Abstract: A faceplate lighting system and method for illuminating a faceplate that provides substantial illumination of the faceplate to provide a guidelight or nightlight effect for environments without providing electrical power to or through the faceplate itself. The faceplate comprises an assembly including: a clear or translucent or transparent outer faceplate, and, a lightpipe membrane disposed beneath the clear or translucent or transparent outer faceplate. A wall-mounted electrical device is configured to include a light source(s) integrated within the device itself, to provide light under certain operating conditions. The light source is disposed in a manner such that when the faceplate assembly is overlayed onto a surface-mounted electrical device, the clear lightpipe membrane is aligned to directly receive light from the electrical device light source(s). The lightpipe membrane incorporates light pipe features that distribute received light across the surface of the faceplate.

Abstract: A faceplate lighting system and method for illuminating a faceplate that provides substantial illumination of the faceplate to provide a guidelight or nightlight effect for environments without providing electrical power to or through the faceplate itself. The faceplate comprises an assembly including: a clear or translucent or transparent outer faceplate, and, a lightpipe membrane disposed beneath the clear or translucent or transparent outer faceplate. A wall-mounted electrical device is configured to include a light source(s) integrated within the device itself, to provide light under certain operating conditions. The light source is disposed in a manner such that when the faceplate assembly is overlayed onto a surface-mounted electrical device, the clear lightpipe membrane is aligned to directly receive light from the electrical device light source(s). The lightpipe membrane incorporates light pipe features that distribute received light across the surface of the faceplate.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device is disclosed that includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a switch between the first conductor and the second conductor wherein the switch is disposed to selectively connect and disconnect the first conductor and the second conductor, a circuit interrupter disposed to generate a circuit interrupting actuation signal, a solenoid coil and plunger assembly disposed to open the switch wherein the solenoid coil and plunger assembly is actuatable by the circuit interrupting actuation signal wherein movement of the plunger causes the switch to open, and a test assembly that is configured to enable a test of the circuit interrupter initiating at least a partial movement of the plunger in a test direction, from a pre-test configuration to a post-test configuration, without opening the switch.

Abstract: A wiring device capable of changing an aesthetic feature via a removable frame. The wiring device includes a front facing perimeter base having at least one opening. The wiring device also includes a removable bezel having a front face and a back face, the back face of the removable bezel surrounding at least a portion of the front facing perimeter base. The back face of the removable bezel includes a shielding wall for shielding ambient light from a sensor positioned on the front face perimeter base.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combination electrical device comprising a housing wherein there can be at least one light and at least one sensor disposed in the housing. The light serves as a guide light wherein the sensor is for determining the presence or absence of light. Inside the housing can be face terminals which extend up to a user accessible interface in the form of apertures for receiving prongs of a plug. The housing can include an additional housing for receiving a circuit board coupled to the light and the sensor. In addition, there can be a translucent cover for covering the light and the sensor. In at least one embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along at least one fourth of a length of a front face of the housing. In another embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along at least one third of a length of a front face of the housing. In still another embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along one half of a length of the housing.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device is disclosed that includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a switch between the first conductor and the second conductor wherein the switch is disposed to selectively connect and disconnect the first conductor and the second conductor, a circuit interrupter disposed to generate a circuit interrupting actuation signal, a solenoid coil and plunger assembly disposed to open the switch wherein the solenoid coil and plunger assembly is actuatable by the circuit interrupting actuation signal wherein movement of the plunger causes the switch to open, and a test assembly that is configured to enable a test of the circuit interrupter initiating at least a partial movement of the plunger in a test direction, from a pre-test configuration to a post-test configuration, without opening the switch.

Abstract: A GFCI device which has reverse wiring protection is provided where no power is present at the face terminals even when the device is reverse wired. The device has a pair of movable bridges connected to its terminals. The terminal bridge pair makes contact with the load and face terminals providing power to these terminals when the device is reset. The device also has a reset lockout feature that prevents it from being reset after having been tripped if the circuit interrupting portion of the device is non-operational.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a lampholder for receiving a non-incandescent lamp having a 2-pin base. A surface mountable member for receiving the lamp and which has no voltage transforming circuitry is disclosed. Each pin of the lamp has an enlarged cylindrical shaped end attached to a shaft of reduced diameter. The surface mountable member has two keyhole shaped apertures, each of which has a large circular end aperture and an arc shaped slot for receiving and securely holding the pins of the lamp to the surface mountable member. The circular aperture of each keyhole shaped aperture has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged cylindrical end of the lamp pin, and the arc shaped slot has a width that is both smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical end of the lamp pin and wider than the diameter of the shaft of the pin. The enlarged ends of the pins of the lamp, when located in the arc shaped slots, prevent the lamp from being pulled out of the surface mountable member.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combination electrical device comprising a housing wherein there can be at least one light and at least one sensor disposed in the housing. The light serves as a guide light wherein the sensor is for determining the presence or absence of light. Inside the housing can be face terminals which extend up to a user accessible interface in the form of apertures for receiving prongs of a plug. The housing can include an additional housing for receiving a circuit board coupled to the light and the sensor. In addition, there can be a translucent cover for covering the light and the sensor. In at least one embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along at least one fourth of a length of a front face of the housing. In another embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along at least one third of a length of a front face of the housing. In still another embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along one half of a length of the housing.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a lampholder for receiving a non-incandescent lamp having a 2-pin base. A surface mountable member for receiving the lamp and which has no voltage transforming circuitry is disclosed. Each pin of the lamp has an enlarged cylindrical shaped end attached to a shaft of reduced diameter. The surface mountable member has two keyhole shaped apertures, each of which has a large circular end aperture and an arc shaped slot for receiving and securely holding the pins of the lamp to the surface mountable member. The circular aperture of each keyhole shaped aperture has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged cylindrical end of the lamp pin, and the arc shaped slot has a width that is both smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical end of the lamp pin and wider than the diameter of the shaft of the pin. The enlarged ends of the pins of the lamp, when located in the arc shaped slots, prevent the lamp from being pulled out of the surface mountable member.