Power plug with leakage current detection and protection circuit

• US 7,672,098 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bingham Mccutchen LLP (Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP)
• Original Assignee: Shanghai Ele Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Long, Li, Chengli
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): KITOV, ZEEV V
• Application Number:
  US11/739,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 361/45, 361/42, 174/521, 174/524
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A power plug includes a base, an upper cover attached to the base, a base-side cover adjacent the base and removeably attached to the upper cover, an output cord, a leakage current detection and protection circuit for detecting a leakage current in the output cord, and an electrical connection mechanism for electrically connecting and disconnecting an input side and an output of the power plug. The leakage current detection and protection circuit and the electrical connection mechanism are attached to the base and disposed substantially within a space enclosed by the base and the upper cover. A plurality of connecting ends of the circuit extend from the space enclosed by the base and the upper cover into a space enclosed by the base-side cover and the upper cover. Wires of the output cord are connected to the connecting ends, respectively.

Claims

1. A power plug comprising:

a base;

an upper cover attached to the base;

a base-side cover disposed adjacent the base and removeably attached to the upper cover;

an output cord including a plurality of wires;

a leakage current detection and protection circuit for detecting a leakage current in the output cord; and

an electrical connection mechanism for electrically disconnecting an input side and an output side of the power plug in response to a detection of a leakage current detection in the output cord,

wherein the leakage current detection and protection circuit and the electrical connection mechanism are mounted on the base and disposed substantially within a space enclosed by the base and the upper cover, wherein a plurality of connecting ends of the leakage current detection and protection circuit extend from the space enclosed by the base and the upper cover into a space enclosed by the base-side cover and the upper cover, and wherein the plurality of wires of the output cord are connected to the plurality of connecting ends, respectively;

wherein the leakage current detection and protection circuit includes a circuit board attached to the base, a support frame disposed between the circuit board and the upper cover, the support frame including a plurality of positioning holes and a plurality of positioning posts, wherein the upper cover includes a plurality of positioning posts inserted into the corresponding positioning holes of the support frame, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of positioning holes receiving the corresponding positioning posts of the support frame,

wherein the power plug further includes a reset button and a test button mechanically coupled to the electrical connection mechanism, the reset button and test button being supported by the support frame and partially protrude though the upper cover, and

wherein the power plug further includes a waterproof cap disposed between the support frame and the upper cover and covering the reset button and the test button.

2. A power plug comprising:

a base;

an upper cover attached to the base;

an output cord;

a leakage current detection and protection circuit for detecting a leakage current in the output cord;

an electrical connection mechanism for electrically disconnecting an input side and an output side of the power plug in response to a detection of a leakage current detection in the output cord;

wherein the leakage current detection and protection circuit and the electrical connection mechanism are disposed within a space enclosed by the base and the upper cover, and wherein the leakage current detection and protection circuit includes a circuit board attached to the base,

a support frame disposed between the circuit board and the upper cover;

a reset button and a test button mechanically coupled to the electrical connection mechanism, the reset button and test button being supported by the support frame and partially protrude though the upper cover; and

a waterproof cap disposed between the support frame and the upper cover and covering the reset button and the test button,

wherein the support frame includes a plurality of positioning holes and a plurality of positioning posts, wherein the upper cover includes a plurality of positioning posts inserted into the corresponding positioning holes of the support frame, and wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of positioning holes receiving the corresponding positioning posts of the support frame.