Patent Application
20060030203
The present invention relates to a plug identity system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plug identity system having a light source contained in a power cord plug alone or in combination with an insert or decal which is lit by the light source when the plug is connected to a power source to provide an easy way to identify the type of device the plug is attached to and whether power is available to the device.
For the sake of safety and convenience, it is desirable to know what device a plug belongs to and whether the device is being supplied with power. It is even more desirable to know what device a plug belongs to and whether the device is being supplied with power where the device is a light or a power tool. It is especially desirable to know what device a plug belongs to and whether the device is being supplied with power at a construction site where several laborers may plug in a variety of lights and tools into a shared power source. When this occurs, it can be extremely difficult to determine which plug at the power source is ultimately attached to which light or tool. In this situation, a laborer may mistakenly unplug a light or tool someone else is using or plug in a cord that no one is using or has deliberately unplugged. This situation can be disruptive to the laborers, and in some cases, dangerous. Attempts have been made to solve these problems, but the attempts have not proven successful.
In accordance with the present invention, a plug identity system has been developed. The plug identity system includes a plug with a light source and an information indicator. In one embodiment, the plug may be of the male type. In another embodiment, the plug may be of the female type. The plug may be of the two or three prong variety. Additionally, in various embodiments, the plug may be opaque, translucent, or transparent.
The light source may be any suitable light source that is illuminated when receiving an electrical current. For example, but without being limited, suitable light sources include a light emitting diode (LED), a neon bulb, or an incandescent bulb. The light source may emit clear light, white light, or colored light in the visible spectrum. The color of the light may provide indicative information about the device the plug is attached to.
The information indicator may be translucent or transparent. Alternatively, the information indicator may include portions that are opaque. The translucent, transparent or opaque areas may be configured to provide indicative information about the device the plug is attached to. In one embodiment, the indicative information may include an icon representing the type of light or tool it is attached to such as a graphical representation of a light, a drill, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and the like. Additionally, the information indicator may be in the form of an icon to provide the light or tool manufacturer's identification. In another embodiment, the information indicator may include alpha and numeric characters, such as a user's initials or a company's name, to convey information on the type of light or tool that the plug is attached to. The information indicator may be of almost any shape including circular, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and the like to convey information on the type of light or tool that the plug is attached to. Other embodiments combining some or all of the above are possible.
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The light source 102 is lit when the plug 101 is connected to a source of power and indicates to the user that power is available. The light source 102 may be a light emitting diode (LED), a neon bulb, a long-life incandescent bulb, or the like. The light source 102 may emit a clear light, a white light, or a colored light in the visible spectrum to provide indicative information. The light source 102 may be molded into the plug 101.
The information indicator 103 may be translucent, transparent, opaque or may include areas that are opaque while other areas are translucent or transparent. The information indicator 103 may be made of a material that is a color in the visible spectrum to provide indicative information about the device that the plug 101 is attached to. Additionally, the translucent, transparent, or opaque areas of the information indicator 103 can be configured to provide indicative information about the device that the plug 101 is attached to. Furthermore, the information indicator 103 may have translucent, transparent, or opaque areas configured to indicate to a user an icon representing the type of device it is attached to such as a graphical representation of a light, a drill, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw and the like. Additionally, the information indicator 103 may include the device manufacturer's identification which indicates to a user information about the device that the plug 101 is attached to. The information indicator 103 may include alpha and numeric characters, such as a user's initials or a company name, to convey information on the type of device that the plug is attached to. The information indicator 103 may be of almost any shape including circular, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal and the like which indicates to a user information about the device that the plug 101 is attached to. The information indicator 103 may be designed so that it fits into a recess 104 in the plug 101 or the information indicator 103 may be a thin piece of material that is affixed by an adhesive to a surface of the plug 101. Finally, the plug 101 may include multiple information indicators 103. The multiple information indicators 103, may be affixed by an adhesive to at least two surfaces of the plug 101, preferably, on opposing surfaces. Other embodiments combining some or all of the above are possible.
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It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.
