Electrical safety grounding device means

• US 3,924,914 A
• Filed: 12/28/1973
• Issued: 12/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philip M. Banner
• Original Assignee: Philip M. Banner
• Inventors: Banner, Philip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, DeWalden W.
• Application Number:
  US05/429,104
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 339/14R,14P,18B,18P,113R,113L
• US Class Current: 439/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/14 Indicating direction of current; Indicating polarity of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/145 Indicating the presence of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/20 Measuring earth resistance; Measuring contact resistance, e.g. of earth connections, e.g. plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/648 Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices , e.g. anti-static shielding coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/912 with testing means

Abstract

Electrical safety grounding devices of the type for single phase two and three wire systems. It features improved electrical grounding capability for plugs, connectors, receptacles and adapters having improved fuse protection and signal response indicating means protecting life and equipment in the daily use of electricity.

Claims

1. An electrical safety grounding device means of the type for two and three wire electrical systems having a receptacle comprising a conductive cover plate for said receptacle, means to ground said plate, and a plug adapted to plug into said receptacle, a ground contact on said plug adapted to contact said grounded plate, and fuse protection in said plug connected to a current carrying wire, and ground indicating means connected to said wire and said ground on said plug, wherein the receptacle is an adapter having a receptacle on one end having a grounding contact and a connector body on the other end connected to wiring.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein means to ground said plate comprises grounding the connection of said conductive plate to a grounded junction box connected to a grounding conductor providing grounding from said plate to a plug and receptacle.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said fuse protection means comprises fuse protection in plugs, receptacles and adapters having replaceable and throwaway fuses that fit into said plugs receptacles and adapters.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein electrical safety grounding means comprises having ground and circuit indicating means with visual and audio advantages giving warning of broken grounding conductors and improper circuit wiring.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receptacle means comprises a rotatable pointer disc mounted over one end of said receptacle so that when rotated it opens at least one grounding conductor connection in said receptacle.

6. An electrical safety grounding device means of the type for two and three wire electrical systems having a receptacle comprising a conductive cover plate for said receptacle, means to ground said plate, and a plug adapted to plug into said receptacle, a ground contact on said Plug, plate and receptacle having magnetic contacts for grounding conductors

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said ground contact comprises a first and second grounding contact connected together so that first and second grounding contacts have a connected ground.

8. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said adapter has a rotatable disc and pointer on said two and three wire receptacle ends that have at least two grounding recesses so that said disc and pointer are selectively responsive to indicating at least one grounding conductor recess by connection to signal responsive means.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said adapter comprises signal responsive audio alarm on said two and three wire electrical systems that indicate circuits and grounding conditions in said adapters.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said adapters have an on-off switch turning said two and three wire electrical systems on and off on said adapters.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said adapters have a test switch connected to said two and three wire electrical systems indicating the electrical safety conditions of said adapters.

12. An electrical safety grounding device means of the type for two and three wire electrical systems wherein adapters, receptacles, connectors, plugs and testers have a selective amperage fuse protection switch connected to at least one wire of said twO and three wire electrical systems responsive to disconnecting said wire when said fuse protection short circuits protecting current carrying line wiring by selective positioning of differently rated amperage fuse located within said electrical safety grounding means which is selected according to the specific amperage needs of the appliance or equipment to be used.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said electrical safety grounding device menas has an on-off switch turning said two and three wire electrical systems on and off on said adapters, receptacles, connectors plugs and testers.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said electrical safety grounding device means has a test switch connected to said two and three wire electrical systems indicating the electrical safety condition of said adapters, receptacles, connectors, plugs and testers.