Active cover plates
AssigneeSnapRays LLC
InventorsJeremy C. Smith, R. Camden Robinson, Kyle Hill, Martin Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described. In one illustrative embodiment, an active cover plate includes a multi-gang face plate configured to be installed over a multi-gang light switch installation, the multi-gang faceplate including at least two apertures sized to accept a manually manipulatable element of switches in the multi-gang light switch installation. Prongs extend rearward from the multi-gang faceplate around at least one of the apertures.
Claims41
An active cover plate comprising:
- a faceplate;
- and
- at least one prong extending from the faceplate, the prong comprising an electrical conductor, front insulation and rear insulation;
- wherein (1) the front insulation and the rear insulation are joined with the electrical conductor between them and (2) the at least one prong is configured to electrically contact a side screw terminal of an electrical receptacle.
An active cover plate comprising:
- a faceplate;
- prongs extending rearward from the faceplate;
- a circuit board electrically connected to the prongs;
- and
- a light pipe adjoining an edge of the circuit board;
- wherein (1) the circuit board comprises a light sensor and light emitting diodes and (2) the light emitting diodes are configured to project light into the light pipe.
An active cover plate comprising:
- a faceplate;
- at least one prong extending rearwardly from a back side of the faceplate, the at least one prong comprising an electrical conductor;
- a sensor;
- and
- an exit indicator configured to illuminate when an emergency situation is detected, wherein detection of the emergency situation comprises the sensor sensing smoke or detecting activation of a fire alarm.
An active cover plate comprising:
- a faceplate and a backplate;
- at least one prong having an electrical conductor extending from the backplate;
- a sensor for detecting at least one environmental condition;
- a light source comprising at least one exit indication;
- a control circuit having at least two operational modes and coupled to the light source;
- a switch coupled to the control circuit for shifting between the at least two operational modes, wherein the at least two operational modes comprise a nightlight off mode and a nightlight mode with battery backup lighting;
- and
- a controller having a wireless module, wherein the wireless module is capable of sending and receiving wireless signals.
An active cover plate system comprising:
- at least one prong for receiving a voltage from an electrical receptacle;
- a voltage regulation circuit to regulate the voltage from an incoming voltage source and generate a regulated voltage;
- a battery for storing energy from the regulated voltage;
- a control circuit;
- a light source connected by the control circuit to the battery and the regulated voltage, wherein the light source further comprises at least one exit indication;
- at least one sensor coupled to the control circuit for detecting environmental conditions;
- a switch connected to the control circuit for controlling a connection between the light source and the regulated voltage;
- and
- a wireless module to transmit and receive wireless signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.