GB2389231A - Illuminated switch - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric switch incorporates one or more illuminated switch toggles 3. The switch is illuminated from behind by small light sources 7 thus making the switch easy to locate in low ambient light. The small light sources are part of a printed circuit board assembly 6, and may be LEDs or neons.

Description

238923 1

- 1 Light Electric Switch This invention relates to electric switch fittings and concerns in particular such fittings incorporating one or more illuminated switch toggles. Electric switches for the control of electrical energy are often wall mounted and may be found in many surroundings including domestic, commercial and industrial environments.

Locating an electric switch is a straight forward matter until the surrounding ambient light is poor. We are all familiar with the problem of trying to 'find the switch,' in a dark room or hallway.

Fumbling along walls in low lighting with our hands can lead to frustration and dangerous accidents.

The present invention seeks to remedy this situation by providing switch illumination.

According to the present invention the moving part of a switch fitting, the 'switch' or switch toggle is illuminated from behind by small light sources thus making the switch easy to locate and operate in low ambient light.

Numerous manufacturers of switch fittings produce faceplates and backplate assemblies which are topological similar. The novelty of the present invention lies in the introduction of a PCB between the

faceplate and back-plate incorporating the small light sources and the replacement of the opaque switch toggle with a toggle made from a transparent or semi-transparent material.

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described, though by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which the following tables are summaries.

Switch Fitting Drawings . _ Figure Description

_ 1A Side elevation...DTD: _ _ 1B Front elevation. _ _ 1C Sectional view showing PCB and small light sources.

_ _

2 Exploded isometric view of constituenarts.

_ _. 3A Circuit diagram showing the use of the switch of the invention in a one-way configuration.

. .. _

3B Circuit diagram showing the use of the switch of the _ invention in a two-way configuration.

_. Drawing Reference Number/Label Summary

_ Number/ Label Description

_.. __

1 The Switch 2 Faceplate _... _ _

3 Illuminated switch toggle _, 4 Back-pl e 5 Back-olate channels _ _.. _

6 Printed Circuit Board (PCB) _ 7 Small light source I 8 Conductive element 9 Resistor _. 10__ Wire fixing means _ _ 11 Toggle pivot 12 Toggle Vee MLS Main Light Source _ _ _ C Common . _.. .

L1 Line 1 ..._..

L2 Line 2 . _.. SF Switch Fitting _. SF1 Switch Fitting 1 SF2 Switch Fitting 2 .

- 3- Referring to the drawings the switch (1) or switch fitting comprises a faceplate (2), illuminated switch toggle (3), back-plate (4) and Printed Circuit Board PCB (6).

The PCB (6) carries the conductive elements (8) which connect the small light sources (e.g. light emitting diodes LEDs or neons) and the resistors (9) to the switch terminals; C, L1 and L2 in the back-plate assembly. Light from the small light sources (7) is projected onto the inner surface of the illuminated switch toggle made of a semi-transparent material. Like existing switch fittings the toggle pivot (11) is designed to fit into the faceplate's toggle 'vee' (12).

The PCB (6) and illuminated switch toggle (3) may be designed to fit existing switch fittings or may be part of a new structure.

The back-plate (4) contains channels (5) in which the switch 'metal parts' including the wire fixing means (10) are placed. These are common to many switches and will be described no further.

Figure 3A illustrates how a single pole double throw switch (SF) incorporating the PCB assembly, the subject of this invention along with a semi-transparent toggle, may be wired to control energy flow through the main light source (MLS).

Figure 3B shows two similar switch fittings SF-1 and SF2 and how they may be wired to control energy flow to a single light bulb (MLS) as occurs for example, in household hallways.

The small light sources (7) are inactive (offl when the switch is 'ON' turning on the main light source (MLS) and active (on) when the switch is 'OFF.' The footprint area of the PCB (6) is designed so that two or three may be placed in a single switch fitting.

Claims (8)

1. ( ('[aims ]. An electric switch incorporating an illuminated toggle.

   wherein the switch fitting and toggle comprises: A switch fitting with an illuminatable switch toggle which operates contacts connecting or disconnecting a supply of electrical energy to an electrical device tic he switched. The illumination tor the toggle is obtained from small light sources which form part of a sub-assembly on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) .

   I he switch toggic is illuminated trom within the switch and is made of a semitransparent light diffusing material.
2. 2. A switch as claimed in Claim 1, where there is more than one

   illuminatable switch toggle.
3. 3. A switch as claimed in either of the proceeding Claims. wherein The small light sources are replaced by a single light source.
4. 4. A switch as claimed in any preceding Claims, where the small light sources are not on a printed circuit board.
5. 5. A switch as claimed in any preceding Claims, where the small light sources are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
6. (a. A switch as claimed in any preceding Claims. where the small light sources are neon lamps.
7. 7. A switch as claimed in any preceding Claims. where the toggle is made from a light diffusing plastic material.
8. 8. An electric switch as claimed in any of the preceding Claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.