Outlet adapter with EL elements, receptacles for other electric devices, and prongs for supplying power from a power source to the receptacles and EL elements

• US 7,651,365 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Original Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Tseng-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US11/152,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439/490, 439/491, 439/86, 439/484, 362/84, 362/95, 362/641
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An outlet adaptor with EL elements has at least one set of prongs to connect with an existing outlet device and at least one set of receptacle members connected to the prongs by a metal structure(s) that enables other electric devices to get electric signals from the outlet adaptor. EL elements are arranged on the outlet adaptor body at any location and connected with the outlet adaptor'"'"'s metal structure(s) to provide the EL elements with power for any of a variety of illumination effects.

Claims

1. An outlet adaptor with electro-luminescent (EL) elements, comprising:

an outlet adaptor unit having at least one set of the prong means including fixed, non-swiveling prong members arranged to be connected to a power source;

at least one EL element arranged to be connected to the prong means by conductive means, resilient conductive means, or soldering;

at least one set of receptacle means including receptacle members arranged to be connected to the prong means and to receive prongs of at least one other electric device to supply power from the power source to the other electric device,

wherein said outlet adaptor has at least one of the following characteristics;

(F1) a number of outlet receptacles is greater than two to allow connection with a plurality of other electric devices; and

(F2) the receptacle members have different orientations from the prong members to enable connection to the other electric device irrespective of the location, orientation, position, clearance, and space occupied by the other electric device,

(F3) accommodate different specifications of the prongs of the other electric device;

(F4) enable connection to multiple electric devices in a limited space,

wherein the outlet adaptor further includes at least one of a surge protector, switch protector, power failure protector, constant power supply protector, high voltage protector, or overload protector, and

wherein an opening, window, or cut-out for the EL element and an opening for the receptacle means are in a same surface or in adjacent surfaces.

2. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one EL element is selected from the group consisting of an EL panel, EL wire, EL twisted tube, and organic EL, or organic LED (hereafter as OLED).

3. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one EL element has a configuration, size, dimension, specification, shape, curvature, and diameter to enable the EL element to be arranged on a body of the outlet adaptor on a surface, between layers, underneath the body, within the body, injected inside, or behind an opening, cutouts, or windows to allow people to see light beams emitted by the EL element.

4. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prong means are connected to the receptacle members and EL element by outlet adaptor inner metal means to supply electricity from the prong means to the EL element and receptacle member.

5. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional function is selected from the group consisting of sensor device, motion sensor, light sensor, remote control, PIR device, transmit and receiving device, infrared device, bluetooth device, remote charging device, remote current delivery device, lighting device, voltage detector device, current detector device, air freshener, insect repellant, timer, count down device, and setting device functions.

6. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, further including inner metal means that integrate the prong means, receptacle means, and ground means.

7. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prong means are connected to the receptacle member and EL element by metal means secured by soldering, riveting, taping, snapping, press fitting, clamping, adhesive, chemical compound, or glue.

8. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, further comprising conductive means for connecting the prong means and receptacle means and selected from the group consisting of resilient conductive means, conductive means, wires, a metal piece, and a metal spring.

9. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, further comprising control means selected from the group consisting of a light sensor, voltage sensor, current sensor, motion sensor, overload sensor, power failure device, infrared device, remote charging device, remote current delivery device, bluetooth device, remote control device, electric signals transmitting and receiving device, switch device, constant power supply system, surge protector device, resetting device, and integrated circuit controlling device.

10. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EL element is installed on a body of the outlet adapter, within the body, under the body, or fitted into a window or cut-out.

11. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EL element is provided with a stencil, silkscreen, design, indicia, or printing on the surface of the element.

12. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prong means of the outlet adaptor includes at least one set having a polarized wide prong member and a narrow prong member.

13. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 12, further comprising ground prong means.

14. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle means includes a wider receptacle member and a narrow receptacle member.

15. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receptacle means further includes a ground receptacle member.

16. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein a number of said receptacle means is greater than one.

17. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet adaptor has at least one screw hole to allow fastening of a screw to an existing outlet hole.

18. The outlet adapter with EL elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein a body of said outlet adaptor body has a body extension part to allow use of a screw to fasten the outlet adaptor to an existing outlet.