Cover arrangement including an electro-luminescent element

• US 6,183,101 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Original Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Tseng-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/963,269
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 439/86, 362/84, 362/95
• US Class Current: 362/84
• 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: G04B 47/006 combined with a lighter
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/04 Attachments; Connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0622 only an illuminated ring around keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/616 having contacts penetrating insulation for making contact with conductors, e.g. needle points
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/025 formed by the conductors of a cable end
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/945 Holders with built-in electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A cover (1) for a wall switch, outlet, or the like includes a groove (4) in which is situated multiple electro-luminescent elements (5,6), the electro-luminescent elements being electrically connected to a power supply by a conductive member (19,20) which extends through an opening (17) between the base of the groove and a rear of the cover and is pressed against the electrodes (13-16) by a pressing member (26), the conductive member engaging adjacent electrodes of at least two of the electro-luminescent elements. The conductive members may include a pair of tubes formed of conductive rubber for receiving stripped ends of the wires (23).

Claims

1. An electro-luminescent light arrangement for a cover having a front side, a rear side, and at least one opening through which an electrical connection is made between at least one electro-luminescent element and a separate power supply, comprising:

an electro-luminescent element situated in a recess in a front surface of the front side of the cover with at least one opening arranged in the recess to allow making an electrical connection between an electrode of the electro-luminescent element and conductive means electrically connected to the power supply for providing an electric pulse from the power supply, the conductive means arranged within the recess at least partially behind the electro-luminescent element;

at least one pressing means for ensuring connection of a conductive member of the conductive means and the electrode of the electro-luminescent element in order to connect the electro-luminescent element to the power supply for illumination; and

a light-passable front piece fitted into the recess and having a desired thickness for protecting the electro-luminescent element.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two electro-luminescent elements are arranged in the recess said two electro-luminescent elements having adjacent electrodes which are contacted by said conductive member.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least two electro-luminescent elements are U-shaped.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least two electro-luminescent elements are L-shaped.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive member is a resilient conductive member.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the conductive member is cylindrically shaped, and the connections to the power supply include a wire extending through the center of the cylinder.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing means is a member properly incorporated with an opening for receiving said conductive member.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is a cover selected from the group consisting of a wall plate, a switch cover, an electrical outlet cover, a cable outlet cover, a dimmer switch cover, a timer cover, and a keyboard fascia plate.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front piece includes design elements selected from the group consisting of stencils, windows, masking, silkscreening, stickers, and indicia.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising additional circuitry connected between the power supply and the conductive member for controlling the electro-luminescent element.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electro-luminescent element includes multiple discrete phosphor coated areas and multiple electrodes corresponding to the multiple discrete phosphor coated areas, and wherein the conductive member engages at least two of said electrodes.