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US 12,592,529 B2Granted
Combination outlet assembly and power distribution unit including the same
AssigneeCIS Global LLC
InventorKarl Klaus Dittus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims37
A power distribution unit that receives electrical plugs, the power distribution unit comprising:
- a body defining an elongate channel;
- and
- an electrical outlet assembly within the channel, the electrical outlet assembly including:
- a housing, including:
- a first side wall and a second side wall;
- a first end wall and a second end wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall;
- a bottom wall extending between the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall to define an opening of the housing;
- a housing retention mechanism to retain the housing within the channel of the body:
- an outlet core extending away from the bottom wall into the opening defined by the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall;
- and
- means for securing one of the electrical plugs, the means for securing one of the electrical plugs being secured to the first end wall and predisposed toward the outlet core so that the means for securing one of the electrical plugs automatically secures one of the electrical plugs when arranged on the outlet core.
8 more elements
A power distribution unit that receives electrical plugs, the power distribution unit for use with a server rack within a data center, the power distribution unit comprising:
- a chassis defining an elongate opening, the chassis having a length dimension that is larger than a width dimension, and the chassis being configured to be mounted to the server rack in the data center;
- a management module coupled to the chassis, the management module including a display for presenting information relating to a status of the power distribution unit;
- a power input cord extending from the chassis for connection to a power source;
- and
- a plurality of electrical outlet assemblies arranged within the elongate opening along the length dimension of the chassis, the plurality of electrical outlet assemblies ganged together in a side-by-side arrangement and each including:
- a molded housing, including:
- side walls;
- end walls extending between the side walls;
- a bottom wall interconnecting the side walls and the end walls;
- a housing retention mechanism to retain the housing within the opening of the chassis;
- an outlet core extending upwardly from the bottom wall into a space defined between the side walls and the end walls;
- and
- a deflectable latch portion secured to a first end wall of the end walls, the deflectable latch portion configured to engage a latch protrusion of one of the electrical plugs when inserted into the outlet core, and the deflectable latch portion being biased inwardly, toward the outlet core, to maintain the deflectable latch portion in a locked position until manually deflected outwardly, away from the outlet core, to release one of the electrical plugs.
10 more elements
A power distribution unit that receives electrical plugs, the power distribution unit comprising:
- a chassis defining an opening;
- one or more electrical outlet assemblies arranged within the opening;
- a power cord to supply electrical power from a power source to the one or more electrical outlet assemblies, each of the one or more electrical outlet assemblies including:
- a housing including:
- a first side wall and a second side wall;
- a first end wall and a second end wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall;
- a base interconnecting the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall;
- a housing retention mechanism to retain the housing within the opening of the chassis:
- an outlet core extending away from the base into a space defined between the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall;
- and
- a plug retention mechanism secured to the first end wall, the plug retention mechanism being deflected into the space surrounding the outlet core to secure one of the electrical plugs when engaged with the outlet core.
8 more elements
A power distribution unit, comprising:
- a means for securing one or more electrical outlet assemblies;
- a means for supplying electrical power from a power source to the one or more electrical outlet assemblies, each of the one or more electrical outlet assemblies including:
- a housing, including:
- a first side wall and a second side wall;
- a first end wall and a second end wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall to form a space therebetween;
- a means for interconnecting the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall;
- an outlet core extending away from the means for interconnecting the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall, the outlet core extending into the space defined between the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall;
- a means for securing an electrical plug in engagement with the outlet core, the means attached to the first end wall and being resiliently deflectable into the space surrounding the outlet core to secure the electrical plug when the electrical plug is engaged with the outlet core;
- and
- a means for securing the housing within the power distribution, the means being integrated into the first end wall, on opposing sides of the means for securing the electrical plug.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.