GB2352090A

GB2352090A - Photoluminescent switch

Info

Publication number: GB2352090A
Application number: GB9916313A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicola Saks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-12
Filing date: 1999-07-12
Publication date: 2001-01-17
Also published as: GB9916313D0

Abstract

A light switch control comprises a manual switch control element and a photoluminescent element 9,15,16 associated with the manual switch control element. The photoluminescent element allows the switch control element to be found in the dark.

Description

2352090 Switches The present invention relates to switches for lights. 5 A

wide range of light switches are available for switching on and off lights, such as room lights within a home. For example, most rooms have a wall-mounted rocker switch adjacent to the door for switching the room light on and off. However, in some rooms, particularly ones which include water fittings, such as a bathroom, wall-mounted rocker switches are not used, and in many jurisdictions are prohibited. In such a case, the electrical switch is mounted on the ceiling out of the reach of any person who might have wet hands. There is a danger of electrocution if a person with wet hands uses a normal wall- mounted light switch. The ceiling-mounted switch includes a cord which hangs downs to a convenient height for a person to reach. The room light is switched on and off by pulling the cord, usually grasping a toggle at the bottom end of the cord.

In free standing lamps, the light fitting which carries a bulb usually includes a switch consisting of a rod which is movable longitudinally through the body of the light fitting between two positions, one corresponding with the light being on, and the other corresponding with the light being off. Another common arrangement with such lamps is the use of an in-line switch mounted on the mains power cord leading to the lamp. Such a switch includes a casing into which the cord from the mains power supply enters, and from which the cord leading to the lamp extends.

Room lights are used mainly in the evening as light from the sun reduces. Thus, lights are normally turned on while there is some sunlight left. However, if one wakes up in the middle of the night, and needs to turn on a light, finding the light switch is a matter of remembering where about it is. This usually involves a significant amount of fumbling in the dark before the light switch is found.

2 According to the present invention, a light switch control comprises a manual switch control element and a photoluminescent element associated with the manual switch control element. As a result, anyone wishing to switch on the light at night in the dark will be able to see the photoluminescent element. They will be able to find the manual switch control element easily. This invention will not only assist a person in turning a light on quickly, but also enables that person to navigate his or her way towards a light switch with reduced risk of colliding objects or failing down stairs. Such an invention is not only useful within a home, but is of significant benefit in a hotel room where a visitor is not familiar with his or her surroundings.

The manual switch control element may include the photoluminescent element. This means that, rather than the photoluminescent element being adjacent to the manual switch control element, in which case it is necessary to reach towards the photoluminescent element and then search for short distance to one side above or below before being able to switch the manual switch control element, one merely needs to reach for the photoluminescent element which is itself the manual switch control element. This adds to ease of use the light switch control.

The manual switch control element may be wholly photoluminescent or only part of it might be photoluminescent to act as an indicator as to the location of the switch. If only part of it is photoluminescent, this may lead to a reduction in the cost of manufacture since the amount of photoluminescent material is reduced.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the manual switch control element is remote from the light switch. This is normally most useful in bathrooms where the person switching the light on or off may have wet hands. The manual switch control element may be a toggle for attachment to a cord of a light switch, or may even be the cord itself. In the case of a photoluminescent toggle, it will glow in the dark so that a person can find it easily at night. This invention is particularly applicable to toggles since they are not always located immediately next to a door, unlike wall-mounted light switches. Thus, finding a hanging toggle is made very much easier at night.

3 Alternatively, the manual switch control element may be part of a wallmounted switch.

The manual switch control element is either photoluminescent itself or adjacent to a photoluminescent element. For example, the light switch may include a back plate which forms the photoluminescent element. An advantage of this is that the area of photoluminescence is much greater than if it were the manual switch control element itself.

The invention also applies to lamp units where the manual switch control element is a switch element associated with a lamp body. Thus, a bedside lamp may include a photoluminescent manual switch control element, or the lamp body itself could be photoluminescent. The switch could be located on the power cord leading to the lamp.

Embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I shows a toggle for operation of a ceiling-mounted light switch; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the toggle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a wall-mounted light switch; Figure 4 is a front view of a table lamp: and Figure 5 is a front view of a table lamp similar to that of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures I and 2, a toggle I is shown attached to the bottom end of a cord 2 which hangs from a ceiling-mounted light switch (not shown). The toggle I is shaped to be aesthetically pleasing, and in this case is in the shape of a fish. Of course, a wide variety of different shapes and arrangements are possible. The cord 2 extends from the mouth of the fish-shaped toggle, with the lowermost end of the cord being retained within its body 3.

The body 3 of the toggle I is formed in two parts which are joined together. The two parts might be clipped together or glued. Various constructions are, of course, possible.

4 The shape of the toggle I is largely unimportant, although it is advantageous for is to be easy to grasp so as to operate the ceilingmounted light switch. The toggle I will be of a suitable weight to hold the cord to straight, but not so heavy that it will cause damage or injury when it swings at the end of the cord. It may be necessary to include a weight 4 within the body 1. Such a weight 4 may be made from metal such as zinc or stainless steel, or from any other suitable material. In this embodiment, the body is formed in two parts which are moulded separately and clipped together.

In this case, the body 3 of the toggle 1 is moulded from a plastics material such as polypropylene, the plastics material including a photoluminescent compounA. For example, the photolurninescent compound may be a product called "Lumiluxyr ade by Riegel-De Haen. Other luminescent compounds could be used, but it is advantageous to use compounds which will continue to luminesce for a sufficient period that it lasts all night. In this case, only part of the toggle is photoluminescent. The tail of the fish only includes the photoluminescent compound. The photoluminescent part of the toggle serves as an indicator and is sufficiently large that a person will be able to see the light emitted in the dark.

The photoluminescent compound contains pigments which possess the property of emitting light. The energy for the glow comes from ambient light which is present around the toggle during the day. As it gets dark, although the ambient light reduces, and the photoluminescent compound is no longer being excited by the ambient light, it continues to emit light for some hours after dark.

The toggle is typically formed by plastic injection moulding.

Referring now to Figure 3, a wall-mounted light switch is shown including a back plate 7 which is attached to a wall by two screws 8. At the centre of the back plate 7 is a switch 9 which, in this case, is a simple rocker switch.

In this embodiment, the light switch 9 is photoluminescent. Light switches are typically made of a plastic material, in which case, the material may include a photoluminescent compound which will glow in the dark. Thus, in the dark, a person can oasily find the light switch, and switches the light on by pressing the photoluminescent light switch 9.

Alternatively, the light switch 9 may have a photolurninescent material applied to it, for example by applying a photoluminescent sticker.

A further alternative of Figure 3 is for part or all of the back plate 7 to include a photoluminescent compound so that it will glow in the dark.

Referring now to Figure 4, a free-standing lamp is shown including a base 10, a light fitting 11, a light bulb 12 and a lamp shade 13. Part of the lamp shade 13 is shown cut away in order to show the light fitting and light bulb in more detail. The light fitting 11 includes a bulb holder for holding the bulb 12 and a light switch 14 which is used to switch the light bulb 12 on and off. The light switch 14 is in the form of a rod which passes completely through the light fitting 11. To switch the light on, the rod is pushed longitudinally so as to pass through the light fitting 11 so that it extends from the opposite side. Switching the light off again is achieved by pushing the rod back through the light fitting 11.

This kind of free-standing lamp is frequently used beside a bed. When waking up in the middle of the night, many people will want to switch on a lamp such as this. Difficulty can be encountered in finding the light switch 14 since it is obstructed by the lamp shade 13. As a result, according to this invention, either the light fitting I I or the light switch 14, or a part thereof, includes a photoluminescent compound. Alternatively, photoluminescent stickers may be applied.

As a result, the light switch 14 can be found easily in the dark.

A similar lamp is shown in Figure 5, but instead of the switch being part of the light fitting 11, it is carried on the power cord 14 which supplies the lamp with electricity. It includes a housing 15 and a switch 16. Either the housing or the switch are photolurninescent.

6 1 In all of these embodiments, a variety of different materials can be used, although the materials used in connection with Figure I are most appropriate for the embodiments. However, this application is not limited to the use of such specific materials. Where plastic materials are used, the photoluminescent compound may be included in the plastic, or may be applied to the surface of the article or part of the article.

Claims

7 Claims

1. A light switch control comprising a manual switch control element and a photoluminescent element associated with the manual switch control element.

2. A light switch control according to claim 1, wherein the manual switch control element includes the photoluminescent element.

3. A light switch control according to claim 2, wherein the manual switch control element is partly photoluminescent.

4. A light switch control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the manual switch control element is remote from a light switch.

5. A light switch control according to claim 4, wherein the manual switch control element is a toggle for attachment to a cord of a light switch.

6. A light switch control according to claim 1, wherein the manual switch control element is remote from a light switch, and is connected thereto by a cord which constitutes the photoluminescent element.

7. A light switch control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the manual switch control element is a wall-mounted switch element.

8. A light switch control according to claim 1, wherein the manual switch control element is a wall-mounted switch element, and the photoluminescent element is mounted adjacent to the switch element. 9. A light switch control according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent element 30 forms at least a part of a switch back plate.

8 10. A light switch control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the manual switch control element is a switch element mounted on a lamp body.

11. A light switch control according to any one of claims I to 3, wherein the manual switch control element is carried on a power cord supplying power to a lamp.

12. A photoluminescent light control.