Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Combined with or actuated by connector coupling – Multiple coupling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-05
2001-12-11
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Combined with or actuated by connector coupling
Multiple coupling
C200S051060, C200S051080, C439S188000, C439S655000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329616
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power control apparatus, and in particular to an improved power control apparatus which is capable of minimizing power consumption and a harmful electrical wave and continuously maintaining a currently set state of each switch before the state of a switch is changed.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, a power control apparatus is installed on a wall of a house or is displayed on a floor of the house. A plug of a certain electrical appliance is connected with a port of the power control apparatus for thereby effectively controlling the power of an electrical appliance.
However, in the case that the number of connection ports of the power control apparatus (wall outlet) is small compared to the number of electrical appliances, or in the case that the electrical appliance is remote from the power control apparatus, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a multi-port power control apparatus is generally used.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, when a plug
10
is connected with a wall outlet, power is applied to each port
20
of the power control apparatus for thereby providing the power to a selected electrical appliance.
In case that the electrical appliance is not used, when the plug is connected with the port
20
of the power control apparatus, the power is continuously applied to the electrical appliance for thereby resulting in power consumption. In this case, a harmful electrical wave may be generated thereby causing a malfunction of the electrical appliance.
In addition, in order to remove the power remaining on a conductor line, each plug is disconnected from the outlet thereby causing inconvenience.
In the above case, a switch
30
is installed for turning on/off the power at one time. When the electrical appliance is not to be used, the switch
30
is turned off thereby discconnecting the power. Therefore, it is not necessary to disconnect the plug of the electrical appliance from the port
20
of the power control apparatus.
At this time, when the switch
30
is turned off, a plurality of ports
20
of the power control apparatus are disconnected, so that all appliances connected with the power control apparatus are disconnected from the power. In addition, in the case that the switch
30
is turned on, the power is supplied to the appliances which are currently used. However, in this case, the power is supplied to the appliances which are not used. Therefore, power consumption is increased, and the harmful electrical waves are generated.
In addition, in order to use the multiple-port power control apparatus, the plug is externally installed at the electrical appliance, so that an outer appearance of the product is bad. In addition, a foreign material such as a metal piece may be accidentally inserted into the power control apparatus thereby causing a short circuit.
The set state may be changed by a external cause after the switch
20
is turned on/off.
Namely, since the switch is externally formed, if a person unintentionally touches the switch, the switch may be turned on/off thereby causing an error.
For example, when a user uses the computer, the user may unintentionally touched the switch thereby turning off the computer, so that data is lost.
As another example, in the case that a worker may unintentionally touch the switch and turn off the switch at a work place such as a factory or a construction site, the set switch may be changed thereby causing an undesirable accident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power control apparatus which is capable of separately supplying power to a corresponding one of the multiple ports of the power control apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a power control apparatus in which a plurality of ports of the power control apparatus are spaced-apart at a regular interval using an extended conductor line.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a power control apparatus which is capable of stably maintaining a set state of a corresponding switch.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a power control apparatus for directing an electrical power from a power source to a selected electrical appliance which includes a switch box including a plurality of activating switches for supplying power to a selected electrical and including a main switch the controlling the flow of power to the switches, a unit for supplying power connected directly to the switch box and to the main switch without any intervening electrical outlets, and a plurality of conductor lines, each connected individually within the switch box to a respective one of the plurality of the switches and extending from the switch box, the ends of the conductor lines having connecting holes for a direct connection to the electrical appliance without any intervening switches, the switches and conductor lines being integrally formed with the switch box.
A plurality of outlets is formed in the switch box, each connected individually to a respective one of the plurality of the switches within the switch box, each outlet being connectable directly to a selected one of the electrical appliances without any intervening switches, the switches and conductor lines being integrally formed with the switch box.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5236374 (1993-08-01), Leonard et al.
patent: 5350310 (1994-09-01), Chen
patent: 5424903 (1995-06-01), Schreiber
patent: 5429518 (1995-07-01), Chen
patent: 5430598 (1995-07-01), Rodolfo et al.
patent: 5788521 (1998-08-01), Milan
patent: 5844326 (1998-12-01), Proctor et al.
Friedhofer Michael
Kallman Nathan N.
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