LED night light with interchangeable display unit

• US 8,545,090 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aaron Chien, Hsin-Yi Wang, Te-Ju Chien
• Original Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Tseng-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/527,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 362/641, 362/642, 362/643, 362/644, 362/562, 362/149, 362/84, 362/276
• 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

An LED night light with interchangeable display unit can be separated from the base when a predetermined force is applies to reduce the chance that the prong device will be damaged by pulling, pushing, or twisting. The display unit may have a built-in or separate input-end to accommodate a receptacle means of the base. An LED related circuit, prong means and other control device may be disposed in the base or incorporated with a sealed-unit to cause the light beam to be seen by a viewer through the display area and provide a dedicated artwork, design, motion liquid, and/or dimensional colored image for illumination.

Claims

1. An interchangeable night light system including an LED night light arranged to receive at least two different interchangeable display units, comprising:

two different display units each having a different display area and a display input end through which light is transmitted to said display area, each display input end of each of said different display units being arranged to be received in a base, said base having at least one prong means for connecting with a power source and one receptacle means for receiving the display input ends of said two different display units without any exposing parts in said base that carry electricity and thereby enable a user to safely and interchangeably assemble either of said display units to said base;

at least one LED connected by circuitry to a control means and the prong means to cause the LED to turn on for a period of time and to exhibit predetermined illumination effects selected from the group consisting of flashing, steady-on, chasing, random flashing, color changing effects, wherein;

the at least one LED extends through an opening in said receptacle means, and said display input end extends into and is received by said receptacle means,

the display input end includes means for receiving said at least one LED when said display input end is inserted into said receptacle means, and for transmitting light to the respective display area of each different display unit from the LED in the base,

at least one of the display units is a single piece, and the display area of the at least one of the display units further has a predetermined design selected from the group consisting of openings, cut-outs, and holes on its surface to provide desired lighting effects and performance, and

said receptacle means is arranged to receive any display units having display input ends with same dimensions and configuration of said display input end to thereby enable said any display units to be interchangeably assembled and connected to said base without risk of said person touching said parts that carry electricity.

2. An interchangeable night light system including an LED night light arranged to receive at least two different interchangeable display units, comprising:

two different display units each having a different display area and a display input end through which light is transmitted to said display area, each display input end of each of said different display units being arranged to be received in a base, said base having at least one prong means for connecting with a power source and one receptacle means for receiving the display input ends of said two different display units without any exposing parts in said base that carry electricity and thereby enable a user to safely and interchangeably assemble either of said display units to said base;

at least one LED connected by circuitry to a control means and the prong means to cause the LED to turn on for a period of time and to exhibit predetermined illumination effects selected from the group consisting of flashing, steady-on, chasing, random flashing, color changing effects, wherein;

the receptacle means of the base is arranged to prevent a person from touching any part that carries electricity in the receptacle means when connected with the display input end,

the at least one LED extends through an opening in said receptacle means, and said display input end extends into and is received by said receptacle means,

the display input end includes means for receiving said at least one LED when said display input end is inserted into said receptacle means, and for transmitting light to the respective display area of each different display unit from the LED in the base,

the display area of at least one of the display units includes a space for at least one filler selected from the group consisting of a liquid, chemical compound, miniature objects, floating stuff, reflective pieces, liquids of different density, a printed background, a screen, and a combination of said fillers, and

said receptacle means is arranged to receive any display units having display input ends with same dimensions and configuration of said display input end to thereby enable said any display units to be interchangeably assembled and connected to said base without risk of said person touching said parts that carry electricity.

3. An interchangeable night light system including an LED night light arranged to receive at least two different interchangeable display units, comprising:

two different display units each having a different display area and a display input end through which light is transmitted to said display area, each display input end of each of said different display units being arranged to be received in a base, said base having at least one prong means for connecting with a power source and one receptacle means for receiving the display input ends of said two different display units without any exposing parts in said base that carry electricity and thereby enable a user to safely and interchangeably assemble either of said display units to said base;

at least one LED connected by circuitry to a control means and the prong means to cause the LED to turn for on a period of time and to exhibit predetermined illumination effects selected from the group consisting of flashing, steady-on, chasing, random flashing, color changing effects, wherein;

the receptacle means of the base is arranged to prevent a person from touching any part that carries electricity in the receptacle means when connected with the display input end,

the at least one LED extends through an opening in said receptacle means, and said display input end extends into and is received by said receptacle means,

the display input end includes means for receiving said at least one LED when said display input end is inserted into said receptacle means, and for transmitting light to the respective display area of each different display unit from the LED in the base,

the display area of at least one of the display units has a curved egg-shell shape with engraving to provide a three-dimensional effect and enable designs, artwork, characters, drawings, and cartoons to appear more lifelike, and

said receptacle means is arranged to receive any display units having display input ends with same dimensions and configuration of said display input end to thereby enable said any display units to be interchangeably assembled and connected to said base without risk of said person touching said parts that carry electricity.

4. An interchangeable night light system including an LED night light arranged to receive at least two different interchangeable display units, comprising:

two different display units each having a different display area and a display input end through which light is transmitted to said display area, each display input end of each of said different display units being arranged to be received in a base, said base having at least one prong means for connecting with a power source and one receptacle means for receiving the display input ends of said two different display units without any exposing parts in said base that carry electricity and thereby enable a user to safely and interchangeably assemble either of said display units to said base;

at least one LED connected by circuitry to a control means and the prong means to cause the LED to turn for on a period of time and to exhibit predetermined illumination effects selected from the group consisting of flashing, steady-on, chasing, random flashing, color changing effects, wherein;

the receptacle means of the base is arranged to prevent a person from touching any part that carries electricity in the receptacle means when connected with the display input end,

the at least one LED extends through an opening in said receptacle means, and said display input end extends into and is received by said receptacle means,

the display input end includes means for receiving said at least one LED when said display input end is inserted into said receptacle means, and for transmitting light to the respective display area of each different display unit from the LED in the base,

the display area of at least one of the display units has a geometric shape with space for at least one filler selected from the group consisting of a liquid, chemical compound, miniature objects, floating stuff, reflective pieces, liquids of different density, a printed background, a screen, a solid plastic resin with an air bubble inside, and a combination of said fillers, and

said receptacle means is arranged to receive any display units having display input ends with same dimensions and configuration of said display input end to thereby enable said any display units to be interchangeably assembled and connected to said base without risk of said person touching said parts that carry electricity.