Patent Application
20060137962
The invention relates to electrical power control switches.
It is known to use electrical power control switches that are located remotely from the device being controlled by the switch. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,117 (Overstreet)-discloses a foot-operated electrical switch for controlling power to a controlled device. In particular, a user of the device of the '117 patent uses his or her foot to apply a generally horizontal force to a pivot plate to activate the switch.
While the device in the '117 patent provides an improved system for controlling power to a device, it is limited in its ability to provide any degree of security for preventing use of the device. Also, while there are other types of electrical switches on the market, those switches are generally very costly and complex.
A need exists for an improved, inexpensive, manually-operated remote power control switch which provides increased tamper resistance.
In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a remote electrical power control switch assembly for controlling power to a controlled device. The remote switch assembly comprises a housing having at least one wall. An electrical switch is supported by and enclosed within the housing. The switch has a first actuator movable between a first position and a second position. The first actuator is preferably biased into the first position. The switch is changed between an off state and an on state by movement of the first actuator between the first position and the second position, respectively.
A second actuator is mounted within the at least one wall. The second actuator preferably has a central axis substantially perpendicular to the at least one wall. The second actuator includes a cam operatively coupling the second actuator to the first actuator. A portion of the second actuator is accessible from an exterior of the housing. The second actuator is manually rotatable about the central axis between a first position and a second position.
A power input conductor is operatively coupled to the switch. A power output conductor is operatively coupled to the switch and is connectable to the controlled device. With the second actuator in its first position, the switch is in the off state, and electrical power is not provided to the power output conductor. With the second actuator in its second position, the switch is in the on state, and electrical power is provided to the power output conductor.
Preferably, the remote switch assembly further comprises a piggyback plug having prong terminals adapted to be inserted into an electrical outlet and having prong terminal receptacles adapted to receive prong terminals of a second plug that is operatively connected to the controlled device. A cord operatively connects the piggyback plug to the electrical switch. The cord includes the power input conductor and the power output conductor.
In one preferred embodiment, the first actuator is a lever and the second actuator is either a keyed cam lock or a keyless cam lock. The remote switch assembly may include a first mounting bracket adapted to mount the assembly to a flat surface and second mounting bracket adapted to mount the assembly to a decorator-style face plate or panel. The housing walls may be permanently joined to prevent access to and tampering of the electrical switch.
The present invention allows for individual components (e.g., switch and actuator) of the device to be easily replaced.
The foregoing and other features of the invention and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms of the invention which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The housing 20 has at least one wall and preferably a plurality of walls 28. With particular reference to
With continued reference to
A power input conductor 42 is operatively coupled to the switch 30, for supplying electrical current to the switch 30. A power output conductor 44 is also operatively coupled to the switch 30 and is connectable to the controlled device 12 for providing electrical current to the controlled device 12. Preferably, the input and output conductors are combined into the cord 40.
As shown in
A second actuator, preferably in the form of a keyed cam lock 70, is mounted within a wall 28 of the housing 20. The keyed cam lock 70 is a commercially available item, for example, a full-size flat keyed cam lock available from Royal Lock Inc. of Waucond, Ill. The keyed cam lock 70 includes a keyhole 72, and is held secure to the first wall, preferably by a lock nut 74. The keyed cam lock 70 has a central axis 76. The central axis 76 is substantially perpendicular to the wall. A portion of the second actuator (preferably the keyhole 72) is accessible from an exterior of the housing 20. The keyed cam lock 70 is manually rotatable about the central axis 76 between a first position and a second position. With reference to
The keyed cam lock 70 includes a cam 80 which operatively couples the keyed cam lock 70 to the switch lever 32. The cam 80 is preferably designed to contact the lever 32 over a relatively large area, to reduce stresses in the lever 32 resulting from contact with the cam 80, thus helping to ensure reliable and extended performance of the switch assembly 10. Further, the cam 80 is designed to provide a measure of over-travel when the keyed cam lock 70 is moved into the second position. The over-travel ensures that the lever 32 is moved fully into its second position to activate the switch 30.
With the keyed cam lock 70 in its first position, the switch 30 is in the off state, and electrical power cannot provided to the power output conductor 44. With the keyed cam lock 70 in its second position, the switch 30 is in the on state, and electrical power can be provided to the power output conductor 44. As the cam lock 70 is actuated from its first to second position, the cam rotates about the central axis 76, contacting and urging the lever 32 to transition from its first position to its second position. It should be readily apparent that if the lever 30 were, instead, a depressible button, the rotation of the cam lock would be arranged to cause depression of the button.
Preferably, the switch assembly 10 further includes a first mounting bracket 90 adapted to mount the switch assembly 10 to a flat surface, and second mounting bracket 100 adapted to mount the assembly to a decorator-style face plate or panel. The first mounting bracket 90 preferably comprises a left-hand bracket 90a and a right-hand bracket 90b. Each bracket 90a, 90b is preferably removably connected to the housing 20 by screws 92, although the brackets could be fixedly attached if desired. Each bracket 90a, 90b is further provided with elongated slots 94 through which additional screws 92 connect the switch assembly 10 to a flat surface. With particular reference to
With particular reference now to
With reference again to
It will be recognized that other types of rotating actuators could be employed as the second actuator, in substitution for the keyed cam lock 70 or the keyless cam lock 170. Any type of rotating actuator capable of being coupled to the switch first actuator (the lever 32) to move the first actuator from a first, un-activated position to a second, activated position, could be substituted.
In operation, the second actuator (keyed cam lock 70 or keyless cam lock 170) is rotated into the first position (if not already in the first (or off) position). The piggyback plug 50 is then inserted into a live electrical outlet (not shown). The second plug 60 is then installed into the piggyback plug 50. At this point, power is not supplied to the second plug 60. When power to the controlled device 12 is desired, the second actuator is moved to the second position which, in turn, activates the switch 30 allowing electrical power to be supplied to the second plug 62. When power to the controlled device 12 is not desired, the second actuator is moved to the first position, thereby deactivating the switch 30 and inhibiting electrical power to the second plug 62.
The present invention provides an inexpensive manually-operated remote power control switch assembly. The switch assembly provides a novel arrangement of simple and robust mechanisms capable of controlling power to a controlled device. In a first embodiment, activation of the switch is controlled by the keyed cam lock, while in a second embodiment, activation of the switch is controlled by rotation of the keyless cam lock.
The present invention has particular use in rack systems that have two access modes. For example, a wall mounted rack, such as the DWR series rack sold by Middle Atlantic Products, Inc., Riverdale, N.J., includes a front hinged door and a center cabinet section that can be swung out from a backpan. Separate mechanical locks are generally used to lock the front door to the center section, and the center section to the backpan. The lock for engaging the center section to the back pan is normally located on the side of the unit. However this type of configuration inhibits side-by-side mounting of units.
The present invention provides a unique solution to this problem. By combining mechanical and electrical switches, it is possible to remotely locate the switch from the lock. For example, referring to
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
