FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Cover Plate Having Phosphorescent Material Coating
2. APPLICANT:
a) Name
b) Nationality
c) Address : Panasonic Life Solutions India Private Limited
: IN
3rd Floor, B wing I- Think Techno Campus Pokhran, Road No 2 : Thane (West), Thane, Maharashtra 400607, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to cover plates of switch plate assemblies and more particularly, to a cover plate having a phosphorescent material coating.
BACKGROUND
As is generally known, electrical components, such as electrical switches and power outlet sockets are mounted on a surface, for example, a wall, through a switch plate assembly. The switch plate assembly generally includes cover plates, which cover connecting wires and other connections of the electrical components. Therefore, in an assembled state of a switch plate assembly, only a cover plate of the switch plate assembly is visible and accessible to a consumer.
Sometimes, it is difficult for a user to locate the electrical components to operate the connected appliances, for example, during the night. Therefore, it may happen that a user may incorrectly operate the electrical components resulting into damage to such components. Moreover, the user may also get injured while attempting to access and operate the electrical components in such circumstances.
Currently, such electrical components are sometimes provided with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for illumination purposes, for example, to address the abovementioned problems. However, inclusion of LEDs significantly increases an overall cost of the electrical component. Further, accommodation of the LEDs would require handling of additional wiring connections. This would also result into space constraints. In fact, accommodating the LEDs in the electrical components would also pose challenges, for example, in terms of positioning and sizing. Moreover, inconvenience associated with the fixing and maintenance of the LEDs cannot be ignored as well.

SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a switch plate assembly is disclosed. The switch plate assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall and comprising an operational area adapted to receive an electrical component, and a cover plate adapted to cover at least a part of the housing. The cover plate includes a slot for accommodating the electrical component, and at least one phosphorescent material coated on a surface of the cover plate. Further, a thickness of the coating in a first portion of the cover plate is more than a thickness of the coating in a second portion of the cover plate such that an intensity and a time duration of illumination of the first portion is more than the second portion.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a cover plate is disclosed. The cover plate includes a slot for accommodating an electrical component, and at least one phosphorescent material coated on a surface of the cover plate. Further, a thickness of the coating in a first portion of the cover plate is more than a thickness of the coating in a second portion of the cover plate such that an intensity and a time duration of illumination of the first portion is more than the second portion.
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is

appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a cover plate having phosphorescent material coating, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates electrical components to be accommodated in a slot of the cover plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates electrical components to be accommodated in the slot of the cover plate, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the cover plate depicting varying thickness of the coating on the surface, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of the cover plate depicting different thickness of the coating on edges of the slot than on other portions of the surface of the cover plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates a schematic view of the cover plate depicting different thickness of the coating near the peripheral portions than the other portions of the cover plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 7 illustrates a schematic side view of the cover plate depicting different thickness of the coating on the corners of the cover plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some

embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.
For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more element is required.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in

which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.
For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit “2” are shown at least in Figure 2.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to a cover plate and a switch plate assembly having the cover plate. The switch plate assembly may include, but is not limited to, a housing and the cover plate. The housing may be adapted to be mounted on a surface, for example, a wall. In an embodiment, the housing may include an operational area, which may be adapted to receive at least one of a switch and a power outlet socket. The housing may also be adapted to accommodate at least one connecting wire, for example, of the switch and the power outlet socket. The at least one connecting wire may establish electrical connections between various components. Further, the cover plate may be adapted to be disposed on the housing such that the cover plate covers at least a part of the housing.
Figure 1 illustrates a cover plate 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cover plate 100 may further include, but is not limited to, a slot 102 for accommodating an electrical component, and at least one phosphorescent material coated on a surface 104 of the cover plate 100. In an embodiment, the electrical component may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a switch and a power outlet socket. In an embodiment, the at least one phosphorescent material may be coated on the entire surface 104 of the cover plate 100.
In an embodiment, a thickness of the coating may vary across different portions of the surface 104. In an embodiment, the thickness of the coating may be 0.02 mm to 0.1 mm. In an embodiment, a thickness of the coating in a first portion 106 of the cover plate 100 may be more than a thickness of the coating in a second portion 108 of the cover plate 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 106 may spread on opposite sides across the slot 102. For example, a

portion 106-1 and a portion 106-2 may form the first portion 106. Similarly, a portion 108-1 and a portion 108-2 may form the second portion 108.
Further, the thickness of the coating on the first portion 106 and the second portion 108 may be selected such that an intensity and a time duration of illumination of the first portion 106 is more than the second portion 108. In an embodiment, the coating of the phosphorescent material is transparent. In another embodiment, the coating may be coloured.
Figure 1 illustrates transparent coating of the phosphorescent material on the cover plate 100 whereas Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate coloured coating on components. Particularly, Figure 2 illustrates a pair of electrical components adapted to be accommodated in the slot 102 of the cover plate 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, Figure 2A and Figure 2B illustrate a switch 202 and a power outlet socket 204, respectively, adapted to be accommodated in the slot 102. In particular, the switch 202 and the power outlet socket 204 may be fixed to the housing 206, for example, at the operational area of the housing 206. The cover plate 100 may then be disposed on the housing 206 such that the slot 102 accommodates the switch 202 and the power outlet socket 204, and the cover plate 100 covers at least a part of the housing 206. As illustrated, the switch 202 and the power outlet socket 204 are green in colour. The green-coloured coating may be achieved by adding suitable pigments or masterbatch in the raw material, for example, in the plastic raw material. The coloured coating would allow the user to locate the switch board, even in absence of electricity.
Similarly, Figure 3 illustrates a pair of electrical components to be accommodated in the slot 102 of the cover plate 100, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, Figure 3A and Figure 3B illustrate a switch 302 and a power outlet socket 304, respectively, adapted to be

accommodated in the slot 102. As illustrated, the switch 302 and the power outlet socket 304 are red in colour due to application of coloured coating.
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the cover plate 100 depicting varying thickness of the coating on the surface, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the thickness y of the coating at the first portion 106 is more than the thickness x of the coating at the second portion 108. This would lead to higher intensity and longer time duration of illumination of the first portion 108 than the second portion 108. Therefore, owing to the difference in illumination of the first portion 106 and the second portion 108, it would be easy for the user to locate the cover plate 100 and corresponding sub-components.
In another embodiment, a thickness of the coating on edges of the slot 102 may be more than a thickness of the coating on other portions of the surface 104. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of the cover plate 100 depicting different thickness of the coating on the edges of the slot 102 than on other portions of the surface 104, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The thick shading on the edges of the slot 102 is indicative of more thickness of the coating than the other portions of the cover plate 100. Therefore, a position of the electrical component is clearly visible to the user. In other words, even when the intensity of the coating is depleted over time, the cover plate 100 may still be visible to the user, for example, due to difference in illumination of different portions of the cover plate 100.
In another embodiment, the thickness of the coating near peripheral portions of the cover plate 100 may be more than the thickness on other portions of the cover plate 100. Figure 6 illustrates a schematic view of the cover plate 100 depicting different thickness of the coating near the peripheral portions than the other portions, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The thick shading around the periphery is indicative of more thickness of the coating than the other portions of the cover plate 100.

In yet another embodiment, the thickness of the coating at corners of the rectangular shape of the cover plate 100 is more than the thickness of the coating at other portions. Figure 7 illustrates a schematic side view of the cover plate 100 depicting different thickness of the coating on the corners of the cover plate 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the thickness b of the coating at the corners is more than the thickness a of the coating at the other portions of the cover plate 100. This would lead to higher intensity and longer time duration of illumination of the corners than the other portions.
As would be gathered from the above-explained embodiments, the illumination of a predefined portion of the cover plate 100 would be either more or less than the illumination of the surrounding area. This would ensure that the user can easily locate the cover plate 100, for example, during the night.
As would be gathered, the cover plate 100 of the present disclosure ensures that the user can locate the cover plate 100 in any circumstances. The cover plate 100 can be easily spotted even during the night. The difference in the illumination of different portions of the cover plate 100 would attract the attention of the user. Therefore, the possibility of misuse of the cover plate 100 and the connected electrical components, for example, due to non-visibility, is eliminated. Further, the intensity and time duration of illumination of the different portions of the cover plate can easily be controlled based on thickness of the coating of the phosphorescent material. This would allow the manufacturer to introduce a wide variety of products in the market by making minor modifications to the application of the coating.
Moreover, the provision of the phosphorescent material coating is economically significant as well, for example, in comparison to the provision of LEDs in the existing techniques. The application of the coating on the cover plate 100 or any other similar component would not even pose any challenges with

respect to the positioning and the sizing of the component. In fact, this would allow the development of comparatively sophisticated components. Additionally, inconvenience associated with handling and maintenance of the LEDs in the existing techniques is also eliminated. Also, the shelf life of the coated cover plate 100 of the present disclosure is longer than the LED-illuminated existing components.
The product so formed by the proposed application of the phosphorescent coating would be of premium quality and that too while being economically significant in comparison to the existing techniques. Therefore, the cover plate 100 of the present disclosure is cost-effective, sophisticated, aesthetically appealing, and user-friendly, and would require minimal maintenance.
Moreover, as would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, although the present disclosure is explained from the perspective of application of the phosphorescent coating on the cover plate 100, the scope of the present invention is not limited only to the cover plates. The application of phosphorescent coating can be envisaged for other similar components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

We Claim:
1. A switch plate assembly comprising:
a housing (206) adapted to be mounted on a wall and comprising an operational area adapted to receive an electrical component; and
a cover plate (100) adapted to cover at least a part of the housing (206), the cover plate (100) comprising:
a slot (102) for accommodating the electrical component; and at least one phosphorescent material coated on a surface of the cover plate (100), wherein a thickness of the coating in a first portion (106) of the cover plate (100) is more than a thickness of the coating in a second portion (108) of the cover plate (100) such that an intensity and a time duration of illumination of the first portion (106) is more than the second portion (108).
2. The switch plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, the first portion (106) is formed on opposite sides across the slot (102).
3. The switch plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the coating on edges of the slot is more than a thickness of the coating on other portions of the surface (104) such that a position of the electrical component is visible to a user.
4. The switch plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the coating near peripheral portions of the cover plate (100) is more than a thickness of the coating on other portions of the cover plate (100).
5. The switch plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the coating at corners of the cover plate (100) is more than a thickness of the coating at other portions.

6. The switch plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical component comprising at least one of a switch (202, 302) and a power outlet socket (204, 304).
7. A cover plate (100) comprising:
a slot (102) for accommodating an electrical component; and at least one phosphorescent material coated on a surface of the cover plate (100), wherein a thickness of the coating in a first portion (106) of the cover plate (100) is more than a thickness of the coating in a second portion (108) of the cover plate (100) such that an intensity and a time duration of illumination of the first portion (106) is more than the second portion (108).
8. The cover plate (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a thickness of the coating on edges of the slot is more than a thickness of the coating on other portions of the surface (104) such that a position of the electrical component is visible to a user.
9. The cover plate (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a thickness of the coating near peripheral portions is more than a thickness of the coating on other portions.
10. The cover plate (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a thickness of the coating at corners is more than a thickness of the coating at other portions.