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US 8,149,591 B2Granted
Wall box dimmer
AssigneeCreston Electronics Inc.
InventorsGeorge Feldstein, Stanley Wisniewski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual function air-gap switch actuator (26) is incorporated into the generally planar face of a wall box dimmer. The switch actuator is finger operated and provides both a main power disconnect via air-gap contacts (211) and the means (212) to activate a secondary function. The dual function air-gap switch actuator is optionally fitted with an indicator lamp (265).
Claims38
A wall box dimmer having a generally planar face and adapted to mount behind a faceplate (31), said dimmer comprising:
- (a) an enclosure (21) containing a pair of cooperating air-gap contacts (211) interiorly thereof;
- (b) a removable bezel kit (22) protruding through an opening in said faceplate and further comprising
- (i) a bezel,
- (ii) at least one primary function button (24) operable by a user to initiate a primary function,
- (iii) a dual function air-gap switch actuator (26) mechanically co-operable with said pair of air-gap contacts and adapted to open and close said pair of air-gap contacts;
- and
- (c) wherein said dual function air-gap switch actuator is further adapted to be operable by the user to initiate a secondary function and the bezel kit is configured to allow various sized buttons to be snapped into the bezel prior to attachment with the dimmer enclosure.
4 more elements
A wall box dimmer having a generally planar face and adapted to mount behind a faceplate, said dimmer comprising:
- (a) an enclosure;
- (b) a pair of cooperating air-gap contacts configured as a micro-switch interiorly mounted within said enclosure;
- (c) a removable color matched bezel kit including components protruding through an opening in said faceplate and further comprising
- (i) a bezel,
- (ii) a dual function air-gap switch actuator configured as a lever and mechanically co-operable with said pair of air-gap contacts and adapted to open and close said pair of air-gap contacts;
- and
- (iii) a vertical column of LEDs;
- (d) wherein the bezel kit is configured to allow various sized buttons operable by the user to initiate a primary function to be snapped into the bezel prior to attachment with the dimmer enclosure;
- (e) wherein the air-gap contacts are further adapted to open when the bezel kit is separated from the dimmer enclosure;
- and
- (f) wherein said dual function air-gap switch actuator is further adapted to be operable by the user to initiate a secondary function.
8 more elements
A wall box dimmer having a generally planar face and adapted to mount behind a faceplate, said dimmer comprising:
- (a) an enclosure containing a pair of cooperating air-gap contacts interiorly thereof;
- (b) a removable bezel kit protruding through an opening in said faceplate and further comprising
- (i) a bezel,
- (ii) a first primary function button operable by a user to initiate a primary function,
- (iii) a second primary function button smaller than the first primary function button and operable by a user to initiate a primary function,
- (iv) a third primary function button smaller than the first primary function button and operable by a user to initiate a primary function, and
- (v) a dual function air-gap switch actuator mechanically co-operable with said pair of air-gap contacts and adapted to open and close said pair of air-gap contacts;
- and
- (c) wherein said dual function air-gap switch actuator is further adapted to be operable by the user to initiate a secondary function and the bezel kit is configured to allow various sized buttons to be snapped into the bezel prior to attachment with the dimmer enclosure.
6 more elements
A wall box dimmer having a generally planar face and adapted to mount behind a faceplate, said dimmer comprising:
- (a) an enclosure containing a pair of cooperating air-gap contacts interiorly thereof;
- (b) a removable bezel kit protruding through an opening in said faceplate and further comprising
- (i) a bezel,
- (ii) two primary function buttons operable by a user to initiate a primary function,
- (iii) a vertical column of light-emitting diodes (LED) configured as a bar graph indicator,
- (iv) a dual function air-gap switch actuator mechanically co-operable with said pair of air-gap contacts and adapted to open and close said pair of air-gap contacts;
- and
- (c) wherein said dual function air-gap switch actuator is further adapted to be operable by the user to initiate a secondary function.
5 more elements
A wall box dimmer having a generally planar face and adapted to mount behind a faceplate, said dimmer comprising:
- (a) an enclosure containing a pair of cooperating air-gap contacts interiorly thereof;
- (b) a removable bezel kit protruding through an opening in said faceplate and further comprising
- (i) a bezel,
- (ii) four primary function buttons operable by a user to initiate a primary function,
- (iii) a vertical column of light-emitting diodes (LED) comprising seven LEDs, spaced to line up with the primary function buttons, with alternate LEDs aligned with corresponding primary function buttons,
- (iv) a dual function air-gap switch actuator mechanically co-operable with said pair of air-gap contacts and adapted to open and close said pair of air-gap contacts;
- and
- (c) wherein
- (i) said dual function air-gap switch actuator is further adapted to be operable by the user to initiate a secondary function,
- (ii) said alternate LEDs are adapted to provide corresponding button status, and
- (iii) the LEDs that are not aligned with corresponding buttons remain powered off.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.