Electrical adapter for converting two-hole receptacle into three-hole receptacle with equipment ground

Claim 2

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole duplex wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said electrical adapter comprising a plurality of pairs of male elements, said male elements attachable to said two hole duplex receptacle, the electrically neutral male element of each said pair of male elements being electrically joined together by a first electrically conductive joining element, said electrical adapter comprising a plurality of triple groupings of female elements for receiving the prongs of conventional triple pronged electric plugs, a first and second of said female elements of each grouping electrically connected to the electrical hot and neutral prongs, respectively, and the third of said female elements electrically connected to the electrical equipment ground prong, respectively, of said triple pronged plug during engagement of said triple pronged electric plug with said adapter, said first and second female elements of said adapter electrically connected to first electrically hot and second neutral male elements, respectively, within said adapter which in turn are respectively electrically connected to a first electrically hot conductor and a second neutral conductor of said two hole receptacle when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the electrical equipment ground conducting third female element of each said triple groupings of female elements being electrically joined together by a second electrically conductive joining element, an electrically conductive elongated member movably engaged to and in electrical contact with one of said electrically conductive joining elements, said elongated member being of a configuration and so positioned as to maintain electrical contact with said one of said joining elements while being selectively projected towards the other of said electrically conductive joining elements until contact is made therewith, said first and second electrically conductive joining elements thereby being electrically connected and thereby electrically connecting said neutral male elements of said adapter with said electrical equipment ground conducting third female elemnts of said adapter and establishing an equipment ground through said adapter neutral male elements and associated said electrically grounded neutral conductors of said duplex receptacle to which there would be connective reception when said adapter is attached to said receptacle.

Claim 3

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole duplex wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole recepTacle having an equipment ground, said electrical adapter comprising two pair of male elements attachable to said two hole duplex wall receptacle, the electrically neutral male element of each said pair of male elements being electrically joined together by a first electrically conductive joining element, said electrical adapter comprising a plurality of triple groupings of female elements for receiving the prongs of conventional triple pronged electric plugs, a first and second of said female elements of each grouping electrically connected to the electrical hot and neutral prongs, respectively, and the third of said female elements electrically connected to the electrical equipment ground prong, respectively, of said triple pronged plug during engagement of said triple pronged electric plug with said adapter, said first and second female elements of said adapter electrically connected to first electrically hot and second neutral male elements, respectively, within said adapter which in turn are respectively electrically connected to a first electrically hot conductor and a seocnd neutral conductor of said two hole receptacle when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the electrical equipment ground conducting third female elements of each said triple groupings of female elements being electrically joined together by a second electrically conductive joining element, an electrically conductive screw-like device engaged to and in electrical contact with one of said electrically conductive joining elements by being threaded therein, said screw-like device being of a configuration and so positioned that rotation thereof advances said screw-like device until contact is made with the other of said electrically conductive joining elements, said first and second electrically conductive joining elements thereby being electrically connected and thereby electrically connecting said neutral male elements with said electrical equipment ground conducting female elements of said adapter and establishing an equipment ground through said adapter neutral male elements and associated said electrically grounded neutral conductors of said duplex receptacle to which there would be connective reception when said adapter is attached to said receptacle.

Claim 4

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole duplex wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole recepTacle having an equipment ground, said electrical adapter comprising two pair of male elements attachable to said two hole duplex wall receptacle, the electrically neutral male element of each said pair of male elements being electrically joined together by a first electrically conductive joining element, said electrical adapter comprising a plurality of triple groupings of female elements for receiving the prongs of conventional triple pronged electric plugs, a first and second of said female elements of each grouping electrically connected to the electrical hot and neutral prongs, respectively, and the third of said female elements electrically connected to the electrical equipment ground prong, respectively, of said triple pronged plug during engagement of said triple pronged electric plug with said adapter, said first and second female elements of said adapter electrically connected to first electrically hot and second neutral male elements, respectively, within said adapter which in turn are respectively electrically connected to a first electrically hot conductor and a seocnd neutral conductor of said two hole receptacle when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the electrical equipment ground conducting third female elements of each said triple groupings of female elements being electrically joined together by a second electrically conductive joining element, an electrically conductive screw-like device engaged to and in electrical contact with one of said electrically conductive joining elements by being threaded therein, said screw-like device being of a configuration and so positioned that rotation thereof advances said screw-like device until contact is made with the other of said electrically conductive joining elements, said first and second electrically conductive joining elements thereby being electrically connected and thereby electrically connecting said neutral male elements with said electrical equipment ground conducting female elements of said adapter and establishing an equipment ground through said adapter neutral male elements and associated said electrically grounded neutral conductors of said duplex receptacle to which there would be connective reception when said adapter is attached to said receptacle.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 2 wherein the exterior housing of said electrical adapter defines an access opening therein whereby said electrically conductive screw-like device is accessible without removal of said exterior housing of said adapter, a cover encompassing the defined opening when accessibility to said screw like device is not necessary.

Claim 6

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a second selective means of electrically connecting said equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle when the electrically conductive housing of said receptacle is electrically connected to a source of ground, said second selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to said receptacle housing thereby establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter still further comprising a polarity indicating means for indicating the polarity of the electrical circuit between said receptacle and said attached adapter, said polarity indicating means indicating whether the electrically hot and grounded neutral conductors within said receptacle are correctly oriented in normal standardized polarized positions therein and thereby establishing whether said adApter and said receptacle are electrically connected to provide a proper ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said polarity indicating means comprising a polarity indicating electrical circuit within said adapter with one terminal point electrically connected to a normally polarized electrically hot male element within said adapter when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the other terminal point being electrically connected to an electrically conductive hardware item mounted in such a manner as to protrude through the chassis of said adapter, intermediate said terminal points of said circuit and electrically connected within said circuit is an indicating device, said circuit being closed and current flowing therein when said normally hot male element is correctly polarized as a hot male element and said externally accessible electrically conductive hardware item is placed at ground potential by contact with an external ground to complete said circuit, said indicating device activated by such current flow and indicating proper polarization of said receptacle conductors.

Claim 7

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a second selective means of electrically connecting said equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle when the electrically conductive housing of said receptacle is electrically connected to a source of ground, said second selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to said receptacle housing thereby establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter still further comprising a polarity indicating means for indicating the polarity of the electrical circuit between said receptacle and said attached adapter, said polarity indicating means indicating whether the electrically hot and grounded neutral conductors within said receptacle are correctly oriented in normal standardized polarized positions therein and thereby establishing whether said adApter and said receptacle are electrically connected to provide a proper ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said polarity indicating means comprising a polarity indicating electrical circuit within said adapter with one terminal point electrically connected to a normally polarized electrically hot male element within said adapter when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the other terminal point being electrically connected to an electrically conductive hardware item mounted in such a manner as to protrude through the chassis of said adapter, intermediate said terminal points of said circuit and electrically connected within said circuit is an indicating device, said circuit being closed and current flowing therein when said normally hot male element is correctly polarized as a hot male element and said externally accessible electrically conductive hardware item is placed at ground potential by contact with an external ground to complete said circuit, said indicating device activated by such current flow and indicating proper polarization of said receptacle conductors.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 4 wherein said polarity indicating electrical circuit comprises a current limiting device therein to limit the magnitude of current within said circuit thereby making said circuit and contact with said externally accessible electrically conductive hardware item therein non-hazardous to humans.

Claim 9

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a second selective means of electrically connecting said equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle when the electrically conductive housing of said receptacle is electrically connected to a source of ground, said second selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to said receptacle housing thereby establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a ground indicating means to indicate whether there is proper grounding of said equipment ground through said attached receptacle, said ground indicating means comprising a ground indicating electrical circuit with a terminal point electrically connected to an electrically hot male element within said adapter when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the other terminal point being electrically connected to an equipment ground element within said adapter, intermediate said terminal points of said ground indicating electric circuit are an indicating device and an electrical switch, said electrical switch in a normally open position to interrupt current flow within said ground indicating electrical circuit, said electrical switch selectively positioned in a closed position, said switch in said closed position completing an electrical circuit between said electrically hot male element and said equipment ground element within said adapter when said equipment ground element is connected to ground through said receptacle, said completed electrical circuit activating said indicating device to indicate that equipment ground has been established.

Claim 10

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a second selective means of electrically connecting said equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle when the electrically conductive housing of said receptacle is electrically connected to a source of ground, said second selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to said receptacle housing thereby establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a ground indicating means to indicate whether there is proper grounding of said equipment ground through said attached receptacle, said ground indicating means comprising a ground indicating electrical circuit with a terminal point electrically connected to an electrically hot male element within said adapter when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the other terminal point being electrically connected to an equipment ground element within said adapter, intermediate said terminal points of said ground indicating electric circuit are an indicating device and an electrical switch, said electrical switch in a normally open position to interrupt current flow within said ground indicating electrical circuit, said electrical switch selectively positioned in a closed position, said switch in said closed position completing an electrical circuit between said electrically hot male element and said equipment ground element within said adapter when said equipment ground element is connected to ground through said receptacle, said completed electrical circuit activating said indicating device to indicate that equipment ground has been established.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 6 wherein said adapter still further comprises a polarity indicating electrical circuit with one terminal point electrically connected to a normally polarized electrically hot male element within said adapter when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, the other terminal point being electrically connected to an electrically conductive hardware item mounted on said adapter, inTermediate said terminal points of said polarity indicating electrical circuit and electrically connected within said circuit are an indicating device and said electrical switch, said electrical switch when in a closed position for said polarity indicating circuit completes said circuit allowing current flow therein when said normally hot male element is correctly polarized as a hot male element and said electrically conductive hardware item is placed at ground potential by contact with a grounding element, said indicating device being activated by such current flow and indicating the presence of proper polarization, both said polarity indicating electrical circuit and said ground indicating electrical circuit contain said electrical switch, said electrical switch in a first selective position completing said polarity indicating circuit and disrupting current through said ground indicating electrical circuit, said electrical switch in a second selective position completing said ground indicating electrical circuit and disrupting current through said polarity indicating electrical circuit.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 7. wherein said electrically conductive hardware item of said polarity indicating circuit is electrically connected to said electrical switch, said electrical switch in said first selective position completing said polarity indicating electrical circuit comprising said electrically conductive hardware item, current limiting means within said polarity indicating electrical circuit to limit the magnitude of current within said circuit and thereby making said circuit and contact with said electrically conductive hardware item therein non-hazardous to humans; said electrical switch in said second selective position disrupting current flow through said polarity indicating electrical circuit as well as electrically isolating said electrically conductive hardware item from said ground indicating electrical circuit thereby making contact with said electrically conductive hardware item non-hazardous to humans regardless of the magnitude of current within said ground indicating electrical circuit.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 7. wherein said indicating device selectively indicates the polarity of said receptacle conductors when said indicating device functions in said polarity indicating electrical circuit and selectively indicates the establishment of proper grounding of said equipment ground when said indicating device functions in said ground indicating electrical circuit.

Claim 14

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter comprising a second selective means of electrically connecting said equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle when the electrically conductive housing of said receptacle is electrically connected to a source of ground, said second selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to said housing thereby establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter additionally comprising a polarity indicating means affixed thereto for indicating the polarity of the electrical circuit between said receptacle and said attached adapter, said polarity indicating means indicating whether the electrically hot and grounded neutral conductors within said receptacle are correctly oriented in normal standard-ized polarized positions therein, said adapter comprising a ground indicating means affixed thereto, upon said ground indicating means indicating improper grounding taking plaCe through said receptacle housing and said polarity indicating means indicating correct polarity, said adapter being capable of selectively utilizing said first selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle to establish proper grounding of said adapter equipment ground.

Claim 15

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter comprising a second selective means of electrically connecting said equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle when the electrically conductive housing of said receptacle is electrically connected to a source of ground, said second selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to said housing thereby establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter additionally comprising a polarity indicating means affixed thereto for indicating the polarity of the electrical circuit between said receptacle and said attached adapter, said polarity indicating means indicating whether the electrically hot and grounded neutral conductors within said receptacle are correctly oriented in normal standard-ized polarized positions therein, said adapter comprising a ground indicating means affixed thereto, upon said ground indicating means indicating improper grounding taking plaCe through said receptacle housing and said polarity indicating means indicating correct polarity, said adapter being capable of selectively utilizing said first selective means electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle to establish proper grounding of said adapter equipment ground.

Claim 16

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a plurality of triple groupings of female elements for receiving engagement with conventional triple pronged electric plugs, the electrical equipment ground conducting third female elements of each said grouping being electrically joined together by a conductive joining element, said conductive joining element being electrically connected to an electrically conductive contact element mounted on the exterior of said adapter, said conductive contact element being in abutment with the electrically conductive cover plate fastener affixed to the housing of said two hole receptacle when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, a second selective means of equipment ground thereby being established from said conductive contact element of said adapter through said receptacle conductive cover plate fastener to said electrically conductive housing of said receptacle which is connected to a source of ground, said adapter still further comprising a second electrically conductive fastener, said second electrically conductive fastener removably affixed selectively to replace said fastener holding said cover plate to said two wire receptacle, said conductive contact element mounted on the exterior of said adapter being of a configuration defining an opening therein of a magnitude allowing said second electrically conductive fastener access there through, said second electrically conductive fastener selectively affixed to said adapter with a portion of said second conductive fastener penetrating said adapter and making electrical contact with said conductive joining element of said electrical equipment ground conducting third female elements, an end portion of said second electrically conductive fastener with a configuration extending beyond said adapter exterior through the opening of said conductive contact element and oriented when said adapter is attached to said receptacle for threaded engagement into the female threaded portion of said receptacle from which said cover plate fastener was selectively removed, said second electrically conductive fastener thereby mechanically holding said adapter to said receptacle in addition to selectively establishing another equipment ground from said equipment ground conducting third female elements of said adapter through said electrically conductive housing of said receptacle.

Claim 17

An electrical adapter attachable to a standard two hole wall receptacle, said adapter converting said receptacle into a three hole receptacle having an equipment ground, said adapter comprising means for selectively electrically connecting the equipment ground of said adapter to said receptacle, a first selective means of electrically connecting said adapter equipment ground to the neutral conductor of said adapter and thereby through the grounded neutral conductor of said attached receptacle establishing an equipment ground between said adapter and said receptacle, said adapter further comprising a plurality of triple groupings of female elements for receiving engagement with conventional triple pronged electric plugs, the electrical equipment ground conducting third female elements of each said grouping being electrically joined together by a conductive joining element, said conductive joining element being electrically connected to an electrically conductive contact element mounted on the exterior of said adapter, said conductive contact element being in abutment with the electrically conductive cover plate fastener affixed to the housing of said two hole receptacle when said adapter is attached to said receptacle, a second selective means of equipment ground thereby being established from said conductive contact element of said adapter through said receptacle conductive cover plate fastener to said electrically conductive housing of said receptacle which is connected to a source of ground, said adapter still further comprising a second electrically conductive fastener, said second electrically conductive fastener removably affixed selectively to replace said fastener holding said cover plate to said two wire receptacle, said conductive contact element mounted on the exterior of said adapter being of a configuration defining an opening therein of a magnitude allowing said second electrically conductive fastener access there through, said second electrically conductive fastener selectively affixed to said adapter with a portion of said second conductive fastener penetrating said adapter and making electrical contact with said conductive joining element of said electrical equipment ground conducting third female elements, an end portion of said second electrically conductive fastener with a configuration extending beyond said adapter exterior through the opening of said conductive contact element and oriented when said adapter is attached to said receptacle for threaded engagement into the female threaded portion of said receptacle from which said cover plate fastener was selectively removed, said second electrically conductive fastener thereby mechanically holding said adapter to said receptacle in addition to selectively establishing another equipment ground from said equipment ground conducting third female elements of said adapter through said electrically conductive housing of said receptacle.