Adapter with fuse and indicator and capable of being used as plug

• US 6,592,406 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: An-Hom Liu
• Original Assignee: An-Hom Liu
• Inventors: Liu, An-Hom
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/897,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 439/621, 439/622, 439/488, 439/490, 439/910, 439/131, 439/172
• US Class Current: 439/620.31
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/91 Observation aide, e.g. transparent material, window in housing

Abstract

An adapter with a fuse and an indicator and capable of being used as a plug is disclosed. The adapter mainly includes an upper cover and a lower cover. Two parallel male terminals and two parallel female terminals are installed in the upper cover and lower cover. An indicator is connected to the two parallel female terminals. By controlling the contact of the indicator with the female terminals, the user can know whether the electric device is working in normal condition. Other than arranging in a fixing way, the two male terminals are rotatable by connecting them to a rotary unit. Besides, connecting pieces are used to connect the male terminals and female terminals. Two connecting pieces are connected through a fuse. By the action of the fuse, as the current of the fuse is overloaded, the fuse will melt and break so that the connected electric devices are protected.

Claims

1. An adapter with a fuse and an indicator and capable of being used as a plug comprising:

an upper cover having a shape having two larger ends and a thinner middle portion and being intergrally formed by plastics;

the upper cover being formed with a fuse inlet hole, an indicator hole and a first notch;

the fuse inlet hole being tightly sealed by a first transparent cover;

the first transparent cover having a lower block being exactly buckled between the first notch of the upper cover and a groove in the lower cover;

when a plug being inserted into the adaptor, the lower block exactly resisting against the transparent cover;

the indicator hole being engaged with a second transparent cover;

a bottom of the upper cover having a plurality of posts;

a lower cover having a shape correspondent to the upper cover;

the lower cover being installed with a fuse receiving groove configured with respect to the fuse inlet hole, an indicator receiving groove configured with respect to the indicator hole receiving an indicator, and a second notch configured with respect to the first notch; and

a plurality of assembling holes configured with respect to respective posts;

the lower cover further comprising;

a rotary unit receiving groove formed in front of the fuse receiving groove for receiving a cylindrical rotary unit;

a left and a right sides of the rotary unit receiving groove having respective connecting piece receiving grooves for receiving respective first connecting pieces;

two females terminal receiving grooves being extented from the connecting piece terminals for receiving two female (receiving grooves) respectively, from the left and right sides of the indicator receiving groove;

two receptacle holes at a rear side of the lower cover;

rear sides of the two females terminal receiving grooves being connected to the two receptacle holes, respectively;

wherein buckling grooves at the left and right sides of the cylindrical rotary unit are buckled with two male terminals, respectively, and then the rotary unit buckling with the two male terminals is placed in the rotary unit receiving groove;

outer lateral surfaces of the two parallel male terminals are buckled with respective two first connecting pieces;

then the two first connecting pieces are connected with the two female terminals, respectively, thereby, the openings of the two female terminals being exactly connected to respective receptacle holes in the rear side of the lower cover;

one of the two male terminal is connected to the fuse through a second connecting piece;

by rotating the cylindrical rotary unit, the two male terminals rotate through a predetermined angle;

when a plug is inserted into the receptacle holes;

since the two female terminals expand due to the insertion of the plug, the female terminals resists against a positive and a negative electrode of the indicator;

thereby, an indicator circuit being formed as a loop for emitting light; and

wherein the indicator has the functions of checking the plug, fuse circuits of connecting electric devices furthermore, through the fuse, as current is over tolerance of the fuse, the fuse will melt;

as a result, not only the electric devices are protected, but also the firing of electric wire is prevented.

2. The adapter with a fuse and an indicator and capable of being using as a plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two female terminals is clip for clamping an electric wire, thereby, the adapter being formed as a plug.