Patent landscapes › Home & cleaning

Is a light switch patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a light switch have been patented many times, but "a light switch" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 321 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “light switch” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 241 best keyword matches we examined, 72 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO (7), RINTZ WILLIAM J (4), ECOBEE INC (4), ABL IP HOLDING LLC (3).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): H01H (100), H05B (85), Y02B (46), F21V (27).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a light switch

  1. Dimmer light switch with vertical slider control for lighting adjustments and manual on/off power switch US-12234975-B2 2025 · ENERLITES INC
    A dimmer switch, which is comprised of a shell, which has a circuit board and a dial button for controlling the ON/OFF state of the switch, a first regulating structure and a second regulating structure, the first regulating struc…
    View on Google Patents
  2. Knob switch, device having light homogenizing structure, measurement device and wall switch WO-2024148639-A1 2024 · WUHAN LINPTECH CO LTD
    Provided in the present invention is a knob switch, comprising a first circuit board and a knob assembly. The knob assembly comprises an induction member which is electrically connected to the first circuit board; a triggering mem…
    View on Google Patents
  3. Wall switch light controller for swimming pools and spas US-11800623-B2 2023 · ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS LLC
    A light controller for pool lighting systems is detailed herein. The light controller can include a switch mechanism for controlling light settings of a lighting device. Switch positions of the switch mechanism can each correspond…
    View on Google Patents
  4. Custom universal light switch and dimmer US-11035562-B2 2021 · BRAINOFT INC
    One embodiment can provide a light switch module for controlling at least one light source coupled to the light switch module. The light switch module can include a manual control configured to receive a user manual operation; a c…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Wall interior safe assembly having light switch covering plate with hinged and pivoting retraction functionality US-2019226267-A1 2019 · BATDORF III DAVID B
    A hidden wall safe which combines a disguising wall switch plate cover (either operational or nonfunctional) with a controller and actuating mechanism for triggering hinged opening of the cover plate in order to permit access to t…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Luminescent wall plates for light switches, electrical outlets, telephone and data jacks, cable tv jacks and other electrical connections and devices US-2017025834-A1 2017 · MILANO MICHAEL L
    Wall plates for accommodating light switches, electrical outlets, telephone and data jacks, cable TV jacks and other electrical connections and devices are contemplated, wherein the wall plates are partially or entirely formed of …
    View on Google Patents
  7. Security cover plate for light switch US-9018555-B2 2015 · RAY ROBIN A
    An light switch cover plate constructed of a durable and ruggedized break-resistant material that securely covers the light switch switching mechanism and includes, uniquely keyed mounting members, and a uniquely keyed switching i…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Locator Light Switch Plate US-2013043978-A1 2013 · BROOKS DARRYL E
    Locator light switch plates having remote-locator technology are described herein. The locator light switch plates may be wall-mounted and incorporated with single, double, or triple light switches, providing the user with a stati…
    View on Google Patents
  9. Dimmer switch for use with lighting circuits having three-way switches US-8212424-B2 2012 · MOSEBROOK DONALD
    A dimmer switch coupleable to a circuit including a power source, load, and single-pole double-throw three-way switch that comprises a first and a second fixed contact, and a movable contact. The three-way switch has a first state…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Lighting device including a one-touch dimmer switch WO-2012023694-A1 2012 · SOL LIGHT INC
    Disclosed is a lighting device including a one-touch dimmer switch. In particular, the present invention discloses a technology where a manager which controls the dimming rate and a user using the dimmer switch regulate the operat…
    View on Google Patents
  11. Status indicator lens and light pipe structure for a dimmer switch US-7670039-B2 2010 · LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO
    A light pipe structure for a dimmer switch comprises a continuous status indicator lens and a plurality of light pipes, which are operable to conduct the light from a plurality of discrete sources to the lens. The light conducted …
    View on Google Patents
  12. Wall light switch cover US-2003155220-A1 2003
    When a person is having guests over, there may be some light switches that they may not want their guests to touch. The switch may turn on a light outdoors, or it may turn on another light that the host may not want turned on. If …
    View on Google Patents
  13. Light switch/wall plug transfer kit system US-2002007561-A1 2002
    A light switch/wall plug transfer system includes a rectilinear container having a front plate and a similarly configured parallel rear plate. The container also has a top plate and a similarly configured parallel bottom plate. Th…
    View on Google Patents
  14. Light switch cover plate with audio recording and playback feature US-6404569-B1 2002 · BP HOLDINGS LLC
    A light switch cover plate having mechanism for recording and playing back an audio sample through a speaker when the light switch is turned either on or off. Several messages can be recorded and they can be played back serially o…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a light switch been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Household products tend to differ in the mechanism (how something attaches, folds, dispenses or cleans) rather than the basic idea.

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Guides that help with this

First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.