Power outlet
AssigneeQualtek Electronics Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Nuti, John J. Hallums, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power outlet, and associated method, for an electrical power supply strip. The power outlet includes a housing, an electrical connection for receiving first electrical power type, electrical components to change the first electrical power type to a second electrical power type, and a connection interface to supplying the second electrical power type. The power outlet housing has a body with a shape that corresponds to a shaped aperture of a main housing of the strip. A front portion of the power outlet housing is larger than the shaped aperture. An elastically deformable arm extends from the body and deforms as the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing. An engagement portion of the arm retains the power outlet housing relative to the main housing.
Claims20
A power outlet for an electrical power supply strip, the strip being configured to receive a first electrical power type and having a main housing, the main housing having a wall, the wall having an outer face and an inner face, the wall having a thickness between the outer face and the inner face, the wall having a shaped aperture therethrough, the power outlet comprising:
- a power outlet housing;
- an electrical connection to connect within the electrical power supply strip to receive the first electrical power type;
- electrical components located within the power outlet housing to change the first electrical power type to a second electrical power type;
- and
- a connection interface located at a front of the power outlet housing and supplying the second electrical power type;
- the power outlet housing having:
- a body with a shape that corresponds to the shape of the shaped aperture of the main housing;
- a front portion at the front of the power outlet housing that is larger than the shaped aperture of the main housing to engage the outer face of the wall of the main housing and prevent the front portion from passing through the shaped aperture of the main housing;
- and
- an elastically deformable arm extending from the body, the deformable arm deforms as the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing, the deformable arm has an engagement portion that engages the inner face of the wall of the main housing after the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing to entrap the wall of the main housing between the arm and the front portion and retain the power outlet housing relative to the wall of the main housing, and the deformable arm being configured to accommodate a variation of the thickness of the wall of the main housing.
An electrical power supply strip configured to receive a first electrical power type, the power supply strip comprising:
- a main housing, the main housing having a wall, the wall having an outer face and an inner face, the wall having a thickness between the outer face and the inner face, the wall having a plurality of shaped apertures therethrough;
- a first power outlet providing a supply of the first electrical power type, the first power outlet being located within one of the shaped apertures;
- and
- a second power outlet comprising:
- a power outlet housing;
- an electrical connection to connect within the electrical power supply strip to receive the first electrical power type;
- electrical components located within the power outlet housing to change the first electrical power type to a second electrical power type;
- and
- a connection interface located at a front of the power outlet housing and supplying the second electrical power type;
- the power outlet housing having:
- a body with a shape that corresponds to the shape of the shaped aperture of the main housing;
- a front portion at the front of the power outlet housing that is larger than the shaped aperture of the main housing to engage the outer face of the wall of the main housing and prevent the front portion from passing through the shaped aperture of the main housing;
- and
- an elastically deformable arm extending from the body, the deformable arm deforms as the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing, the deformable arm has an engagement portion that engages the inner face of the wall of the main housing after the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing to entrap the wall of the main housing between the arm and the front portion and retain the power outlet housing relative to the wall of the main housing, and the deformable arm being configured to accommodate a variation of the thickness of the wall of the main housing.
A method of providing an electrical power supply strip configured to receive a first electrical power type, the method comprising:
- providing a main housing, the main housing having a wall, the wall having an outer face and an inner face, the wall having a thickness between the outer face and the inner face, the wall having a plurality of shaped apertures therethrough;
- providing a first power outlet that provides a supply of the first electrical power type, the first power outlet being located within one of the shaped apertures;
- and
- providing a second power outlet that comprises:
- a power outlet housing;
- an electrical connection to connect within the electrical power supply strip to receive the first electrical power type;
- electrical components located within the power outlet housing to change the first electrical power type to a second electrical power type;
- and
- a connection interface located at a front of the power outlet housing and supplying the second electrical power type;
- the power outlet housing having:
- a body with a shape that corresponds to the shape of the shaped aperture of the main housing;
- a front portion at the front of the power outlet housing that is larger than the shaped aperture of the main housing to engage the outer face of the wall of the main housing and prevent the front portion from passing through the shaped aperture of the main housing;
- and
- an elastically deformable arm extending from the body, the deformable arm deforms as the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing, the deformable arm has an engagement portion that engages the inner face of the wall of the main housing after the arm passes through the shaped aperture of the main housing to entrap the wall of the main housing between the arm and the front portion and retain the power outlet housing relative to the wall of the main housing, and the deformable arm being configured to accommodate a variation of the thickness of the wall of the main housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.