Nightlight with light emitting diode source

• US 6,648,496 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nelson, Wordell, Thomas, Edward J., Elghoroury, Hesham M.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US09/604,467
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/800, 362/183, 362/184, 362/95, 362/147, 362/249, 362/576, 362/84, 362/295
• US Class Current: 362/555
• 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 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A series of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted within a housing (10) and operate as the light source for a nightlight. One LED (26) is positioned at each of the four corners of the housing forming an array of LEDs which generates an LED emitted light. The LEDs are all interconnected through printed wiring (40) mounted within the housing. Power is provided to each of the LED'"'"'s through the printed wiring which is coupled to a power source. The power source can be a battery assembly (160), an electrical outlet or an energy storage device. An adjustable switch (50) is disposed on an exterior surface of the wall plate and is coupled to a variable resistor enclosed by the housing. The switch permits control over the optical output.

Claims

1. A nightlight assembly comprising:

a housing;

a protective cover including an optical assembly for focusing and dispersing LED emitted light to a desired light contour enclosing at least a portion of the housing; and

at least one light emitting diode (LED) mounted within the housing generating an LED beam and serving as the light source for the nightlight.

2. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the optical assembly is selectively adjustable for focusing and dispersing the LED emitted light as desired.

3. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the optical assembly is fixed and the LED serving as the light source is selectively moveable for focusing and dispersing the LED emitted light as desired.

4. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a set of prongs extending outward from a surface of the protective cover adapted to insert into an electrical outlet.

5. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of LEDs are mounted within the housing having multiple colors of spectral output.

6. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, further comprising printed wiring molded into the housing electrically coupling the LED to a power source.

7. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled to a variable resistor for controlling the level of optical output.

8. The nightlight assembly according to claim 7, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively turn on and off any select number of the at least one LED.

9. The nightlight assembly according to claim 7, wherein the switch operates as a step level variable control having at least two distinct levels of illumination.

10. The nightlight assembly according to claim 7, wherein the switch operates as a rheostat having continuous variable control.

11. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover encloses a battery source which operates as the power source for the nightlight.

12. The nightlight assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nightlight has both a battery mode of operation and a plug-in mode operation, the battery mode of operation utilizing a battery source for power, and the plug-in mode of operation utilizing a set of prongs adapted to plug into a power outlet as the power source, the battery source automatically actuating the nightlight upon failure of the plug-in mode of operation.

13. A nightlight assembly comprising:

a wall plate adapted to fit over a power switch extending from a substantially planar surface, the wall plate including an optical assembly for focusing and dispersing LED emitted light to a desired light contour, the wall plate abutting and engaging the substantially planar surface upon mounting the nightlight-in its final operating position and

at least one light emitting diode (LED) mounted within the wall plate serving as the light source for the nightlight.

14. The nightlight assembly according to claim 13, wherein the optical assembly is selectively adjustable for focusing and dispersing the LED emitted light.

15. The nightlight assembly according to claim 13, wherein the optical assembly is fixed and the LED serving as the light source is selectively moveable for focusing and dispersing the LED emitted light.

16. The nightlight assembly according to claim 13, wherein the wall plate has a switch toggle opening for receiving the power switch extending from the substantially planar surface.

17. The nightlight assembly according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of LEDs are mounted within the housing having multiple colors of spectral output.

18. The nightlight assembly according to claim 13, further comprising printed wiring mounted in the housing electrically coupling the LED to the power switch.

19. The nightlight assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a switch coupled to a variable resistor for controlling the level of optical output.

20. The nightlight assembly according to claim 19, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively turn on and off any select number of the at least one LED.

21. The nightlight assembly according to claim 19, wherein the switch operates as a step level variable control having at least two distinct levels of illumination.

22. The nightlight assembly according to claim 19, wherein the switch operates as a rheostat having continuous variable control.