Illuminable wall socket plates and systems and methods thereof

• US 9,482,426 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2011
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaprays, LLC
• Original Assignee: Venmill Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Diotte, Daniel A
• Primary Examiner(s): Cox, Cassandra
• Application Number:
  US13/821,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20130221868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence
• 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 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

The invention relates generally to an illuminable wall socket plate for replacing existing wall sockets in one simple installation step. The illuminable wall socket plate obtains electric current from a socket to power a light by connecting metal tabs on the back side of the illuminable wall socket plate to socket terminals, and transferring electric current from the socket terminals to a light in the wall socket plate through conductive material, in accordance with the invention described herein.

Claims

1. An improved wall socket plate comprising:

a plate formed to surround one or more receptacles on a wall socket;

one or more tabs connected to said plate, wherein said one or more tabs are designed to touch one or more socket terminal screws when said plate is screwed into a wall socket, wherein said one or more tabs conduct electric current from said one or more socket terminal screws;

a light in said plate, wherein said light is connected to said one or more tabs by a conductive material and wherein said light is automatically turned on when said plate is screwed into a wall socket; and

,

a circuit board in said plate.

2. The improved wall socket plate in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one or more tabs are metal tabs.

3. The improved wall socket plate in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light is a light emitting diode light.

4. The improved wall socket plate in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a capacitor, wherein said capacitor is connected to said conductive material.

5. The improved wall socket plate in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a resistor, wherein said capacitor and said resistor reduces electric current from said conductive material from high power to low power to illuminate said light.

6. The improved wall socket plate in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a rectifier.

7. A method for illuminating a light in a socket plate while maintaining two or more receptacles open for use, comprising:

providing metal tabs on a socket plate for connecting to one or more socket terminal screws;

connecting said metal tabs to said socket terminal screws;

obtaining electric current from said one or more socket terminal screws through said metal tabs;

converting said electric current from high power to low power to power the light in said socket plate;

powering a light in said socket plate.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of screwing said socket plate into a wall socket.

9. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of converting alternating current power to direct current power, wherein a capacitor is used to convert said alternating current power to direct current power.

10. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of converting high alternating current power to low alternating current power, wherein a capacitor is used to convert high alternating current power to low alternating current power.

11. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of powering two or more lights in said plate.

12. The method in accordance with claim 7 further including the step of turning an off switch, wherein said step of turning an off switch can turn off said light.

13. An improved wall socket plate comprising:

a plate formed to surround one or more receptacles on a wall socket;

one or more tabs connected to said plate, wherein said one or more tabs are designed to touch one or more socket terminal screws when said plate is screwed into a wall socket, wherein said one or more tabs conduct electric current from said one or more socket terminal screws;

a light in said plate, wherein said light is connected to said one or more tabs by a conductive material and wherein said light is automatically turned on when said plate is screwed into a wall socket;

a capacitor, wherein said capacitor is connected to said conductive material; and

,

a resistor, wherein said capacitor and said resistor reduces electric current from said conductive material from high power to low power to illuminate said light.

14. A method for illuminating a wall socket plate comprising:

providing metal tabs on a socket plate for connecting to one or more socket terminal screws;

connecting said metal tabs to said socket terminal screws;

obtaining electric current from said one or more socket terminal screws through said metal tabs;

converting said electric current to power a light in said socket plate;

powering a light in said socket plate; and

,

converting high alternating current power to low alternating current power, wherein a capacitor is used to convert high alternating current power to low alternating current power.