Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2039090
FIELD OF THE lNV~. ~ lON
This application relates to combination illumination
devices and receptacles for mounting on electric wires.
BACRGROYND OF THE lNV~N'l'lON
Electric wires particularly in the nature of extension
cords and the like are frequently used in areas of poor lighting.
As well, as in the case of extension cords utilized for providing
power to motor vehicle engine block heaters in cold climates,
attachment and detachment of the cord is frequently carried out in
hours of darkness.
In the case of an extension cord used for general
purposes, it is frequently the case that the cord can be plugged
into an electrical outlet which is located in good light. As well,
in the case of uses such as the engine block heater use, it is
frequently the case that the extension cord is left plugged into
the electrical outlet through the entire winter with only the
receptacle end of the cord being joined to and removed from the
block heater plug on a daily basis.
It is thus the case that it is frequently in the area of
the receptacle end of an extension cord that lack of light becomes
a problem.
It is not only a matter of some inconvenience that these
poor lighting conditions are frequently present. There are also
more substantive difficulties. For example, a danger of electrical
shock increases substantially where a person manipulating a plug
and receptacle is unable to clearly see the work area.
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Furthermore, where a person making the connection of the cord to a
load is unable to ensure that the joined parts are clean and dry,
the likelihood of a short circuit causing a circuit interrupter
such as a circuit breaker to operate is multiplied. The engine
block heater situation again very clearly exemplifies a practical
area in which these problems are fre~uently of concern.
There is thus an ongoing need for a means of providing
illumination in the area of a receptacle end of an electric wire
such as an extension cord.
It is against this background that the present invention
arises.
PRIOR ART
The applicant is not aware of any relevant prior art.
BRIEF 8UMMARY OF THE lNV~N~ ION
It has now been determined that the problems addressed
above can be substantially solved by the integration into an
electric wire such as an extension cord of a light source integral
with or adj~cent to a receptacle end of the cord.
Thus, the invention provides a combination illumination
device and receptacle for mounting on an electric wire, the device
comprising a housing, a light source mounted in the housing,
receptacle means for receiving an electrical plug, and means in the
housing for connecting the light source and the receptacle means to
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the electric wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the
invention,
FIGURE 1 is a side view of an extension cord receptacle
end incorporating one embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment of FIGURE
l;
FIGURE 3 is a wiring diagram of a variation of the
embodiment of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is a side view of an extension cord receptacle
end illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment of FIGURE
4;
FIGURE 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the
invention; and
FIGURE 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the
invention.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with
illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT8
In the following description, similar features in the
drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 the illumination device
10 comprises a housing 12 including at least one conventional two
or a three prong receptacle 14 for receiving an electrical plug
(not illustrated).
An electric wire or cord 16 is connected to the
receptacles 14 in housing 12 in known manner. Also contained
within housing 12 is the light source 18 which is electrically
connected to cord 16.
As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the light source 18 is
connected across wires 15 and 17 of cord 16 by leads 19 and 21
respectively. Wires 15 and 17 also lead to contacts 13 of
receptacles 14.
Thus, when electrical power is supplied to the housing 12
via the cord 16, the light source 18 will be illuminated.
Light source 18 may take any suitable form such as any of
a number of available standard size bulbs. In the preferred case
the source 18 will be very low wattage to produce more of a glow
than an intense light from the housing.
While FIGURE 1 illustrates a housing 12 having two
receptacles 14 emanating from a side thereof, it will be evident
that the invention contemplates a single receptacle 14 in an end of
housing 12, receptacles 14 on different sides and/or an end of
housing 12 or any other desirable arrangement. While not necessary
2039090
for most applications, a light source 18 can be associated with
each of the sides or with the end of housing 12 which includes a
receptacle 14.
Furthermore, a lens may be provided to protect the light
source 18. Preferably, however, the shell 20 of housing 12 or a
substantial part of shell 20 is constructed of a clear plastic
material, thus obviating the need for a protective cover over light
source 18.
In FIGURE 3 a variation on the FIGURES 1 and 2 embodiment
is illustrated. A switch 23 is connected into lead 21 for
selectively activating or deactivating light source 18. Switch 21
may be of a standard unbiased type or may be biased to the off
position. In the latter case the light source 18 could receive
power only when the switch is held in an "on" position, as in a
push button operated against a spring bias. A combination of the
two types of switches may also be used. All such switches may be
conventional in operation.
The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 is similar
to that of FIGURES 1 and 2 with the exception that a light source
22 having a protective cover 24 is provided in an end 26 of housing
12. The light source 22 is preferably somewhat more powerful than
light source 18 to provide more general illumination more in the
nature of a flashlight or utility light.
A switch 28 is provided so that light source 22 can be
switched off when not required.
The light source 22 and the switch 28 are wired across
wires 15 and 17 of cord 16 by leads 25 and 27 respectively.
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As in the FIGURES 1 and 2 embodiment, the switches may or
may not be of the "biased off" type.
This embodiment of the invention also contemplates at the
same time, as desired, a switch such as switch 23 of FIGURE 3 for
switching on or off the light source 18 in FIGURES 4 and 5,
primarily for energy conservation purposes.
The embodiment of FIGURE 6 is similar to that of FIGURES
1 and 2 with the exception that the housing 12 is provided with
prongs 36 to replace cord 16 and to be inserted into an electrical
receptacle to provide the advantages of the present invention.
Prongs 36 can be inserted into a fixed receptacle as, for example,
an outdoor receptacle, to facilitate plugging in of the plug end of
an extension cord or the like. Similarly, the prongs 36 can be
inserted into the receptacle end of an extension cord to convert a
conventional extension cord to one having the advantages provided
by the invention as discussed above relative to integral
embodiments.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 7, the housing
12 is divided into two parts 30 and 32. The part 30 comprises a
conventional receptacle for an extension cord or the like. The
part 32 houses the light source 22A. The parts 30 and 32 are
spaced a short distance by the cord section 34. The embodiment of
FIGURE ~ facilitates the directing of illumination from light
source 22A. Light source 22A is of the more powerful type of
FIGURE 22 for flashlight-like illumination. The housing 30 may
also include a light source 18 as in FIGURE 1 (not illustrated).
Switches similar to 23 in FIGURE 3, and 28 in FIGURE 5
2~go9~
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may be provided in the FIGURE 7 embodiment.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the invention an illumination device for mounting
on an electric wire that fully satisfies the objects, aims and
advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described
in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident
that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing
description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the invention.
