Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RELOCATABLE POWER TAP WITH SURGE SUPPRESSION OR
SURGE PROTECTION AND A METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to a relocatable power tap with
surge
suppression or surge protection for the distribution of electrical power,
which provides
increased safety, as compared to similar electrical devices currently known to
the prior
art, and a method for the manufacture of the relocatable power tap having
built-in surge
protection or surge protection of the present invention.
More particularly, the present invention relates a relocatable power tap
having
surge protection or surge suppression for the distribution of electrical
power, preferably
formed as part of an electrical power strip, along with a method for its
manufacture,
having improved safety for minimizing, if not outright preventing, an
electrical fire or
similar occurrence that may otherwise result from overheating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore an object of the present invention to provide a relocatable
power
tap having surge protection or surge suppression for the distribution of
electrical power
formed as an electrical power.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a relocatable power
tap for
distribution of electrical power formed as an electrical power strip and
having surge
protection or surge suppression that is capable of meeting, if not exceeding,
standardized
industrial safety tests.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method for
the
manufacture of a relocatable power tap having surge protection or surge
suppression for
the distribution of electrical power formed as part of an electrical power
strip.
The foregoing and related objects are accomplished by the present invention,
which provides a relocatable power tap having surge suppression or surge
protection
thereby affording improved safety, as compared to similar conventional
devices, in which
the metal oxide varistors ("MOVs") of the surge protectors or surge
suppressors are
encased in cement or concrete, and which relocatable power tap is preferably
formed as
part of an electrical power strip. The method for manufacturing the
relocatable power tap
having surge suppression or surge protection of the invention includes the
step of
encasing, or enveloping, the metal oxide varistors ("MOVs") of the surge
protector, or
surge suppressor, in cement or concrete, or similar fire-resistant material.
MOVs are known to the skilled artisan to have a significant tendency to
overheat
and catch fire during certain types of surges, thereby creating a safety
hazard. Cement or
concrete is a low-cost material that is readily available, fire resistant, and
easy to work
with, thereby making cement or concrete ideal for use in surge protectors for
guarding
against fires caused by overheating of MOVs.
It is anticipated that by enveloping the MOVs of surge protectors, or surge
suppressors, in cement or concrete that the resulting article would readily
meet, or
exceed, industry safety standards, such as those set forth by Underwriters
Laboratories
Inc. (UL) 1449 ¨ UL Standard for Safety for Surge Protective Devices (3d
Edition.)
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Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when
considered in combination with the accompanying drawing figures which
illustrate
certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be
noted that
the accompanying drawing figures are intended to illustrate only certain
embodiments of
the claimed invention and are not intended as a means for defining the limits
and scope of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
In the drawing, wherein similar reference numerals and symbols denote similar
features throughout the several views:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a metal oxide varistor (MOV) encased in
cement according to the method of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing multiple metal oxide varistors (MOVs)
encased in cement according to the method of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a metal oxide varistor (MOV) with a thermal
fuse,
the combination of which is encased in cement according to the present
invention; and,
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a metal oxide varistor (MOV) covered in
cement
with the mold still present in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
AND DRAWING FIGURES
Turning now, in detail, to the accompanying drawing figures, FIG. 1 presents a
perspective view of a module 10 to be used in a relocatable power tap in
accordance with
the present invention, in which a metal oxide varistor ("MOV") 12 is encased
in cement
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14 or similar hardened material. Wires 16a, 16b, lead to, and from, MOV device
12
within cement 14. A module 10 may be formed by using a mold for encasing, or
enveloping MOV 12 in cement, concrete or similar fire-resistant material, or
by dipping
the MOV in cement or similar hardening or curing material, and subsequently
allowed to
harden.
FIG. 2 provides a perspective view similar to that of FIG. I, except that the
module
for use in a relocatable power tap is shown as having a plurality of MOV
devices,
12a, 12b, 12c, encased within cement 14 with lead wires 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d,
12e, 12f
leading from the three MOV devices illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 provides a further perspective view of the module 10 for use in a
relocatable
power tap of the present invention, in which thermal fuse 18 (or a plurality
of thermal
fuses) may be encased in cement 14, along with MOV device 12, or simply placed
in
contact with one or more MOV devices 12 which are encased in cement 14. Lead
wires
16a, 16b lead to, and from, MOV device 12, while lead wires 20a, 20b lead to,
and from,
thermal fuse 18.
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative, preferred embodiment of the present
invention for
module 10 for use in relocatable power tap, wherein cement 14 may, for
example, first be
poured into a mold 22 after MOV device 12 is mounted to a circuit board. Mold
22 may
either be removed from the final product or simply retained as an additional
reinforcing
means, which mold may be comprised of such materials as, e.g., Fiberglass, or
reinforced
with a reinforcing tape.
While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many
modifications may be
made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof.
