Live circuit indicator for plugs and receptacles
First Claim
1. An electrical connector comprising:
- a first contact adapted to slidably engage a phase contact of a mating connector;
a second contact adapted to slidably engage a neutral contact of the mating connector;
a third contact adapted to slidably engage a ground contact of the mating connector;
a module of insulating material adapted to be coupled to the electrical connector;
indexing means coupled to the module to orient the module relative to the electrical connector; and
a series circuit having light emitting means having an on state and an off state supported by the module of insulating material and electrically coupled to said first and second contacts for indicating when said first and second contacts are connected to a live source of electrical power when slidably engaged to said mating connector by being in its on state, wherein the on and off state is independent of the connection of the third contact to the mating connector, wherein conductive springs made of coiled wire connect the ends of the series circuit to the first and second contacts.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector, such as one for receiving a plug, having at least two prongs for insertion into the connector, and having an electrical cable connected to the prongs of the plug and the connector in the usual way, includes a series circuit having an LED. The LED is located within the connector behind a window, and light from the LED provides a visual indication to a user that the connector is connected to a live circuit. The series circuit is located in a module that can be pre-assembled before being located within the connector and, when in the connector, the series circuit is electrically coupled directly to the contacts in the connector by means of spring contacts located in passageways in the module. Indexing means is provided for aligning the LED in the module with the window in the connector to insure that a user can see if the LED is on or off.
29 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electrical connector comprising:
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a first contact adapted to slidably engage a phase contact of a mating connector; a second contact adapted to slidably engage a neutral contact of the mating connector; a third contact adapted to slidably engage a ground contact of the mating connector; a module of insulating material adapted to be coupled to the electrical connector;
indexing means coupled to the module to orient the module relative to the electrical connector; anda series circuit having light emitting means having an on state and an off state supported by the module of insulating material and electrically coupled to said first and second contacts for indicating when said first and second contacts are connected to a live source of electrical power when slidably engaged to said mating connector by being in its on state, wherein the on and off state is independent of the connection of the third contact to the mating connector, wherein conductive springs made of coiled wire connect the ends of the series circuit to the first and second contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification