IP Library Granted Patent US 8,796,567
Granted Patent B2
US 8,796,567 · App. 12/903,616 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

Switch conversion apparatus

Inventors: Michael S. Mahle (Fairport, NY); Mark Patrick Rau (Walworth, NY); Craig F. Hoffman (Fairport, NY); Craig Person (Fairport, NY); John F. Kasper (Farmington, NY); Daniel John Bentley (Rochester, NY); Scott D. Reiner (Bergen, NY); Christopher John Lundgren (Fairport, NY)
Assignee: Michael Mahle
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,796,567
App. No.
12/903,616
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A switch conversion apparatus including an interface device, a mounting plate configured to mount to a toggle switch and including at least one aperture for receiving a toggle arm of a toggle switch, and an actuator plate configured to slidably engage the mounting plate and including at least one aperture for receiving and engaging a toggle arm of a toggle switch when engaged by the interface device so as to transition the state of the switch. Other embodiments of a switch conversion apparatus include one or more mechanical, electrical, and/or pneumatic timers.

Claims (18)

1. A switch conversion apparatus, comprising:

an interface device;

a mounting plate configured to mount to a toggle switch and including at least one aperture for receiving a toggle arm of a toggle switch; and

an actuator plate configured to slidably engage the mounting plate and including at least one aperture for receiving and engaging a toggle arm of a toggle switch when engaged by the interface device so as to transition the state of the switch;

a pneumatic timer including a cylinder, a piston, at least one valve, and a timer interface configured to communicate with the piston;

a yoke attached to the actuator plate;

wherein the interface device is a slider and is further configured to engage the timer interface so as to displace the piston and the yoke so as to displace the actuator plate.

2. A switch conversion apparatus, comprising:

an interface device;

a mounting plate configured to mount to a toggle switch and including at least one aperture for receiving a toggle arm of a toggle switch; and

an actuator plate configured to slidably engage the mounting plate and including at least one aperture for receiving and engaging a toggle arm of a toggle switch when engaged by the interface device so as to transition the state of the switch;

a link configured to communicate with the interface device;

a yoke configured to communicate with the link and the actuator plate;

a pulley including a cable having a first end and a second end wherein the cable is attached at the first end to at least one of the slider, yoke, link, and actuator plate;

a cylinder including a first end and a second end and further including at least one valve disposed toward the first end;

a piston disposed in the cylinder and configured to attach to the second end of the cable;

a spring retainer disposed at the second end of the cylinder; and

a spring disposed in the cylinder and between the piston and the spring retainer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MAHLE, MICHAEL S.
To: EFFORTLESS SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 042644/0544 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2010
From: MAHLE, MICHAEL S.; REINER, SCOTT D.; HOFMANN, CRAIG F.; LUNDGREN, CHRISTOPHER; PERSON, CRAIG; KASPER, JOHN F.; BENTLEY, DANIEL JOHN; RAU, MARK P.
To: MAHLE, MICHAEL S.
Reel/Frame 025469/0545 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61251094 · Oct 13, 2009
Provisional Application 61318997 · Mar 30, 2010
Related Publication 20110083948A1 · Apr 14, 2011