Internally illuminated switch plate

Claim 1

An illuminated switch plate for wall fixtures and the like, comprising in combination: (a) a flat slab adapted to overlie and be secured to the fixture so as to constitute a wall plate thereof, (b) said slab having a shallow recess disposed behind the front surface thereof, and being constituted of a material which conducts light, (c) a neon glow lamp disposed in said recess, (d) resistive circuit means carried by the slab, disposed behind its front surface and connected with said glow lamp, and (e) electrical leads connected with said resistive circuit means and adapted for attachment to the terminals of a switch over which the slab is disposed, whereby the lamp will become illuminated by the voltage appearing across the switch terminals when the switch is open, thus providing a visual indication of the condition of the switch, (f) said slab having an additional recess, (g) said resistive circuit means comprising a resistor disposed in said additional recess and connected in series with said lamp, (h) means physically securing said resistor in said additional recess, (i) said slab having grooves on its rear surface, (j) said electrical leads comprising conductive strips of conductive paint disposed in said grooves, connected with said resistor and said lamp, (k) a pair of electrical contacts carried by said slab, and being electrically connected with said conductive strips, (l) said electrical leads further comprising a pair of flexible wires connected respectively to said contacts and adapted to be connected to the terminals of the switch, (m) said lamp, said resistor and said conductive paint all lying substantially entirely within the confines of the slab whereby the likelihood of damage to the lamp and resistor due to inadvertent jarring, and the likelihood of breakage or shortcircuiting of their leads are substantially reduced.