Lamp control system
First Claim
1. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device connected to receive electrical power from a conventional electrical wall outlet socket under the joint control of a manually actuated wall-mounted switch and a second manually actuated switch located at said utilization device, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- connecting a electrically operated switching means between said electrical wall outlet socket and said electrically powered utilization device, generating a first control signal whenever said wall-mounted switch is actuated, generating a second control signal whenever said second switch at said utilization device is actuated, operating said electrically operated switching means in response to both said first control signal and said second control signal such that said electrically powered utilization device can be independently controlled by actuating either said manually-actuated wall mounted switch or said manually actuated switch located at said utilization device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control circuit for operating a lamp or other electrically operated device using a conventional wall socket outlet that is selectively energized under the control of a conventional wall mounted switch. To permit the lamp to be independently controlled using either the wall switch or the lamp switch, a wall adapter unit is employed that plugs into the wall outlet and into which the lamp'"'"'s power cord is plugged. Sensing means are employed to detect the operation of either the wall switch or the lamp switch to control an electrically operated switch which turns the lamp ON and OFF whenever either the wall switch or the lamp switch are operated. Different embodiments are provided for use with conventional electrical wiring and with either a conventional lamp or lamp incorporating additional circuitry to adapt it for use with the wall socket adapter.
24 Citations
14 Claims
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1. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device connected to receive electrical power from a conventional electrical wall outlet socket under the joint control of a manually actuated wall-mounted switch and a second manually actuated switch located at said utilization device, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
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connecting a electrically operated switching means between said electrical wall outlet socket and said electrically powered utilization device, generating a first control signal whenever said wall-mounted switch is actuated, generating a second control signal whenever said second switch at said utilization device is actuated, operating said electrically operated switching means in response to both said first control signal and said second control signal such that said electrically powered utilization device can be independently controlled by actuating either said manually-actuated wall mounted switch or said manually actuated switch located at said utilization device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control adapter for connecting an electrical device to a standard electrical outlet which is connected to a source of electrical power through a wall-mounted switch having ON and OFF positions, said electrical device comprising a male electrical power supply plug connected to the series combination of a load circuit and a device switch having ON and OFF positions, said control adapter comprising:
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a housing, a male adapter plug comprising connectors extending outwardly from said housing and adapted to plug into and establish an electrical connection with said standard electrical outlet, a female socket mounted on said housing to receive said male electrical power supply plug, a control circuit having an ON state and an OFF state, first sensing means mounted within said housing and connected to said male adapter plug for changing the state of said control circuit whenever said wall mounted switch changes between its ON and OFF positions second sensing means mounted within said housing and connected to said female socket for changing the state of said control circuit whenever said device switch changes between its ON and OFF positions, and an electrically operated switch mounted within said housing for applying electrical power to said female socket whenever said control circuit is in its ON state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for controlling the operation of an electrical device which is supplied with electrical energy from a conventional electrical outlet, said electrical outlet being selectively energized in response to the operation of a conventional wall-mounted manual control, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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an outlet adapter including plug means for establishing electrical connections to said electrical outlet and sensing means for detecting the operation of said wall-mounted manual control to produce a first control signal, a manually operated device control located at said electrical device, and a control circuit coupled to said outlet adapter and said manually operated device control for selectively energizing said electrical device in response to both said first control signal and the operation of said manually operated device control. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification