Electrical outlet/electrical switch identification system for use with an electrical breaker panel and method of making and using the same

• US 10,325,192 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trexler Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trexler Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Schmidt, Hayden T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US16/206,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20190180159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• Field of Search: 235487, 235492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/46 Boxes; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, including an electrical outlet faceplate cover having a plurality of electrical outlet openings and a fastener located between the plurality of electrical outlet openings such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet, a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel, and a near field communications tag located on a back side of the electrical outlet faceplate cover, wherein the near field communications tag is operatively connected to the fastener such that the near field communications tag contains information related to which of the at least one circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

Claims

1. A system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, comprising:

an electrical outlet faceplate cover having a plurality of electrical outlet openings and a fastener located between the plurality of electrical outlet openings such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet;

a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and

a near field communications tag located on a back side of the electrical outlet faceplate cover, wherein the near field communications tag is operatively connected to the fastener such that the near field communications tag contains information related to which of the at least one circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

2. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 1, wherein the electrical outlet faceplate cover is further comprised of:

a durable, non-electrically conducting polymeric material.

3. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 1, wherein the near field communications tag is further comprised of:

a tag extension having a first end and a second end;

a tag opening located at the first end of the tag extension; and

a tag holder located at the second end of the tag extension.

4. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 3, wherein the tag holder is further comprised of:

at least one near field communications tag located within the tag holder.

5. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 1, wherein the near field communications tag is located adjacent to the plurality of electrical outlet openings.

6. A system using near field communications tags on electrical outlets for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, comprising:

an electrical outlet bracket;

at least one electrical outlet operatively connected to the electrical outlet bracket;

a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and

a near field communications tag located within a portion of the at least one electrical outlet, wherein the near field communications tag contains information related to which of the at least one circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

7. The system using near field communications tags on electrical outlets for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 6, wherein the near field communications tag is located below a first surface of the at least one electrical outlet.

8. A method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical outlet faceplate cover having a plurality of electrical outlet openings and a fastener located between the plurality of electrical outlet openings such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet;

providing a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and

providing a near field communications tag located on a back side of the electrical outlet faceplate cover, wherein the near field communications tag is operatively connected to the fastener such that the near field communications tag is capable of containing information related to which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

9. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 8, wherein the method is further comprised of the step of:

determining which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

10. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 9, wherein the method is further comprised of the step of:

recording which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

11. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 10, wherein the recording step is further comprised of the step of:

recording information about which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet into a database, wherein the database is located on a mobile communications device or stored remotely.

12. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 9, wherein the determining step is further comprised of the steps of:

locating the electrical circuit breaker panel; and

turning off and on the at least one circuit breaker to determine which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.