Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.

Triboro Electric Company, L.p.

Gary W Bryde

Joel S Spira

Simo P Hakkarainen

Donald J Wolbert, Iii

Noel Mayo

Robert S Hanna

Elliot G Jacoby

Donald R Mosebrook

Woodie C Flowers

James E Swain

Mark A Cieri

John Jay Zimmer

Gerald C Malone

Donald E Welling

Theodore M Monette

James E Swain, Iii

John R Woodman

John Roderick Woodman

A remotely controllable and programmable power control unit for controlling and programming the state and power level, including special functions, of one or more electrical devices. The electrical device can be an electric lamp. The system includes a user-actuatable remote transmitter unit and a user-actuatable power control unit adapted to receive control signals from the remote transmitter unit. Both the remote transmitter unit and the power control unit include a power selection actuator for selecting a desired power level between a minimum power level and a maximum power level, and control switches for generating control signals representative of programmed power levels of one or more power scenes and special functions. In response to an input from a user, either directly or remotely, the one or more devices of the one or more power scenes can be controlled between an on or off state, to a desired programmed preset, or to a maximum power level.

Lighting control with wireless remote control and programmability

The present invention is directed to a seasonal lamp socket for use outdoors in a variety of meteorological conditions, including rain, whereby a liquid or a gas is prevented from accumulating in the socket body in accordance with the present invention. The lamp socket and more particularly, the socket housing provides drain-through passageways which permit a liquid or a gas to enter into the interior of the socket housing and fluidly flow the length of the socket housing before draining out of the socket regardless of the socket orientation during use. Importantly, these drainage passageways prevent a liquid or gas from accumulating in the socket housing and causing damage to the electrical components thereof. Thus, the seasonal lamp socket of the present invention is intended for electrical lamp applications outdoors under adverse meteorological conditions.

Seasonal drain-through socket housing

An electrical switch and dimmer device for controlling current applied to a load comprises a bezel assembly (16) which includes a bezel housing (17), a switch actuator (18) and a dimmer actuator (19). The bezel housing supports both switch and dimmer actuators for respective movement between first and second positions, whereby the on/off state of an electrical switch adapted to apply power to an electrical load (e.g. an electric light or fan) is controllable, as is the level of power applied to the load by the switch. The bezel housing and the switch/dimmer actuators which it supports comprise a self-contained assembly which can be releasably connected to a yoke member (20) on which an electrical switch and dimmer circuitry are mounted. Preferably, the switch actuator comprises a paddle-type actuator (18) which is pivotally mounted between a pair of opposing side walls (48A, 48B) of the bezel housing, and the dimmer actuator comprises a slidably mounted member (21) which is guided by a rectilinear slot (23) formed in one of the bezel walls adjacent an edge of the paddle actuator.

Electrical switch and dimmer control device

Wireless transmitter for selectable light level control

Combined bezel and wall switch actuators

A switch actuator having a bezel, paddle and spring-biased lever. The bezel has a pivot defining a first pivot axis and an outer surface defining a plane. The paddle has an outer surface and an inner surface facing in a direction opposite the outer surface. The inner surface has structure for actuating a switch in response to actuation of the paddle, which is pivotably supported in the bezel for limited pivoting movement about the first pivot axis between first and second positions. A lever is pivotably mounted on the bezel and disposed at an acute angle to said plane. The lever is pivotable with respect to the bezel and the paddle about a second pivot axis as the paddle is pivoted about the first pivot axis. The second pivot axis is spaced from and substantially parallel to the first pivot axis. A spring is disposed at an acute angle to the plane. A first end of the spring is received by a spring receiver on the paddle inner surface and a second end of the spring is received by a spring receiver on the lever. The spring is spaced a distance from the second pivot axis and positioned between the second pivot axis and the spring receiver on the lever. The spring biases the paddle to the first position as it is operated toward the second position until approximately a midpoint of movement of the paddle, and thereafter biases the paddle to the second position.

Snap-action switch actuator

A system for controlling power to an electrical load includes a linear slide dimmer and a switch, whose pushbutton actuator moves up and down with the dimmer slider. When the pushbutton is depressed, to actuate the switch, it rides in and out in the slider. The slider only moves up and down. In one embodiment, a light is visible through the pushbutton in a darkened environment. In another embodiment, a wallbox-mountable switch assembly includes a pushbutton-actuated, alternate-action mechanical power switch whose pushbutton, when depressed, moves within a bezel that is attached to the switch support.

Sliding dimmer switch

Growing community of inventors

Catasauqua, PA, United States of America

Gary W Bryde