Electroluminescent Wall Plate

This invention relates to electroluminescent wall panels or plates for switches and receptacles.

Electroluminescent wall cover plates have been proposed in the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,030. This patent discloses a custom built plug-in receptacle having three pairs of sockets, the conventional two pairs of plug-in sockets and a special central pair of sockets located in between the conventional sockets. An electroluminescent plate having a pair of prongs projecting outwardly from the rear surface of the plate are inserted into the special central pair of sockets. In another embodiment, the special central pair of sockets straddle a light switch. This prior art device is commercially unsatisfactory because it is custom built and requires a special unconventional socket assembly or switch assembly and a special unconventional plate with projecting prongs.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an electroluminescent wall plate night light that does not require electrical wiring to an alternating current line or source and, at the same time, provides soft illumination for the plate, rooms and hallways.

Another object is to provide a wall plate of the foregoing type that will operate year round at minimum cost, will never burn out and is cool to the touch.

A further object is to provide a wall plate of the foregoing type with unique means for bringing power to the electroluminescent plate which may be a switch plate, receptacle plate or a combination thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an electroluminescent wall switch plate of traditional style incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view thereof partly broken away to show the electrical connection between the clips and the electroluminescent lamp or plate with the switch side screw terminals shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is an end view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom or rear plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top or front plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of an electrical box with a traditional or standard switch having a pair of side screw terminals having electrically coupled therewith the plate clips.

In the drawings, a wall switch plate incorporating an electroluminescent lamp or panel is generally indicated by numeral 10. The switch plate 10 includes back support plate 12 providing structural support and designed to cover the electric box 14 to which is secured switch 16 in a known and conventional manner (see FIG. 6) such as by screws 17. An electroluminescent panel 18 is advantageously placed flat against the front surface of support plate 12 and preferably within a recess therein and may be adhered thereto by glue, suitable adhesives or tape. The electroluminescent panel 18 may be an off-the-shelf item and obviously may assume any one of many configurations and geometric designs when applied to the front of plate 12, as for example, to cover a major part of the front of plate 12 as shown, or perhaps only its periphery or only a part of the front.

A cutout or opening 20 in the plate 12 and electroluminescent panel 18 accommodates a throw 22 of the switch 16. Screw holes 24 in both plate 12 and panel 18 permit screws (not shown) to pass therethrough and threadedly engage tapped openings 26 in switch 16.

Although a traditional switch plate 10 is illustrated, it should be understood any size or style of wall plate 12 can be employed, including a contemporary rocker; multi-switch and/or receptacle type or any combination thereof but preferably one that is commercially available.

The switch 16 will normally be furnished with side screw terminals 28a and 28b which will be electrically connected to a source of electricity. In order to couple this source of electricity, through terminals 28a and 28b to electroluminescent panel 18, U-shaped clip assembly 30 is advantageously mounted on the interior of wall plate 12. Clip assembly 30 includes a cantilevered mounting bracket 32 of insulative material secured to the inner face of plate 12 in any suitable manner such as by adhesive, pins, rivets, etc. The bracket is formed with a pair of arms 34a, 34b possessing flexibility and tilted inwardly as shown in FIG. 3 each having a ramp 35a, 35b at its free end. Electrical contacts 36a, 36b are riveted or secured in any other suitable manner, inwardly of the free ends of the arms 34a, 34b, respectively. These contacts 36a, 36b will engage with terminals 28a, 28b when the switch plate 10 is secured to electrical box 14 with good firm contact provided by the flexure of the arms 34a, 34b which will be biased outwardly as the arm free ends cam against the terminals 28a, 28b. Electric wires 38a, 38b extend through holes 39a, 39b and are electrically connected to contacts 36a, 36b as well as conductive plates 40a, 40b, electrically connected to the inner face of electroluminescent panel 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Obviously, any other form of electrical connection between wires 38a, 38b and panel 18 could be employed such as coil springs, conductive epoxy, ink, etc.

Thus, in order to activate the electroluminescent panel 18, the wall plate 10 is mounted on the electrical box and secured to switch 16 by screws (not shown) extending through holes 24 and 26. During this mounting of the wall plate 10, arms 34a, 34b will flex and bias against terminals 28a, 28b to eventually place contacts 36a, 36b into firm electrical engagement with those terminals. When this occurs, the electroluminescent panel will be energized.

Thus, the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiments has been disclosed and described in detail herein, this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.