Wall switch and lamp assembly

[0002] The present invention relates to wall lamps and, more specifically, to a wall switch and lamp assembly, which comprises a wall switch unit for on/off power control, an intermediate light-penetrable panel, and a lamp circuit and reflector unit that emits light subject to the intensity of ambient light and reflect the light through the intermediate light-penetrable panel.

[0003] A conventional wall switch is installed in the wall for on/off power control. When entering the room in the dark, it is difficult to immediately find out the accurate position of the wall switch, and an accident may occur when trying to switch on the wall switch in the dark. In order to eliminate this problem, a wall switch with neon lamp means has been disclosed. However, because the intensity of light of a neon lamp is low, it does not provide sufficient illumination. Further, conventional wall lamps commonly use a lamp bulb or lamp tube to produce light. These conventional wall lamps consume much power supply. Another drawback of these conventional wall lamps is their short service life. Further, regular wall switches are disposed at accessible locations. When operating a wall switch, the hand may touch the wall surface around the wall switch, causing the surrounding wall surface to be contaminated.

[0004] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a wall switch and lamp assembly, which combines a wall switch and a wall lamp so that sufficient illumination is provided to illuminate the wall switch when in the dark. It is another object of the present invention to provide a wall switch and lamp assembly, which consumes less power supply and, has a long service life. According to one aspect of the present invention, the wall switch and lamp assembly comprises a lamp circuit and reflector unit covered on the wall, a wall switch unit fastened to the wall to hold down the lamp circuit and reflector unit, and an intermediate light-penetrable panel retained between the lamp circuit and reflector unit and the wall switch unit. The intermediate light-penetrable panel has a center opening, which receives the shell of the push-button switch of the wall switch unit. The lamp circuit and reflector unit comprises a circuit board having a set of LEDs, and a light guide panel adapted to receive the circuit board and to reflect the light of the LEDs through the intermediate light-penetrable panel. According to another aspect of the present invention, the wall switch unit is received within the intermediate light-penetrable panel so that when the intermediate light-penetrable panel prevents the user from touching the surrounding wall surface when operating the push-button switch of the wall-mounting switch panel. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the circuit board comprises an electronic circuit having a photosensitive resistor switch, which automatically control the operation of the LEDs subject to the intensity of ambient light.

[0005] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a wall switch and lamp assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wall switch and lamp assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view showing the wall switch and lamp assembly installed in the wall according to the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing light rays reflected through the beveled peripheral face of the light guide panel according to the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the present invention, showing the LEDs turned on.

[0010] Referring to FIGS. from 1 through 4, a wall switch and lamp assembly in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a wall switch unit 1, an intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 that admits light, and a lamp circuit and reflector unit 3. The wall switch unit 1 comprises a wall-mounting switch panel 12, and a face panel 11. The wall-mounting switch panel 12 comprises two mounting holes 121 disposed near to two lateral sides thereof, and fastened to the wall 4 by fastening elements, for example, screws 13. The intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 is a flat, center-recessed, substantially rectangular open frame adapted to receive the wall switch unit 1, having a center opening 21 adapted to receive the backwardly protruded shell of the push-button switch of the wall-mounting switch panel 12, and two through holes 22 spaced from two opposite lateral sides of the center opening 21 for the passing of the screws 13. The lamp circuit and reflector unit 3 comprises a rectangular circuit board 31, and a light guide panel 32. The circuit board 31 comprises a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) 311 spaced around the periphery and connected in series to an electronic circuit at the backside thereof (not shown). The electronic circuit uses a photosensitive resistor switch to control the operation of the LEDs 311 subject to the intensity of ambient light. Because the photosensitive resistor switch is of the known art and not within the scope of the present invention, it is not described in detail. The light guide panel 32 is a flat, substantially rectangular open frame adapted for covering on the wall to receive the circuit board 31 and the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 on the circuit board 31, comprising a back reflector layer 322 adhered to the back sidewall thereof and adapted to reflect light from the LEDs 311 through the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2, and a beveled peripheral face 321 sloping downwardly outwards.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. from 2 through 3 and FIG. 1 again, during installation, the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 is retained between the lamp circuit and reflector unit 5 and the wall-mounting switch panel 12 of the wall switch unit 1, and then the push-button switch of the wall-mounting switch panel 12 and the circuit board 31 are electrically connected in parallel to the hot and neutral wires of power supply (not shown), and then screws 13 are inserted through the mounting holes 121 of the wall-mounting switch panel 12 and the through holes 22 of the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 and threaded into the wall 4 to fixedly secure the wall-mounting switch panel 12, the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 and the lamp circuit and reflector unit 3 to the wall 4, and then the face panel 11 is covered on the wall-mounting switch panel 12.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when in the dark, the photosensitive resistor switch of the circuit board 31 is induced to switch on the LEDs 311, and the back reflector layer 322 of the light guide panel 32 reflects the light of the LEDs 311 through the beveled peripheral face 321 of the light guide panel 32 and the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 3 again, the intermediate light-penetrable panel 2 has a peripheral coupling flange 23 hooked on the periphery of the light guide panel 32 of the lamp circuit and reflector unit 3.

[0014] While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes could be made thereunto without departing the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.

[0015] 1 wall switch unit

[0016] 11 face panel

[0017] 12 wall-mounting switch panel

[0018] 121 mounting hole

[0019] 13 screw

[0020] 2 intermediate light-penetrable panel

[0021] 21 center opening

[0022] 22 through hole

[0023] 23 peripheral coupling flange

[0024] 3 reflector unit

[0025] 311 LED

[0026] 32 light guide panel

[0027] 321 beveled peripheral face

[0028] 322 back reflector layer

[0029] 4 wall