US4575704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical adaptor
Assignee: FIRE SAVR
•
Filing: 1985-01-23
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2005-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An adaptor is described for an electrical AC wall socket for providing a fused link between the wall socket and an electrical appliance or the like. The adaptor includes a male plug extending from a housing for mating with the wall socket for providing electrical connection therewith. A female plug is provided in the housing and is linked to the male plug by at least one fuse. The fuse or fuses are mounted on the housing by plug-in connectors to permit the fuses to be readily removed and replaced. Each of the fuses is contained in its own housing and is visible therein through a transparent window. The fuse housings are accommodated in recesses in the adaptor housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J. Pezold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
An adaptor for an electrical AC wall socket for providing a fused link between the wall socket and an electrical appliance or the like, said adaptor comprising: an adaptor housing, first male connector means extending from said adaptor housing and being adapted for mating with the wall socket for providing electrical connection therewith, first female connector means in said adaptor housing and being adapted for receiving an appliance plug or the like, said adaptor housing having an externally accessible recess therein and including second female connector means in said recess of said adaptor housing disposed electrically between said first female connector means and said first male connector means and constituting at least one open circuit segment therebetween, fuse means including a fuse housing having a transparent window therein, means for removably mounting a fuse link in said fuse housing, said fuse link having a transparent cylindrical body, two metal end caps, one disposed on each end of said body, and a fuse conductor mounted inside said cylinder, said conductor creating an electrical link between said two metal end caps, said fuse housing being of a mating configuration with said recess in said adaptor housing to be received therein, said transparent window and transparent cylindrical body enabling said fuse conductor to be externally viewed when said adaptor is mated with said wall socket, and second male connector means connected to said fuse means, said second male connector means extending out from a surface of said fuse housing so as to mate with said second female connector means for connecting said fuse means across said open circuit segment when said fuse housing is received in said recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
An adaptor for an electrical AC wall socket for providing a fused link between the wall socket and an electrical appliance or the like, said adaptor comprising: an adaptor housing, first male connector means extending from said adaptor housing and being adapted for mating with the wall socket for providing electrical connection therewith, first female connector means in said adaptor housing and being adapted for receiving an appliance plug or the like, said adaptor housing having an externally accessible recess therein and including second female connector means in said recess of said adaptor housing disposed electrically between said first female connector means and said first male connector means and constituting at least one open circuit segment therebetween, fuse means including a fuse housing having a transparent window therein, means for removably mounting a fuse link in said fuse housing, said fuse link having a transparent cylindrical body, two metal end caps, one disposed on each end of said body, and a fuse conductor mounted inside said cylinder, said conductor creating an electrical link between said two metal end caps, said fuse housing being of a mating configuration with said recess in said adaptor housing to be received therein, said transparent window and transparent cylindrical body enabling said fuse conductor to be externally viewed when said adaptor is mated with said wall socket, and second male connector means connected to said fuse means, said second male connector means extending out from a surface of said fuse housing so as to mate with said second female connector means for connecting said fuse means across said open circuit segment when said fuse housing is received in said recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein the configuration of said second female connector means is non-conventional so as to prevent insertion of a conventional appliance plug therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said adaptor housing means include a substantially planar surface on one side thereof, and means for mounting said adaptor housing means such that said substantially planar surface covers the wall socket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An adaptor according to claim 3 wherein said mounting means permit orienting said adaptor housing means to cover a second wall socket adjacent the one into which said first male connector means is inserted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said adaptor housing means comprise a unitary molded body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
236 words
An adaptor for an electrical AC wall socket for providing a fused link between the wall socket and an electrical appliance or the like, said adaptor comprising: an adaptor housing, first male connector means extending from said adaptor housing and being adapted for mating with the wall socket for providing electrical connection therewith, first female connector means in said adaptor housing and being adapted for receiving an appliance plug or the like, said adaptor housing having a recess therein and including second female connector means in said recess of said adaptor housing disposed electrically between said first female connector means and said first male connector means and constituting at least one open circuit segment therebetween, fuse means including a fuse link enclosed in a fuse housing having a transparent window therein, said fuse housing being of a mating configuration with said recess in said adaptor housing to be received therein, said second male connector means connected to said fuse means, said second male connector means mating with said second female connector means for connecting said fuse means across said open circuit segment when said fuse housing is received in said recess, said fuse housing including a removable portion for permitting access to said fuse link for replacement, and further including latch means for latching said removable portion in place, said latch means being positioned to be inaccessible when said fuse housing is received in said recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
236 words
An adaptor for an electrical AC wall socket for providing a fused link between the wall socket and an electrical appliance or the like, said adaptor comprising: an adaptor housing, first male connector means extending from said adaptor housing and being adapted for mating with the wall socket for providing electrical connection therewith, first female connector means in said adaptor housing and being adapted for receiving an appliance plug or the like, said adaptor housing having a recess therein and including second female connector means in said recess of said adaptor housing disposed electrically between said first female connector means and said first male connector means and constituting at least one open circuit segment therebetween, fuse means including a fuse link enclosed in a fuse housing having a transparent window therein, said fuse housing being of a mating configuration with said recess in said adaptor housing to be received therein, said second male connector means connected to said fuse means, said second male connector means mating with said second female connector means for connecting said fuse means across said open circuit segment when said fuse housing is received in said recess, said fuse housing including a removable portion for permitting access to said fuse link for replacement, and further including latch means for latching said removable portion in place, said latch means being positioned to be inaccessible when said fuse housing is received in said recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said second female connector means comprise a pair of open circuit segments, one in each AC path from the wall socket, and wherein said fuse means include a pair of fuse links, each extending across a respective one of said open circuit segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein the configuration of said second male connector means is nonconventional so as to prevent the insertion of said fuse means into a conventional wall socket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein said second male connector means comprises first and second prongs mounted on said fuse housing, said first prong connected to one end cap of said fuse link, said second prong connected to the other of said end cap of said fuse link, said first and second prongs further being oriented with respect to each other in mutually perpendicular planes and extending perpendicularly out from said surface of said fuse housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said adaptor housing includes a second externally accessible recess therein, a second fuse housing having a transparent window therein, means for removably mounting a second fuse link in said second fuse housing, said second fuse housing being of a mating configuration with said second recess in said adaptor housing to be received therein and means for securing said second fuse housing in said second recess.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 further comprising means for preventing access to said fuse link when said fuse housing is received in said recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2636096A
Cited
US2988617A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |