US 4,755,913 AGranted

Light emitting diode assembly installed on the back of an electrical switch wall plate to indicate, in the dark, the location of the switch, or to indicate at any time an electrical circuit is carrying current

OwnerKenley R. Slevelandinventor

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Abstract

A light emitting diode assembly is preliminarily installed on the back of an otherwise essentially standard switch wall plate of a standard electrical switch assembly, and thereafter connected optionally, either to indicate the location in the dark, of a turned off electrical switch assembly, by using a green light emiting diode connected across the terminals of the electrical switch assembly, or to indicate if the circuit is energized to carry current, upon the turning on of an electrical switch assembly, by using a red light emitting diode connected in the load circuit. A resistor and a direct current diode are utilized to modify the voltage and current for the light emitting diode. A plastic material is used to hold in place a substantial portion of the light emitting diode assembly on the back of the switch wall plate, while portions of the light emitting diode extend through a hole in the switch wall plate, to be observed throughout the space to be lighted.

Claims8

Dependent claims

to indicate the location, in the dark, of the turned off electrical switch assembly, by using a green light emitting diode, and/or
to indicate if the circuit is energized upon the turning on of the electrical switch assembly, by using a red light emitting diode, comprising:
(a) a standard switch wall plate for fitting over finger activated on and off means of a standard electrical switch assembly, having at least one additional hole formed to receive a light emitting diode;
(b) additional circuitry adapted to be installed in the clearances available about an installed standard electrical switch assembly, having:
(i) at least one resistor to reduce the main line voltage and current to lower levels to operate a light emitting diode;
(ii) at least one diode to pass on only a half wave of the reduced main line voltage and current, thereby producing a low direct current at low voltage to operate a light emitting diode;
(iii) at least one light emitting diode to receive the low direct current at low voltage derived from the reduced main line voltage and current;
(iv) circuit wires to extend and to be extended between:
the main line voltage and current;
the resistor;
the diode;
and the standard electrical switch assembly;
and
(v) connecting means to join the circuit wires to:
the main line voltage and current;
the resistor;
the diode;
and the standard electrical switch assembly, via the circuit terminals thereof;
whereby, when a green light emitting diode is indicating in the dark the location of an electrical switch assembly in an off position, some of the connecting means are connected across the open circuit terminals thereof, and
whereby, when a red light emitting diode is indicating at any time the utilization of electrical power, via the electrical switch assembly in an on position, some of the connecting means are connected into a main circuit wire normally carrying current, when the electrical switch assembly is in an on position and there is a source of electrical energy being utilized.

17 more elements

A light emitting diode assembly installed on the back of an otherwise standard switch wall plate of a standard electrical switch assembly, also having circuit terminals and a finger actuated on and off means, to indicate the location, in the dark, of the turned off electrical switch assembly, by using a green light emitting diode, comprising:

(a) a standard switch wall plate for fitting over finger activated on and off means of a standard electrical switch assembly, having one additional hole formed to receive a green light emitting diode;
(b) additional circuitry adapted to be installed in the clearances available about an installed standard electrical switch assembly, having:
(i) a resistor to reduce the main line voltage and current to lower levels to operate a light emitting diode;
(ii) a diode to pass on only a half wave of the reduced main line voltage and current, thereby producing a low direct current at low voltage to operate a light emitting diode;
(iii) a green light emitting diode to receive the low direct current at low voltage derived from the reduced main line voltage and current;
(iv) circuit wires to extend and to be extended between:
the main line voltage and current;
and resistor;
the diode;
and the standard electrical switch assembly;
and
(v) connecting means to join the circuit wires to:
the main line voltage and current;
the resistor;
the diode;
and the standard electrical switch assembly, via the circuit terminals thereof;
whereby, when a green light emitting diode is indicating in the dark the location of an electrical switch assembly in an off position, some of the connecting means are connected across the open circuit terminals thereof.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.