Electrical connection safety apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An electrical connection safety apparatus, comprising:
- (a) means for detecting a current rating for an electrical appliance;
(b) means for detecting a load current delivered to said electrical appliance; and
(c) means for disconnecting power to said electrical appliance when said detected load current exceeds said detected current rating of said electrical appliance.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connection safety apparatus which eliminates the risk of fire or electric shock associated with current overload faults in electrical systems. The apparatus senses or detects the electrical current rating of electrical appliances or electrical cords or connectors which are plugged into electrical outlets, and disconnects power to the appliance or outlet and connector whenever the current rating is exceeded. Current rating is indicated by a preset current threshold for the appliance or by a detectable feature associated with an electrical connector. Circuitry monitors the load current delivered to the appliance or receptacle and connector and compares the load current to detected current rating. When a current overload occurs, power to the appliance or receptacle and connector is disconnected.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. An electrical connection safety apparatus, comprising:
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(a) means for detecting a current rating for an electrical appliance; (b) means for detecting a load current delivered to said electrical appliance; and (c) means for disconnecting power to said electrical appliance when said detected load current exceeds said detected current rating of said electrical appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electrical connection safety apparatus, comprising:
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(a) means for indicating a current rating of an electrical appliance; (b) means for detecting said current rating of said electrical appliance; (c) means for detecting a load current delivered to said electrical appliance; (d) means for disconnecting power to said electrical appliance when said load current exceeds said current rating of said electrical appliance; and (e) means for resetting said power disconnecting means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. An electrical outlet safety apparatus, comprising:
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(a) an electrical outlet, said electrical outlet including at least one electrical receptacle; (b) means, associated with said electrical receptacle, for detecting a current rating of an electrical connector, according to a detectable feature of said electrical connector, when said electrical connector is engaged in said electrical receptacle; (c) means for detecting a load current delivered to said electrical receptacle; (d) means for disconnecting power to said electrical receptacle when said load current to said receptacle exceeds said current rating of said electrical connector; and (e) means for resetting said means for disconnecting power to said electrical receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. An electrical outlet safety apparatus, comprising:
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(a) an electrical outlet, said electrical outlet including at least one electrical receptacle; (b) at least one safety switch means for preventing shocks due to partial engagement of a connector in said receptacle and for preventing shocks due to insertion of foreign objects into said receptacle, said safety interlock switch means positioned within a slot in said receptacle; (c) means for delivering power to said receptacle when said safety switch means is activated; and (d) means for cutting off power to said receptacle when said safety switch means is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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76. An electrical outlet safety apparatus, comprising:
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(a) an electrical outlet, said electrical outlet including at least one electrical receptacle; (b) at least one at least one power control switch means for preventing shocks due to partial engagement of a connector in said receptacle and for preventing shocks due to insertion of foreign objects into said receptacle, said power control switch means positioned within a slot in said receptacle; (c) means for delivering power to said receptacle when said at least one power control switch means is activated; and (d) means for cutting off power to said receptacle when said at least one power control switch is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (77)
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Specification