Abstract:
The present invention provides a device for reducing energy waste. One aspect of the present invention provides an electrical adapter designed to mate with a pre-existing electrical outlet. The adapter includes a plurality of outlets along a surface thereof. At least one primary outlet is provided, the primary outlet controlling peripheral outlets so that when the power drawn by a device plugged into the primary outlet drops below a predetermined threshold, the power to the peripheral outlets is interrupted.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/042,081, filed on Apr. 3, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to outlets or adapters for plugging in electric or electronic devices, and more specifically to a multi-outlet adapter for powering down peripherals plugged thereinto when a primary device is powered down. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    As energy costs rise and non-renewable energy sources dwindle, conservation is increasingly at the forefront of the public consciousness. In both commercial and residential settings, individuals seek ways to reduce energy costs and to reduce their footprint on the environment. Many cost-cutting or conservation practices are incremental and serve as components of a larger, eco-friendly lifestyle. 
         [0006]    Many electronic devices serve as primary devices to which other electronic devices are attached as peripherals. For example, a computer system may have a printer, scanner, monitor, external drive, or other device attached thereto. Likewise, an entertainment system may include a receiver, CD and/or DVD player, a television, separately-powered speakers, or other components. A common feature of many such peripheral devices is that they serve no purpose when the primary device is not in use. Nevertheless, many people leave the peripheral devices turned on when the primary device is not in use. This is sometimes done inadvertently, and otherwise done to avoid the inconvenience of turning off all of the peripheral devices. Each peripheral device left on when the primary device is not in use consumes energy unnecessarily. This leads to an increased cost to the consumer and furthermore wastes energy. 
         [0007]    An attempt has been made to address this problem in the form of a power strip that automatically powers-down peripheral devices when a primary device is powered-down. Such a device suffers from disadvantages, however. For example, a power strip type device is freestanding, usually on a floor, and therefore takes up space and clutters the area behind or around electronic equipment. Furthermore, a power strip has cord that connects to a plug so that the power strip can be plugged into a wall outlet. This cord is another source of clutter and can become entangled with multiple cords already behind or around electronic equipment. 
         [0008]    What is needed, therefore, is a device adapted to replace a typical electrical outlet and adapted to provide for the automatic shut down of peripheral devices when a primary device is powered down. Further, it is desirable that such a device automatically provide power to peripherals once a primary device is turned on. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a device for reducing energy waste. One aspect of the present invention provides an electrical adapter designed to mate with a pre-existing electrical outlet. The adapter includes a plurality of outlets along a surface thereof. At least one primary outlet is provided, the primary outlet controlling peripheral outlets so that when the power drawn by a device plugged into the primary outlet drops below a predetermined threshold, the power to the peripheral outlets is interrupted. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention includes a sensor for determining when the power drawn by the device plugged into the primary outlet has dropped below a predetermined threshold. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a device for reducing energy waste having a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface of the device includes at least one primary outlet disposed therealong, as well as at least one peripheral outlet disposed therealong. A plug extending from the rear surface of the device is adapted for plugging the device into a standard electrical outlet. The primary outlet controls the peripheral outlet(s) such that when the power drawn by the device plugged into the primary outlet drops below a predetermined threshold, power to the peripheral outlet(s) is interrupted. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the present invention, the device includes a fastener extending from the rear surface for attaching the device to an electrical outlet. 
         [0013]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the device includes an adjustment portion for adjusting the threshold at which the device interrupts power to the peripheral outlet(s). 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the present invention, the device includes an LCD for displaying threshold values to a user thereof. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the present invention, the device includes a surge protection portion for protecting equipment plugged into the device from electrical surges. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the present invention, a device for reducing energy waste is provided, the device including a housing having front and rear surfaces, a primary outlet disposed along the front surface, three peripheral outlets disposed along the front surface, and two independent outlets disposed along the front surface. The device further includes a fastener for attaching the device to an electrical outlet. The primary outlet controls the three peripheral outlets, while the independent outlets are always powered. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of the present invention, the device includes an indicator for indicating when the peripheral outlets thereof are receiving power. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of one embodiment of a device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral  10  indicates generally a six-outlet embodiment of the device of the present invention. This embodiment of device  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , also includes a housing  12 , a primary outlet  14 , three peripheral outlets  16 , and two independent outlets  18 . It is contemplated that the number and arrangement of such outlets may vary without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Housing  12  of device  10  may be constructed of any suitable material, and may be provided in any suitable size, shape, or configuration. An exemplary material suitable for use in the construction of housing  12  is polypropylene. A second exemplary material is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Materials suitable for use in the construction of housings for electrical outlets, adapters, and the like are well known in the art. 
         [0023]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , a primary outlet  14  is provided for accepting a typical two- or three-prong plug from an electronic device. Primary outlet  14  includes, associated therewith, a sensor (described more fully below) that is able to sense the amount of current being drawn through primary outlet  14  to power a device plugged into primary outlet  14 . Peripheral outlets  16  are also of the type typically utilized to accept a two- or three-prong plug from an electronic device. Peripheral outlets  16  are preferably in electronic communication with primary outlet  14  such that peripheral outlets  16  are controlled by primary outlet  14 . 
         [0024]    For example, when an electronic or other device is plugged into primary outlet  14 , a sensor included in device  10  monitors the electrical usage of the electronic or other device by monitoring the current drawn through primary outlet  14 . As such, device  10  is able to determine whether the device plugged into primary outlet  14  is on or off. When the device plugged into primary outlet  14  is turned on, device  10  also provides power to peripheral outlets  16  so that peripheral devices plugged into peripheral outlets  16  receive power. The devices plugged into peripheral outlets  16  may include, for example, a printer, scanner, and monitor associated with a computer plugged into primary outlet  14 . When a device plugged into primary outlet  14  is turned off, a sensor associated with device  10  is able to determine that the device plugged into primary outlet  14  is either drawing no power or substantially less power. Device  10  will then stop providing power to peripheral outlets  16 , causing the various devices plugged into peripheral outlets  16  to be turned off or powered down. As a result, energy and cost is saved because the peripheral devices are not consuming power when they clearly are not needed and will not be in use. 
         [0025]    In addition to the functionality described above, it is preferred that a sensor associated with device  10  can also determine when a device that was previously off and plugged into primary outlet  14  has been turned on. This is again accomplished by monitoring the current flowing through primary outlet  14 . When device  10  recognizes that the device plugged into primary outlet  14  has been turned on again, power is preferably provided to peripheral outlets  16 . Thus, once the primary device is powered on, the peripheral devices also receive power without the need for the user to manually turn them on. 
         [0026]    A sensor as described above may be set for a predetermined current threshold such that when the current drops below the threshold, the device plugged into primary outlet  14  is considered to be “off,” and power to peripheral outlets  16  is interrupted. Depending on the threshold settings, it is not necessary that a device plugged into primary outlet  14  actually be off before power to peripheral outlets  16  is interrupted. Rather, the device plugged into primary outlet  14  may have simply moved into a standby mode, and the sensor associated with the present device may be set with a threshold such that moving into standby mode triggers the present device to cut power to peripheral outlets  16 . It should be noted that such sensors for determining the amount of current passing through a circuit are known in the art. 
         [0027]    The thresholds at which a sensor is set may be determined at the time of manufacture of the present device (i.e. set at the factory), or may be adjustable by a user of the present device. In some embodiments of the present invention, an LCD or other display may be provided so that the end user of the present device can see the precise threshold settings (and any other desirable information) displayed thereon. 
         [0028]    Also included with the embodiment of device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  are two independent outlets  18 . Independent outlets  18  are preferably adapted to receive a typical two- or three-prong plug, and function as normal electrical outlets. That is, power is always provided to independent outlets  18 . Thus, the on or off status of a device plugged into primary outlet  14  will not affect the delivery of power to independent outlets  18 . Independent outlets  18  may therefore be used to power any devices that should be retained in an always on state, or that should only be powered down when a user of device  10  manually turns them off or unplugs them. 
         [0029]    The rear of device  10  is preferably adapted to take the place of, or be inserted into, a standard two-outlet electrical wall outlet. As such, device  10  does not take up space on the floor of a room or other area in which it is being used, and does not include an electrical cord that must be plugged into an outlet, further creating clutter. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  provides a rear view of one embodiment of a device  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, a housing  12  is provided, as with the embodiment of device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  (in fact, the view shown in  FIG. 2  is one possible configuration for the rear of the embodiment of device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ). Housing  12  is shown in  FIG. 2  as having two parts, including a rear panel fastened to a front of housing  12  by four screws. It is contemplated, however, that housing  12  may also be constructed from a single, unitary piece of material molded into the proper shape or configuration. 
         [0031]    Device  10  in  FIG. 2  includes a three-pronged plug  20  and a modified two-pronged plug  21 . It is preferred that three-pronged plug  20  and modified two-pronged plug  21  are sized, shaped, and spaced to mate with a typical two-outlet electrical wall outlet. Three-pronged plug  20  includes two upper prongs as well as a lower prong designed to serve as a ground (these prongs are known as the neutral, hot, and ground, and are used in polarized outlets). Modified two-pronged plug  21  includes one upper prong (the neutral prong) and the ground prong found in a typical three-pronged plug. There is no hot prong associated with modified two-pronged plug  21  so that current provided to peripheral outlets  16  is governed by primary outlet  14 , which receives current via three-pronged plug  20 . The principles of the present invention may, however, be implemented with a device adapted to mate with any suitable outlet—for example only three-pronged plug  20  may be present, with modified two-pronged plug  21  being eliminated). In the embodiment of device  10  shown in  FIG. 2 , a user of device  10  can simply plug device  10  directly into an existing wall outlet. No disassembly of the wall outlet is required. This embodiment provides for ease of use and reduces the risk of electrical shock to a user attempting to install device  10 . Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a opening  22  for a screw for fastening device  10  to a bracket within a wall outlet, thereby ensuring that, if desired, device  10  may be not only plugged into an existing wall outlet but securely affixed thereto. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  provides a side view of an exemplary embodiment of device  10  of the present invention. The various prongs associated with the two three-pronged plugs  20  on the rear of device  10  are shown extending away from housing  12 . Prongs  24  are the hot prongs associated with a plug adapted for use with a polarized outlet. Prongs  26  are the ground prongs. It is contemplated that two ground prongs  26  are not necessary in all implementations of the present device, and depending on the wiring of the device may not be desired in all implementations. In some implementations of the present device, in order to control the switched outlets, the high-side 110V pin corresponding to the three peripheral outlets  16  is not connected to the main power from the wall outlet with which device  10  is associated. This pin, if present, is non-operational in this implementation of the present device. Rather, the pin is internally switched via internal circuits. The pin can be eliminated without any change in function of this implementation of device  10 . Variations on the number of prongs associated with the present device may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The neutral prongs are adjacent the hot prongs, but are not visible in  FIG. 3 . A Screw  28  is also shown in the figure. Screw  28  extends through opening  22  of device  10  and is used to secure device  10  to an electrical outlet. Although a screw is described above and shown in the drawings, any suitable fastener may be utilized. 
         [0033]    The embodiments of device  10  described above are adapted to be plugged into a standard wall electrical outlet. It is contemplated, however, that other embodiments of the present device may be adapted to be wired directly into the existing electrical system of a residential or commercial structure (i.e. recess-mounted into, for example, a wall). In such an embodiment, device  10  would not include prongs on the rear thereof for mating with a standard electrical outlet. Rather, device  10  would include the necessary structure for wiring directly into an existing electrical system. It is contemplated that the various components, structures, and know-how for undertaking such a wiring are well known in the art. 
         [0034]    The present device may also include a light-emitting diode (LED) or other indicator for signaling to a user thereof that peripheral outlets  16  are receiving power. 
         [0035]    It should be further noted that the present device, in a preferred embodiment, does not include a secondary power switch for the user to turn on the present device. This eliminates an inconvenience to the user of the present device, who need only mount the device on a wall and plug various electronic devices into it. The present device is, then, continuously ready to supply power to primary and peripheral devices without the user actively utilizing a switch to turn the present device on. 
         [0036]    Thus, the device described above meets a need for energy conservation, and further meets a need for reducing the clutter of wires, cords, and the like, thereby reducing fire and other hazards. It is contemplated that the device may be further modified by, for example, adding a surge protection feature, an uninterruptable power-supply feature, phone or cable outlets, and the like. Methods of making such modifications will be readily ascertainable by those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. 
         [0037]    The detailed description set forth above is provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. The invention described and claimed herein, however, is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments disclosed because these embodiments are intended to be illustrative of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Various modifications of the invention that do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.