SMART PLUG SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150236449A1
• Filed: 02/15/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boss Controls LLC
• Original Assignee: Boss Controls LLC
• Inventors: Puschnigg, Greg W., Krummey, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 9,484,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A smart plug system includes, in an embodiment, a smart plug that may be securable to an electrical outlet by way of an anti-theft device. The anti-theft device may include in an embodiment: a body securable to the electrical outlet; and a protrusion that extends from the body and which may extend into an aperture of the smart plug to secure the smart plug to the electrical outlet when the smart plug is plugged into an electrical outlet. In an embodiment, the smart plug may be configured to be customizable in appearance by including a plurality of different covers that may be secured to a face of the smart plug.

Claims

1. A smart plug system, comprising:

a smart plug; and

an anti-theft device comprising a body and a fastener, the body to secure the smart plug to the electrical outlet by way of the fastener when the smart plug is plugged into the electrical outlet.

2. The smart plug system of claim 1, the anti-theft device separate from and detachable from the smart plug, the smart plug comprising an aperture, the body of the anti-theft device comprising a hole, the anti-theft device further comprising a protrusion extending from the body, the protrusion to extend at least partially into the aperture of the smart plug;

and

wherein the fastener is to extend through the hole of the anti-theft device body and into the electrical outlet to said secure the smart plug to the electrical outlet when the smart plug is plugged into the electrical outlet.

3. The smart plug system of claim 2, the smart plug further comprising a face and a side adjacent to the face, the face comprising a plug receptacle, the aperture in the side.

4. The smart plug system of claim 2, the extension of the protrusion at least partially into the aperture of the smart plug being an adjustable extension.

5. The smart plug system of claim 4, the fastener to extend into the electrical outlet by way of an electrical outlet hole, the extension of the protrusion into the aperture of the smart plug an adjustable extension to align the hole of the body of the anti-theft device with the electrical outlet hole.

6. The smart plug system of claim 2, the smart plug further comprising a plug receptacle, the anti-theft device further comprising a clamp, the clamp comprising:

a hole and a securing structure, wherein the fastener is further to extend through the clamp hole, the securing structure to be secured to at least one of a plug and a cord of an apparatus to restrict removal of the apparatus plug from the smart plug.

7. The smart plug system of claim 1, the anti-theft device further comprising a tether secured to the body, the tether comprising a loop to be secured to the electrical outlet by way of the fastener.

8. The smart plug system of claim 1, the smart plug comprising a plug receptacle, the anti-theft device further comprising a clamp to secure to the smart plug, the clamp comprising a securing structure, the securing structure to be secured to at least one of a plug and a cord of an apparatus to restrict removal of the apparatus plug from the smart plug.

9. The smart plug system of claim 1, the smart plug further comprising a face;

and

the smart plug system further comprising a plurality of replaceable covers for the smart plug, each cover comprising at least one different feature, each cover securable onto the face of the smart plug.

10. The smart plug system of claim 9, wherein the feature is a color.

11. The smart plug system of claim 9, wherein:

the face of the smart plug comprises a plug receptacle; and

each of the plurality of covers further comprises a receptacle hole, each cover securable onto the face of the smart plug such that the receptacle hole aligns with the plug receptacle of the smart plug thereby exposing at least a portion of the plug receptacle.

12. The smart plug system of claim 11, wherein:

the face of the smart plug further comprises an indicator light and a nameplate; and

each of the plurality of covers further comprises an indicator light hole and a nameplate hole, each cover securable onto the face of the smart plug such that;

the indicator light hole aligns with the indicator light of the smart plug thereby exposing at least a portion of the indicator light; and

the nameplate hole aligns with the nameplate of the smart plug thereby exposing at least a portion of the nameplate.

13. The smart plug system of claim 1, the securing of the smart plug to the electrical outlet to qualify the smart plug as a permanent installation to qualify for a utility rebate.

14. A smart plug system, comprising:

a smart plug; and

an anti-theft device secured to the smart plug, the anti-theft device comprising;

a body;

a tether secured to the body, the tether comprising a loop; and

a fastener to secure the body of the anti-theft device, and thereby the smart plug, to an electrical outlet by extending through the loop of the tether and into the electrical outlet.

15. The smart plug system of claim 14, the body comprising a hole, the tether further comprising another loop, the another loop to extend through the hole of the body to said secure the tether to the body.

16. The smart plug system of claim 14, the smart plug further comprising a face;

and

the smart plug system further comprising a plurality of replaceable covers for the smart plug, each cover comprising at least one different feature, each cover securable onto the face of the smart plug.

17. The smart plug system of claim 16, wherein the feature is a color.

18. The smart plug system of claim 14, the body secured to the smart plug by being integral with the smart plug.

19. The smart plug system of claim 14, the securing of the body of the anti-theft device, and thereby the smart plug, to the electrical outlet to qualify the smart plug as a permanent installation to qualify for a utility rebate.

20. A smart plug system, comprising:

a smart plug; and

an anti-theft device comprising a clamp securable to the smart plug, the clamp comprising a securing structure, the securing structure to be secured to at least one of a plug and a cord of an apparatus to restrict removal of the apparatus plug from the smart plug.

21. The smart plug system of claim 20, the anti-theft device further comprising:

a fastener; and

a body comprising a hole, the body secured to the smart plug; and

the clamp further comprising a hole, wherein the fastener is to extend through the body hole and the clamp hole to secure the clamp to the body.

22. The smart plug system of claim 21, the anti-theft device body secured to the smart plug by being integral with the smart plug.

23. The smart plug system of claim 20, the smart plug further comprising a face;

and

the smart plug system further comprising a plurality of replaceable covers for the smart plug, each cover comprising at least one different feature, each cover securable onto the face of the smart plug.

24. The smart plug system of claim 23, wherein the feature is a color.

25. The smart plug system of claim 20, the securing of the securing structure to the at least one of the plug and the cord of the apparatus to restrict removal of the apparatus plug from the smart plug to qualify the smart plug as a permanent installation to qualify for a utility rebate.

26. A smart plug method, comprising:

plugging a smart plug into an electrical outlet;

securing, using an anti-theft device, at least one of;

the smart plug to the electrical outlet; and

an apparatus to the smart plug,

the securing thereby qualifying the smart plug as a permanent installation; and

receiving a utility rebate based on the qualification of the smart plug as the permanent installation.

27. The smart plug method of claim 26, the securing, using an anti-theft device, of the smart plug to the electrical outlet comprising:

extending a protrusion of the anti-theft device at least partially into an aperture of the smart plug; and

extending a fastener through a hole in the anti-theft device and further into an electrical outlet hole to secure the smart plug to the electrical outlet.

28. A smart plug method, comprising:

plugging a smart plug that comprises an aperture into an electrical outlet;

extending a protrusion of an anti-theft device at least partially into the aperture of the smart plug;

extending a fastener through a hole in the anti-theft device and further into an electrical outlet hole of the electrical outlet to secure the smart plug to the electrical outlet to thereby qualify the smart plug as a permanent installation; and

receiving a utility rebate based on the qualification of the smart plug as the permanent installation.