CA1307575C - Cord saver - Google Patents
Cord saverInfo
- Publication number
- CA1307575C CA1307575C CA000553265A CA553265A CA1307575C CA 1307575 C CA1307575 C CA 1307575C CA 000553265 A CA000553265 A CA 000553265A CA 553265 A CA553265 A CA 553265A CA 1307575 C CA1307575 C CA 1307575C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- switch
- electrical
- cord
- automobile
- accessory
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
- H02H11/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Abstract
CORD SAVER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An automobile accessory is intended for use with automobiles having various electrical power starting aids that derive their power from a mains current supply through an extention cord. The accessory connects through an appropriate plug connection to the mains current supply or the extention cord and has receptacles into which the starting aids are themselves plugged. A
relay switch has its coil connected across the power lines so that when power is applied, the normally closed contacts of the relay will open. The relay contacts are wired into the starting circuit for the automobile motor to disable the starter when the accessory or the extention cord is plugged into a mains power, thus pre-venting a driver from starting the vehicle and driving off with the extention cord still plugged in.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An automobile accessory is intended for use with automobiles having various electrical power starting aids that derive their power from a mains current supply through an extention cord. The accessory connects through an appropriate plug connection to the mains current supply or the extention cord and has receptacles into which the starting aids are themselves plugged. A
relay switch has its coil connected across the power lines so that when power is applied, the normally closed contacts of the relay will open. The relay contacts are wired into the starting circuit for the automobile motor to disable the starter when the accessory or the extention cord is plugged into a mains power, thus pre-venting a driver from starting the vehicle and driving off with the extention cord still plugged in.
Description
`~ 1 307575 CORD SAVER
FI~LD OF THE INVENTION
; The present invention relates to automobile accessories and rnore particularly to an accessory useful in conjunction with automotive starting aids such as engine heaters, battery chargers and the like.
B~CKGROUND
In cold climates, motor vehicles are conven-tionally equipped with starting aids such as engine heaters, battery chargers and the like to ensure that the vehicle will start when desired. These starting aids normally operate from conventional electrical mains power, i.e. 110 volts AC. The connection to mains power is usually made with an extension cord extendi.ng ~rom the vehicle to an appropriate rnains outlet.
Often a vehicle operator wi.ll ~orget to dis-connect the extension cord linking his vehicle and the outlet and will drive away while the connection is still made. This may result in a lost or destroyed extension cord, or, where the cord is anchored to the vehicle, it can cause vehicle damage, for example the breakage of an expensive grill.
The objective of the present invention is to 1 3!,0 Y.5,,~ ~
overcome this problem by preventing the operator from driving his vehicle while there is an extension cord linking the vehicle to a mains outlet.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided an automobile accessory including connector means adapted to be connected to an electrical power outlet and a normally closed switch means adapted to be connected in a starting circuit for an automobile and having switch operating means for opening said switch means to open said starting circuit in response to connection of the connector means to an electrical power outlet.
In one embodiment, the accessory consists of a housing that contains a duplex receptacle connected to a cord that can be plugged into the end of an extension cord or an electrlcal outlet. The housing also contains a relay switch with the relay coil connected in parallel to the duplex receptac~e and the relay contacts wired into the starting circuit for the vehicle motor, in series with the usual starter switch. This means that while power is being supplied to the duplex receptacle, the starting circuit for the motor is opened by the relay switch and the vehicle cannot be started.
' 1 3รป7575 :, The duplex receptacle is used as ~he power source for the starting aids.
In another embodiment, the accessory is a housing with electrical terminal prongs projecting from it to be plugged into a conventional ~lectrical outlet.
A relay switch in the housing has a coil connected across the terminal prongs and normally closed contacts con-nected to terminals or leads, outside of the housing for connection to the automobile starting circuit. With this embodiment, the control means plugs into a common exten-sion cord, with the starting aids.
~` BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
: ) Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the accessory of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated an automobile accessory 10 that includes a housing 12 accom-;
, ,, :,, ', ``` 1 307575 modating a conventional duplex receptacle 14. ~he recep-tacle 14 is connected to a power cord 16 of the type conventionally used as extension cords for carrying 110 volts AC. Such a cord has two power wires 18 and a ground wire 20. The duplex receptacle 14 is wired to these in the conventional way.
The housing 12 also accommodates a relay switch 22. The relay switch has a coil 24 connected in parallel to the duplex receptacle, across the power wires 18. The contacts 26 of the relay switch 22 are normally closed but open when power is applied to the cord 16.
Two wires 28 and 30 lead from the switch contacts 26 and are connected to a line 32 in the starter circuit for the automobile engine. The line 32 normally extends directly from the battery 34 to the coil of the starter relay 36 and contains the usual starter switch 38. As illustrated in Figure 1, the line 32 is cut at point 40 and the resultant ends are connected to the ends of the wires 28 and 30 respectively so that the relay switch contacts 26 are in series with the starter switch 38.
Figure 2 is a pictorial representation of the embodiment of ~igure 1. The accessory is housed in a synthetic plastic housing 12. The duplex receptacle 14 . ~ :
1 ~07575 provides two outlets 42 spaced along one face of the housing while a power cord 16 exits from one end and the wires 28 and 30 exit from the other. At the base of the housing are lugs 44 with elongate slots 46. The lugs and slots are used ~or fastening the housing to an auto-mobile with screws or bolts.
For installation the accessory may be mounted on a vehicle at a convenient location. The wire 32 of the starter circuit is then cut and connected to the wires 28 and 30 leading from the housing 12. The various starting aids are then plugged intG the outlets 42 to receive power when the plug 48 on cord 16 is connected to a mains power outlet either directly or through an exten-sion cord.
When the accessory is plugged into a 110 volt AC outlet, power is supplied to the coil 24 of the relay switch 22. This opens the normally closed contacts 26, breaking the circuit between the vehicle starter switch 38 and the starter relay 36. Because of the open cir-cuit, the starter will not operate. Unplugging the accessory 10 from the outlet disconnects the power supply to the relay coil 24, allowing the contacts 26 to close and restoring normal starter operation.
Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the ~ :', ' ;
-~` 1 307575 invention in which the accessory has a housing 50 with a pair of electrical terminal prongs 52 projecting from it.
The prongs are of the type normally used in connecting a power cord to an electrical outlet. A relay switch 54 in the housing 50 has its coil 56 connected across the prongs 52, and its normally closed contacts 58 connected to a pair of leads 60 for connection to the starter circuit. This embodiment is wired to the starter circuit in the same way as the embodiment of Figure 1. In use, it is plugged, by means of prongs 52, into the source of power for the various starting aids, normally an exten-sion cord. The application of power to the cord will then open the starting circuit.
While two specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in the fore~oing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. It is, for example, possible to employ any suitable nul~ber of receptacles 42 in a housing 12. The wires 28 and 30 maY be omitted or in-dependent from the unit as such where appropriate terml-nals are provided on the housing 12 for connection to the wire 32 of the starter circuit or to secondary wires leading thereto. The relay switch 22 may be replaced with any equivalent device, for exam~le, a solid state , .", ~:
1 ~07575 , switch opening in response to the presence of a voltage across the power wires 18 or between one of the power wires 18 and the ground wire 20. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention is intended to be ~ limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
: `~
FI~LD OF THE INVENTION
; The present invention relates to automobile accessories and rnore particularly to an accessory useful in conjunction with automotive starting aids such as engine heaters, battery chargers and the like.
B~CKGROUND
In cold climates, motor vehicles are conven-tionally equipped with starting aids such as engine heaters, battery chargers and the like to ensure that the vehicle will start when desired. These starting aids normally operate from conventional electrical mains power, i.e. 110 volts AC. The connection to mains power is usually made with an extension cord extendi.ng ~rom the vehicle to an appropriate rnains outlet.
Often a vehicle operator wi.ll ~orget to dis-connect the extension cord linking his vehicle and the outlet and will drive away while the connection is still made. This may result in a lost or destroyed extension cord, or, where the cord is anchored to the vehicle, it can cause vehicle damage, for example the breakage of an expensive grill.
The objective of the present invention is to 1 3!,0 Y.5,,~ ~
overcome this problem by preventing the operator from driving his vehicle while there is an extension cord linking the vehicle to a mains outlet.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided an automobile accessory including connector means adapted to be connected to an electrical power outlet and a normally closed switch means adapted to be connected in a starting circuit for an automobile and having switch operating means for opening said switch means to open said starting circuit in response to connection of the connector means to an electrical power outlet.
In one embodiment, the accessory consists of a housing that contains a duplex receptacle connected to a cord that can be plugged into the end of an extension cord or an electrlcal outlet. The housing also contains a relay switch with the relay coil connected in parallel to the duplex receptac~e and the relay contacts wired into the starting circuit for the vehicle motor, in series with the usual starter switch. This means that while power is being supplied to the duplex receptacle, the starting circuit for the motor is opened by the relay switch and the vehicle cannot be started.
' 1 3รป7575 :, The duplex receptacle is used as ~he power source for the starting aids.
In another embodiment, the accessory is a housing with electrical terminal prongs projecting from it to be plugged into a conventional ~lectrical outlet.
A relay switch in the housing has a coil connected across the terminal prongs and normally closed contacts con-nected to terminals or leads, outside of the housing for connection to the automobile starting circuit. With this embodiment, the control means plugs into a common exten-sion cord, with the starting aids.
~` BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
: ) Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the accessory of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated an automobile accessory 10 that includes a housing 12 accom-;
, ,, :,, ', ``` 1 307575 modating a conventional duplex receptacle 14. ~he recep-tacle 14 is connected to a power cord 16 of the type conventionally used as extension cords for carrying 110 volts AC. Such a cord has two power wires 18 and a ground wire 20. The duplex receptacle 14 is wired to these in the conventional way.
The housing 12 also accommodates a relay switch 22. The relay switch has a coil 24 connected in parallel to the duplex receptacle, across the power wires 18. The contacts 26 of the relay switch 22 are normally closed but open when power is applied to the cord 16.
Two wires 28 and 30 lead from the switch contacts 26 and are connected to a line 32 in the starter circuit for the automobile engine. The line 32 normally extends directly from the battery 34 to the coil of the starter relay 36 and contains the usual starter switch 38. As illustrated in Figure 1, the line 32 is cut at point 40 and the resultant ends are connected to the ends of the wires 28 and 30 respectively so that the relay switch contacts 26 are in series with the starter switch 38.
Figure 2 is a pictorial representation of the embodiment of ~igure 1. The accessory is housed in a synthetic plastic housing 12. The duplex receptacle 14 . ~ :
1 ~07575 provides two outlets 42 spaced along one face of the housing while a power cord 16 exits from one end and the wires 28 and 30 exit from the other. At the base of the housing are lugs 44 with elongate slots 46. The lugs and slots are used ~or fastening the housing to an auto-mobile with screws or bolts.
For installation the accessory may be mounted on a vehicle at a convenient location. The wire 32 of the starter circuit is then cut and connected to the wires 28 and 30 leading from the housing 12. The various starting aids are then plugged intG the outlets 42 to receive power when the plug 48 on cord 16 is connected to a mains power outlet either directly or through an exten-sion cord.
When the accessory is plugged into a 110 volt AC outlet, power is supplied to the coil 24 of the relay switch 22. This opens the normally closed contacts 26, breaking the circuit between the vehicle starter switch 38 and the starter relay 36. Because of the open cir-cuit, the starter will not operate. Unplugging the accessory 10 from the outlet disconnects the power supply to the relay coil 24, allowing the contacts 26 to close and restoring normal starter operation.
Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the ~ :', ' ;
-~` 1 307575 invention in which the accessory has a housing 50 with a pair of electrical terminal prongs 52 projecting from it.
The prongs are of the type normally used in connecting a power cord to an electrical outlet. A relay switch 54 in the housing 50 has its coil 56 connected across the prongs 52, and its normally closed contacts 58 connected to a pair of leads 60 for connection to the starter circuit. This embodiment is wired to the starter circuit in the same way as the embodiment of Figure 1. In use, it is plugged, by means of prongs 52, into the source of power for the various starting aids, normally an exten-sion cord. The application of power to the cord will then open the starting circuit.
While two specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in the fore~oing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. It is, for example, possible to employ any suitable nul~ber of receptacles 42 in a housing 12. The wires 28 and 30 maY be omitted or in-dependent from the unit as such where appropriate terml-nals are provided on the housing 12 for connection to the wire 32 of the starter circuit or to secondary wires leading thereto. The relay switch 22 may be replaced with any equivalent device, for exam~le, a solid state , .", ~:
1 ~07575 , switch opening in response to the presence of a voltage across the power wires 18 or between one of the power wires 18 and the ground wire 20. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention is intended to be ~ limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
: `~
Claims (9)
1. An automobile accessory including connector means adapted to be connected to an electrical power outlet and a normally closed switch means adapted to be connected in a starting circuit of an automobile and having switch operating means for opening said switch means in response to connection of the connector means to an electrical power outlet.
2. An automobile accessory comprising connector means adapted to be connected to an electrical power outlet, outlet means connected to the connector means for supplying mains power to an automobile appliance, and normally closed switch means adapted to be connected in a starting circuit for an automobile and having switch operating means operatively connected to said connector means for opening said switch means to open said starting circuit in response to connection of the connector means to an electrical power outlet.
3. An accessory according to Claim 2 wherein the connector means comprise an electrical cord with a plug for connection to a conventional electrical outlet receptacle.
4. An accessory according to Claim 3 wherein the outlet means comprise at least one conventional mains power outlet connected to said electrical cord.
5. An accessory according to Claim 4 wherein said mains power outlet comprises a duplex receptacle connected to said electrical cord.
6. An accessory according to Claim 2 wherein said switch means comprise a relay switch.
7. An automobile accessory comprising:
a housing;
a pair of electrical terminal prongs connected to said housing to be plugged into a conventional elec-trical power outlet;
a normally closed switch means in said housing with switch operating means operatively connected to said prongs and responsive to the application of electrical power to said prongs to open said switch means;
electrical leads from the switch means to the exterior of said housing for connecting said switch means electrically to a starting circuit of an automobile.
a housing;
a pair of electrical terminal prongs connected to said housing to be plugged into a conventional elec-trical power outlet;
a normally closed switch means in said housing with switch operating means operatively connected to said prongs and responsive to the application of electrical power to said prongs to open said switch means;
electrical leads from the switch means to the exterior of said housing for connecting said switch means electrically to a starting circuit of an automobile.
8. An accessory according to Claim 7 wherein said switch is a relay switch.
9. In an automobile starting system having an electrical circuit containing a starting switch, an accessory comprising a housing with a pair of electrical terminal prongs projecting therefrom for connection to a conventional mains power electrical outlet, a normally closed switch means in said housing, including switch operating means operatively connected to said prongs to open said switch means in response to the application of electrical power to said prongs, and means connecting the switch means in said electrical circuit, to open said circuit when power is applied to said prongs.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000553265A CA1307575C (en) | 1987-12-01 | 1987-12-01 | Cord saver |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000553265A CA1307575C (en) | 1987-12-01 | 1987-12-01 | Cord saver |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1307575C true CA1307575C (en) | 1992-09-15 |
Family
ID=4136985
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000553265A Expired - Lifetime CA1307575C (en) | 1987-12-01 | 1987-12-01 | Cord saver |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1307575C (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-12-01 CA CA000553265A patent/CA1307575C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |