Lighted electrical device and receptacle

An electrical wiring device, such as a GFCI duplex receptacle, includes a light source for lighting a selected area and a photo sensor to detect ambient light conditions and to actuate a light source when the ambient light conditions are below a predetermined level. The light source is preferably at least two LEDs having an associated light conducting member functioning as a light pipe that extends between the respective LED and the front face of the electrical wiring device. Each light conducting member has an inclined face extending through an opening in the cover of the wiring device to project a light beam at an inclined angle with respect to the front face of the wiring device. The light conducting members are independently rotatably mounted in the wiring device so that the user can manually rotated the light conducting member to direct the light beam to a selected area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lighted electrical device and receptacle for projecting light to a target area. The invention is particularly directed to a lighted duplex receptacle having at least one light source that can be adjusted by the user to direct the light to a selected area and in a selected direction with respect to the receptacle to illuminate an area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various nightlights have been proposed and commonly used for providing low-level illumination of areas sufficient to enable a user to walk or move safely about an area. Nightlights are commonly used in bathrooms, and particularly hotel bathrooms, to illuminate the area, such as a floor, for people unfamiliar with the surroundings.

Lights have also been incorporated into electrical receptacles as indicators and to identify the location of the receptacle at low ambient light levels. These devices generally provide sufficient light to locate the electrical receptacle but do not provide sufficient light to illuminate the area around the electrical device.

One example of an electrical device having a light incorporated in the electrical device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,862,350 to Richter et al. This patent discloses a receptacle having a light along at least one side edge as shown inFIGS. 1 and 8. A duplex electrical device is disclosed having a light in the housing and a translucent cover coupled to the front face that is flush with the front face and adjacent the duplex user-accessible interface. The cover is disclosed as extending along the front face between each of the electrical components and between the apertures. Other embodiments include an electrical device having a translucent cover over a light where the cover extends along at least ¼ the length of the front face. Another embodiment discloses an electrical device having two translucent covers extending adjacent the buttons of each GFCI where each cover extends over the light source and the light sensor. This patent further discloses an electrical device having a housing in the form of a single gang electrical enclosure, at least one additional housing and at least one additional electrical component in the additional housing.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0039086 to Jansen et al. discloses a GFCI receptacle having a nightlight. An electrical device has a light source to direct a peak radiation pattern along an axis and a light pipe having an angled surface. The light pipe is a lens that extends along the side edge of the receptacle as shown inFIG. 1Cand has an angled surface that reflects the light through the front face as shown inFIG. 15.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,469 to Barton discloses an electrical device such as a switch or receptacle having a light source. The device has a power sensing and control means. This patent also discloses a method of providing safety lighting by concealing the lighting device. The method includes the steps of combining a light source with a conventional wiring device, controlling the on-off state and conveying light from the light source through a visible surface area of the wiring device by a lens or transparent material and where the device is concealed behind a standard cover plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,235 to Barton is a continuation-in-part of the '469 patent and discloses a lighting device having a housing with an electrical device, a light source to emit light through a visible surface of the housing and protruding through the cover plate, and a power-signal means to adjust the power level to energize the light source. The housing can have a surface area visible through a conventional cover plate window, a light source visible through the surface area, a power supply and a signal means to activate the signal means by a predetermined condition. A nightlight function is controlled by a light sensor.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,194,368 to Weeks et al. is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,989,489 to Savicki. This patent relates to a GFCI device with a center light having a protective assembly to prevent AC power from being accessed and a light assembly covering a substantial portion of the width.

While the prior devices have generally been suitable for their intended purpose, there is a continuing need in the industry for improved lighting devices and electrical receptacles. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,805,469; 7,118,235; and 7,862,350 and Publication No. 2012/0039086 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an electrical wiring device having a light source and a light conducting member that can be adjusted and positioned to direct light in a selected direction to illuminate a selected area. The wiring device can be a night light, duplex receptacle, GFCI receptacle, arc fault circuit interrupter, switch or other electrical device where there is a need to illuminate an area in the vicinity of the device. The light source is preferably provided from one or more LEDs mounted within a housing of the device that produces light of a sufficient intensity and brightness to illuminate a target area.

Accordingly one aspect of the invention is to provide an electrical wiring device having a directional light assembly for directing light in a selected direction to illuminate a selected area. Preferably the light can be manually adjusted by the user without the need for special tools after installation to direct and focus the light beam to the selected area.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an electrical wiring device having a light source where the light beam can be selectively aimed and directed to illuminate a selected target area. In one preferred embodiment the electrical wiring device has a plurality of light sources where the light beam from each of the light sources can be aimed independently from each other.

A further feature of the invention is to provide an electrical wiring device having at least one light source and a photo sensor to actuate the at least one light source when the ambient light is below a threshold level. The actuator can be a photo sensor, manually operated switch, motion sensor or occupancy sensor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical wiring device is a duplex receptacle, ground fault circuit interrupter receptacle or arc fault circuit interrupter having at least one light source and a photo sensor to actuate the light source when the ambient light is below a threshold level. Each light source is configured to be adjustable to selectively direct the light to illuminate a selected area after installation of the device.

The electrical wiring device in one embodiment of the invention has at least one and preferably at least two light sources having an adjustable light conducting member for projecting light from the device that is able to direct and focus the light to a selected target area. Each of the light conducting members are independently adjustable to direct light from each of the light sources to a selected target area or to the same target area relative to the electrical wiring device.

The electrical wiring device in one embodiment has a light source and a rotatable light conducting member for directing light to a target area. The outer end of the light conducting member has a light projecting face that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the light conducting member and inclined to the front face of the housing to direct the light from the front face of the housing at an inclined angle to a target area. The light conducting members are attached to be rotatable with respect to the housing and rotatable about the longitudinal axis to direct the light in a selected direction.

The electrical wiring device of the invention has a cover that is coupled to a base of the housing where the cover has an opening for a photo sensor and an opening for the light assembly that is spaced from the photo sensor a distance sufficient to avoid interference between the light source and the photo sensor. The photo sensor has a light pipe extending to the front face of the cover for conducting ambient light to the photo sensor. The light source can have a light conducting member forming a light pipe or lens that is coupled directly to the cover to project light in a selected direction. The light conducting member functions as a light pipe extending between the light source and the front face of the cover. In a preferred embodiment the light conducting member is coupled directly to the cover and movable with respect to the cover to orient and aim the light beam in a selected direction. Preferably the light conducting member is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front face of the cover.

The various aspects of the invention are basically attained by providing an electrical receptacle having a housing with a front face and an internal cavity where the housing has a mounting member for mounting to an electrical box. A light source is mounted in the cavity. A rotatable light conducting member with an outer face extends through the front face of the cover where the light conducting member is associated with the light source to project a light beam from the front face of the cover and housing in a selected direction by rotational adjustment of the light conducting member relative to the cover and the housing.

The various aspects of the invention are further attained by providing a housing having a front face and an inner cavity where the housing has a mounting member for mounting the housing to an electrical box. A light source is mounted within the cavity of the housing. At least one light conducting member extends between the light source and the front face of the housing to direct light from the light source in a selected direction where the position and orientation of the light conducting member is adjustable to direct the light beam in a selected direction.

The objects and advantages of the invention are further attained by providing a housing enclosing a printed circuit board, a photo sensor for sensing ambient light and a light source activated by a signal from the photo sensor when ambient light is below a threshold level. A cover having a plurality of plug blade openings is coupled to the housing. At least one light conducting member is coupled to the cover for projecting light from the at least one light source in a predetermined direction with respect to the housing. The light conducting member is movable with respect to the cover to direct light in a selected direction with respect to the cover and the housing.

A light conducting member, such as a light pipe is coupled to the cover of the housing and extends through an aperture in the cover. A top end face of the light pipe extends above the top surface of the cover and has a top face forming a lens for projecting a beam of light in a selected direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the light conducting member and the front face of the cover. The top end face of the light conducting member can have an inclined surface for directing a light beam at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the light conducting member. The light conducting member can be manually rotated by the user to direct the beam of light in a selected direction. In one embodiment, at least two LEDs with a corresponding light conducting member are provided where each light conducting member can be independently rotated to direct each beam of light in a selected direction.

These and other aspects, objects and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, which in conjunction with the annexed drawings discloses various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device having a light source for projecting light to a selected target area. The invention is particularly directed to an electrical wiring device having an adjustable light conducting and light emitting member that can be positioned by the user to direct light to a selected target area after installation of the wiring device.

The electrical wiring device of the invention in one embodiment is an electrical receptacle such as a duplex receptacle having a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). The GFCI receptacles are commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens and other wet locations. The duplex receptacle of the invention has a directional light that can be adjusted and oriented by the user to direct the light to a selected area or location to illuminate the area. The light source in preferred embodiments is an LED with a movable lens, light pipe or other light conducting member that is able to project the light to a wall, floor or other surface to be illuminated. Preferably the LED is activated by a photo sensor detecting ambient light. Alternatively, the LED can be activated by a manual switch, motion sensor or occupancy sensor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wiring device is a duplex receptacle which can include a suitable GFCI circuit and/or arc fault circuit interrupter. Referring to the drawings, the wiring device10is shown as a GFCI duplex receptacle having a housing12defined by a base14and a cover16coupled to the base14to enclose the electrical components within the internal cavity20of the housing12. The cover14as shown is a decorator style having a flat front face and a substantially rectangular shape for fitting within the rectangular opening in a face plate18shown inFIG. 10. The cover16is snapped onto the base14by standard coupling members as known in the art. The electrical wiring device10in one embodiment is shown and described as a GFCI duplex receptacle although it will be understood that the invention is not limited to GFCI receptacles and that the lighting features of the invention are suitable for other electrical devices including for example a nightlight. The wiring device10preferably has standard dimensions for mounting in an electrical box and includes conventional electrical contacts and electrical connectors for connecting to a power source.

Referring toFIG. 1, the cover14has a front face22with a plurality of blade apertures24or slots for receiving the plug and accessing the electrical contacts below or within the shutter mechanism26within the housing. The shutter mechanism26can be a conventional tamper-resistant shutter mechanism to block the openings in the device until a plug blade is inserted through the openings in the cover. The front face22in the embodiment shown has a substantially flat planar configuration. A mounting member28shown as a mounting strap is connected to opposite longitudinal ends of the housing12for mounting the electrical device10in the open end of an electrical box (not shown) in a conventional manner.

Each set of blade apertures24for receiving a plug is provided at the longitudinal end portion25of the cover14and the housing to define a central portion32on the front face22of the housing12and the cover16between the two sets of blade apertures24. In the embodiment shown, the central portion32is recessed with respect to the end portions25. The central portion32between the blade apertures24has a substantially planar surface with openings for a test button34and a reset button36of the GFCI circuit38. Preferably the central portion32is located so that the plugs when connected to the sets of blade apertures24do not overlie the central portion32to block light from the light source. The cover16is also provided with openings40for indicator light pipes42which are operatively connected to indicator lights on the printed circuit board44to indicate the proper operation of the GFCI as shown inFIG. 1.

An indicator light is provided on one side of the cover22and circuit board44to indicate power is supplied to the receptacle and an indicator light is provided on the opposite side to indicate the GFCI circuit is tripped. The indicator lights are connected to the electrical circuitry of the GFCI to provide a visual indication to the user of the operating status of the GFCI circuit. The light pipes42extend from the respective indicator lights to the front face22of the cover14. In the embodiment shown, the light pipes42have a rounded top face that is oriented substantially flush with the front face of the cover so that the light projected by the light pipes can be observed by the user.

The electrical components of the GFCI circuit38as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3include the printed circuit board44that is mounted within the internal cavity20of the housing12. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the printed circuit board44is attached to the base14in a central portion of the base below the central portion32of the cover16and between the electrical contacts and the shutter mechanisms26. The circuit board44includes suitable circuitry to operate the GFCI as known in the art. In the embodiment shown, the test button34, reset button36and indicator lights42are mounted on or above the circuit board44and extend outwardly through the respective openings in the front face22of the cover14.

A photo sensor46, light sensor or photo cell is coupled to the circuit board44on a first side48and at least one and preferably two light sources shown as LEDs50are mounted on a second side52opposite the first side48. The photo sensor46can be a known photo cell or sensor capable of measuring ambient light and actuating the light source when the ambient light is below a predetermined threshold level. As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2the photo sensor46is positioned along the side edge48of the circuit board44and along a longitudinal side edge53of the front face22of the central portion32and between the two sets of the blade apertures24. Preferably the photo sensor46is spaced outwardly from the test button34and reset button36toward the side edge53of the cover16and outwardly from the blade apertures24.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the light sources are two LEDs mounted directly to the circuit board44although other light sources can be used. Preferably two LEDs50are mounted on the same side of the circuit board44and opposite the photo sensor46so that the light from the LEDs50does not interfere with the photo sensor46to reduce the risk of a possible false indicator of the ambient light level. The photo sensor46measures the ambient light level in the area of use and is operatively connected to the circuit board44and the LEDs50to actuate and illuminate the LEDs50when the ambient light level is below a threshold level.

A light conducting member54functioning as a light pipe is provided to direct the ambient light to the photo sensor46. In one embodiment, the light conducting member54is coupled to the cover16so that the light conducting member54extends through an opening56in the cover16. In the embodiment shown, the light conducting member54has a substantially cylindrical shape extending between the photo sensor46and the front face22of the cover16. The light conducting member54has a longitudinal length so that the flat top face58is substantially flush with the front face22of the cover16. Alternatively the top face58can be positioned a slight distance outward from the front face22or can be recessed with respect to the front face22. The opening56for the light conducting member54has a frustoconical shaped surface at the front face22to form a beveled edge and a conical shaped recess60around the top edge of the light conducting member54to enable ambient light to enter the light conducting member54through the top face58and the upper side surface62of the light conducting member54.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the light conducting member54has a bottom end with a concave bottom surface64forming a recess opposite the top face58. The concave bottom surface64is positioned directly above the photo sensor46as shown inFIG. 7. The concave bottom surface64of the light conducting member54is positioned sufficiently close to the photo sensor46to transmit ambient light from the area around the wiring device10to the photo sensor46. The photo sensor46includes wires66connected to the circuit board44or other electrical controls to actuate the LEDs50.

The cylindrical side surface of the light conducting member54has an annular recess68. The inner surface of the opening56and the cover16has a detent70shown as an annular rib extending radially inwardly with respect to the opening56for cooperating with the annular recess68of the light conducting member54to capture and couple the light conducting member54to the cover16. The detent70is received in the recess as shown inFIG. 7by inserting the light conducting member54into the opening56from the bottom side of the cover16. As shown inFIG. 7, the bottom edge of the opening56has an angled surface forming a beveled to guide the light conducting member54and slide over the detent70to snap into the opening56.

Each of the LEDs50is provided with a light conducting member72to project the light from the LED in a selected direction as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The light conducting members72define a light transmitting member for emitting a light beam from the end of the light conducting members72to a target area. The cover16includes openings74extending between the front face22and the rear inner face23for receiving the light conducting members72to enable the light conducting members72to extend through the front face22of the cover16and rotate within the opening74. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the two light conducting members72are provided in the central portion32on one side of the test button34and reset button36and along a side edge76of the cover14. In one embodiment, the light conducting members72are spaced outwardly from the blade apertures24toward the side edge76. In other embodiments, the light conducting members72can be positioned on opposite sides of the buttons and central portion32. It is generally preferred to have the light conducting members72on the same side76of the housing and cover16and the photo sensor on an opposite side78to avoid interference and reduce the possibility of false indications of the ambient light level. In other embodiments the light conducting members can be positioned in other suitable locations on the front face of the electrical wiring device.

Referring toFIG. 4, each light conducting member72has a substantially cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis extending between a bottom inner face80and a top outer face82. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the bottom inner face80is substantially flat and is positioned directly above the respective LED50to receive light from the LED and transmit the light along the longitudinal axis to the top outer face82where the light is projected outwardly. The light conducting members72define a light pipe and light transmitting member for carrying the light from the LED and projecting a light beam outwardly from the wiring device10in a predetermined direction.

The side surface84of the light conducting member72includes an annular recess86forming a bottom edge88and a top edge90. As shown inFIGS. 5,8and9the opening74in the cover16has an inwardly extending detent92that is received within the annular recess86between the bottom edge88and the top edge90to attach the light conducting member72to the cover16. In the embodiment shown the detent92is a continuous annular rib extending radially inwardly from the side wall of the opening74to engage the annular recess86of the light conducting member72. The light conducting member72is mounted to the cover16for rotational adjustment with respect to the cover16as indicated by arrows100inFIG. 1. The light conducting member72can be manually rotated about the longitudinal axis to direct the light emitted from the light conducting member in a selected direction. Preferably each of the light conducting members rotates independently of the other.

The outer top end of the light conducting member72has an inclined face94forming a light projecting surface that is oriented at an incline with respect to the longitudinal axis of the light conducting member and at an incline with respect to the plane of the cover16as shown inFIG. 9to project a light in a direction outwardly from the plane of the inclined top face94as indicated by arrows102inFIGS. 8 and 9. In the embodiment shown, the light is projected from the light conducting member72substantially perpendicular to the plane of the inclined face94. The top outer face82is a minor surface area relative to the surface area of the inclined face94and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the light conducting member and parallel to the plane of the front face22.

The inclined face94in the embodiment shown is oriented at an acute angle of about 30° with respect to the front face22of the cover and at an angle of about 60° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the light conducting member74. The angle of the inclined face94can be selected depending on the desired projecting angle of the light beam and the shape of the face94. The light conducting member72functions is a light pipe to direct the light from the LED50outwardly from the front face22of the cover16at an inclined angle with respect to the front face22. The inclined face94is shown as being substantially flat. In alternative embodiments, the inclined face can be curved to form a convex surface to define lens for focusing the light or a concave surface. In further embodiments, the outer face of the light conducting members72can have other suitable shapes with one or more surfaces capable of projecting a beam of light in a selected direction so that adjusting the position of the light conducting members enable focusing the light beam to a selected target area.

The opening74for the light conducting member72has a top end with an inclined surface96forming a conical shaped recess adjacent the front face22surrounding the light conducting member72. The top face82of the light conducting member72in one embodiment shown inFIG. 5extends a slight distance above the front face22a distance to enable the light to be projected away from the front face22and to allow the user to manually grip the top end and manually rotate the light conducting member72to orient the inclined surface96in a selected direction thereby projecting the light beam to a desired target area.

During use, the device10is mounted in a standard electrical box and coupled to the power source to provide electrical power to the electrical contacts and components of the device. The photo sensor detects the ambient light levels and produces a signal to actuate the LEDs50when the light level is below a predetermined level. The user is able to rotate each of the light conducting members72of the light emitting assembly independently of each other to position the outer face in a desired orientation, thereby projecting light from each light conducting member72in a selected direction to illuminate a selected target area. Each of the light conducting members is independently adjustable to direct the light in selected patterns or areas as depicted inFIG. 10. For example, the device can be mounted on a wall as shown inFIG. 10so that the light conducting members can be oriented to direct a light beam104downwardly toward the floor or to one side toward a doorway. The LEDs50and the light conducting members72are able to project a light beam with sufficient brightness and intensity to illuminate a target area.

While various embodiments have been selected to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.