Patent Publication Number: US-2022232118-A1

Title: Smart Plate Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/139,829, which was filed on Jan. 21, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of cover plates. More specifically, the present invention relates to a smart plate device. The device is primarily comprised of a front plate that has a top surface, a side surface, and a rear surface further comprised of a box. The device can be installed as a cover plate for a light switch and/or a power outlet. Multiple devices can further be used in an intercom-like fashion within a home. Further, the device may have or be compatible with a virtual smart assistant that can be used to control the device and its functions. The device is also illuminated via an LED and can be controlled by the voice of the user. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     All homes have a plurality of light switches and power outlets. However, beyond allowing a user to turn lights on/off and plug items in to receive power, light switches and power outlets lack many other helpful features. For example, if a home emergency occurs a homeowner may be unable to contact emergency services if a phone is not nearby. In addition, if a homeowner does not have a free hand, they are typically unable to activate a light switch. In addition, a homeowner must be physically in front of a light switch to activate the switch. Further, some light switches and power outlets cannot be easily located in dark rooms because they are not illuminated. 
     Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved light switch and power outlet cover plate. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart plate device that can be used as a light switch cover plate and power outlet cover plate, wherein the device illuminates to make it easy to locate. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart plate device that can be used as a light switch cover plate and power outlet cover plate, wherein the device allows a user to contact emergency services without the use of a phone. Furthermore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart plate device that can be used as a light switch cover plate and power outlet cover plate, wherein the device has a plurality of smart features not found on current light switch and wall outlet cover plates. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a smart plate device. The device is primarily comprised of a front plate that has a top surface, a side surface, and a rear surface further comprised of a box. The device can be installed as a cover plate for a light switch and/or a power outlet. Multiple devices can further be used in an intercom-like fashion within a home. Further, the device may have or be compatible with a virtual smart assistant that can be used to control the device and its functions. The device is also illuminated via an LED and can be controlled by the voice of the user. 
     In this manner, the smart plate device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides an improved light switch and power outlet cover plate which illuminates, making the device easy to locate. In addition, the device allows a user to contact emergency services without the use of a phone. Further, the device has a plurality of smart features not found on current light switch and wall outlet cover plates. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a smart plate device. The device is primarily comprised of a front plate that has a top surface, a side surface, and a rear surface further comprised of a box. The front plate and box are preferably manufactured from a durable, rigid plastic, wood, or metal material known in the art. In differing embodiments, the front plate and box may be any shape known in the art. However, the front plate and box are preferably both generally rectangular shaped. 
     The top surface of the front plate may have at least one light switch or at least one power outlet. The top surface may also be comprised of a touch screen or display screen that displays and/or allows a user to control the functions of the device. The top surface may also have at least one continuous opening that receives at least one fastener that allows the front plate to be secured to the box. The box sits within a wall cavity and is further comprised of a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom surface that may be comprised of at least one continuous opening that allows the box to be fastened to a wall surface using at least one fastener. The sidewalls of the box may further be comprised of at least one terminal that allows out, in, and ground wires to be attached to the device to supply electrical power to a battery of the device. 
     The top surface may also have at least one button, at least one speaker, and at least one microphone. The microphone allows one user to speak into the device to speak to another user who is near another device such that users in differing rooms can use devices within each room as an intercom system. The button further allows a user to activate or mute the speaker and/or microphone, and may also be used to control the light switch or to turn the device on or off. 
     The device is also comprised of a mobile application that communicates with at least one transmitter which transmits a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, etc. signal that places the mobile application in electrical communication with the front plate. The mobile application may have a voice-activated smart assistant such that functions of the device can be controlled via various voice commands directed at the smart assistant. Using the smart assistant, the device can be used to make a phone call or text message, used to control other smart devices, used to turn the light switch of the front plate on or off, and used to turn the power supply to the power outlet on or off. 
     Accordingly, the smart plate device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved light switch and power outlet cover plate. The device illuminates, thus making the device easy to locate. Further, the device allows a user to contact emergency services without the use of a phone and has a plurality of smart features, such as a voice assistant, not found on current light switch and wall outlet cover plates. In this manner, the smart plate device overcomes the limitations of existing light switch and power outlet cover plates known in the art. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of one potential embodiment of a smart plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of one potential embodiment of a smart plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of one potential embodiment of a smart plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of one potential embodiment of a smart plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a rear perspective view of one potential embodiment of a smart plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a graphical view of one potential embodiment of a mobile application of a smart plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved light switch and power outlet cover plate that illuminates to make it easy to locate. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart plate device that can be used as a light switch cover plate and power outlet cover plate, wherein the device allows a user to contact emergency services without the use of a phone. Furthermore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart plate device that can be used as a light switch cover plate and power outlet cover plate, wherein the device has a plurality of smart features not found on current light switch and wall outlet cover plates. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a smart plate device primarily comprised of a front plate that has a top surface, a side surface, and a rear surface further comprised of a box. The front plate and box are preferably manufactured from a durable, rigid plastic, wood, or metal material known in the art. Further, the front plate and box are preferably both generally rectangular shaped. 
     The top surface of the front plate may have at least one light switch or at least one power outlet. The top surface may also be comprised of a touch screen or display screen that displays and/or allows a user to control the functions of the device. Further, the top surface may also have at least one continuous opening that receives at least one fastener that allows the front plate to be secured to the box. The box sits within a wall cavity and is further comprised of a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom surface that may be comprised of at least one continuous opening that allows the box to be fastened to a wall surface using at least one fastener. Additionally, the sidewalls of the box may further be comprised of at least one terminal that allows out, in, and ground wires to be attached to the device to supply electrical power to a battery of the device. 
     The top surface may also have at least one button, at least one speaker, and at least one microphone, wherein the microphone allows one user to speak into the device to speak to another user who is near another device such that users in differing rooms can use devices within each room as an intercom system. The button further allows a user to activate or mute the speaker and/or microphone. In addition, the button may also be used to control the light switch or to turn the device on or off. 
     The device is also comprised of a mobile application. The mobile application communicates with at least one transmitter of the front plate, which transmits a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, etc. signal that places the mobile application in electrical communication with the front plate. The mobile application may have a voice-activated smart assistant such that functions of the device can be controlled via various voice commands directed at the smart assistant. Using the smart assistant, the device can be used to make a phone call or text message, used to control other smart devices, used to turn the light switch of the front plate on or off, and used to turn the power supply to the power outlet on or off. 
     Accordingly, the smart plate device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved light switch and power outlet cover plate. The device illuminates, thus making the device easy to locate. Further, the device allows a user to contact emergency services without the use of a phone and has a plurality of smart features, such as a voice assistant, not found on current light switch and wall outlet cover plates. In this manner, the smart plate device overcomes the limitations of existing light switch and power outlet cover plates known in the art. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of one potential embodiment of a smart plate device  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device  100  is primarily comprised of a front plate  110  that has a top surface  120 , a side surface  130 , and a rear surface  140  further comprised of a box  150 . The front plate  110  is preferably manufactured from a durable, rigid plastic such as, but not limited to: acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene, thermoplastic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polylactic acid, acetal, nylon, fiberglass, recycled plastic, biodegradable plastic, etc. The front plate  110  may also be manufactured from any wood or metal material known in the art. Similarly, the box  150  may be manufactured from the same material as the front plate  110 . The front plate  110 , side surface  130 , rear surface  140 , and/or box  150  may further be comprised of a plurality of indicia  160  such as, but not limited to: patterns, logos, textures, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, numbers, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc. In differing embodiments, the front plate  110  and box  150  may be any shape known in the art. However, the front plate  110  and box  150  are both generally rectangular shaped in the preferred embodiment of the device  100 . 
     In differing embodiments, the top surface  120  of the front plate  110  may have a plurality of structures. In one embodiment, the device  100  can be used as a light switch to control lights within a home or other structure, wherein the front plate  110  is further comprised of at least one light switch  121 . The light switch  121  may be any shape, size, and dimension known in the art, and may be generally flat or may protrude outwards away from the top surface  120 . In a differing embodiment seen in  FIG. 2 , the top surface  120  is comprised of at least one power outlet  122 . In one embodiment, the outlet  122  is a female 110V or 240V outlet. Alternatively or additionally, the outlet  122  may be a USB port such as, but not limited to: USB-A, USB-B, Micro-B, Micro-USB, Mini-USB, USB-C, etc. In a further embodiment, the top surface  120  may be comprised of a touch screen  123  or display screen that displays and/or allows a user to control the functions of the device  100 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     The top surface  120  may also have at least one continuous opening  127  that receives at least one fastener  128  such as, but not limited to: a screw, a bolt, a nail, etc. that allows the front plate  110  to be secured to the box  150 . In another embodiment, the front plate  110  is fixedly connected to the box  150 , wherein the box contacts the rear surface  140  of the front plate  110 . The box  150  sits within a wall cavity and is further comprised of a plurality of sidewalls  152  and a bottom surface  153  that may be comprised of at least one continuous opening  151  that allows the box  150  to be fastened to a wall surface using at least one fastener  128 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the sidewalls  152  of the box  150  may further be comprised of at least one terminal  154  that allows out, in, and ground wires to be attached to the device  100  to supply electrical power to a battery  146  of the device  100 . The terminals  154  may further be color-coded to help a user identify which terminals  154  correspond to out, in, and ground wiring. Further, each terminal  154  may have a screw head  156  that has a Phillips or flat screw head that allows each terminal  154  to be turned and extended into or out of the box  150  to aid in securing wiring to the device  100 . 
     The top surface  120  may also be comprised of at least one button  124 , at least one speaker  125 , and at least one microphone  126 . The microphone  126  allows one user to speak into the device  100  to speak to another user who is near another device  100 . For example, in a scenario wherein the device  100  is used as a light switch in each room of a home, users in differing rooms can use the device  100  within each room as an intercom system by talking into the microphone  126  of each device  100 , wherein the voice communication is then played externally from the speaker  125  of each device  100 . The button  124  further allows a user to activate or mute the speaker  125  and/or microphone  126  (and activate/mute a smart assistant  202 , which will be described more fully below). The button  124  may also be used to control the light switch  121  or to turn the device  100  on or off. 
     The side surface  130  of the front plate  110  is further comprised of at least one LED light  132  that may be arranged in an LED light array. The light  132  may illuminate any color known in the art and may have a plurality of brightness levels, wherein both are control by the button  124  or by a mobile application  200 . In this manner, the LED light  132  illuminates the area around the device  100  and can serve as a light source within a room. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a graphical view of one potential embodiment of a mobile application  200  of a smart plate device  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device  100  is also comprised of a mobile application  200  that can be used on any smart device such as, but not limited to a smart phone or tablet. The application  200  may also be used on a computer in the form of a website or software. The mobile application  200  communicates with at least one transmitter  142  which may be located on the rear surface  140  of the front plate  110  in one embodiment. The transmitter  142  may transmit a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, etc. signal that places the mobile application  200  in electrical communication with the front plate  110 . In this manner, commands made by the mobile application  200  can be executed via a processor  144  of the front plate  110 . 
     The mobile application  200  may have a voice-activated smart assistant  202 , or can be used with any voice-activated smart assistant known in the art. In this manner, the functions of the device  100  can be controlled via various voice commands. For example, using the smart assistant  202 , the device  100  can be used to make a phone call or text message  204  to any party [Block  204 ], including emergency services. The smart assistant  202  may also allow a user to control other smart devices [Block  206 ] such as, but not limited to: TV&#39;s, speakers, garage door openers, appliances, etc. that can also be placed in electrical communication with the device  100  via the transmitter  142 . Using a voice command, a user can also instruct the smart assistant  202  to turn the light switch  121  of the front plate  110  on or off to turn lights controlled by the switch  121  on or off [Block  208 ]. Similarly, using a voice command, a user can instruct the smart assistant  202  to turn the power supply to the power outlet  122  on or off [Block  210 ]. It should be appreciated that the device  100  may also have a plurality of other voice-command related functions. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “smart plate device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the smart plate device  100  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the forgoing, the smart plate device  100  of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the smart plate device  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the smart plate device  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the smart plate device  100  are important design parameters for user convenience, the smart plate device  100  may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.