Illuminated electrical outlet and light switch

• US 7,036,948 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bryan Wyatt
• Original Assignee: Bryan Wyatt
• Inventors: Wyatt, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/638,794
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 362/95, 362/276, 362/360, 362/282, 362/802, 362/20, 324/76.11, 340/660, 340/664, 702/64, 439/490
• US Class Current: 362/95
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source

Abstract

A light switch and/or a socket which is illuminatable to aid a user in detecting its position in a dimly lit room. The light switch includes a housing and a lighting element positioned within the housing. A detector detects a level of illumination surrounding the light switch. Based upon this detection the lighting element is illuminated upon determining the detected level of illumination is below a predetermined value thereby aiding in locating said light switch in a dimly lit room. The electrical outlet includes a receptacle having a face plate and at least one lighting element positioned around the periphery of the face plate. A detector detects a level of illumination surrounding the electrical outlet. The at least one lighting element is illuminated upon determining the detected level of illumination is below a predetermined value thereby aiding in locating said electrical outlet in a room illuminated below a predetermined level. A second lighting element may be positioned around a periphery of the first lighting element. A load sensor is provided for sensing the voltage of a load drawn from an input voltage and a comparator compares the sensed load value with a threshold value for determining the capacity of a circuit. When the detected said load value is less than a threshold value, the first lighting element is illuminated and, when the detected load value is greater than the threshold value, the second lighting element is illuminated.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet comprising:

a) an electrical receptacle having a face plate, said receptacle being transparent or translucent;

b) a lighting element wholly embedded within said receptacle so that light from said lighting element when energized is visible through a front face of said receptacle to outside of said receptacle;

c) means for detecting a level of illumination surrounding said electrical outlet; and

d) means for illuminating said lighting element upon determining the detected level of illumination is below a predetermined value thereby aiding in locating said electrical outlet in a room illuminated below a predetermined level.

2. The electrical outlet as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for illuminating said lighting element is a light sensor.

3. The electrical outlet as recited in claim 2, wherein said light element is embedded behind said front face of said receptacle between electrical sockets in said front face.

4. The electrical outlet as recited in claim 2, wherein said light element is embedded in said front face of said receptacle along a perimeter of said receptacle face.

5. An electrical outlet comprising:

a) a receptacle having a face plate, said receptacle being transparent or translucent;

b) a first lighting element producing a first color when energized embedded within said receptacle so that light from said first lighting element when energized is visible through a front face of said receptacle to outside of said receptacle, said first lighting element extending along a periphery of a front face of said receptacle;

c) a second lighting element producing a second color different from said first color when energized embedded within said receptacle so that light from said second lighting element when energized is visible through a front face of said receptacle to outside of said receptacle, said second lighting element extending along the periphery of said front face of said receptacle adjacent said first lighting element;

d) a sensor for sensing electrical load in a circuit in which said receptacle is located;

g) means for comparing a sensed load value with a threshold value; and

h) a microprocessor connected to said load comparing means, wherein, upon said load comparing means detecting said load value is less than said threshold value, said microprocessor directs a switch to contact a first lead extending from said first lighting element for illumination thereof and, upon said load comparing means detecting said load value is greater than said threshold value, said microprocessor directs said switch to contact a second lead extending from said second lighting element for illumination thereof thereby indicating by color when said threshold value is exceeded.