# US 12,224,536 B2 · Combination outlet assembly and power distribution unit including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,536 B2 - Document ID: US12224536B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/521,614 - Filed: 2023-11-28 - Published: 2024-03-21 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-14 - Assignees: CIS Global LLC - Applicants: CIS Global LLC - Inventors: Karl Klaus Dittus - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224536B2 ## CPC - H01R 24/78: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) - H01R 13/506: assembled by snap action of the parts - H01R 13/514: composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them - H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling - H01R 27/00: Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90) - H01R 31/02: Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92) - H05K 7/1492: {having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications} - H01R 24/76: with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall - H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle} - H01R 2105/00: Three poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An electrical outlet assembly includes a molded housing having side walls, end walls extending between the side walls, a bottom wall interconnecting the side walls and the end walls, and an outlet core extending upwardly from the bottom wall into a space defined between the side and end walls. In one example, a first end wall of the end walls includes a latch portion that is deflectable relative to the space to selectively secure an electrical plug that is engaged with the outlet core. In another example, a biasing element is attached to the molded housing to bias the latch portion toward the outlet core. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical outlet assembly, comprising: a molded housing including: side walls defining a first length; end walls extending between the side walls, the end walls defining a second length that is shorter than the first length, a bottom wall interconnecting the side walls and the end walls; and an outlet core extending upwardly from the bottom wall into a space defined between the side and end walls, a first end wall of the end walls including a latch portion formed within the end wall that is deflectable relative to the space to selectively secure an electrical plug that is engaged with the outlet core; and a biasing element attached to the first end wall to bias the latch portion toward the outlet core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch portion includes a latch opening to selectively retain a latch protrusion of the electrical plug, to secure the electrical plug within the molded housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch portion is defined by a cantilevered portion of the first end wall; and wherein the biasing element includes a leaf spring body that extends along the latch portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch portion extends on a first side of the outlet core; and wherein the molded housing further includes projections extending from the bottom wall into the space, on a second side of the outlet core opposite the first side, to further secure the electrical plug. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is removably secured within a slot defined by the first end wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 5, wherein the biasing element has a base portion received within the slot and an angled portion extending away from the base portion toward the outlet core, and wherein the base portion defines a width along the slot that is wider than a width of the angled portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 6, wherein the biasing element includes one or more fingers that extend from the base portion to secure the biasing element within the slot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet core is a first outlet core and the molded housing includes a second outlet core, the second outlet core being between the first outlet core and the second end wall, and the first outlet core being between the second outlet core and the first end wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 8, wherein a dividing wall extends between the first out let core and the second outlet core; and wherein the first outlet core is offset from the second outlet core with respect to an axial centerline of the molded housing. ### Claim 10 An electrical outlet assembly, comprising: a monolithic housing that includes an outlet core, and walls that define a space around the outlet core to receive an electrical plug, a first wall of the walls extending from a base to a free edge and forming a cantilevered latch portion that is movable relative to the space and the outlet core to selectively retain an electrical plug; a slot defined by the first wall, the slot arranged on an opposite side of the cantilevered latch portion from the free edge and extending from an exterior of the first wall towards the outlet core; and a biasing element removably secured to the first wall within the slot to contact an exterior side of the cantilevered latch portion, to bias the cantilevered latch portion toward the outlet core. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 10, wherein the monolithic housing further includes projections extending into the space, on an opposite side of the outlet core from the cantilevered latch portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 11, wherein the projections and the outlet core extend monolithically from a bottom wall of the walls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 10, wherein the biasing element has a base portion and an angled portion extending away from the base portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 13, wherein the base portion defines a width than is wider than a width of the angled portion; and wherein the base portion is secured within the slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 13, wherein the angled portion abuts the cantilevered latch portion to bias the cantilevered latch portion towards the outlet core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electrical outlet assembly of claim 13, wherein, when the base portion is secured within the slot, the angled portion is positioned outside of the slot to abut the cantilevered latch portion. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing an electrical outlet assembly, the method comprising: molding a housing that includes an outlet core, and walls that define a space around the outlet core and a top opening to receive an electrical plug, with a first wall of the walls forming a cantilevered latch portion that is movable relative to the space and the outlet core to retain an electrical plug; and securing a biasing element within a slot defined by the first wall, the slot arranged on an opposite side of the cantilevered latch portion from the top opening and extending from an exterior of the first wall towards the outlet core, so that the biasing element contacts an exterior side of the cantilevered latch portion to bias the cantilevered latch portion toward the outlet core. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the cantilevered latch portion extends to a first side of the outlet core; and wherein the molded housing further includes projections extending into the space, to a second side of the outlet core. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the biasing element has a base portion and an angled portion extending away from the base portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein, when the biasing element is secured within the slot, the base portion is arranged within the slot and the angled portion is positioned outside of the slot to abut the cantilevered latch portion.