US4002397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector for electric plug
Assignee: WOLSK ASSOC Ltd
•
Filing: 1975-09-29
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Granted: 1977-01-11
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Expires: 1995-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A housing has two openings to receive the electrically conductive prongs of a plug to mount the housing and a third opening to receive the grounding prong. Electrically conductive strips are disposed within the housing and have the conductive prongs of the plugs, which pass through the two openings in the housing, pass through openings in the electrically conductive strips to be in contact with the strips to provide a source of power to the strips, which are electrically connected to an alarm circuit. The alarm circuit produces an audible signal whenever there is no current through the plug due to a power failure or the plug being removed from its power source and a battery, which is supported within the housing, is connected to this alarm circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Wang
- 👤 David I. Wolsk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:11
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; G08B21/185; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1409; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/665; H01R13/6691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A connector for mounting on an electrical plug for disposition in an electrical receptacle without preventing prongs of the plug from being inserted sufficiently into the receptacle for connection to a source of power including: a housing of an electrically insulating material; said housing having a receptacle therein, said housing fully enclosing said receptacle; said housing having a relatively thin portion extending from one side thereof and away from said receptacle; said thin portion having at least two openings extending therethrough; a pair of electrically conductive strips mounted within said thin portion, each of said electrically conductive strips having an opening therein with each of said openings aligned with the corresponding opening in said thin portion to enable one of the prongs of the plug to pass therethrough; said openings in said electrically conductive strips being smaller than the prongs of the plug to grasp the prongs of the plug when the prongs are inserted therein; each of said electrically conductive strips being formed of a material capable of expanding to receive the prongs of the plug and returning substantially to its original shape after the prongs of the plug are withdrawn therefrom; and electrical means disposed in said receptacle in said housing and connected to said electrically conductive strips to receive power therefrom when the plug is connected to a source of power through the electrical receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A connector for mounting on an electrical plug for disposition in an electrical receptacle without preventing prongs of the plug from being inserted sufficiently into the receptacle for connection to a source of power including: a housing of an electrically insulating material; said housing having a receptacle therein, said housing fully enclosing said receptacle; said housing having a relatively thin portion extending from one side thereof and away from said receptacle; said thin portion having at least two openings extending therethrough; a pair of electrically conductive strips mounted within said thin portion, each of said electrically conductive strips having an opening therein with each of said openings aligned with the corresponding opening in said thin portion to enable one of the prongs of the plug to pass therethrough; said openings in said electrically conductive strips being smaller than the prongs of the plug to grasp the prongs of the plug when the prongs are inserted therein; each of said electrically conductive strips being formed of a material capable of expanding to receive the prongs of the plug and returning substantially to its original shape after the prongs of the plug are withdrawn therefrom; and electrical means disposed in said receptacle in said housing and connected to said electrically conductive strips to receive power therefrom when the plug is connected to a source of power through the electrical receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector according to claim 1 including said thin portion having a width less than the width of said housing in a direction substantially normal to the thickness of said thin portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
The connector according to claim 1 in which: said housing comprises at least two portions connected to each other and having said receptacle enclosed thereby; one of said portions has the space of said receptacle therein in which the electrical means is disposed; said one portion has a relatively thin portion extending from one side thereof; another of said portions of said housing has a thin portion for cooperation with said thin portion of said one portion to form said thin portion of said housing; one of said thin portions of said one portion and said another portion has a recess therein, said electrically conductive strips being mounted in said recess; and each of said thin portions of said one portion and said another portion has at least two openings therein and aligned with the corresponding opening in the other of said thin portions and the corresponding opening in said electrically conductive strip when said one portion and said another portion are connected to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector according to claim 3 in which said thin portion of said one portion has said recess therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector according to claim 3 in which each of said openings in each of said thin portions of said one portion and said another portion is larger than said opening in each of said electrically conductive strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The connector according to claim 5 in which each of said thin portions of said one portion and said another portion has a third opening therein aligned with the corresponding third opening in the other of said thin portions of said one portion and said another portion when said one portion and said another portion are connected to each other, said third openings adapted to receive a grounding prong of the plug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector according to claim 3 including: means to divide said receptacle into two chambers; one of said chambers having the electrical means therein; and the other of said chambers having a battery for the electrical means therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connector according to claim 7 including means supported by one of said portions of said housing to form a removable wall of said other chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector according to claim 1 in which each of said openings in said thin portion is larger than said aligned opening in each of said electrically conductive strips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The connector according to claim 9 in which: said thin portion has a third opening therein adapted to receive a grounding prong of the plug; and said electrically conductive strips are spaced from said third opening so that said electrically conductive strips do not contact the grounding prong on the plug passing through said third opening in said thin portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector according to claim 1 including: means to divide said receptacle into two chambers; one of said chambers having the electrical means therein; and the other of said chambers having a battery for the electrical means therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector according to claim 1 including means supported by said housing to form a removable wall of said other chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-11 | 1980-07-12 | 1981-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-11 | 1984-07-12 | 1985-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-11 | 1988-07-12 | 1989-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |