Solid state touch control snap switch
AssigneeGTE Products Corporation
InventorMichael St. John
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch, typically one used as a wall switch for the control of lighting in residences and commercial establishments, has a handle which is operable between a full off position in which the switching circuit is completely disconnected from a source of electrical power, and a use position in which the handle, while remaining stationary, becomes a touch-type control for operating the switch circuit between its "on" and "off" modes.
Claims10
In a switch of the touch-type including an operating element which, in response to being touched while remaining stationary relative to a switch housing, produces an electrical response in a control circuit, said control circuit being operative to alternately energize and de-energize an electrical load in response to said operating element being successively touched, the improvement that comprises:
- (a) said operating element being mounted in position to be accessible to a user and being mounted for movement relative to said switch housing between a use position, in which said operating element produces an electrical response in said control circuit in response to being touched while remaining stationary relative to said switch housing, and a disconnect position;
- and
- (b) means actuated by movement of the operating element to said disconnect position, for mechanically disconnecting the control circuit from a source of electrical power, whereby said operating element and said control circuit are totally inoperative in said disconnect position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.