Audible circuit breaker

• US 20020057089A1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Brown
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,657,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/508
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/69 of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances

Abstract

An audible test circuit has a body having a plurality of prongs extending therefrom and having a plurality of lights thereon. A four way bridge rectifier circuit has a voltage steering circuit for producing a DC output voltage of known polarity located in the body and coupled to the plurality of prongs extending therefrom into the plurality of lights thereon to produce a visual indication of power to said bridge rectifier circuit on the polarity of the circuit being tested. An audible alarm, such an electronic transducer, is coupled to the four way bridge rectifier circuit for producing an audible alarm when power is applied to the rectifier circuit. The lamp attachment is removably attachable to the plurality of prongs for attaching the audible test circuit to a lamp socket for testing the lamp socket for power and polarity so that an audible test circuit gives an audible indication of power applied to the circuit and a visual indication of the plurality of the circuit. The audible test circuit may include a lamp socket-to-alligator clip attachment for removably attaching to the lamp attachment for coupling the alligator clip to the circuit. There is also a lamp socket-to-alligator clip attachment.

Claims

1. An audible test circuit comprising

a body having a plurality of prongs extending therefrom and having a plurality of lights thereon;

a four way bridge rectifier circuit having a voltage steering circuit for producing a DC output voltage of known polarity, said bridge rectifier circuit being located in said body and coupled to said plurality of prongs extending therefrom and to said plurality of lights thereon to produce a visual indication of power applied to said bridge rectifier circuit and of the polarity of the circuit being tested;

audible alarm means coupled to said four way bridge rectifier circuit for producing an audible alarm when power is applied to said rectifier circuit; and

a lamp attachment removably attachable to said plurality of prongs for attaching said audible test circuit to a lamp socket for testing said lamp socket for power and polarity;

whereby a audible testing circuit gives an audible indication of power applied to a circuit and a visual indication of polarity in the circuity.

2. The audible test circuit in accordance with claim 1 having a lamp socket to alligator clip attachment for removably attaching to said lamp attachment for coupling said alligator clips to said plurality of prongs.

3. The audible test circuit in accordance with claim 2 in which said lamp socket to alligator clip attachment has internal threads for receiving a light bulb and said lamp attachment has external threads matching said lamp socket to alligator clip attachment internal threads for removably attaching attachments together.

4. The audible test circuit in accordance with claim 3 including a three prong to two prong electrical connector is removably attached to said body plurality of prongs and said lamp attachment is attached to said two prongs.