Light switch cover

• US 5,811,730 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William J. Rintz
• Original Assignee: William J. Rintz
• Inventors: Rintz, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/769,623
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 220/241, 220/242, D 8/353, D13/177, 200/302.3, 200/333, 200/302.1, 200/317, 200/310
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/048 using a sealing boot, e.g. the casing having separate elastic body surrounding the operating member and hermetically closing the opening for it
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/14 Tumblers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/18 Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A light switch cover is disclosed for use with conventional "rocker" and "toggle" type switches. The cover generally includes a mounting bracket which is attached to the electrical box, along with the switch and a face plate which is attached to the mounting bracket. For "rocker" type switches, the face plate is preferably constructed from a soft material to allow the user to operate the covered "rocker" switch, but can be made of a combination of hard and soft materials. For "toggle" type switches an aperture is provided in the face plate to operate the toggle. Preferably, the outer surface of the face plate is provided with a decorated design or other indicia. The light switch can also be utilized where more than one switch is provided. For multiple "rocker" switches, a diverter bar is provided on the mounting bracket, to absorb pressure being asserted on one "rocker" switch from also transferring to an adjacent "rocker" switch and inadvertently turning "off" or "on" the adjacent "rocker" switch. An electroluminescent lighting sheet can also be provided between the face plate and mounting bracket to highlight and enhance the decorative features of the present invention light switch cover.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a light switch, is comprising:

a one piece flexible face plate member having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a mounting bracket member abutting a wall area surrounding the light switch, said mounting bracket member having an outer surface and an inner surface, said face plate member attached to said mounting bracket; and

an electroluminescent light sheet disposed between said face plate member and said mounting bracket member, said electroluminescent light sheet electrically associated with electrical circuitry of the light switch;

wherein said light switch can be operated when said cover assembly is properly attached.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein said face plate member has indicia disposed on its outer surface.

3. The cover assembly of claim 1 further including at least one female receiving port attached to the inner surface of said face plate member and at least one protruding peg member attached to the outer surface of said mounting bracket member;

each of said receiving ports associated with a respective protruding peg member, wherein a portion of said peg member is received within its respective receiving port when said cover plate member is properly attached to said mounting bracket member.

4. A cover assembly for at least one "rocker" type light switch, comprising:

a one-piece face plate member having an outer surface and an inner surface, said face plate member constructed from a flexible material;

a mounting bracket member;

means for attaching said face plate member to said mounting bracket member so that said face plate member completely covers the at least one light switch; and

an electroluminescent light sheet disposed between said face plate member and said mounting bracket member, said electroluminescent light sheet electrically associated with electrical circuitry of the light switch;

wherein the at least one light switch is still operable when said face plate member is properly attached to cover the at least one light switch.

5. The cover assembly of claim 4 wherein said mounting bracket member has at least one aperture for receipt therethrough of a portion of said at least one light switch.

6. The cover assembly of claim 5 wherein said at least one light switch comprises a plurality of light switches and wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures being associated with a corresponding one of said light switches.

7. The cover assembly of claim 6 wherein said mounting bracket member further includes a diverter bar disposed between each adjacent pair of said apertures of said mounting bracket member.

8. A cover assembly for a "rocker" type light switch, said light switch attached to an electrical box and including electrical circuitry, comprising:

a face plate having an outer surface and an inner surface, said face plate constructed from a flexible material, said face plate including a lip member disposed around an outer edge area of said face plate, said lip member defining a groove;

a mounting bracket having an opening, an operable portion of the light switch extending through said opening, said mounting bracket having an outer surface and an inner surface, said mounting bracket including a flange member disposed around an outer edge area of said mounting bracket;

first means for attaching said face plate to said mounting bracket so that it completely covers the light switch; and

an electroluminescent light sheet disposed between said face plate and said mounting bracket, said electroluminescent light sheet electrically associated with electrical circuitry of the light switch;

wherein the light switch is still operable when said face plate is properly attached to said mounting bracket;

wherein said flange member is disposed within said groove to define a second means for attaching said face plate to said mounting bracket;

wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to be attached to said light switch independent of the attachment of said face plate to said mounting bracket.

9. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein said first means for attaching includes a plurality of receiving ports disposed on said inner surface of said face plate and a plurality of protruding peg members disposed on said outer surface of said mounting bracket;

each of said receiving ports associated with a respective peg member, a portion of said peg members being snugly received within their associated receiving port when said face plate is attached to said mounting bracket.

10. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein said first means for attaching comprises:

a flexible sheet member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface abutting said electroluminescent light sheet, said outer surface having a plurality of receiving ports disposed thereon, said flexible sheet member attached to said face plate; and

a plurality of protruding peg members disposed on said outer surface of said mounting bracket;

each of said receiving ports associated with a respective peg member, a portion of each of said peg members being snugly received within its associated receiving port when said face plate is attached to said mounting bracket.

11. A cover assembly for a "toggle" type light switch, comprising:

a faceplate member having an outer surface, a rigid perimeter portion, and a central aperture for receiving a toggle portion of the light switch;

means for illuminating at least a substantial portion of said outer surface; and

means for attaching said face plate member to a wall surrounding said light switch so that the toggle portion of the light switch is received and operable in said aperture;

wherein said means for illuminating is an electroluminescent lighting sheet disposed between said face plate member and said means for attaching, said electroluminescent lighting sheet electrically associated with electrical circuitry of the light switch.

12. The cover assembly of claim 11 wherein said means for attaching includes a mounting bracket member, said mounting bracket member having at least one aperture for receipt therethrough of the toggle portion of the light switch.

13. The cover assembly of claim 12 wherein at least one second toggle switch is provided, and said at least one aperture in said mounting bracket member comprises a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures being associated with either said light switch or one of said at least one second toggle switch.

14. A cover assembly for a "toggle" type light switch, comprising:

a face plate member having an outer surface, a rigid perimeter portion, and a central aperture for receiving a toggle portion of the light switch;

means for illuminating at least a substantial portion of said outer surface; and

means for attaching said face plate member to a wall surrounding said light switch so that the toggle portion of the light switch is received and operable in said aperture;

wherein said means for attaching includes a mounting bracket member, said mounting bracket member having at least one aperture for receipt therethrough of the toggle portion of the light switch;

wherein said means for illuminating is an electroluminescent lighting sheet disposed between said face plate member and said mounting bracket member, said electroluminescent lighting sheet electrically associated with electrical circuitry of the light switch.

15. A cover assembly for a "toggle" type light switch, comprising:

a face plate member having an outer surface, a rigid perimeter portion, and a central aperture for receiving a toggle portion of the light switch;

means for illuminating said outer surface; and

means for attaching said face plate member to a wall surrounding said light switch so that the toggle portion of the light switch is received and operable in said aperture, said means for attaching includes a mounting bracket member, said mounting bracket member having at least one aperture for receipt therethrough f the toggle portion of the light switch;

wherein said means for illuminating is an electroluminescent lighting sheet disposed between said face plate member and said mounting bracket member, said electroluminescent lighting sheet electrically associated with electrical circuitry of the light switch;

wherein said mounting bracket member includes at least one flange;

said face plate member further including at least one groove in said rigid perimeter portion for receiving said at least one flange, and an internally threaded aperture in said rigid perimeter portion opposite said at least one groove; and

a set screw received in said internally threaded aperture for securing said face plate member to said mounting bracket member.