Switch cover plate providing automatic emergency lighting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An emergency lighting device for covering a wall switch electrical box mounted in a wall, the electrical box containing an electrical wall switch having a switch arm extending outwardly from the wall, the device comprising:
- a switch plate for covering the wall switch electrical box, the switch plate including an electrical circuit mounting means, a switch plate mounting means and a switch arm engaging means;
an electrical circuit comprising a varying electrostatic field sensing means, an emergency switching means, an illumination means and a power source means, the electrical circuit being engaged by the electrical circuit mounting means so that the electrical circuit is covered from view when the switch plate is mounted to the wall by the switch plate mounting means;
the switch plate further providing illumination means viewing means;
the emergency switching means interconnecting the power source means with the illumination means when the field sensing means fails to sense a varying electrostatic field so as to provide emergency illumination when power is lost at the electrical wall switch.
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Abstract
A wall switch cover plate conceals an electrical circuit capable of sensing the field provided by the covered switch circuit. When power is lost at the switch circuit the electrical circuit senses the loss of power and activates one or more LEDs to provide emergency illumination. The electrical circuit is self contained and does not require stand-by energy so that the batteries are long lasting.
144 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An emergency lighting device for covering a wall switch electrical box mounted in a wall, the electrical box containing an electrical wall switch having a switch arm extending outwardly from the wall, the device comprising:
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a switch plate for covering the wall switch electrical box, the switch plate including an electrical circuit mounting means, a switch plate mounting means and a switch arm engaging means; an electrical circuit comprising a varying electrostatic field sensing means, an emergency switching means, an illumination means and a power source means, the electrical circuit being engaged by the electrical circuit mounting means so that the electrical circuit is covered from view when the switch plate is mounted to the wall by the switch plate mounting means; the switch plate further providing illumination means viewing means;
the emergency switching means interconnecting the power source means with the illumination means when the field sensing means fails to sense a varying electrostatic field so as to provide emergency illumination when power is lost at the electrical wall switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification