Outlet mounted light fixture

• US 6,474,829 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clodfelter, James F.
• Original Assignee: Clodfelter, James F.
• Inventors: Clodfelter, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/725,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20020064039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 362/95, 362/234, 362/250, 362/413, 362/238, 362/239, 362/233, 362/198, 362/419, 439/105, 439/620.R
• US Class Current: 362/95
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6633 with inductive component, e.g. transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7177 filament or neon bulb
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/92 Holders formed as intermediate parts for distributing energy in parallel through two or more counterparts at least one of which is attached to apparatus to be held

Abstract

An outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet. The outlet fixture includes a flat front panel and a flat back panel parallel to the flat front panel. There are a plurality of prongs extending from the back panel for entering and electrically connecting to the existing wall outlet. The cover is designed for visual pleasure and is relatively strong to support electrical outlets mounted on the flat front panel to receive electrical conductors. The fixture also has side electrical outlets mounted on either side panel. The fixture adds one or more hollow elongated stems which extend from the top panel. These stems or poles can be rigid or flexible. The stems receive the light bulbs and have the wiring and on/off switch connecting the bulbs to the outlet. The fixture can be placed in any outlet and the lights can illuminate an area for reading or for generally lighting the area. The fixture eliminates the need for a free standing light and the attached power cord.

Claims

1. An outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, comprising:

a flat front panel;

a flat back panel parallel to said flat front panel;

a plurality of prongs extending from said back panel for entering and electrically connecting to said existing wall outlet;

a top panel connected to said flat front panel and said flat back panel;

a bottom panel connected to said flat front panel and said flat back panel;

a right side panel and a left side panel, each said side panels connecting said top panel and said bottom panel;

at least one light electrically connected to said plurality of prongs, for providing illumination to a selected area;

at least one stem for physically connecting said light to said top panel and extending above said top panel for positioning said light in said selected areas for illumination;

receptacle means positioned in said at least one stem for electrically connecting to said at least one light and to said plurality of prongs for electrically receiving power; and

said at least one stem including a bendable and flexible hollow structure for receiving electrical wiring, said wiring extending from said at least one light and said plurality of prongs.

2. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one stem comprising:

a rigid hollow structure for receiving electrical wiring, said wiring extending from said at least one light and said plurality of prongs.

3. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one light comprising:

a bulb for illuminating said selected areas.

4. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electrical outlet mounted on said flat front panel for receiving electrical conductors and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs; and

at least one side electrical outlet mounted on either side panel for receiving electrical conductors and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs.

5. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

mounting means for securely mounting said outlet mounted light fixture to said existing wall outlet, and said mounting means providing support to said fixture.

6. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 5, wherein said mounting means further comprising:

an elongated screw for extending from said flat front panel through said fixture and into said existing wall outlet, said elongated screw being removable.

14. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one light comprising:

at least one control switch for controlling said at least one light.

7. An outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, comprising:

a flat front panel;

a flat back panel parallel to said flat front panel;

a plurality of prongs extending from said back panel for entering and electrically connecting to said existing wall outlet;

a top panel connected to said flat front panel and said flat back panel;

a bottom panel connected to said flat front panel and said flat back panel;

a right side panel and a left side panel, each said side panels connecting said top panel and said bottom panel;

at least one electrical outlet mounted on said flat front panel for receiving electrical conductors and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs;

at least one side electrical outlet mounted on either side panel for receiving electrical conductors and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs;

at least two lights electrically connected to said at least one electrical outlet and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs, for providing illumination to at least one selected area;

at least two stems for physically connecting each said at least two lights to said top panel and extending above said top panel for positioning each said at least two lights in said selected areas for illumination;

receptacle means positioned in each said at least one stem for electrically connecting said at least one outlet to each said at least two lights and to said plurality of prongs for electrically receiving power; and

at least one of said at least two stems includes a bendable and flexible hollow structure for receiving electrical wiring, said wiring extending from each said at least two lights and at least one electrical outlet.

8. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said at least two stems comprising:

a rigid hollow structure for receiving electrical wiring, said wiring extending from said at least one light means and at least one electrical outlet.

9. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said at least two lights comprising:

a bulb for illuminating said selected areas.

10. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 7, further comprising;

mounting means for securely mounting said outlet mounted light fixture to said existing wall outlet, and said mounting means providing support to said fixture.

11. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 10, wherein said mounting means further comprising:

an elongated screw for extending from said flat front panel through said fixture and into said existing wall outlet, said elongated screw being removable.

15. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said at least two lights comprising:

at least one control switch for controlling at least one of said two lights.

12. An outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet, comprising:

a flat front panel;

a flat back panel parallel to said flat front panel;

a plurality of prongs extending from said back panel for entering and electrically connecting to said existing wall outlet;

a top panel connected to said flat front panel and said flat back panel;

a bottom panel connected to said flat front panel and said flat back panel;

a right side panel and a left side panel, each said side panels connecting said top panel and said bottom panel;

at least one electrical outlet mounted on said flat front panel for receiving electrical conductors and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs;

at least one side electrical outlet mounted on either side panel for receiving electrical conductors and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs;

at least one light electrically connected to said at least one electrical outlet and electrically connected to said plurality of prongs, for providing illumination to a selected area;

at least one rigid stem for physically connecting said light to said top panel and extending above said top panel for positioning said light in said selected areas for illumination;

at least one flexible stem for physically connecting said light to said top panel and extending above said top panel for positioning said light in said selected areas for illumination;

mounting means for securely mounting said outlet mounted light fixture to said existing wall outlet, and said mounting means providing support to said fixture; and

receptacle means positioned in said at least one stem for electrically connecting said at least one outlet to said at least one light and to said plurality of prongs for electrically receiving power.

13. The outlet mounted light fixture adapted to overlie and completely cover an existing wall outlet as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

at least one control switch for controlling the at least one light.