Multiple function night light

• US 7,810,985 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Original Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Taeng-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/094,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 362/641, 362/642, 362/643, 439/6, 439/8, 439/11, 439/31, 439/639, 439/640, 439/131, 439/172
• US Class Current: 362/641
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/003 for task lighting, e.g. for reading or desk work, e.g. angle poise lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0024 Household or table equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0048 Office articles, e.g. bookmarks, desk lamps with drawers, stands for books or music scores
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/30 Illumination of dials or hands dials in general G04B19/06; moving indicating means with numbers or hands, in general G04B19/20; arrangements for indicating different local apparent times by means of a globe illuminated from inside G04B19/22; continuous indication of the time by non-electric light sources G04B25/00, e.g. by electric lamps G04C17/02; illumination by electric lamps which function at fixed times or periodically G04C19/02; illuminated panels G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 : using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 : with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 : the switch being a safety switch
• 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: H01R 25/006 : the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 : Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 : Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 : Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A multiple function night light includes at least one night light receptacle and a swivel or rotating prong as a basic unit which may further incorporate additional functions as desired to prevent the electric wall outlet receptacle from being occupied by just one single function night light. The night light includes a light source such as a gas filled light, neon or black tube, fluorescent tube, LED, OLED, EL, or OEL with appropriate circuit means to provide a predetermined light performance, duration, and timing for illumination. The swiveling or rotating prong offers universal installation to wall outlets. The additional functions may selected from fragrance, bluetooth device, insect repellant device, sensor device, infrared device, remote control device, power failure light, emergency light, or other electric device(s).

Claims

1. A multiple function night light including:

a housing;

prong means extending from the housing for receiving electricity from a power outlet;

at least one receptacle situated in said housing and electrically connected to said prong means, said receptacle including conductors connected to said prong means, said receptacle being arranged to receive prongs of at least one other electric device to supply electricity from said power outlet through said conductors to the other electric device, said prongs of said at least one other electric device being polarized to have different sizes, and said housing being arranged with different size prong-receiving openings to prevent reverse insertions of the different size prongs into said receptacle;

at least one light means for providing illumination;

at least one conductive means for supplying said electricity from said conductors to the at least one light means,

means for causing the night light prong means to swivel, rotate, or twist and thereby be inserted into a wall outlet while extending from the housing at different angles relative to the housing, to fit different wall outlets at a desired orientation;

wherein said conductive means includes at least one resilient member selected from the group consisting of a spring, a resilient metal piece, a resilient conductive wire, and a conductive rubber member, said resilient member being electrically connected between said conductors and said at least one light means,

wherein said light means is installed on a surface and an electrode is formed on a back side and away from an edge of the surface, said resilient member engaging said electrode to supply electricity from said conductors to said light means, and

wherein said resilient member includes a fixing means to prevent bending or variation in direction of said resilient member as it is pressed between said electrode and said conductors, said fixing means including at least one of a holder, opening, and post for fixing said resilient member at a predetermined position between said conductors and said light means.

2. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one light means is a light selected from the group consisting of an LED, EL, OEL, OLED, gas filled bulb, fluorescent tube, black tube, and neon tube.

3. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive means further includes elements selected from the group consisting of at least one metal piece, conductive wire, conductive rubber, copper means, soldering material, and soldering paste.

4. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for providing an additional function selected from the group consisting of air-fragrance, time piece, emergency light, power failure light, bluetooth device, sensor device, and infrared detector functions.

5. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductors are connected to the night light prong means by riveting, soldering, spotting, clipping, or snapping, and the conductors are arranged to permit the night light prong means to rotate, swivel, or change position.

6. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein said night light prong means and said light source means are separated and on different surfaces.

7. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein said night light has different front cases arranged to be secured to a same basic lower case to provide a variety of designs and configurations to meet market requirements.

8. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein said prongs are arranged to be rotated 180°

between a upwardly extending 90°

angle and a downwardly extending 90°

angle.

9. A multiple function night light as claimed in claim 1, wherein said prong means are arranged to rotate 360°

.