TREA

Current meter

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Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20080074809
  • Publication Number
    20080074809
  • Date Filed
    September 27, 2006
    18 years ago
  • Date Published
    March 27, 2008
    16 years ago
Information
Abstract
A power level meter and method for an AC electrical appliance that can be implemented in the plug of the appliance, monitoring power in response load on the appliance and/or implemented as a module into which an existing appliance is inserted, thereby providing a retrofit solution for appliance AC current monitoring. By using thermo chromic ink and a heat generating resistor, the meter will display different colors on its face to illustrate electrical current flow or demand.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:





DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the fundamental novel features of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or variations are included in the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims:


Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by a patent is:

Claims
  • 1. A monitoring apparatus for electrical appliances having a plug, a load, and requiring no more than two electrical current conductors connecting said plug to said load, said apparatus comprising: a resistor to heat thermo chromic ink that is located between the wall outlet and the load or appliance.
  • 2. The meter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said meter is entirely disposed within the plug of the appliance cordset.
  • 3. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is entirely disposed within a plug-in module.
  • 4. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said meter is filled with thermo chromic ink.
  • 5. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said meter contains a heat transferring resistor in contact with the thermo chromic ink.