Abstract:
An electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit. The electrical wiring device includes a device housing and at least one switch disposed within the device housing. The at least one switch includes at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit to thereby energize the electrical device when coupled. The electrical wiring device further includes a lamp receptacle formed in the device housing, the lamp receptacle including a contact element that is electrically coupled to the at least one terminal member and a lamp module including a circuit contact member. The lamp module having a lamp module form factor that is configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle such that the lamp circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp light module and the at least one terminal member, the lamp module also being removable from the lamp receptacle to thereby disengage the circuit contact member from the contact element.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/439,370 filed on 9 Jan. 2003, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an electrical wiring device and more particularly to an electrical wiring device suitable for commercial and residential use. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Upon entering a darkened room a person unfamiliar with the layout of the room must typically locate a wall switch to turn on the lights. Searching for a wall switch in a darkened room often requires navigating around objects such as tables and chairs. Such searching is hazardous and unsafe for those involved. Thus, there is a need for an electrical wiring device that provides a visual indication as to its location in a darkened room. One approach to solving this problem includes providing a wall mounted illumination device. Typically, a wall mounted illumination device for use in residential or commercial applications includes a conventional electrical wiring device that incorporates dedicated illumination circuitry and a permanently mounted light source. 
   One draw back to these devices is that once installed they are not reconfigurable from a non-illuminated device to an illuminated device. For example, if a wall mounted, non-illuminated electrical wiring device is installed and it is later determined that an illuminated electrical wiring device is required, the non-illuminated electrical wiring device must be removed and an illuminated electrical wiring device installed thereby increasing the cost of the electrical installation. Thus, there is a need for an electrical wiring device that is reconfigurable, after installation, from a non-illuminated electrical wiring device to an illuminated electrical wiring device, and from an illuminated electrical wiring device to a non-illuminated electrical wiring device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, the present invention includes an electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit. The electrical wiring device includes a device housing and at least one switch disposed within the device housing. The at least one switch includes at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit to thereby energize the electrical device when coupled. The electrical wiring device further includes a lamp receptacle formed in the device housing, the lamp receptacle including a contact element that is electrically coupled to the at least one terminal member and a lamp module including a circuit contact member, the lamp module having a lamp module form factor that is configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle such that the circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member, the lamp module also being removable from the lamp receptacle to thereby disengage the circuit contact member from the contact element. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method of installing an electrical wiring device. The method of installing an electrical wiring device includes the step of providing electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit. The wiring device includes at least one switch disposed within the device housing. The at least one switch includes at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit to thereby energize the electrical device when coupled. The wiring device also includes a lamp receptacle formed in the device housing. The lamp receptacle includes a contact element that is electrically coupled to the at least one terminal member. The method further includes the step of providing a lamp module having a form factor that is configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle, whereby the circuit contact member engages the contact element to establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member. The method further includes the step of inserting the lamp module into the lamp receptacle such that the circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member. 
   In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a method of making an electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit. The method of making an electrical wiring device for use in an electric circuit includes the step of providing a device housing. The device housing has a lamp receptacle formed therein, the lamp receptacle including a receptacle contact element. The method further includes the step of disposing at least one wiring device within the device housing. The at least one wiring device includes at least one switch. The at least one switch includes at least one terminal member configured to be coupled to the electric circuit. The at least one terminal member is configured to engage the receptacle contact element when the at least one wiring device is disposed within the device housing. The method further includes the step of providing a lamp module having a form factor that is configured to be inserted into the lamp receptacle, having a circuit contact member whereby the circuit contact member engages the contact element to establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member. The method further includes the step of inserting the lamp module into the lamp receptacle such that the circuit contact member engages the contact element to thereby establish electrical connectivity between the lamp module and the at least one terminal member. 
   Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an one embodiment of the electrical wiring device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electrical wiring device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the electrical device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the electrical device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the electrical device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the electrical device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the electrical device shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a lamp module of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
   One embodiment of the electrical device of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and is designated generally throughout by the reference numeral  10 . The electrical wiring device  10  includes a ground strap  12  and a housing  14 . The housing  14  is configured for installation in an electrical wall box. The ground strap  12  is configured to attach the electrical wiring device  10  to the wall box. Typically screws are used to attach the ground strap  12  to the wall box. The housing  14  includes a body  22  and frame  24 . Both the body  22  and the frame  24  are made from a non-electrically conductive material, such as, for example plastic and may be made by injection molding, although those skilled in the art of making electrical wiring devices will readily appreciate that other manufacturing processes may be used. The body  22  and frame  24  are configured to engage one another thereby forming the housing  14 . The body  22  is configured to receive a plurality of terminals  20 , the body  22  electrically isolates the terminals from one another. The frame  24  is configured to receive at least one switch paddle  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the body  22  is configured to receive two switch paddles  26 . 
   A better understanding of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be gained by considering  FIG. 2  which is an exploded view of the electrical device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the electrical device  10  of the present invention includes two single pole switches and a lamp module. The electrical device  10  is sized to fit in a conventional wall box (not shown). The body  22  is configured to receive five terminals  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d ,  20   e . The terminals  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d ,  20   e  are held apart from one another and are electrically isolated from one anther. The plurality of terminals  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d ,  20   e  includes a first stationary terminal  20   a , a first pivot terminal  20   b , a second stationary terminal  20   c  and a second pivot terminal  20   d  and a lamp terminal  20   e . The first stationary terminal  20   a  and the first pivot terminal  20   b  are associated with the first single pole switch and the second stationary terminal  20   c  and the second pivot terminal  20   d  are associated with the second single pole switch. Each of the  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d ,  20   e  terminals is configured to receive the end of an electrically conductive wire (not shown). The electrically conductive wires establish an electrical circuit. The electrically conductive wires may include at least one line wire and a neutral wire, or at least one line wire and a ground wire, having a power source there between. Alternatively or in addition, the electrically conductive wires may include at least one load wire. If a load terminal  20  is provided, electrical device  10  operates to selectively establish or break electrical connectivity between the power source and the remote load. The frame  24  is configured to engage the body  22  in a predetermined manner to form a unitary body. 
   The frame  24  is configured to receive two switch paddles  26  and two blanks  28 . The floor  30  of the of the frame  24  defines two openings  42  which allow the switch paddles  26  to engage the moveable three way  36  of their respective switch. 
   The switch paddles  26  are made from a non-electrically conductive material, such as, for example plastic and may be made by injection molding. Each switch paddle  26  is configured to receive one end of the moveable three way  36 . 
   The electrical device  10  further includes a first clip  38  and a second clip  40  mounted to the frame  24 . The first clip  38  and the second clip  40  are electrical conductors. Both the first clip  38  and the second clip  40  are coupled to the frame  24  and are spaced apart from one another and are thereby electrically isolated from one another. In the embodiment shown, the first clip  38  and the second clip  40  are metallic strips. The first clip  38  and the second clip  40  are positioned over openings  42  in the floor  30  of the frame  24 . The openings  42  allow contacts  44  extending from the second stationary terminal  20   c  to engage the first clip  38  and from the second pivot terminal  20   d  to engage the second clip  40 , thereby establishing electrical conductivity between the respective terminals and clips. One end  46  of the first clip  38  is configured as an electrical contact for engagement with a complementary electrical contact  54  of a lamp module  50 . One end  48  of the second clip  40  is configured as an electrical contact for engagement with an a complementary electrical contact  56  of the lamp module  50 . 
   The electrical device  10  may further include a removably engageable lamp module  50 . One embodiment of a lamp module  50  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The lamp module  50  is configured to replace one of the blanks  28 . The lamp module  50  includes a printed circuit board  52 . The printed circuit board  52  includes two electrical contacts  54 ,  56 , electrical control circuitry  58  and a light source  60 , such as, for example one or more light emitting diodes. The lamp module  50  further includes a cover  62 . The printed circuit board  52  is coupled to the cover  62  and is at least partially disposed within an interior volume of the cover  62 . The electrical contacts  54 ,  56  are located so as to engage the first and second clips  38 ,  40  when the lamp module  50  replaces one of the blanks  28 . The engagement of the electrical contacts  54 ,  56  with the first and second clips  38 ,  40  establishes electrical conductivity there between and allows electrical power to be supplied to the lamp module  50 . The lamp module  50  is configured to emit light constantly when the electrical device  10  is installed and the second paddle switch  26  breaks electrical connectivity between the second stationary terminal  20   c  and second pivot terminal  20   d , that is, when stationary terminal  20   c  is not providing power to a load. Lamp module  50  thus operates as a locator for electrical wiring device  10 . A locator can have several benefits, for example, assisting with the location of the electrical wiring device in a darkened room. 
   In an alternate embodiment, clips  38  and  40  can be electrically connected to other combinations of terminals  20 . Electrical connection of clips  38  and  40  to a line wire terminal and a neutral wire terminal causes lamp module  50  to operate as a power-on indicator (or live indicator), that is, lamp module  50  emits light when electrical power has been coupled from the electric circuit to wiring device  10 . Alternatively, electrical connection of clips  38  and  40  to a line wire terminal and a ground wire terminal causes lamp module  50  to operate as a ground presence detector, in which case lamp module  50  emits light if a ground conductor is electrically connected to the ground terminal of wiring device  10 . Alternatively, electrical connection of clips  38  and  40  to a load terminal and a neutral terminal causes lamp module  50  to operate as a remote use indicator, in which case lamp module  50  emits light when a switch has established electrical connectivity between a load terminal and the corresponding line terminal, resulting in a load being electrically energized. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the electrical control circuit  58  can be configured to cause the emitted light to blink. Alternatively, the electrical control circuit  58  can be configured to negate the emission of light, for example, lamp module  50 , operating as a ground presence indicator, is reconfigured to emit light when power has been coupled to wiring device  10  but a ground conductor is not electrically connected to the ground terminal of wiring device  10 . 
   In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the electrical device  10  of the present invention includes a three way switch, a single pole switch and a lamp module. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  with the exception that one of the single pole switches has been replaced by a three way switch. 
   In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the electrical device  10  of the present invention includes a dual single pole switch unit and three way switch. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  with the exception that the single pole switch has been replaced by a dual single pole switch unit. 
   In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the electrical device  10  of the present invention includes two dual single pole switch units and is further configured for the installation of a removable lamp module. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  with the exception that the three way switch has been replaced by a second dual single pole switch unit. 
   In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the electrical device  10  of the present invention includes a single pole switch, a receptacle and a lamp module. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  with the exception that one single pole switch is replaced by a receptacle. 
   In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the electrical device  10  of the present invention includes a dual single pole switch unit, a receptacle and a lamp module. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  with the exception that the single pole switch is replaced by a dual single pole switch unit. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other desirable alternative embodiments of the present invention are readily constructed from the teachings contained herein, for example other alternative embodiments may include ground fault interruption and/or arc fault circuit interrupter protection. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.