Electrical service apparatus with light transmission guide
AssigneeEkstrom Industries, Inc.
InventorDarrell Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light transmissive guide transmits light bidirectionally between a first end disposed interiorly of an electrical power service apparatus housing and a second end visible externally of the housing. The transmitted light by the light guide can be a status light of a device mounted within the housing or light forming part of an optical data communication signal transmitted bidirectionally between light operative and/or responsive devices mounted internally within the housing and similar devices disposed in light communication with the external end of the light guide.
Claims18
An electrical power service apparatus comprising:
- a housing with a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall;
- a plurality of electrical contacts carried on the base wall a portion of the contacts projecting externally of the housing;
- at least one light source carried in the housing;
- and
- a light transmissive element, disposed in the housing and having a plurality of first ends and a second end disposed in light communication, the light transmissive element transmitting light internally between at least one of the first ends and the second end, at least one of the first ends, disposed adjacent to the at least one light source, the second end disposed to be visible externally of the housing.
An electrical service apparatus
- a housing with a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall;
- a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on the base wall;
- an electrically insulating shield for covering the electrical contacts within the housing, the shield having apertures alignable with at least one electrical contact adapted for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter in engagement with the one electrical contact;
- a light transmissive element, disposed in the housing and having first and second ends, for transmitting light between the first and the second ends, the second end disposed to be visible externally of the housing;
- the first end of the light transmissive element is disposed in light communication with a light responsive element disposed in the housing;
- an aperture formed in the sidewall of the housing;
- and
- the second end of the light transmissive element mounted in the aperture, the light transmissive element being monolithically formed with the shield.
An electrically insulating safety shield for mounting in an electrical power service apparatus having a housing with a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, and a plurality electrical contacts mounted on the base wall and adapted for releasibly receiving the blade terminals of a watthour meter, the safety shield comprising:
- an electrically insulating body having a top wall sized to cover electrical contacts in an electrical power service apparatus;
- a plurality of apertures formed in the top wall of the body alignable with at least one electrical contact in a housing, the apertures adapted for receiving a blade terminal or a watthour meter therethrough into engagement with the one electrical contact in the housing;
- and
- a light transmissive element, carried on the body and having first and second ends, the light transmissive element, transmitting light from the first end tothe second end, the second end disposed to be visible externally of the housing when the body is mounted in the housing.
An electrically insulating safety shield for mounting an electrical service apparatus having a housing with a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, and a plurality electrical contacts mounted on the base wall and adapted for releasibly receiving the blade terminals of a watthour meter, the safety shield comprising:
- an electrically insulating body having a top wall;
- a plurality of apertures formed in the top wall of the body alignable with at least one electrical contact in a housing, the apertures adapted for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter therethrough into engagement with the one electrical contact in the housing;
- and
- a light transmissive element carried on the body of the safety shield and having first and second ends, the light transmissive element transmitting light between the first end to the second ends, the second end disposed to be visible externally of the housing when the body is mounted in the housing, the light transmissive element monolithically formed with the shield.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.