Patent Abstract:
A multifunction socket device is connected to a main AC power and comprises a frame unit, at least one power outlet, a cover unit and a first illuminating unit. The multifunction socket device can provide power source and illumination device, which bring more convenience and options to modern lifestyle.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a power outlet device, and more particularly to a multifunction socket device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Electrical power socket is a very essential element for modern lifestyle. For different countries, the power outlet can have different designs, dimensions or specifications. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a typical power socket comprises a power outlet  11 , a framework  12  and a cover plate  13 . The power outlet  11  has a plurality of outlet apertures  111 . The power outlet  11  is attached on a wall via the framework  12  and partially covered by the cover plate  13 . Therefore, the plurality of outlet apertures  111  (two or three apertures) of the power outlet  11   111  are exposed. 
     However, the typical power socket has following drawbacks: 
     1. Only one single function provided by the power outlet  11 . 
     The typical power outlet can only provide power source not other 
     2. No attractive design for the power outlet  11   
     For modern lifestyle, the appearance of any household item is an important factor. 
     3. No indication for the status of the power outlet  11   
     The typical power outlet  11  does not provide any indication for the operation status. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a multifunction socket device to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a multifunction socket device. 
     In order to achieve the above mentioned objective, a multifunction socket device is connected to a main AC power and comprises a frame unit, at least one power outlet, a cover unit and a first illuminating unit. 
     The frame unit has a framework defining at least one accommodating space. The at least one power outlet is disposed on the accommodating space and electrically connected to the main AC power. The cover unit is disposed on the framework and has a plate and an opening on the plate. The opening accepts the power outlet, and the power outlet is assembled with the frame unit through the opening. The first illuminating unit is detachably disposed onto the plate and has a first housing. A first AC/DC converter is deposited in the first housing and connected to the main AC power. A first electric capacitor IS electrically connected to the first AC/DC converter, and a first lighting member electrically connected to the first electric capacitor. 
     The present invention can provide power source and illumination device, which bring more convenience and options to modern lifestyle. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a typical power outlet. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of a multifunction socket device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block functional drawing explaining the connection relation between a multifunction socket device and a main AC power. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembly schematic drawing of the multifunction socket device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of showing a second illuminating unit being separated from a plate according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a local detail perspective view of showing a first and second head portions are combined together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . A multifunction socket device is connected to a main AC power and comprises a frame unit  3 , at least one power outlet  4 , a cover unit  5 , a first illuminating unit  6 , and a second illuminating unit  7 . 
     The frame unit  3  has a framework  31  defining at least one accommodating space  30 . The power outlet  4  is disposed in the accommodating space  30  and electrically connected to the main AC power. The power outlet  4  can have various designs for the shape of the apertures and output power specifications for different countries standards. 
     The cover unit  5  is disposed on the framework  31  and has a plate  51  and an opening  52  on the plate  51 . The opening  52  accepts the power outlet  4 , and the power outlet  4  is assembled with the frame unit  3  through the opening  52 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are two the power outlets  4  are disposed in the opening  52 , but a number of the power outlets can be various or and be replaced by a power switch (not shown). 
     The first illuminating unit  6  is detachably disposed onto the plate  51  and has a first housing  61 , a first AC/DC converter  62  deposited in the first housing  61  and connected to the main AC power, a first electric capacitor  63  electrically connected to the first AC/DC converter  62 , a first lighting member  64  electrically connected to the first electric capacitor  63 , and a first charge indication light  65  disposed on the first housing  61 , and a first magnetic member  66  disposed on the first housing  61 . 
     The first housing  61  has a first handle portion  611  and a first head portion  612  connected to the first handle portion  611 . The first AC/DC converter  62  and the first electric capacitors  63  are disposed on the first handle portion  611 , and the first lighting member  64  is disposed on the first head portion  612 . 
     The first charge indication light  65  on the first housing  61  indicates the charging conditions of the first electric capacitors  63 . The first magnetic member  66  on the first housing  61  is used for attaching onto the cover unit  5 . 
     The second illuminating unit  7  is detachably disposed on the plate  51 , and has a second housing  71 , a second AC/DC converter  72  disposed on the second housing  71  and electrically connected to the main AC power, a second electric capacitor  73  electrically connected to the second AC/DC converter  72 , a second lighting member  74  electrically connected to the second electric capacitor  73 , a second lighting member  74  electrically connected to the second electric capacitor  73 , a second charge indication light  75  disposed on the second housing  71 , and a second magnetic member  76  disposed on the second housing  71 . 
     The second housing  71  has a second handle portion  711  and a second head portion  712  connected to the second handle portion  711 . The second AC/DC converter  72  and the second electric capacitor  711  are disposed on the second handle portion, and the second lighting member  74  is disposed on the second head portion  712 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two metal connecting spots  511  are respectively disposed on the plate  51  corresponding to the first and second housings  61 ,  71  and used for allowing the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  to be electrically connected to main AC power. 
     The second charge indication light  75  on the second housing  71  indicates the charging conditions of the second electric capacitor  73 . The second magnetic member  76  on the second housing  71  is used for attaching onto the cover unit  5 . Furthermore, the first and second housings  61 ,  71  can by combined together by a magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic members  66 ,  76 . 
     The first and second housings  61 ,  71  have a first and second switches  613 ,  713  for controlling the first and second illuminating units  64 ,  74  and a first and second detecting circuits  614 ,  714  for detecting whether the main AC power and the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  are electrically connected. When the first and second detecting circuits  614 ,  714  detect the main AC power is not electrically connected to the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  and the first and second switches  613 ,  713  are turned off, the first and second detecting circuits  614 ,  714  make the first and second illuminating units  64 ,  74  to illuminate. 
     Alternatively, when the first and second detecting circuits  614 ,  714  detect the main AC power is electrically connected to the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  and the first and second switches  613 ,  713 , the first and second detecting circuits  614 ,  714  make the first and second illuminating units  64 ,  74  not to illuminate. With the combination of the power outlet  4  and the first and second head portions  6 ,  7 , light is generated below the power outlet  4 , which can provide illumination during black out. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first and second illuminating units  64 ,  74  electrically connected to the first and second electric capacitors  63 ,  73  are composed of a plurality of LEDs, which are low cost, long usage lifetime and small dimensions. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . The first and second head portions  6 ,  7  are detachably attached onto the two sides of the power outlet  4  of the plate  51 . During the black out, users can pull the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  apart from the plate  51  and combine the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  via the first and second magnetic members  66 ,  76  on the first and second housings  61 ,  71 , to use them together as a flash light. 
     Moreover, the first and second charge indication lights  65 ,  75  can respectively provide two different light colors. The first and second charge indication lights  65 ,  75  both indicate a charging status with a red light and a non-charging status with a green light for the first and second electric capacitors  63 ,  73 . 
     With above description, the multifunction socket device of the embodiment of the present invention has following benefits: 
     1. Multifunction Design 
     By the first and second detecting circuits  614 ,  714  detecting the connection between the power outlet the main AC power, the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  can provide illumination whenever the power is shut down. Furthermore, the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  are capable of being separated from the cover unit  5  and combined to become a flash light from emergency use. 
     2. Better Design Appearance 
     The first and second head portions  6 ,  7  are disposed around the power outlet  4  on the plate  51  which utilizes the remaining space. Furthermore, the first and second magnetic members  66 ,  76  allow the first and second head portions  6 ,  7  to be combined together. 
     3. Providing Charging Condition Indication 
     The first and second charge indication lights  65 ,  75  can respectively provide two different light colors. The first and second charge indication lights  65 ,  75  both indicate a charging status with a red light and a non-charging status with a green light for the first and second electric capacitors  63 ,  73 . 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7