Night light
OwnerRichard Tylerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved night light structure is arranged to be received directly in an electrical wall outlet and supported by the plug blades received in the outlet socket. The night light itself includes a capacitor in series with a miniature light bulb such that the voltage from the outlet is dropped in value by the capacitor so that the voltage across the bulb is substantially less than its normal voltage rating. As a result, the bulb can last for long periods in excess of ten years. Further, by utilizing a miniature bulb of relatively small voltage rating, should the capacitor short circuit, the bulb will immediately burn out and thus function as a fuse. A fail-safe night light is thus provided.
Claims6
A night light for plugging directly into first and second blade receiving slots in an electrical wall outlet said night light comprising, in combination:
- a. a first conducting blade having one end receivable in said first of said receiving slots and its other end terminating in an electrically conducting frame structure defining a bulb supporting opening;
- b. a light bulb having an annular base terminal and an end terminal, said base terminal being received in and supported by said bulb supporting opening so that the base terminal is electrically connected to said frame structure and first blade;
- c. a second conducting blade having one end receivable in said second of said receiving slots and its other end terminating in an electrical terminal;
- d. a capacitor having first and second terminal leads permanently electrically connected respectively to said end terminal of said light bulb and said electrical terminal of said second blade;
- and
- e. a housing of electrical insulating material incorporating interior supports for holding said first and second blades in fixed parallel relationship, and having a front opening through which said bulb extends such that said night light is wholly supported by the blades when received in said electrical wall outlet, said bulb having a filament of given resistance and voltage rating substantially less than the voltage at said electrical outlet to burn out in the event such capacitor should short-circuit so that said light bulb simultaneously functions as a night light and as a fuse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.