Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.

James E Swain, Iii

Gary W Bryde

John R Woodman

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.

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Bethelem, PA, United States of America

James E Swain, Iii