Illuminated electrical transformer/power supply

An Illuminated Electrical Transformer/Power Supply assembly (143) utilizing an Illuminating module assembly (201B) comprising electrical light source (106), Controlling means (104) and remote electrical power source (103), contained within or upon electrical transformer or power supply housing. The illuminated electrical transformer or power supply is designed for the purpose of illumination while attaching the electrical transformer or power source to an electrical receptacle. The electrical light source (106) is positioned to illuminate an electrical receptacle to provide a lighted and clear view, enabling user to safely, accurately and conveniently connect the electrical transformer or power supply to the electrical receptacle.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

This invention relates to hand held, electrical transformers and power supplies equipped with remote electrical power and light sources for the purpose of illuminating electrical receptacles in low or obstructed lighting environments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently existing electrical transformers are very common and vital components providing converted power to a myriad of electrical devices.

There are occassions when the act of plugging the electrical transformer or power supply into a wall receptacle or extension cord is made more difficult because of darkness or obstructed light.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,533 (2001) to Major discloses a flashlight plug which is an illuminated male electrical plug and cord. It is designed to illuminate an electrical outlet while a user is in the process of attaching the plug to the receptacle. Drawbacks to this device include: disclosed in the form of a plug/cord, it cannot be used on existing devices without replacing the original electrical cord. Considering the vast difference of electrical cord designs, including mounting, strain relief, amperage ratings, and differences of electrical attachment found on electrical appliance power cords, providing this plug/cord with a safe and suitable universal design could become a very daunting and expensive proposal. Incorrect installation of the flashlight plug may cause potential for electrical shock and damage to the appliance. If not provided by the manufacturer as original equipment, to mount this plug/cord on an existing appliance may void a warranty (for equipment with warranty). Even if this plug were designed to replace the plug component of an existing power cord (cutting off the plug and attaching the Flashlight plug to the end of the power cable), the same hazards and shortcomings as mentioned above may still apply. For devices using a electrical transformer, this plug/cord, or plug only, is of no practical use. While this plug may be a useful device for a manufacturer to install as original equipment on electrical appliances, it has very limited use as a replacement cord or plug on the vast majority of existing appliances. Additionally, once the Flashlight Plug is installed onto a device, it becomes a semi-permanent component of that device and cannot easily be unattached for use on other electrical devices.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/800,304 (Allowed 2006) to Stoddard discloses an “Illuminated Electrical Plug Adapter” which is designed to function as an illuminated electrical adapter between a factory installed electrical plug and an electrical receptacle. While this is a very useful concept, it too has a drawback in that it adds an amount of cumbersome weight and bulk to any transformer unit it is attached to. Many electrical transformers are used in travel for cell phones, computers, Ipods and the like and most commonly, compact, lightweight, space efficient device accessories are preferred.

It becomes apparent that an illuminated electrical transformer for receptacle illumination can be useful and provide substantial improvement over what is available today. No illuminated transformer units for receptacle illumination could be found in the prior art.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:(a) to provide the Illuminated Electrical Transformer or Power Supply using a light emitting diode as a possible light source;(b) to provide the Illuminated Electrical Transformer or Power Supply using a small battery or remote power source and switch to provide and control power to the light source;(c) to provide the Illuminated Electrical Transformer or Power Supply using an electrical circuit for recharging the battery or remote power sources;(d) to design the Illuminated Electrical Transformer to fit on all types of existing transformers and/or power supplies;(e) Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, my Illuminated Electrical Transformer/Power Supply comprises, an electrical light source, a power source, a switch, and an electrical circuit all fitted within or upon an Electrical Transformer or Power Supply for the purpose of illuminating the receptacle in which it is to be plugged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference employing specific language shall be made to the illustrated embodiments. Please note that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended This includes any and all alterations or further modifications to any principle, application or conceivable use that might occur to any individual skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience purposes only and not intended to limit any aspect of the invention. The words “right”, “Left”, “Upper”, “Lower”, “Inside”, “Outside”, and “In front of” all designate the placement and location of components from the user's point of view. The word “User” is to mean a person using the Illuminated Electrical Transformer. The words “Led” and “Leds” are used throughout this work as a shortened term for “Light Emitting Diode” and “Light Emitting Diodes” they are mentioned as only a viable option for the remote electrical light source. So too does the term “Battery” refer to the “remote electrical power source”. The terminology includes the words above, specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of the illuminating module201B fashioned to be attachable to the transformer143.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of the illuminating module201B fashioned to be attachable to Illuminating module bracket141which is attached to transformer209with adhesive panel142.

FIG. 3illuminating module assembly201comprises Illuminating module case100and Switch cover101(FIG. 4) which encloses Switch and battery holder assembly205and battery103. Switch cover101is molded or attached by any suitable means, or is a part of Illuminating module case100in order to provide a flexible seal which allows user to actuate Switch and battery holder assembly205. Opening138allows installation and replacement of Battery103. Optional Diffusing lens102(FIG. 5) is made of a suitable transparent material and is molded or attached by any suitable means to Illuminating module case100.

FIGS. 6 and 7are exploded diagrams of the Switch and battery holder assembly205. This assembly comprises Switch contact104, Battery and Switch holding component105, Circuit board107, and Light emitting diode106. The Battery and Switch holding component105is made of non-conductive material and is sandwiched between Circuit board107and switch contact104; these components are adhesively combined or held together by any suitable means. This assembly forms Opening138(FIG. 3), which holds Battery103(FIG. 3) in place within the assembly and maintains electrical contact with Conductor139. Spacer section140creates a space between Switch contact104and Battery103. Switch contact104is electrically conductive and has a flexible characteristic enabling contact with the battery—a predetermined amount of force applied to the contact in a direction towards the battery causes physical and electrical contact with Battery103. Light emitting diode106is electrically connected to Conductor139and Switch contact104. When Switch contact104is electrically connected to Battery103, electron flow through Led106is initiated and Led106will produce useful illumination.

FIG. 11illustrates the electrical flowchart diagram of the preferred invention. Adapter body135houses Power conductors131,132and133, which allow electron flow from a receptacle, through the assembly and to the electrical transformer. Illuminating module assembly201is the switching mechanism for Electrical light source106—the actual switching component is Switch contact104. Switch contact104closes the circuit by electrically connecting Battery103to LED106. Resistor112, if needed is an amperage controlling component for LED106.

FIG. 2discloses another embodiment comprising Bracket141and Adhesive panel142, designed to attach to an existing wall mount transformer209. Adhesive panel142possesses adhesive on both sides to attach bracket141to Transformer209, but any suitable means of attachment may be employed. Illuminating module201B is held in position by means of friction or any suitable means as is known in the art into bracket141in order to provide lighting onto an intended receptacle.

FIG. 1demonstrates another mounting design for attaching illuminating module201B to an electrical transformer. Electrical transformer case143is designed to hold Illuminating module201B.

Other embodiments may include a recharging circuit for Battery103(FIG. 12).FIG. 10Aillustrates that Recharging assembly207located within Adapter body137. Recharging assembly207(FIG. 10) contains the components to allow recharging functions as explained following.

Referring again toFIG. 10Athe recharging constituent begins with Power conductors115,115A and115B. They function to convey line voltage to Recharging assembly207.FIG. 10shows a magnified perspective view of the assembly. The line voltage is stepped down to a suitable voltage by transformer116and sent to rectifier119-119C. The DC voltage from the rectifier provides power to Recharging circuit120, which may be any suitable recharging circuit as is known in the art to maintain the charge level of Battery103(FIG. 7). Referring toFIG. 10A, Conductors113A and113B through Recharging contact board113, connect the output voltage from Recharging circuit120to illuminating module assembly201A.FIG. 9shows the bottom of Circuit board107A. Conductors109and109A electrically connect Recharging contact board113(FIG. 10A) to wires110and111(FIG. 7) The presence of Recharging contact board113eliminates the need to hardwire Illuminating module assembly201A to the recharging circuit, allowing for simple removal and replacement of the assembly as shown inFIG. 10A. When Illuminating module assembly201A is installed in Electrical Transformer case143, Recharging contact board113physically aligns and electrically connects to Conductors109and109A (FIG. 9) Wire111is a jumper from Conductor109to conductor139A, connecting the circuit to one pole of battery103. (Refer toFIG. 7) Wire110electrically connects the recharging voltage to Battery contactor assembly206, which closes the recharging circuit. Battery contactor assembly206is shown inFIG. 8and consists of two parts: Circuit board108A and Spring metal contactor108. This component maintains electrical contact with and allows voltage to flow to Battery103(FIG. 7) any time the illuminated electrical transformer is connected to an active receptacle.

Operation of Preferred Embodiment and Additional Embodiments

See Drawings

As shown inFIG. 13the function of the Illuminated Electrical Transformer is to illuminate a receptacle so a user can see to align and insert the Electrical transformer into an electrical receptacle safely and accurately in a low or no light environment.

To operate, In an area with low, obstructed or no light, grasp the electrical transformer or power supply in a manner that permits the engagement of the electrical switch. By depressing electrical switch cover101(FIG. 13) power is allowed to flow to the Remote electrical light source and light is created.

Move toward a suitable electrical receptacle and, using the illumination provided by the remote electrical light source, carefully align the electrical power conductors131and132into the appropriate openings of the electrical receptacle.

Once aligned, gently and completely press the electrical transformer or power supply into the receptacle.

As soon as the transformer or power supply is inserted completely, release the switch (or depress it again depending on the optional switch mechanism employed) to deactivate the illumination and let go of the transformer.

To replace the battery, Illuminating module assembly201(FIG. 3) is removed from transformer case143(FIG. 1) or illuminating module bracket141(FIG. 2) to gain access to Battery103(FIG. 3) The battery is removed from Opening138and a new battery is installed. Illuminating module assembly201is then inserted back into transformer case143or illuminating module bracket141(FIGS. 1 and 2)

In Regard to Operation and Battery Replacement, all Illumination Modules and assembles operate in the same manner.

The addition of the Recharging assembly207(FIG. 10) may be present in any Illuminated electrical Transformer assemblies.

ADVANTAGES

From the description above, a number of advantages of my illuminated electrical transformer/power supply become evident:

(a) Use of the illuminated transformer provides a directed light source, clearly illuminating the intended electrical receptacle.

(b) The intended device combines the features of separate devices (electrical transformers and portable lighting) into one device. Combined, these features offer a higher level of safety and convenience than what is currently available. An example of this would be the ability to locate and illuminate a receptacle in a darkened area using just the illuminated electrical transformer.

(c) By illuminating the receptacle, a user can see to accurately align and safely insert the transformer.

(d) The illuminating module can use a low power light emitting diode so the battery will have a very long run time. When the battery eventually does fail, the user can easily replace the dead battery and restore the entire unit to new condition.

(e) The illuminated Electrical Transformer can utilize a recharging circuit that will keep the battery recharged, enabling an even greater battery life expectancy. Situations where battery life may be shortened by constant use can benefit from this charging configuration.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that, compared to using a standard transformer or power supply, my illuminated electrical Transformer can provide a user with an unobtrusive and inexpensive means to more safely and easily perform this very common, everyday task of plugging an electrical transformer into a receptacle. Furthermore, my Illuminated Electrical Transformer/Power Supply provides additional advantages in that:

(a) The present invention enables a user to easily locate a receptacle in a completely dark environment.

(b) The present invention is designed to be, optionally used with conventional electrical transformers thereby allowing use of the illumination module on any transformer or power supply.

(c) The illuminating module is detachable for battery or module replacement.

(d) The present invention and additional embodiments enable user to provide to a variety of electrical transformers, an affordable, temporary and quick conversion from non-illuminated to illuminated.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments.