US3761862A - Dual voltage drop light - Google Patents

Abstract

A trouble light for use on two different voltages. The light has an incandescent lamp having two filaments. One of the filaments is connected to terminals so that it can be connected to a first source of voltage, such as 120 volts A.C. The second filament is connected to two terminals so that it can be connected to a second source of voltage, such as, for example, 12 volts. A cord is connected to the terminals. The cord terminates in a first plug. The first plug has pins for plugging into a socket. The adapter has a second female plug adapted to be received in a power supply. Clip leads are connected to the wires in the first plug for connecting to a battery. The construction of the lamp disclosed herein is such that it will prevent an electrical shock to the user since the exposed plugs and terminals are not connected to the power source.

Description

Elnited States Patent [1 1 Spiteri 1 1 DUAL VOLTAGE DROP LIGHT [76] Inventor: Joseph Spiteri, 6613 E. Lake Rd., Erie, Pa. 16511 22 Filed: May 17,1971

21 Appl.No.: 144,125

Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Paul A. Sacher Attorney-Charles L. Lovercheck 1 Sept. 25, 1973 5 7 ABSTRACT A trouble light for use on two different voltages. The light has an incandescent lamp having two filaments. One of the filaments is connected to terminals so that it can be connected to a first source of voltage, such as 120 volts A.C. The second filament is connected to two terminals so that it can be connected to a second source of voltage, such as, for example, 12 volts. A cord is connected to the terminals. The cord terminates in a first plug. The first plug has pins for plugging into a socket. The adapter has a second female plug adapted to be received in a power supply. Clip leads are connected to the wires in the first plug for connecting to a battery. The construction of the lamp disclosed herein is such that it will prevent an electrical shock to the user since the exposed plugs and terminals are not connected to the power source.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 25, 1973 1 DUAL VOLTAGE DROP LIGHT OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a lamp which can be connected to either a power line plug or terminals, the power line plug connecting a first filament to a first source of voltage and the clips connecting a second filament to a second source of voltage in such a way that the user will not incur electrical shock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dual voltage lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the trouble light embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

4 has alamp 3 with a guard 4. Power is carried to the lamp through thelamp holder 5 and handle 6. Thelamp holder 5 hasopenings 35 into which an accessory may be plugged. The accessory opening is electrically connected to the I20 volt filament of the lamp.

The lamp can be used either by pluggingmale plug 18 into a conventional I20 volt power sourceMale plug 18 hasfirst terminals 24 and 25 andground terminal 26 or it could be supplied power from a battery bypluggingmale adapter plug 9 intofemale plug 40 and attaching clips 11 to the terminals of a battery. Therefore, the user of a vehicle may use the trouble light where 120 volts is available at the dock. He can also use the light while he is enroute, when only the vehicle battery is available.

The lamp is provided with the two filaments, l3 and 14. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 the threelines 15, l6, 17 incord 7 connect thefilaments 13 and 14 to two different power sources. The I20volt lines 16 and 17 are connected to the twopins 24 and 25 ofplug 18. Thepin 26 is connected to a ground'line.

Thefemale plug 40 may receive theterminals 41 and 42 ofplug 9. The terminals 41 and 42are connected to clips 11 bylines 10 and 12. The clips 11 may be clipped onto the terminals of a suitable battery. It will be noted that filaments l3 and 14 are both connected tocommon line 16.Filament 13 is connected tolines 16 and 15.Filament 14 is connected tolines 16 and 17. Thus, whenplug 18 is connected to a 120 volt power source,filament 14 is used. When plug '9 is connected toplug 40 and clips 11 are connected to battery terminals,filament 13 is used.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, thecord 107 has three lines in it. These three lines are connected to a high voltage filament and to a low voltage filament in the sarnemanner as the lines incord 7 of FIG. 1. The lines connected to the high voltage filament in the embodiment of FIG. 2 are connected to themale terminals 124 and 125 of the male portion ofplug 108. Theterminals 124 and 125 can be plugged into a suitable 120 volt source. Thefemale terminals 121 and 132 in the female portion ofplug 108 receive theterminals 141 and 142 of themale plug 109.Lines 110 and 112 are connected toterminals 141 and 142 and toclips 111. Thus, whenterminals 141 and 142 are inserted interminals 121 and 132 andclips 111 are connected to the terminals of a suitable battery, the low voltage filament of the lamp bulb will be energized.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, thecord 207 has threeconductor lines 215, 216 and 217 connected tofilaments 213 and 214, as shown in FIG. 3.Wires 216 and 217 are connected toterminals 224 and 225 of themale plug 208. Theseterminals 224 and 225 can be plugged into a suitable volt source.

Female terminal 242 inplug 209 is connected to oneline 212. The otherfemale terminal 241 is not electrically connected. Thus, when themale terminals 224 and 225 are plugged intofemale terminals 241 and 242,terminal 224 is connected to oneline 212. Thejumper line 230 is connected to theother line 210 and to themale plug 232. Themale plug 232 can be plugged intofemale plug 233, which is connected throughline 231 to theline 215. Thus, theclips 211 are connected to thelines 216 and 215 when theplug 208 is plugged into theplug 209 and theplug 232 is plugged into theplug 233, and thefilament 213 can be energized by a suitable source of power.

It will be seen that in this embodiment, there are no exposed terminals that may injure a user of the circuit.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6, theplug 308 is fixed to a 3-wire cord, such as thecord 7 shown in FIG. 1. Theplug 308 has twomale terminals 324 and 325 and onefemale terminal 321 connected to thelines 316, 317 and 315 respectively. Theplug 309 has twofemale terminals 341 and 342. Terminal 342 is connected toline 336 and amale terminal 339 is connected toline 334. Thefemale terminal 341 is not connected to any conductor.Lines 334 and 336 will be connected to two clip leads such as the clip leads l0 and 12 in FIG. 1. Thus themale terminals 324 and 326 are received in thefemale terminals 341 and 342 and theterminal 339 is received in theterminal 321 and the lamp cord can be used connected to a battery. Whenplugs 308 and 309 are separated, theterminals 324 and 325 can be plugged into a suitable 120 volt source and the high'voltage filament will be energized. When theplugs 308 and 309 are connected and clipped to a battery, the low voltage filament will be energized.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, an electrical device having a first electrical element adapted to operate on a first voltage and a second electrical element adapted to operate on a second voltage,

a first plug member and a second plug member,

said first electrical element having a first end and a second end,

said second electrical element having a first end and a second end,

a first male terminal on said first plug member connected to said first end of said first electrical element,

a second male terminal on said first plug member connected to said second end of said first electrical element, I v

a third female terminal on said first plug member connected to said second end of said second electrical element,

said second male terminal on said first plug member being connected to said first end of said second electrical element,

a first female terminal on said second plug member receiving said first male terminal on said first plug member,

a second female terminal on said second plug member receiving said second male terminal on said first plug member,

a third male terminal on said second plug member received in said third female terminal on said plug member,

and means for connecting said second female terminal on said second plug member and said third male terminal in said second plug member to a second electrical voltage source.

2. The plug recited in claim 1 wherein said third line is connected to an external wire having a plug thereon and a plug adapted to be connected to said external wire and connected to one of said clips.

3. The lamp recited in claim 1 wherein a second fe male plug is provided and said second female plug is connected to said first line and said third line,

said first female plug has pins thereon adapted to be received in said second female plug whereby said clips are connected to said first line and said third line.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical device comprises a lamp,

said first electrical element comprises a first lamp filament in said lamp,

said second electrical element comprises a second electrical filament in said lamp,

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said adapter members comprise elongated wires connected to said female terminals on said second plug member, and clips on the end of said adapter wires.

6. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said third female terminal on said first plug member is supported thereon by means of a jumper wire,

said jumper wire is connected to said female terminal.

Claims (6)

1. In combination, an electrical device having a first electrical element adapted to operate on a first voltage and a second electrical element adapted to operate on a second voltage, a first plug member and a second plug member, said first electrical element having a first end and a second end, said second electrical element having a first end and a second end, a first male terminal on said first plug member connected to said first end of said first electrical element, a second male terminal on said first plug member connected to said second end of said first electrical element, a third female terminal on said first plug member connected to said second end of said second electrical element, said second male terminal on said first plug member being connected to said first end of said second electrical element, a first female terminal on said second plug member receiving said first male terminal on said first plug member, a second female terminal on said second plug member receiving said second male terminal on said first plug member, a third male terminal on said second plug member received in said third female terminal on said plug member, and means for connecting said second female terminal on said second plug member and said third male terminal in said second plug member to a second electrical voltage source.

2. The plug recited in claim 1 wherein said third line is connected to an external wire having a plug thereon and a plug adapted to be connected to said external wire and connected to one of said clips.

3. The lamp recited in claim 1 wherein a second female plug is provided and said second female plug is connected to said first line and said third line, said first female plug has pins thereon adapted to be received in said second female plug whereby said clips are connected to said first line and said third line.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical device comprises a lamp, said first electrical element comprises a first lamp filament in said lamp, said second electrical element comprises a second electrical filament in said lamp,

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said adapter members comprise elongated wires connected to said female terminals on said second plug member, and clips on the end of said adapter wires.

6. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said third female terminal on said first plug member is supported thereon by means of a jumper wire, said jumper wire is connected to said female terminal.

Images