts; and a plurality of spring arms, wherein each of the plurality of spring arms extends between a respective one of the pair of spring supports and a respective one of the pair of spring contacts to couple the respective one of the pair of spring supports to the respective one of the pair of spring contacts, each of the plurality of spring arms being compliant to bias the spring contacts against a rear surface of the faceplate; and a ribbon portion that attaches the biasing member to the frame, wherein when the base is mounted over the paddle actuator, the ribbon portion extends through a gap between the bezel and the faceplate such that the frame is located on a front side of the faceplate and the pair of spring supports extend into a wallbox to which the mechanical switch is installed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein the ribbon portion is a thin flexible material that is configured to bend such that the base can extend through the gap between the bezel and the faceplate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein the ribbon portion wraps around a portion of each of the opposed sidewalls to couple the biasing member to the frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The base of claim 4, wherein the frame defines a plurality of stakes that are configured to secure the ribbon portion to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The base of claim 5, wherein the ribbon portion defines a plurality of holes configured to receive the plurality of stakes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the frame against the bezel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein each of the pair of spring contacts is configured to apply, in a direction perpendicular to a structure in which the mechanical switch is installed, a force on the rear surface of the faceplate as the faceplate is attached to a yoke of the mechanical switch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein each of the pair of spring supports defines a plurality of stakes that are configured to secure the ribbon portion to a respective one of the pair of spring supports. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein each of the pair of spring supports defines a clip configured to receive a respective spring arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The base of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of spring arms defines a flat portion that is configured to be received by the clip of a respective one of the pair of spring supports, the flat portion configured to abut the respective one of the pair of spring supports. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein the frame defines attachment members configured to engage with complimentary features of the remote control device to secure the remote control device in an attached position relative to the mechanical switch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The base of claim 2, wherein the ribbon portion is a first ribbon portion that extends from a first side of the frame, the base further comprising a second ribbon portion that extends from a second side of the frame. ### Claim 14 A base configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the base comprising: a frame that defines a first end wall, a second end wall, and opposed side walls that extend between the first end wall and the second end wall, the frame defining an opening and a rear surface, wherein when the base is mounted over the paddle actuator, the opening receives a protruding portion of the paddle actuator therein and the rear surface abuts a bezel of the mechanical switch; a coupling configured to engage a surface of a faceplate of the mechanical switch such that the coupling is configured to removably secure the base to the faceplate; and a ribbon portion that attaches the coupling to the frame, wherein when the base is mounted over the paddle actuator, the ribbon portion extends through a gap between the bezel and the faceplate such that the frame is located on a front side of the faceplate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The base of claim 14, wherein the coupling comprises: a pair of spring supports, wherein when the base is mounted over the paddle actuator, the pair of spring supports extend into a wallbox to which the mechanical switch is installed; a pair of spring contacts; and a plurality of spring arms, wherein each of the plurality of spring arms extends between a respective one of the pair of spring supports and a respective one of the pair of spring contacts to couple the respective one of the pair of spring supports to the respective one of the pair of spring contacts, each of the plurality of spring arms being compliant to bias the spring contacts against the surface of the faceplate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The base of claim 15, wherein each of the pair of spring contacts is configured to apply, in a direction perpendicular to a structure in which the mechanical switch is installed, a force on the surface of the faceplate as the faceplate is attached to a yoke of the mechanical switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The base of claim 14, wherein the coupling comprises a flap that is wedge-shaped with a thickness that increases toward a distal portion that is distal from the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The base of claim 17, wherein the flap is configured to be wedged in the gap between the bezel and the faceplate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The base of claim 18, wherein the flap is silicone and is configured to deform when wedged in the gap between the bezel and the faceplate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The base of claim 14, wherein the coupling comprises a plurality of flaps that extend from the rear surface of the frame. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The base of claim 14, wherein the coupling comprises a biasing member that is configured to apply a force on the rear surface of the faceplate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The base of claim 14, wherein the ribbon portion is a thin flexible material that is configured to bend such that the base can extend through the gap between the bezel and the faceplate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The base of claim 22, wherein the ribbon portion is configured to wrap around a portion of the frame to connect the coupling to the frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The base of claim 23, wherein the frame defines a plurality of stakes that are configured to secure the ribbon portion to the frame. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The base of claim 24, wherein the ribbon portion defines a plurality of holes configured to receive the plurality of stakes. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The base of claim 14, wherein the ribbon portion is a first ribbon portion that extends from a first side of the frame, the base further comprising a second ribbon portion that extends from a second side of the frame.