Electrical outlet assembly having field replaceable transient voltage surge suppression module
AssigneeThe Wiremold Company
InventorsDaniel R. Grace, William Ashline, Carlos Valente
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical power outlet assembly having a housing supporting a plurality of electrical outlets each including an electrical plug receptacle. One of the outlets defines a pocket containing a portion of the casing of a field replaceable transient voltage surge suppression module (TVSS). The TVSS module is supported on the outlet assembly housing in plugging engagement with the plug receptacle of the one outlet which defines the pocket.
Claims33
The combination comprising an electrical power outlet assembly and a field replaceable transient voltage surge suppression module connected to said electrical power outlet assembly, said electrical power outlet assembly having a hollow housing, a plurality of electrical outlets mounted on said housing, each of said outlets including a plug receptacle accessible externally of said housing, and circuit means for electrically connecting one of said outlets to a source of electrical power to provide power at each of said outlets, said housing having an opening therein generally adjacent said one of said outlets, said transient voltage surge suppression module having a casing including a casing body and a casing cover connected to said casing body and having an offset portion projecting from said casing body, surge suppressing means contained within said casing body for absorbing and dissipating transient voltage surges, an electrical plug projecting from said casing cover and including a plurality of plugging elements for releasable plugging engagement with said one of said outlets, and conductive means for electrically connecting said surge suppressing means to said electrical plug, said casing body extending into said housing through said opening and being substantially disposed within said housing when said electrical plug is in plugging engagement with said one of said outlets.
A transient voltage surge suppression module comprising a casing having a casing body including a front end and a rear end and a casing cover connected to said front end of said casing body and extending laterally outwardly beyond said casing body, an electrical plug projecting rearwardly from said casing cover in laterally offset relation to said casing body, said plug including a plurality of rearwardly projecting plugging elements for electrically connected plugging engagement with an electrical plug receptacle, surge suppressing means disposed within said casing body for absorbing and dissipating transient voltage surges, and electrically conducting means for connecting said surge suppressing means to said plugging elements.
A multi-outlet system comprising an outlet assembly having a hollow dielectric housing including a housing base and a housing cover, a plurality of electrical power outlets mounted on said housing cover, each of said power outlets including a plug receptacle accessible externally of said housing, circuit means for electrically connecting one of said power outlets to a source of electrical power to provide electrical power to each of said power outlets, said housing having a dielectric pocket therein opening outwardly through said housing cover generally adjacent said one of said power outlets, and a field replaceable transient voltage surge suppression module having a dielectric casing including a casing body and a casing cover, and electrical plug rigidly supported relative to and projecting from said casing cover in offset relation to said casing body for absorbing and dissipating transient voltage surges, said electric plug including a plurality of plugging elements for releasable plugging engagement with said one of said power outlets, surge suppressing means contained with said casing body, and a printed circuit board having electrically conductive traces thereon electrically connecting said surge suppressing means and said plugging elements, said casing body being disposed within said pocket when said plugging elements are in plugging engagement with said one of said power outlets.
A transient voltage surge suppression module comprising an elongated circuit board having a front surface and a rear surface, surge suppression means for absorbing and dissipating transient voltage surges and including a plurality of circuit elements supported on said rear surface of said circuit board, plugging means including a plurality of plugging elements mounted on said circuit board and projecting rearwardly from said rear surface in generally normal relation to said rear surface and in laterally spaced relation to said circuit elements for electrically connected plugging engagement with a designated electrical receptacle, and a casing including a casing body and a casing cover, said casing body containing said circuit elements and having an integral laterally outwardly projecting apertured lip overlying a portion of said rear surface of said circuit board, said plugging elements projecting through and rearwardly beyond said apertured lip in laterally spaced relation to said casing body, said cover cooperating with said casing body to enclose said circuit board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.