Tamper-resistant, energy-harvesting switch assemblies

An energy-harvesting switch assembly comprising:

• a retainer clip having a generally rectangular frame;
• at least one rocker, positioned within said rectangular frame;
• a carrier having latches thereon which interlock with snap arms on said retainer clip;
• a decorative face plate secured to the assembly by the retainer clip;
• and
• an energy-harvesting switch module, which snaps into a recess within said carrier, said switch module having spaced-apart pivot pins to which said at least one rocker is pivotally attached, said switch module also having a pair of energy bows, said energy-harvesting switch module generating an induced current pulse and transmitting a radio frequency signal packet in response to pressure on said at least one rocker, which causes the energy bows to snap;
• wherein disassembly of said retainer clip from said carrier requires the use of a unique tool having two sets of spaced-apart wedge pairs, with the wedges of each wedge pair having a notch therebetween that fits over a latch on the carrier, thereby allowing the wedges to simultaneously raise both sides of a snap arm that has engaged the latch, said two sets of spaced-apart wedge pairs sliding into gaps between adjacent components of the assembly and unlatching said retainer clip from said carrier.

An energy-harvesting switch assembly comprising:

• a retainer clip having a generally rectangular frame;
• at least one rocker, positioned within said rectangular frame;
• a carrier which interlocks with said retainer clip to hold the entire assembly together in such a manner that it cannot be non-destructively disassembled without use of a unique tool having strategically-spaced, multiple wedge-shaped release prongs, which slides into gaps between adjacent components of the assembly and unlatches the retainer clip from the carrier;
• a decorative face plate secured to the assembly by the retainer clip;
• and
• an energy-harvesting switch module, which snaps into a recess within said carrier, said switch module having spaced-apart pivot pins to which said at least one rocker is pivotally attached, said switch module also having a pair of energy bows, said energy-harvesting switch module generating an induced current pulse and transmitting a radio frequency signal packet in response to pressure on said at least one rocker, which causes the energy bows to snap.