CA2732657A1 - Illuminated cover plates with finger-like contactors for outlets and light switches - Google Patents

Abstract

An illuminated wall cover plate is provided with finger-like contactors designed to connect with electrical wire terminal screws on electric outlet and light switch devices.
This improved outlet and light switch cover plate incorporates LED lights to provide illumination nearby where extra lighting is needed in residential and industrial settings. The LED lights can be activated and deactivated in response to the intensity of ambient light falling on the cover plate.

Description

Summary of the Invention Description: There are two different illuminated cover plates: one is for electrical outlets and the other is for electrical light switches.

Use: This new illuminated cover plate replaces the original outlet cover plates and the light switches used in residential and commercial applications. This cover plate is used in dark locations lacking light and could also be used to enhance a decor by replacing standard outlet cover plates.

Unique aspects:

Outlet Cover Plate: The main advantage of this invention is that it does not cover the outlets when installed and during use. The finger-like contactors protruding from the back side of the cover plate touch one wire terminal screw on each side of the outlet device.

Light Switch: The main advantage of this invention is that it the cover plate for the light switch is easy to install and does not require wiring. The finger-like contactors protruding from the back side of the cover plate touch two or more screws on the sides of the lighting switch device.

Installation Options: According to one's preference, the cover plate can be installed either direction so the LED lights can face upward or downward.

Method: The finger-like contactors are the key feature to energizing the illuminated cover plate. On both the outlet and the light switch they make contact with the wire terminal screws to get power from the sides of the energized devices. First, the original non-illuminated outlet or light switch cover plate is removed; then the illuminated night light cover plate is installed in its place. When the cover plate is installed, the finger-like contactors will make contact with the terminal screws on each sides of the outlet device and will energize the light feature.

Explanation of Illustrations Figure A

Al. Front side of cover plate A2. Illumination side of LED lights A3. Screw hole for attaching cover plate to outlet Figure B

B1. Back side of cover plate B2. Electrical protection wall for finger-like contactors that prevents electrical shock during installation and/or arcing to outlet box B3. The finger-like contactors protruding from the back side of the cover plate touch two or more screws on the sides of the lighting switch device B4. Back side of LED lights B5. Electronics for reducing power for LED lights Figure C

Cl. Back side of outlet device C2. Neutral wire terminal screw for outlet C3. 120-volt wire terminal screw for outlet Figure D

This photograph is a side view of the outlet cover plate.
Figure E

This photograph is the front view of the installed cover plate with LED lights illuminated.

Claims

Claims The main advantage of this illuminated outlet cover plate is that the night light can be easily installed without wiring and without covering any outlets. This is a user-friendly device that anyone can safely install with the use of a screwdriver. This device is installed in the same way as the original non-illuminated outlet cover plate by simply unscrewing it and then replacing it with this illuminated outlet cover plate.

To prevent a fire hazard, it is critical that only one screw on each side touch the finger-like contactors on the back side of the illuminated outlet cover plate. The key feature of this design is that the metal contactors touch only one screw on each side. There are two plugs on a switched outlet: one plug is always energized, and the other plug is energized by a switch. On the brass side (hot side) of the outlet there are two wire terminal screws. Between those two screws there is a metal tab that can be removed to separate the power to make it a switched outlet. One outlet is constantly energized while the other side's power is controlled by a light switch.

For safety concerns, when the contactors touch only one screw on each side, there is no chance for fire hazard by electrical arcing as happens when contactors make contact with both of the screws on each side. A potential fire hazard can occur if an appliance (like a toaster or vacuum cleaner) is plugged into the "switched side" of an electrical outlet with the switch turned off;
if the metal contactor touches two screws simultaneously on the "hot side", a potentially dangerous electric arc can be created followed by a potential fire hazard. This improved feature makes this outlet cover safer than other designs, because during installation this new design prevents your fingers from touching the contactors as it makes contact with the wire terminal screws.

This illuminated outlet and light switch cover plate can be used for various voltages (example:
120v, 220v, 240v, 277v, and 480v.), depending on the desired location.