Patents by Inventor John S. Schaefer

John S. Schaefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6462555
    Abstract: A self-contained unit intended primarily for tracing the circuit connection between an electrical outlet or lighting receptacle and its corresponding circuit-breaker. The preferred embodiment includes a housing, a male three prong electrical plug, a sound-producing means, a first momentary switch which permits testing of a ground fault interrupt across either a hot wire and a neutral, or across a hot wire and the ground; and a second momentary switch which permits testing of reverse polarity by testing across a neutral and the ground. An alternate embodiment incorporates a single 3-way switch. Adapters are used to temporarily adapt bare wires or a lighting receptacle to a female plug so that the device may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: John S. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6246225
    Abstract: A self-contained unit intended primarily for tracing the circuit connection between an electrical outlet or lighting receptacle and its corresponding circuit-breaker. The preferred embodiment includes a housing, a male two prong electrical plug, and a sound-producing means. A second embodiment includes a male three prong electrical plug. A third embodiment incorporates a momentary switch which permits testing of a ground fault interrupt across either a hot wire and a neutral, or across a hot wire and the ground. Adapters are used to temporarily adapt bare wires or a lighting receptacle to a female plug so that the device may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: John S. Schaefer