Electrical device with lamp module

• US 7,213,932 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Savicki, Gerald R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US10/726,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 362/85, 362/95, 362/800, 200/310, 200/313, 200/317, 439/490
• US Class Current: 362/95
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0006 for converting electric switches H01H13/564 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/162 Means to facilitate removal or replacement of light-emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit. The electrical wiring device includes a device housing and at least one switch disposed within the device housing. The at least one switch includes at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit to thereby energize the electrical device when coupled. The electrical wiring device further includes a lamp receptacle formed in the device housing, the lamp receptacle including a contact element that is electrically coupled to the at least one terminal member and a lamp module including a circuit contact member. The lamp module having a lamp module form factor that is configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle such that the lamp circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp light module and the at least one terminal member, the lamp module also being removable from the lamp receptacle to thereby disengage the circuit contact member from the contact element.

Claims

1. An electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit, the device comprising:

a device housing;

at least one switch disposed within the device housing, the at least one switch including at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit;

a lamp receptacle formed in the device housing, the module receptacle including a contact element that is electrically coupled to the at least one terminal member; and

a lamp module including at least one contact member and a light emitting element, the lamp module being configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle such that the circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member, the lamp module also being removable from the lamp receptacle to thereby disengage the at least one circuit contact member from the contact element, the lamp module including a circuit, the circuit being a power-on circuit configured to light the light emitting element if power is supplied to the electric circuit, or the circuit being a device locator circuit configured to light the light emitting element if the at least one switch is in an open state, or the circuit being a pilot light circuit configured to light the light emitting element if the at least one switch is energized and in a closed state.

2. The electrical wiring device of claim 1, further including a blank module having a blank module form factor that is similar to the lamp module form factor such that the blank module is insertable into the lamp receptacle when the lamp module is not inserted in the lamp receptacle.

3. The electrical wiring device of claim 1, wherein the lamp module includes:

a housing having a form factor allowing the lamp module to be installed in the electrical device;

a printed circuit board disposed in the housing, the printed circuit board having disposed thereon lamp circuitry, the lamp circuitry including at least one light emitting diode and the at least one circuit contact member for engaging complementary electrical terminals of the electrical device; and

a lens portion disposed on the housing over the least one light emitting diode.

4. The electrical wiring device of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a blinker circuit disposed thereon.

5. The electrical wiring device of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a negation circuit disposed thereon.

6. The electrical wiring device of claim 1, the at least one switch comprising:

at least a second terminal member,

a switch actuator, in which the switch actuator is configured for establishing or breaking electrical connectivity between the at least one terminal member and the at least second terminal member.

7. The electrical wiring device of claim 6, wherein the lamp module includes a second contact member, the second contact member coupled electrically to the at least second terminal member.

8. The electrical wiring device of claim 6, wherein the lamp module emits light absent electrical connectivity between the at least one terminal member and the at least second terminal members.

9. The electrical wiring device of claim 7, wherein the lamp module emits light when electrical connectivity between the at least one terminal member and the at least second terminal member is established.

10. The electrical wiring device of claim 1, wherein the lamp module emits light if the electrical wiring device is coupled to the electric circuit.

11. A method for installing an electrical wiring device in an electric circuit, the method comprising:

providing an electrical wiring device including a device housing and at least one switch disposed within the device housing, the at least one switch including at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit, the wiring device also including a lamp receptacle formed in the device housing, the lamp receptacle including a contact element that is electrically coupled to the at least one terminal member;

providing a lamp module configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle, the lamp module including a circuit contact member, the circuit contact member being configured to engage the contact element to establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member; and

inserting the lamp module into the lamp receptacle such that the circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of removing the lamp module from the lamp receptacle to thereby disengage the at least one circuit contact member from the contact element.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of coupling the electrical wiring device to the electric circuit to provide electrical power to the electrical wiring device, wherein the lamp module provides a predetermined amount of illumination.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a non-light emitting blank module having a blank module form factor substantially identical to the lamp module form factor such that the blank module is insertable into the lamp receptacle when the lamp module is not inserted in the lamp receptacle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

removing the lamp module from the lamp receptacle; and

inserting the non-light emitting blank module into the lamp receptacle.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

removing the non-light emitting blank module from the lamp receptacle; and

re-inserting the lamp module into the lamp receptacle.

17. A method of making an electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit, the method comprising:

providing a device housing, the device housing having a lamp receptacle formed therein, the lamp receptacle including a receptacle contact element;

disposing at least one wiring device within the device housing, the at least one wiring device including at least one switch, the at least one switch including at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit, the at least one terminal member also being configured to engage the receptacle contact element when the at least one wiring device is disposed within the device housing;

providing a lamp module having a form factor that is configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle, the lamp module including a circuit contact member configured to engage the contact element to establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member; and

inserting the lamp module into the lamp receptacle such that the circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a non-light emitting blank module having a blank module form factor that is substantially identical to the lamp module form factor such that the blank module is insertable into the lamp receptacle when the lamp module is not inserted in the lamp receptacle.

19. A method of making an electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit, the method comprising:

providing a device housing, the device housing having a lamp receptacle formed therein, the lamp receptacle including a receptacle contact element;

disposing at least one wiring device within the device housing, the at least one wiring device including at least one switch, the at least one switch including at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit, the at least one terminal member also being configured to engage the receptacle contact element when the at least one wiring device is disposed within the device housing;

providing a non-light emitting blank module having a blank module form factor that is identical to the lamp module form factor such that the blank module is insertable into the lamp receptacle when the lamp module is not inserted in the lamp receptacle; and

inserting the blank module into the lamp receptacle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a lamp module, the lamp module having a circuit contact member, the circuit contact member engaging the contact element to establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member, the lamp module having a form factor such that the lamp module is insertable into the lamp receptacle when the blank module is not inserted in the lamp receptacle.