Hospital grade receptacle with power light indicator

• US 6,827,602 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Arenas, Alfredo, Eder, John, Greene, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US10/426,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488-490, 439/535, 439/538
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts

Abstract

This invention is directed to a receptacle having an indictor which identifies the receptacle as being a hospital grade receptacle. The indicator can be a green colored window in the face of the receptacle that is always visible. A light emitting means such as a light emitting diode located behind the window and coupled across the phase and neutral contacts of the receptacle provides a positive indication that the receptacle is connected to a live circuit.

Claims

1. A hospital grade receptacle having a face with at least two openings for receiving the prongs of a plug, a phase terminal located behind one of the openings and a neutral terminal located behind the other opening comprising;

a lens of color located in a window located in the face which is always visible and which identifies the receptacle as a receptacle which, when in use, is connected to a “

live”

emergency power supply branch circuit; and

a light emitting diode located behind said lens of color to indicate that the receptacle, when in use, is actually connected to a live circuit by emitting light through the lens of color wherein the light emitting diode is coupled across the phase and neutral terminals of the receptacle.

2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode is in series with a resistor.

3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode is in series with a resistor and a diode.

4. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the window is round.

5. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the window is flush with the surface of the face plate.

6. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the color of the window is green.

7. The receptacle of claim 3 wherein the series circuit of the light emitting diode, the resistor and the diode are coupled to a printed circuit board having a first contact pad that contacts the phase terminal and a second contact pad that contacts the neutral terminal.

8. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the receptacle is a duplex receptacle.

9. The receptacle of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is a 15 amp. 125 volt receptacle.

10. The receptacle of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is a 20 amp. 125 volt receptacle.

11. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the face around the openings for receiving the prongs of a plug is raised.

12. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the face is flat.

13. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the light emitting diode, the resistor and the diode are on a first side of the printed circuit board, and the first contact pad is connected via a conductive trace on the second side of the board to a first lead of the resistor, a second lead of the resistor is connected via a conductive trace on the second side of the board to a first lead of the light emitting diode, a second lead of the light emitting diode is connected to a first lead of the diode via a conductive trace on the first side of the board, and the second lead of the diode is connected to the second contact pad via a conductive trace on the second side of the board.

14. The receptacle of claim 13 comprising insulating material coupled to the second side of the board.

15. The receptacle of claim 14 comprising silicon adhesive to couple the insulating material to the second side of the board.

16. The receptacle of claim 13 wherein the first and second contact pads are located on the second side of the board.