Abstract:
The present invention broadly relates to an apparatus for the control of a device either from a first main or wall switch or from one or more secondary switches located in, on or near the device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that allows an electrical device to be turned on or off independently from either said first switch or said secondary switches. Most particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus comprised of an electromechanical relay switch and one or more other switches that cooperate to regulate the current from an electrical outlet provided to an electrical device.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention broadly relates to an apparatus for the control of an electrical device either from a first main or wall switch or from one or more secondary switches located in, on or near the device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that allows an electrical device to be turned on or off independently from either said first switch or said secondary switches. Most particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus comprised of an electromechanical relay switch and one or more other switches that cooperate to regulate the current from an electrical outlet provided to an electrical device.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Over the years, buildings have been equipped with electrical outlets controlled by wall switches. One purpose of this arrangement is to allow electrical devices such as lamps, radios and the like plugged into a wall outlet to be controlled by the switches positioned near an entranceway. One problem that arises with such an arrangement is that, once the device is turned off via its own switch, the wall switch no longer controls the device. One example of this problem is illustrated by a bedside lamp, which, if the switch at the lamp is left on, allows a person entering a dark room to turn on the lamp from the wall switch and avoids the need to search for the lamp switch in the dark.  
         [0003]     While it is convenient to turn the lamp on using the wall switch when entering the room after dark, it is more convenient to use the switch near the lamp to turn the lamp off when retiring. As a result, in the morning, when the room is well lit by daylight, the bedside lamp switch is typically left switched off. Thus, at nighttime when the room is reentered, the wall switch cannot be used to turn the lamp on again.  
         [0004]     Various apparatuses have been devised to overcome problems of this nature. For example, Platzer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,319, relates to a “Lazy-Man Type Switching Circuit;” Bennett, U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,319, relates to “Switching Devices;” and Logan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,319, relates to a “Switching Device for Controlling a Lamp from Both a Wall Switch and the Lamp&#39;s Switch.” The devices disclosed in the prior art, however, have a number of disadvantages including, for instance, that they are costly to manufacture, difficult to install and complex in their design.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention concerns an apparatus for the control of an electrical device independently either from a first main or wall switch or from one or more secondary switches located in, on or near the device.  
         [0006]     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switching apparatus that is simple in design and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
         [0007]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a switching apparatus that may be comprised of no more that a few functioning electrical parts.  
         [0008]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a switching apparatus that can be easily incorporated into the manufacture of a lamp or other electrical device or added to existing devices.  
         [0009]     These and other objectives will become evident to those skilled in the art from the specification.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of the present invention as it applies to a lamp.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts another embodiment of the present invention as it applies to a lamp.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 3-5  depict schematic electrical diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The following description of various embodiments is presented to illustrate the present invention and is not to be construed to limit the scope of the claims in any manner whatsoever.  
         [0014]     For purposes of illustration, the embodiments described below are described with reference to a lamp, however, it is to be understood the invention is suited to other devices including, but not limited to, radios, nightlights, heaters, fans or the like. Further, although the Figures depict an apparatus that cooperates directly with the bulb of a lamp, the apparatus may be placed elsewhere in the lamp and/or elsewhere on or near the lamp.  
         [0015]     The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  is of an apparatus that is incorporated into the design of the lamp. Therein is shown a socket  10  for a bulb, a secondary on switch  20  and a secondary off switch  30 . The design of said switches are further explained with reference to  FIG. 3 , which is discussed below. Also shown are small indentations  25  that are used as part of the snap-together process used in the construction of many conventional lamp sockets. The relay preferred in the present embodiment produces infinitesimal heat such that there is no need to cool the relay  50  (see  FIG. 3 ). However, in constructing such embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the indentions  25  may be replaced by one or more holes or vents that allow air to circulate so as to cool the relay  50  (see  FIG. 3 ). Other means known to those skilled in the art may also be used to vent the apparatus and are within the full-intended scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the invention as it applies to a lamp. Therein is shown a bulb socket  10 , a secondary on switch  20  and a secondary off switch  30 . Again, the design of said switches are further explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . Also shown is an adapter  40 , which cooperates with a socket for light bulb (not shown). Although a screw-thread adapter is shown, any suitable-type adaptor may be used depending on the socket into which the apparatus is to be inserted.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  depicts a schematic electrical diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The diagram shown in  FIG. 3  can be used with the apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Shown therein are a secondary on switch  20 , a secondary off switch  30 , a relay  50  and an armature  60 . Also shown are two contact points  70 ,  80  for the armature. Further shown are a first main or wall switch  90  and a bulb  100 . For purposes of simplicity, the electrical outlet is not shown in the Figures.  
         [0018]     The secondary switches  20 ,  30  depicted are miniature momentary contact, push button switches. However, any suitable switches known to those skilled in the art may be employed. Suitable relays  50  for use with the depicted embodiment include a single pole, double throw electromechanical A/C relay of the voltage used in the country intended. Preferred with regard to the depicted embodiment for use in the United States is a miniature, low current, single pole, double throw, relay of 115 volts alternating current with a milliamp coil and one (1) amp contacts. However, any suitable relay known to those skilled in the art may be employed.  
         [0019]     As depicted in  FIG. 3 , when the wall switch  90  is in the off position, no current is applied to the relay  50  or bulb  100 . Further, the armature  60  is in contact with contact point  80 , its default position. The secondary on switch  20  is in its default position (closed) and the secondary off switch  30  is in its default position (open).  
         [0020]     As depicted in  FIG. 4 , when the wall switch  90  is turned on, electric current flows along path  110  towards the bulb  100  and relay  50 . The current is applied to the bulb  100  and the bulb is illuminated because the bulb circuit path  120  is enabled with the armature  60  and secondary switches  20 ,  30  in their default positions. The current does not activate the relay  50  because the relay circuit path  130  is disabled because the secondary off switch  30  is in its default position (open).  
         [0021]     The bulb  100  may now be turned off at the lamp by momentarily depressing the secondary off switch  30 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , momentarily depressing the secondary off switch  30  allows current to reach and enable the relay circuit path  130  thereby activating the relay  50  and relay switch path  140 . Activation of the relay switch path  140  creates an electromagnetic force that moves the armature  60  from its default position to contact point  70 . The relay remains on even after the secondary off switch  30  is released, i.e., the armature remains in contact with contact point  70  and the relay circuit path  130  remains enabled. To illuminate the bulb using the apparatus, the secondary on switch  20  is momentarily depressed. Depressing the secondary on switch  20  disables the relay circuit path  130  and the armature  60  springs back to its default position such that the bulb circuit path  120  is again enabled (as depicted in  FIG. 4 ) and the bulb is illuminated. The secondary on switch  20  also springs back to its default position (closed).  
         [0022]     In the event that the bulb  100  is turned off using the secondary off switch  30  of the apparatus and the wall switch  90  is in the on position (as depicted in  FIG. 5 ), the bulb may still be turned on using the wall switch. This is done by turning the wall switch  90  to the off position and then back to the on position. Turning the wall switch to the off position cuts the current to the relay  50  and returns the armature  60  to its default position (contact point  80 ) as depicted in  FIG. 3 . (The secondary switches are also in their default position.) As depicted in  FIG. 4 , turning the wall switch  90  back to the on position applies electric current, via path  110 , to the bulb  100 . The bulb  100  is illuminated because the bulb circuit path  120  is enabled with the armature  60  and secondary switches  20 ,  30  in their default positions.  
         [0023]     Many variations of the present invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art in light of the above-detailed description. For example, the apparatus may be used in radios, nightlights, heaters, fans or the like. By way of further example, the secondary on switch may be lit when current flows through it by a means of illumination to assist in seeing the secondary switches in the dark. Such means of illumination are well-known in the art and include, but are not limited to, a bulb or light emitting diode. All such obvious modifications are within the full-intended scope of the claims.