DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a switching device and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to an improved cover plate for modular switch assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Switch assemblies are electrical devices that are configured to turn electrical appliances on or off by connecting or breaking an electrical circuit. The switch assemblies include components such as contacts, switch body components that facilitate the flow of electrical current; and the wiring harness, which holds the switch and provides a location for electricity to enter or exit. Switch body components include a base plate and a cover plate installed over the base frame by way of a snap-fit mechanism. Generally, the cover plate or a front plate includes a flat design to make a switchboard according to the room's aesthetics, the whole cover plate needs to be replaced. Alternatively, the cover plate is coupled with another plate to match the room's aesthetics and therefore, reduce overall manufacturing costs.

There are some limitations associated with the current design of the cover plate. For instance, the current design employs a separate front plate and the cover plate is adapted to be glued together using collared fittings over the cover plate. Such a design, firstly, utilizes a greater number of components to be joined while installing a switchboard. Secondly, the attachment mechanism of the separate front plate, i.e., a glass plate, with the cover plate becomes a cumbersome task while matching the aesthetics of the room with the switchboard and may be susceptible to breakage while trying to remove and replace the glass plate from the cover plate. Also, thickness of the cover plate and the base plate increases significantly which renders the aesthetics of wall. Moreover, the use of a greater number of parts increases the overall cost and increases the installation and the maintenance cost of a switch assembly.

Therefore, there is a need for the switch assembly having the cover plate that can be utilized with the conventional base plate of conventional switch assemblies.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to a switch assembly. The switch assembly includes a base plate and a cover plate. The base plate is adapted to receive the cover plate. The cover plate includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface positioned at an inclination with each other. The first surface and the third surface are orthogonal to each other, and the second surface is at an inclination with the first surface and the third surface. Further, the cover plate includes at least one truncated surface positioned at each corner of the cover plate. The at least one truncated surface is adapted to converge from each corner of the second surface for uniform contour of the cover plate.

In some embodiments, the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface of the cover plate may be adapted to provide a smooth flat structure with contoured ends, e.g., a left side and a right side of the cover plate. In some embodiments, the at least one truncated surface may reduce pointed corners of the cover plate and thereby provide a chamfered structure to ensure uniform contour of the cover plate. The cover plate may be slidably pulled or pushed from or to the base plate to detach or attach the cover plate with the base plate. Such utilization of the cover plate enhances the durability of the switch assembly. Further, the cover plate is also employed over the present electrical fittings with conventional switches and rocker assemblies.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates another isometric view of the switch assembly without a wall mount, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a cover plate of the switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 5B illustrates another side cross-sectional view of the cover plate of the switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which invention belongs. The system and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict, or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more elements is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1-3 illustrate different views of a switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 illustrates another isometric view of the switch assembly 100 without a wall mount, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The switch assembly 100 may be designed to be installed at an indoor location, such as a wall of a room. The switch assembly 100 may be an electrical appliance that may be installed at multiple locations within the room. The switch assembly 100 may include a cover plate 102 and a base plate 104 coupled to the cover plate 102. The base plate 104 may have multiple designs and colours to match with the colour of the walls and thereby aesthetically enhance the room. The cover plate 102 may have a modular design to detachably couple the base plate 104 with the cover plate 102. The cover plate 102 may be replaced or changed according to a user and the room requirements. The switch assembly 100 may include the cover plate 102, the base plate 104, and a plurality of switches 106 coupled to a rocker assembly 108, as shown in Figure 2.

The cover plate 102 may be positioned over the base plate 104 via a snap-fit mechanism. The cover plate 102 may include a first surface 110, a second surface 112, and a third surface 114. The first surface 110, the second surface 112, and the third surface 114 may correspond to surfaces on a left side and a right side of the cover plate 102. The left side and the right side of the cover plate 102 may be molded or cast into inclined surfaces, i.e., the second surface 112 is at an inclination with the first surface 110, and the third surface 114 is at an inclination with the first surface 110 and the second surface 112. The first surface 110 and the third surface 114 may be orthogonal to each other. The second surface 112 may be at an inclination of 5 degrees with the first surface 110 and the third surface 114. In some embodiments, the third surface 114 may converge from the second surface 112.

Further, the cover plate 102 may include at least one truncated surface 116 positioned at each corner of the cover plate 102. In some embodiments, each of the at least one truncated surface 116 may correspond to a cut-out section that may be fabricated at each corner between the second surface 112 and the third surface 114 of the cover plate 102. In some embodiments, the at least one truncated surface 116 may converge from each corner of the second surface 112 to decrease a visible thickness of the switch assembly 100. In some embodiments, each of the at least one truncated surface 116 may be converged at an angle of 3 to 5 degrees to have uniformity with a wall.

Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the cover plate 102 of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5B illustrates another side cross-sectional view of the cover plate 102 of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As discussed above, the cover plate 102 may include the first surface 110, the second surface 112, and the third surface 114. The third surface 114 may be directed inwards such that the visible thickness of the cover plate 102 and the switch assembly 100 may be reduced. As illustrated in Figure 5A, a straight face 118 may be positioned inside the third surface 114. In some embodiments, the straight face 118 may be integrated such that the cover plate 102 may be easily detached from the base plate 104. In some embodiments, the third surface 114 may converge at approximately 3 degrees with respect to the straight face 118. In some embodiments, the inclination of the first surface 110, the second surface 112, and the third surface 114 towards the left side and the right side of the cover plate 102 may reduce the overall visible thickness of the switch assembly 100 and may enhance smooth curvature towards the left side and the right side, while assembling the cover plate 102 over the base plate 104. It may be noted that the cover plate 102 may have a vertical straight-faced structure compared to a conventional bulging curvature of cover plates.

In some embodiments, the cover plate 102 may include a grooved section 120 positioned on the left side and the right side of the cover plate 102. The grooved section 120 may be integrated into the third surface 114 of the cover plate 102. The grooved section 120 may facilitate a clamping action of the cover plate 102 over the base plate 104. In some embodiments, the grooved section 120 may ensure a secure connection of the cover plate 102 with the base plate 104. In some embodiments, the cover plate 102 may be adapted to cover the base plate 104 entirely such that the visible thickness of the switch assembly 100 may be reduced. In some embodiments, a total thickness of the cover plate 102 may be reduced to 5.5 millimeters (mm) compared to a conventional thickness of 10 mm. Further, the total thickness of the cover plate 102 may be segregated into a visible thickness and a non-visible thickness. The visible thickness of the cover plate 102 may be around 1.5 mm and the non-visible thickness of the cover plate 102 may be around 4 mm. It may be apparent to a person skilled in the pertinent art that the reduction of thickness from, e.g., 10 mm to 1.5 mm, may be considered a substantial advancement when switch assemblies are considered.

In some embodiments, the plurality of switches 106 may be positioned at a center of the cover plate 102. The plurality of switches 106 may be provided with an indicator 122 to display status of a switch, i.e., ON or OFF. In some embodiments, the indicator 122 may be positioned towards one end of each of the plurality of switches 106.

In some example embodiments, the cover plate 102 may be made from wood, plastic, transparent glass, opaque glass, marble, stone, alloy steel, or any combination thereof. It may be noted that the cover plate 102 may be selected from a combination of materials and colors to aesthetically match with the wall.

In some embodiments, the first surface 110, the second surface 112, and the third surface 114 of the cover plate 102 may be adapted to provide a smooth flat structure with contoured ends, e.g., the left side and the right side of the cover plate 102. In some embodiments, the at least one truncated surface 116 may reduce pointed corners of the cover plate 102 and thereby provide a chamfered structure to ensure uniform contour of the cover plate 102. In some example embodiments, the switch assembly 100 may facilitate a detachable action of the grooved section 120 from the base plate 104 to increase the options of changing multiple frames within the cover plate 102. The cover plate 102 may be slidably pulled or pushed from or to the base plate 104 to detach or attach the cover plate 102 with the base plate 104. Such utilization of the cover plate 102 enhances the durability of the switch assembly 100. Further, the cover plate 102 is also employed over the present electrical fittings with conventional switches and rocker assemblies.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
,CLAIMS:1. A switch assembly (100) comprising:
a cover plate (102); and
a base plate (104) adapted to receive the cover plate (102), the cover plate (102) comprises:
a first surface (110), a second surface (112), and a third surface (114) positioned at an inclination with each other; and
at least one truncated surface (116) positioned at each corner of the second surface (112) and the third surface (114) of the cover plate (102), wherein the at least one truncated surface (116) are adapted to converge from each corner of the second surface (112) for uniform contour of the cover plate (102).

2. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover plate (102) is adapted to detach from the base plate (104) based on sliding of the cover plate (102) from the base plate (104).

3. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover plate (102) comprises a straight face (118) positioned inside the third surface (114), wherein the straight face (118) is integrated such that the cover plate (102) and is adapted to detach from the base plate (104).

4. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover plate (102) comprises at least one grooved section (120) adapted to be positioned on at least one of a left side or a right side of the cover plate (102), wherein the at least one grooved section (120) is integrated into the third surface (114) of the cover plate (102) and is adapted to facilitate a clamping action of the cover plate (102) over the base plate (104).

5. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a total thickness of the cover plate (102) is segregated into a visible thickness and a non-visible thickness.

6. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface (112) is at an inclination of 5 degrees with the first surface (110) and the third surface (114) and wherein the third surface (114) may converge from the second surface (112).

7. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one truncated surface (116) is converged at an angle of 3 to 5 degrees to have uniformity with a wall.

8. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover plate (102) comprises a visible section having a thickness of around 1.5 millimetres and a non-visible section having a thickness of around 4 millimetres.