Layman's electrical assistant

• US 20070037441A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Onstott
• Original Assignee: Richard Onstott
• Inventors: Onstott, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/367,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/505
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/12 Circuits for multi-testers , i.e. multimeters, e.g. for measuring voltage, current, or impedance at will
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/155 Indicating the presence of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

The Layman'"'"'s Electrical Assistant (LEA) is a safe, easy, reliable electrical information gathering and troubleshooting tool for Homeowners and other Laypersons. It can be used: 1. to determine whether electrical energy (Voltage) is or is not present at a receptacle, 2. to observe the amount of alternating current (in AC Amps per hour), up to 19.99 Amps, as it is used to power individual house-hold appliances and other small cord supplied electrical equipment and devices (in order to determine operability or condition) and, 3. to manage the size and number of devices (LOAD) connected to a cord or branch circuit, supplying more than one receptacle, to prevent overloading that can cause nuisance circuit breaker tripping, blown fuses or extension cord melt down and possibly fire.

Claims

1. A safe, easy, reliable method, for homeowners and other laypersons to obtain electrical information pertinent to appliances and other cord supplied equipment in their homes or offices, the embodiment of which provides the following:

a.) A means for managing the size of electrical loads (total amperage of multiple electrical devices connected to one extension cord or branch circuit), such as decorative lighting, lighted/mobile displays, more than one appliance operating simultaneously on the same circuit, etc. . . .

b.) A tool with which to perform minor electrical troubleshooting tasks to determine the operating condition appliances and other cord connected equipment, from coffee makers and toasters to computers and weed whackers.

c.) An instrument with which to do minor troubleshooting tasks that may well spare the user the expense of hiring a professional electrical serviceman to discover that a switch was turned off, a breaker was tripped, or the extension cord got hot because too many Christmas light strings were plugged into it and so forth.