Mechanical delay timer
OwnerTroy A. Heieninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical delay timer for operating either a toggle or a rocker-type wall switch to change the position of the switch after a preset interval includes a spring powered timer that drives a cam which, in turn, causes movement of an actuator that is arranged to engage either the toggle lever of a toggle wall switch or the rocker member of a rocker-type wall switch to move the switch from one position to another. The timer mechanism is contained within a housing that attaches to a timer base which, in turn, mounts over the existing cover plate of a conventional wall switch.
Claims14
A mechanical delay timer that operates either a toggle or a rocker-type wall switch, comprising:
- a timer base plate that is sized to fit over and to be secured on top of an existing cover plate of a conventional toggle or rocker wall switch, said toggle switch having a lever to turn it on and off, said base plate having a generally rectangular opening therein, said opening positioned and sized to accommodate said toggle switch lever and to allow free movement of said lever;
- a spring powered timer and a cam having a varying profile, said timer arranged to rotate the cam at a predetermined rate;
- a switch actuator, said actuator including a cam follower member arranged to move the actuator in response to a change in the cam profile;
- and
- a pair of leg members fixed to and extending from the actuator, each leg member terminating in a rail that fits through a slot in said timer base plate, each said slot disposed at a side of and parallel to said rectangular opening, said rails positioned to interact with the rocker member of a rocker wall switch to turn the switch on or off as the actuator moves in response to a change in cam profile.
A mechanical delay timer for turning either a toggle switch or a rocker switch off at a predetermined time after the switch was turned on comprising:
- a timer base plate adapted to fit over and to be secured on top of an existing cover plate of a conventional toggle or rocker wall switch, said toggle switch having a lever to turn it on and off, said base plate having a generally rectangular opening that is positioned and sized to accommodate said lever and to allow free movement of that lever, said base plate having a pair of slots extending through said plate, each said slot disposed at a side of and parallel to the rectangular opening at a location above the rocker member of a rocker wall switch;
- a mechanical timer disposed upon the base plate and arranged to drive a cam at a predetermined rate;
- an actuator arranged to engage either the toggle lever of a toggle wall switch or the rocker member of a rocker wall switch and to move the switch to its off position;
- and
- a cam follower arranged to move the actuator at a time directed by the cam, said movement of the actuator causing the switch to move to its off position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.