Abstract:
A codeless receptacle tester including outlet tester circuitry, a housing, and an indicator section. The outlet tester circuitry is configured to perform a plurality of electrical outlet testing functions. The housing has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an enclosure that encloses the outlet tester circuitry. The indicator section is electrically connected to the outlet tester circuitry and has a plurality of indicators. Each indicator of the plurality of indicators is configured to provide a codeless indication of an associated wiring condition of an electrical outlet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/157,226, filed on May 5, 2015, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical test device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Receptacle testers are used to verify the correct wiring of a wall outlet. A receptacle tester can be used to determine whether or not an outlet is functioning (i.e., would provide power and an appropriate voltage to an attached device for operation) and/or whether the wiring is safe (i.e., whether improper wiring could result in damage to the device or create a situation in which a person may receive an electrical shock). 
         [0004]    Conventional receptacle testers, such as the receptacle tester  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , have a body  12  and a plug  14  that extends from the body  12 . The plug  14  includes three prongs (one for hot contact, one for neutral contact, and one for ground contact). The receptacle tester  10  also has three indicators  16  and a code label  18  located on the body  12 . Optionally, a ground fault circuit interrupter tester operated by a button  20  may be available on the receptacle tester  10 . 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    When the plug  14  of the receptacle tester  10  is plugged into a live outlet, one or more of the indicators  16  may light up to indicate the wiring status of the outlet. A user then compares the on/off status of each of the three indicators  16  to a code label  18 , which has a list of the wiring states for each of the indicator combinations, to determine whether or not the outlet is correctly wired. If the outlet is not correctly wired, then comparison of the indicator  16  to the code label  18  can be used to determine which of the wires are incorrectly connected to the outlet. 
         [0006]    However, under certain conditions, it can be difficult for the user to read the code label. Because receptacle testers are generally quite small, the text printed on the code label must also be small and is often difficult to read. Further complicating reading of the code label is that, because at least the outlet being tested is not connected to a light source, it is likely that the receptacle tester is being used in a poorly lit area. Additionally, not all outlets are oriented in an upright position (i.e., two flat prongs on top, one ground prong on bottom). Upon insertion of the receptacle tester into an upside-down outlet, it may be difficult for the user to consult the code label or see the indicators. Thus, testing an outlet having a non-standard orientation can be difficult using a standard receptacle tester. 
         [0007]    Hence, there is a need for an improved receptacle tester that may provide easy analysis of the output provided by the receptacle tester and can be used on outlets having various orientations. 
         [0008]    In one independent aspect, a receptacle tester may generally include a housing supporting a circuit including a controller and a number of indicators (e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs)) electrically connected to the controller, each indicator being representative of a condition of wiring of an outlet to be tested, each indicator being visible from at least two opposite sides of the housing. 
         [0009]    In another independent aspect, a receptacle tester for testing a wiring state of an electrical outlet having a single hot terminal, a single neutral terminal and a single ground terminal may be provided. The tester may generally include a housing having five light indicators, a separate one of said light indicators being for indicating each of the conditions; (a) correct; (b) bad ground; (c) open neutral; (d) hot and ground reversed; and (e) hot and neutral reversed; and wherein an absence of any indicator being lit indicates an open hot condition. The light indicators may be on each of two opposed surfaces of the housing. Each indicator may include a light pipe that conducts light from an LED to the two surfaces. The light indicators may be on a side surface of the housing and may be visible from a front side of the housing and from a rear side of the housing. 
         [0010]    Independent features and independent advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the detailed description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a prior art receptacle tester; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a receptacle tester of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a view like  FIG. 2  of the front of the tester; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a view of the tester of  FIG. 3  but of the back of the tester, illustrating that the tester has indicators on both the front and rear sides; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tester from the front; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tester of  FIG. 5  but from the rear; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view of a third embodiment of a tester; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a rear plan view of the tester of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a tester plugged into a wall outlet; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 12A-12B  are a circuit diagram and a parts listing for a receptacle tester of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 13-46  show additional alternative embodiments of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 47-61  are views of another embodiment of a receptacle tester. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 62-64  are views of yet another embodiment of a receptacle tester. 
           [0026]      FIG. 65  includes perspective views of a receptacle tester illustrating an indicator of the wiring status of a tested outlet. 
           [0027]      FIG. 66  is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit of a receptacle tester. 
           [0028]      FIG. 67  is a schematic diagram of an alternative construction of an electrical circuit of a receptacle tester. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 68-69  are schematic diagrams of a printed circuit board of a receptacle tester. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
         [0031]    Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate a first embodiment which is presented as a GFCI receptacle tester  26  for a 110-125VAC standard residential electrical outlet in the United States. Independent aspects of the invention may be incorporated in a GFCI receptacle tester or a receptacle tester that is not capable of testing a GFCI. 
         [0033]    The tester  26  has a standard plug with two flat blades  28  and  30  and a round prong  32 . One of the two flat blades  28 ,  30  is hot, the other is neutral and the round prong  32  is ground. The round prong  32  is connected to the neutral one of the blades  28  and  30  back at the electrical service box of the building, where all of the electrical circuits of the building come together and are connected to the line voltage coming from the power company through circuit breakers of fuses. 
         [0034]    In the illustrated construction, there are six possible conditions of the 110-125VAC electrical outlet into which the tester  26  is plugged as follows: Correct, meaning that the ground, neutral and hot wires inside the outlet are connected to the correct terminals of the outlet; Bad ground, meaning that continuity is lacking between the ground terminal of the outlet and the ground of the electrical service; Open neutral, meaning that continuity is lacking between the neutral terminal of the outlet and the ground of the electrical service; Hot/Grd rev, meaning that the hot and ground wires of the service are improperly connect to the ground and hot terminals of the outlet, respectively; Hot/Neu rev, meaning that the hot and neutral wires of the service are improperly connected to the neutral and hot terminals of the outlet, respectively; and No lights lit, meaning that there is no power to the tester  26 , indicating that the hot wire of the service is not connected properly to the outlet. 
         [0035]    The tester  26  indicates each of these six conditions without relying on any code as in the prior art. Instead, there is a separate light for each of the first five conditions, and for the sixth—open hot—no lights are lit when the tester is plugged into an outlet to indicate that condition. 
         [0036]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-4 , lights and suitable labels are provided on each of the front  36  and rear  38  sides of the tester  26 . This can be done in any of a number of ways. One way is to provide an LED on the circuit board that is contained inside the housing of the tester  26  and provide a light pipe for each LED that extends on either side of the LED to the front and rear sides of the tester. The light pipes may be in two pieces and conduct the light to the two sides simultaneously, so that regardless of what orientation the outlet is installed in, the light indicator will be visible from above the tester  26 . 
         [0037]    Alternatively, in the embodiments of  FIGS. 5-11 , LEDs and corresponding lenses  40 , possibly of different colors, are provided extending along the side of the tester from the front surface to the rear surface, and have end portions that are visible from the front and rear. The lenses therefore are visible from the front, the rear and the side of the tester, so the indication is visible regardless of what orientation the outlet is installed. The labels that indicate the condition next to each lens are preferably provided on both sides of the tester, as shown in the figures. 
         [0038]      FIG. 12A  is an example of a circuit that could be used to practice any of the embodiments described and illustrated herein. Other circuits would also be acceptable.  FIG. 12B  describes the electrical devices used in the circuit of  FIG. 12A . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 13-46  illustrate alternative embodiments practicing the invention including it being incorporated into the handle of a screwdriver or other tool in  FIGS. 13-16 ; pocket versions in  FIGS. 17-18 ; a card form version in  FIGS. 19-20 ; and other different shapes and lighting configurations in  FIGS. 21-46 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 47-61  illustrate an alternative construction of a receptacle tester  26 A. The tester  26 A is similar to the tester  26  described above, and common elements have the same reference number “A”. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 58-61 , the tester  26 A includes a printed circuit board (PCB)  42  (shown in more detail in  FIGS. 68-69 ) electrically connected to the receptacle contacts  28 A,  30 A,  32 A and, in the illustrated construction, a GCFI test circuit  46  including a switch  50 . The GFCI test function is provided to test outlets wired in parallel to GFCI circuits (e.g., outlets for use in bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors, etc. which may require GFCI protection). 
         [0042]    A number of indicators (e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ) are electrically connected to the PCB  42 . As described above, each LED  54 - 62  provides an indication of an associated wiring condition (see, e.g.,  FIG. 65 ) of a tested outlet (not shown). The tester  26 A includes a lens  66  for each LED  54 - 62 . The lenses  66  facilitate visibility of the LEDs  54 - 62  from multiple sides of the tester  26 A. In the illustrated construction, the LEDs  54 - 62  are visible from three sides (e.g., the top, the bottom and one side) of the tester  26 A to accommodate use of the tester  26 A to test outlets of various standard and non-standard orientations. 
         [0043]    In the illustrated construction, one LED  54  is a first color (e.g., green) to clearly indicate a first condition (“CORRECT”), and other LEDs  56 - 62  are a different color (e.g., red) to clearly indicate a different condition (e.g., an error condition). In other constructions (not shown), in addition or as an alternative to colored LEDs, the tester  26 A may include one lens (not shown) of a first color to indicate the first condition, and other lenses (not shown) of a different color to indicate the different condition(s). 
         [0044]      FIGS. 62-64  illustrate an alternative construction of a receptacle tester  26 B. The tester  26 B is similar to the tester  26 ,  26 A described above, and common elements have the same reference number “B”. 
         [0045]    The tester  26 B includes markings  70  associated with the indicators (LEDs  54 B- 62 B). In the illustrated construction, the markings  70  include characters (e.g., words, abbreviations, acronyms, etc.) representative of the associated circuit condition. In the illustrated construction, the markings  70  are provided on opposite large surfaces (e.g., top and bottom) of the tester  26 B. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 66-67  illustrate exemplary circuitry  74  of the tester  26 ,  26 A,  26 B. The illustrated circuitry  74  includes a controller  78  operable to execute a program to perform functionality such as, for example, analyze the circuit connection of the outlet to be tested, analyze the ground circuit, etc. 
         [0047]    The circuitry  74  includes components to test the wiring of the outlet. The components communicate with the controller  78 , and the controller  78  is operable to determine the condition of the outlet. The controller  78  is operable to control the indicators (LEDs  54 - 62 ) to indicate the condition of the outlet to the user. 
         [0048]    In the illustrated construction, power for the circuitry  74  including the controller  70  is provided by the outlet to be tested. A small current is applied in the circuitry  74  to analyze the resistance of the ground circuit to determine a low resistance value (e.g., 10 ohms or less). 
         [0049]    The controller  78  includes combinations of hardware and software that are operable to, among other things, configure and control operation of the tester  26 ,  26 A,  26 B. The controller  78  includes a processing unit (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or another suitable programmable device), non-transitory computer-readable media, and an input/output interface. The processing unit, the media, and the input/output interface are connected by one or more control and/or data buses. The computer-readable media stores program instructions and data. The processing unit is configured to retrieve instructions from the media and execute the instructions to perform the control processes and methods described herein. 
         [0050]    The input/output interface transmits data from the controller  78  to external systems, networks, and/or devices and receives data from external systems, networks, and/or devices. The input/output interface stores data received from external sources to the media and/or provides the data to the processing unit. 
         [0051]    Many of the modules and logical structures described are capable of being implemented in software executed by a microprocessor or a similar device or of being implemented in hardware using a variety of components including, for example, application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Terms like “controller” and “module” may include or refer to both hardware and/or software. Capitalized terms conform to common practices and help correlate the description with the coding examples, equations, and/or drawings. However, no specific meaning is implied or should be inferred simply due to the use of capitalization. Thus, the claims should not be limited to the specific examples or terminology or to any specific hardware or software implementation or combination of software or hardware. 
         [0052]    Unlike “neon bulb” receptacle testers, the tester  26 ,  26 A,  26 B can detect low resistance values on the ground circuit. In addition, the tester  26 ,  26 A,  26 B provides a single indicator (LED) readout without the need to read or memorize a chart to interpret multiple indicators. 
         [0053]    Thus, the invention may generally provide, among other things, a receptacle tester including a controller and a number of indicators (e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs)) electrically connected to the controller, each indicator being representative of a condition of wiring of an outlet to be tested, each indicator being visible from at least two opposite sides of the housing. 
         [0054]    Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail. Many modifications and variations to the preferred embodiments described will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the embodiments described. 
         [0055]    One or more independent features and independent advantages of the invention may be set forth in the claims.