Concealed safety lighting device
OwnerR A Bartoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A concealed safety light is described where the light source is integrated and mounted into a switch or power outlet wiring device. The light source is controlled by a circuit that detects ambient light and turns on the light source in the event of a power failure when it is dark. The resulting safety light is concealed in a standard wiring junction box and trimmed with conventional wall cover plate.
Claims17
A concealed safety lighting device comprising:
- a) an electrical wiring device selected from the group consisting of a switch and electric power outlet, having a housing adapted to fit within an electrical utility work box, said electrical wiring device further comprising a mounting means to be supported;
- b) a light source adapted to emit light through a surface area of said electrical wiring device, said surface area visibly exposed through a void in a conventional wall cover plate;
- c) a power sensing and control means connected to said light source to provide a signal to control the on-off state of said light source;
- whereby said concealed safety lighting device has an exterior appearance that visibly resembles a conventional electrical switch or power outlet when installed and covered by said conventional wall cover plate.
A concealed safety lighting device comprising:
- a) a housing for replacement of an electric wiring device selected from the group consisting of a switch and power outlet, said housing further comprising a mounting means adapted to affix said housing to an electrical utility work box, said mounting means further comprising a means to affix a conventional cover plate for said electric wiring device;
- b) a light source adapted such that the light emitted from said light source is transmitted through a visible surface area of said housing as a means to illuminate the area adjacent to said safety lighting device, said visible surface area protruding into, and exposed through, a void in said conventional cover plate;
- c) a power-sensing signal means controlling the on-off state of said light source, said power-sensing signal means providing an electrical power signal to energize said light source;
- whereby said safety lighting device replaces conventional switch or power outlet devices effectively concealing said safety lighting device when covered by a conventional wall cover plate.
A method of providing safety lighting without indicating that an area is so equipped by concealing a safety lighting device in said area, wherein the step of concealing said safety lighting device is comprised of:
- a) combining a light source with a conventional electrical wiring device selected from the group consisting of a switch and power outlet;
- b) controlling the on-off state of said light source using an electronic signal;
- c) conveying light from said light source through a visible surface area of said conventional electrical wiring device utilizing a light transmission means to expose light emitted from said light source, said light transmission means selected from the group consisting of a void, lens, transparent material, translucent material light pipe, and fiber optic material;
- whereby said safety lighting device is installed in an electrical utility work box and concealed behind a standard wall cover plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.