Patent Application
20060158040
The present invention relates to electrical wiring systems, and more particularly to switched and un-switched outlets within building wiring systems.
In the electrical system of a residential, commercial or other type of building, electrical power is accessed through outlets dispersed along the building walls. Some of the outlets are switched, meaning that electrical current to the outlet is controlled by a wall switch or similar device. Most of the outlets in a building are un-switched, apart from the circuit breaker panel.
Building electrical systems are relatively permanent. Any change in the wiring or outlets typically requires access through the walls or ceiling of the building or, at a minimum, substitution of the outlets, electrical receptacles within the outlets or switches. Changing an outlet to and from a switched outlet is usually a significant undertaking that requires re-routing of the building wiring. In many cases, reconfiguring the building outlets is not worth the trouble, so the building occupant is resigned to simply “make do” with the existing switched and un-switched outlet arrangement.
This problem is particularly troublesome in a residential setting since the presence or absence of a switched outlet often dictates the placement of furniture, appliances and other electrical devices in a room. For example, in a bedroom it may be desirable to have a light on a switched outlet on a night stand, but it is also desirable to have an electric clock on the same night stand. Obviously placing the clock on the switched outlet is problematic, so the homeowner is forced to sacrifice the switched night stand light. Another problem arises when the homeowner wishes to rearrange the furniture layout in a room. The presence of a switched outlet often dictates where certain furniture and appliances are positioned in a room, which may mean that the available room layouts are severely limited.
Some attempts have been made to devise a configurable building electrical system that allows an occupant to determine which outlets in a room are switched. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,985, issued on Apr. 20, 1999. In this system, two plug-in modules are provided: a control unit that is plugged into an existing switched outlet and a companion remote switching unit that is plugged into a remote outlet receptacle where switching is desired. One obvious detriment of this system is that it requires the addition of bulky RF transmitter and receiver modules to existing outlet receptacles. These added modules are not only visually undesirable, they may also interfere with the placement of an appliance or furniture. Another detriment of the system disclosed in the '985 Patent is that only one receptacle in an outlet can be connected to a receiver module.
In another less sophisticated approach, the receptacles of an outlet are wired to a separate socket. A switch array disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,737 is plugged into the socket to provide on-off switches for the receptacles. A long cord allows the switch array to be placed remotely from the outlet. While this approach allows conversion of both receptacles of a outlet to a switched outlet, it still requires the addition of separate modules that must be accounted for in designing a room layout.
There is an unmet need for a system that allows a building occupant to select any outlet of a room as a switched outlet. The system must be visually and physically unobtrusive. Moreover, an optimum system would not require the use of additional devices.
These needs are fulfilled by the configurable electrical outlet of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, each electrical receptacle of an outlet is wired to an associated selector switch. Each selector switch is connected across a switched load conductor and an un-switched load conductor of the building electrical system. Each selector switch can be actuated to connect the corresponding receptacle to either the switched or the un-switched load wire.
It is one object of the invention to provide a configurable electrical system for a building in which selected electrical outlets can be made switched or un-switched. One benefit of this invention is that it is incorporated into any existing outlet and does not require the use of any external devices. Other objects and benefits of the invention will be discerned from the following written description taken with the accompanying figures.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the invention is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present invention includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles of the invention as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.
An electrical system for a typical building, such as a residence, is shown in
In accordance with the present invention, each of the outlets O and SO may be replaced by an outlet assembly 10 illustrated in
In accordance with the typical electrical outlet, each receptacle 12, 14 includes an electrical connection to the line conductor of the electrical system through line sockets 12b, 14b to complete the electrical circuit. It is understood that receptacles as thus far described following the construction of a typical residential electrical socket and are configured to receive the prongs of a typical electrical plug. Of course, other electrical receptacle configurations may be envisioned that can be adapted to the present invention provided that the receptacle includes a line input socket or equivalent component.
In the typical electrical receptacle, each line socket 12b, 14b is connected to the line wire L of the electrical system. In accordance with the present invention, the line sockets 12b, 14b are selectively electrically connected to the line wire L or the switched line wire SL connected to the switch S. In particular, a selector switch 20 is wired between each the socket 12b and the two line wires L and SL. A similar selector switch 22 is wired to the socket 14b. Each switch 20, 22 is configured to connect the corresponding socket to either the switched line wire SL or the un-switched line wire L.
The selector switches 20, 22 can take on a variety of configurations. One preferred configuration is shown in
The selector switches 20, 22 are preferably two position switches so that the corresponding contact plate 24, 26 is necessarily in contact with one or the other of the line wires SL and L. Alternatively, the selector switches can be provided with a third position in which the electrical circuit to the associated socket 12b, 14b is broken, in which case the corresponding receptacle 12, 14 is not energized.
In a further alternative, both receptacles can be linked so that both receptacles are made switched or un-switched together. With this alternative, a single selector switch, such as switch 21, is integrated into the outlet assembly. Furthermore, the leads 30 and 34 shown in
Preferably, the selector switches are two position push-button switches that may be depressed to render the receptacle a switched receptacle and released to return the receptacle to an un-switched configuration. The push-button switches are preferably configured to hold the depressed and released positions until the switch is depressed. As shown in
The selector switches 20, 22 and the corresponding contact plates 24, 26 can have other configurations that can be manually operated to complete the circuit between leads 28 or 32, for the upper receptacle 12, or between leads 30, 34 for the lower receptacle 14. For instance, the selector switches may be rotary two-position switches so that the switch is rotated between two positions. The contact plates and corresponding leads for the switched and un-switched line wires SL and L are modified as is known in the art to complete the circuit between the proper leads when rotated from one position to the other. Similarly, the selector switches may be toggle switches, again with appropriate modification to the contact plates 24, 26 and the leads 28, 30, 32 and 34.
In the preferred embodiment, the selector switches 20 and 22 are integrated into the switch plate 11 for the outlet assembly 10. Consequently, the switches 20, 22 and associated wiring are compact to fit within the outlet envelope. The outlet assembly 10 is thus readily substituted into existing building wiring. It is understood that the un-switched load line L and switched load line SL must be wired to every outlet location that is intended to incorporate the outlet assembly 10 of the present invention. In a residential building, one option may be to provide a switchable outlet assembly 10 on each wall of a room, such as a bedroom. Alternatively, every outlet in a particular room can include the outlet assembly 10. In either case, the resident can select which of the outlets, or more specifically which receptacles of the outlets, is made switched. This feature provides the resident with a great degree of flexibility in the placement of electrical devices and accessories within the room.
As suggested by the electrical layout shown in
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes, modifications and further applications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
