Smart nightlight

• US 10,422,493 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2018
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1842728 Ontario, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 1842728 Ontario, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Mitchell, Snaith, David, Kowalewski, Daniel, Copeland, Steve A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US16/055,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20190011098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/02 coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A night light includes a housing, a dimmable light source operatively connected to a rotatable light source controller rotatable about an axis and at least one first sensor mounted within the housing operative to sense rotation of the rotatable light source. The at least one first sensor outputs a signal representative of the rotation. Further, the rotatable light source can be rotated by a hand of a user. Still further, the light night can be controlled via wireless communication.

Claims

1. A night light comprising:

a housing including a cylindrical sidewall;

the cylindrical sidewall defining an internal cavity;

a front including a first region and a second region;

wherein the first region is circumscribed by the second region;

wherein a portion of the first region is opaque to prevent the emission of light;

wherein the second region is translucent to allow the emission of light;

wherein the second region is interposed between the cylindrical sidewall and the first region;

a dimmable light source positioned within the interior cavity;

wherein the dimmable light source emits a portion of light out of the cylindrical sidewall;

wherein the dimmable light source emits a portion of light out of the second region; and

an electrical power plug adapted for electrically connecting to an electrical outlet to provide power to the night light.

2. The night light of claim 1, further comprising:

a diameter of the night light; and

a length of the night light;

wherein a ratio of the diameter to the length is greater than approximately 2;

1.

3. The night light of claim 1, further comprising:

a printed circuit board positioned within the internal cavity; and

a processor logic configured to wirelessly control the dimmable light source.

4. The night light of claim 3, wherein the processor logic controls an intensity of the dimmable light source.

5. The night light of claim 3, wherein the processor logic controls a color of the dimmable light source.

6. The night light of claim 3, wherein the processor logic controls an illumination timer for the dimmable light source.

7. The night light of claim 3, wherein the processor logic controls a motion activator of the dimmable light source.

8. The night light of claim 4, further comprising:

a minimum light intensity level; and

a maximum light intensity level, wherein the processor logic illuminates the dimmable light source in a range from the minimum light intensity level up to the maximum light intensity level.

9. The night light of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery source to provide power to the night light.

10. The night light of claim 1, wherein the dimmable light source includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

11. The night light of claim 10, wherein the at least one light-emitting diode is a red, green and blue light-emitting diode (RGB LED).

12. The night light of claim 1, wherein the second region joins the cylindrical side wall.

13. The night light of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect motion.

14. The night light of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a passive infrared sensor.

15. The night light of claim 1, further comprising:

a diameter of the cylindrical sidewall;

a rear surface; and

a thickness between the front and rear surface;

wherein the diameter is less than or equal to approximately ninety millimeters; and

wherein the thickness is less than or equal to approximately thirty-eight millimeters.

16. The night light of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first region is a front cover.

17. The night light of claim 1, wherein the second region is a bezel.

18. The night light of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear surface;

wherein the electrical power plug extends outwardly from the rear surface.

19. The night light of claim 1, wherein the electrical power plug includes at least two prongs;

the night light further comprising;

a rear surface;

a pair of slots formed in the rear surface;

wherein the at least two prongs are moveable between a retracted position and an extended position;

where one of the at least two prongs is received within one of the pair of slots;

wherein the other of the at least two prongs is received within the other of the pair of slots;

wherein when the at least two prongs are in the retracted position the at least two prongs are disposed within the pair of slots; and

wherein when the at least two prongs are in the extended position the at least two prongs extend outwardly from the rear surface and out of the pair of slots.

20. The night light of claim 19, further comprising:

a rear surface;

wherein the front and the rear surface define a longitudinal direction therebetween;

a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and the rear surface; and

wherein the pair of slots is positioned vertically below the central longitudinal axis.