Modular electrical adapter

• US 7,416,440 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated)
• Inventors: Homyk, William Alan, Mazzani, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Truc T
• Application Number:
  US11/486,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 439502-504, 439/638, 439/620.29
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/22 End pieces terminating in a spring clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An electrical adapter for temporarily tapping into an electrical circuit external to the adapter having a first fuse holder member capable of receiving a first fuse holder member of the electrical circuit external to the adapter and a second fuse holder member capable of receiving a second fuse holder member of the electrical circuit external to the adapter. The fuse holder members or other temporary electrical quick disconnect connectors may be connected by cables to a power outlet or may be connected by cables to bare wires that may provide power to another circuit when clamped to the bare wires. When connected to an electrical circuit external to the adapter, the electrical adapter provides a source of electrical power while the electrical circuit external to the adapter is maintained and independently operated.

Claims

1. An electrical adapter, comprising:

a first electrical disconnect capable of receiving a fuse holder male member from an electrical circuit external to the adapter;

a second electrical disconnect electrically connected to the first electrical disconnect and capable of receiving a fuse holder female member from the electrical circuit external to the adapter; and

,

a cable having a first end, said cable first end being electrically coupled to and between said first electrical disconnect and said second electrical disconnect.

2. The electrical adapter of claim 1, wherein said first electrical disconnect comprises a first fuse holder member and said second electrical disconnect comprises a second fuse holder member.

3. The electrical adapter of claim 2, further comprising:

a power outlet electrically connected to a cable second end.

4. The electrical adapter of claim 2, further comprising:

bare wires electrically connected to a cable second end.

5. The electrical adapter of claim 2, wherein said first fuse holder member and said second fuse holder member are electrically connected via a three-way connector.

6. The electrical adapter of claim 3, wherein said power outlet is electrically connected to a pair of connectors for connecting said power outlet to neutral and ground connections, respectively.

7. The electrical adapter of claim 3, wherein said power outlet is suitable for outdoor use.

8. The electrical adapter of claim 3, wherein said power outlet is a 3 prong 120 volt power outlet.

9. The electrical adapter of claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit external to the adapter is an electrical circuit located at a based of a streetlight.

10. An electrical adapter for tapping into an electrical circuit external to the adapter, comprising:

a first fuse holder member having a male threaded portion and an outlet opposite said male threaded portion;

a second fuse holder member having a female threaded portion and an outlet opposite said female threaded portion, said second fuse holder outlet being electrically connected to the first fuse holder member outlet; and

a power outlet electrically connected between to said first fuse holder member outlet and said second fuse holder member outlet.

11. The electrical adapter of claim 10, wherein said first fuse member and said second fuse holder member are electrically connected via a three-way connector.

12. The electrical adapter of claim 10, wherein said power outlet is electrically connected to a pair of connectors for connecting said power outlet to neutral and ground connections, respectively.

13. The electrical adapter of claim 10, wherein said power outlet is a three-prong 120 volt power outlet.

14. The electrical adapter of claim 10, wherein said first fuse holder member is capable of receiving a fuse holder member from the electrical circuit external to the adapter and said second fuse holder member is capable of receiving a fuse holder member from the electrical circuit external to the adapter.

15. An electrical adapter for tapping into an external electrical circuit having a fuse holder with a male and a female connection, said adapter comprising:

a first fuse holder member adapted to couple with said male connection;

a second fuse holder member adapted to couple with said female connection and electrically connected to the first fuse holder member; and

a cable having a first and second end, said cable first end being electrically connected to and between said first fuse holder member and said second fuse holder member.

20. The electrical adapter of claim 15 further comprising a power outlet connector directly electrically coupled to said cable second end.

16. A method of tapping into an electrical circuit external to an electrical adapter, comprising:

disconnecting a fuse holder in the external electrical circuit, the fuse holder having first fuse holder member and a second fuse holder member,

connecting a first clamp of the electrical adapter to a neutral connection in the circuit,

connecting a second clamp of the electrical adapter to a ground connection,

connecting a first fuse holder member of the electrical adapter to the first fuse holder member of the external electrical circuit, and

connecting a second fuse holder member of the electrical adapter to the second fuse holder connection of the external electrical circuit such that electrical power is provided to a power outlet connected to said first and second fuse holder members of the electrical adapter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said electrical circuit external to the adapter is an electrical circuit at a base of a streetlight.

18. A method of tapping into an electrical circuit external to an electrical adapter, comprising:

disconnecting a fuse holder in the external electrical circuit, the fuse holder having a first fuse holder member and a second fuse holder member,

connecting a first fuse holder member of the electrical adapter to the first fuse holder member of the external electrical circuit, and

connecting a second fuse holder member of the electrical adapter to the second fuse holder member of the external electrical circuit such that electrical power is provided to bare wires connected to said first and second fuse holder members of the electrical adapter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said electrical circuit external to the adapter is an electrical circuit located at a base of a streetlight.

21. An electrical adapter for tapping into an electrical circuit external to the adapter, comprising:

a first fuse holder member;

a second fuse holder member electrically connected to the first fuse holder member;

a three-way connector, wherein said three-way connector is arranged to electrically connect to said first fuse holder member and said second fuse holder member; and

,

a power outlet electrically connected to said first fuse holder member and said second fuse holder member.