Combined ballast container and wall plug for portable electrical equipment

• US 4,451,693 A
• Filed: 03/22/1982
• Issued: 05/29/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary W. Vest
• Original Assignee: Gary W. Vest
• Inventors: Vest, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moses, R. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/360,408
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/53, 174/66, 174/67, 174/DIG. 2, 174/52 R, 174/51, 336/92, 336/107, 339/122 R, 339/122 F, 339/123
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/02 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/06 Mounting, supporting or suspending transformers, reactors or choke coils not being of the signal type
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/02 Ballasts

Abstract

An electrical component and housing module for an electrical appliance circuit, adapted to be plugged into a conventional wall outlet. The module has a base plate and a recessed cover formed of dielectric material and assembled to define a protective enclosure. The base plate has a relatively small, rectangular opening and the cover has walls including at least two opposed walls with ventilation slots. The base plate also has resilient means that cooperates with the slots to anchor the cover to the base. The electrical circuit component is secured in the enclosure, and is connected to the electrical appliance by a conventional power cord that extends through the cover. A wall-plug-type connector with an insulating body and contact prongs is electrically connected to the circuit component and has its contact prongs extending through the opening in the base plate for insertion into a wall outlet. The insulating body of the connector is secured to the base plate within the enclosure by resilient means on the base plate.

Claims

1. An electrical component and housing module for an electrical appliance circuit adapted to be plugged into a conventional electrical wall outlet comprising:

a relatively flat base plate formed of a dielectric material and defining an opening;

a cover formed of dielectric material and having walls defining a plurality of ventilation slots, said cover being adapted for assembly with said base plate to define therewith a protective enclosure;

first resilient means on said base plate cooperating with said slots for securing said cover to said base plate;

an electrical circuit component secured in said enclosure and forming a part of said electrical appliance circuit;

a wall-plug-type connector electrically connected to said circuit component and having an insulating body located in said enclosure and contact prongs extending through said opening; and

second resilient means on said base plate adjacent said opening cooperating with said insulating body for securing said connector to said base plate.

2. A module as defined in claim 1, wherein said ventilation slots of said cover are located in at least two of said walls that extend generally outwardly from said base and wherein said first resilient means comprises a plurality of latches extending generally perpendicular to said base plate and adapted to register with said slots and to be flexed by said two walls when said cover and said base plate are brought together until said cover and base plate are finally joined whereupon said latches spring in opposition to said flexing into said slots and thus into gripping engagement with said cover.

3. A module as defined in claim 2, wherein said two walls are located at the top and bottom, respectively, of said cover.

4. A module as defined in claim 1, further including a prong formed integrally with said base and extending from said base parallel to said contact prongs and located relative thereto so as to be insertable into the ground socket contact opening of the wall socket into which said module is to be plugged.

5. A module as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit component is a ballast transformer for a fluorescent tube.

6. An electrical component and housing module for an electrical appliance circuit adapted to be plugged into a conventional electrical wall outlet comprising:

a relatively flat base plate formed of a dielectric material and defining an opening;

a cover formed of a dielectric material and adapted for assembly with said base plate to define therewith a protective enclosure;

an electrical circuit component secured in said enclosure and forming a part of said electrical appliance circuit;

a wall-plug-type connector electrically connected to said circuit component and having an insulating body located in said enclosure and contact prongs extending through said opening; and

a prong formed integrally with said base and extending from said base parallel to said contact prongs and located relative thereto so as to be insertable into the ground socket contact opening of the wall socket into which said module is to be plugged.

7. A module as defined in claim 6, further including resilient means on said base plate adjacent said opening cooperating with said insulating body for securing said connector to said base plate.