Low voltage power receptacle

• US 9,312,673 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byrne Electrical Specialists Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R., Byrne, Daniel P., Pate, Randell E., Vander Till, Gerald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US14/293,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 361/756, 361/641, 361/679.01, 361/690, 439/79, 439/120, 439/107, 439/131, 439/208, 439/628, 439/501, 439/660, 439/535, 320/102, 320/111, 307/11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/185 Floor outlets and access cups

Abstract

A low voltage power receptacle assembly is adapted for providing access to low voltage power in compact spaces. The low voltage power receptacle assembly includes a circuit subassembly that is operable to transform a line voltage input, such as about 110V to 220V AC, to a lower voltage output, such as about 2V to 12V DC. Electrical input conductors receive and convey the line voltage from a power source to the circuit subassembly, while electrical output conductors convey the lower voltage output from the circuit subassembly to a low voltage power receptacle that may be spaced some distance from the circuit subassembly. The low voltage power receptacle is mountable in different housings, faceplates, and the like, to accommodate different mounting styles and locations.

Claims

1. A low voltage power receptacle assembly comprising:

a housing defining a power output opening and a pair of elongate supports disposed along respective interior surfaces of said housing;

a base plate having opposite side edge regions;

a circuit subassembly that is operable to transform a line voltage input to a lower voltage output; and

a low voltage power output receptacle coupled to said base plate and accessible through said power output opening, wherein said low voltage power output receptacle is in electrical communication with said circuit subassembly;

wherein said low voltage power output receptacle is mountable in said housing via sliding engagement of said opposite side regions of said base plate with respective ones of said elongate supports.

2. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein said low voltage output power receptacle comprises a USB-style receptacle.

3. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a pair of opposite sidewalls and at least one interior wall disposed between said sidewalls, and wherein a first of said elongate supports is formed along a first side of said interior wall and a second of said elongate supports is formed along a first of said sidewalls.

4. The receptacle assembly of claim 3, further comprising a third elongate support formed along a second side of said interior wall and a fourth elongate support formed along a second of said sidewalls.

5. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein said housing comprises first and second housing portions, said first housing portion forming said power output opening and said second housing portion forming said sidewalls, said interior wall, and said elongate supports, and wherein said circuit subassembly is mounted to said base plate and is disposed in said second housing portion.

6. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuit subassembly is positioned outside of said housing.

7. The receptacle assembly of claim 6, further comprising a low voltage input receptacle in electrical communication with said low voltage power output receptacle, wherein said housing defines a power input opening aligned with said low voltage input receptacle.

8. The receptacle assembly of claim 7, wherein said housing comprises first and second housing portions, said first housing portion forming said power output opening and said second housing portion forming said power input opening, wherein said first housing portion further comprises a pair of projections configured to engage respective surfaces defining an opening in an electrical power center.

9. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein said first housing portion comprises a pair of latch tabs configured to secure said receptacle assembly in an opening formed in a mounting surface.

10. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein each of said elongate supports comprises an elongate groove.

11. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a second power output opening defined in said housing;

a second base plate having opposite side edge regions;

a second circuit subassembly that is operable to transform a line voltage input to a lower voltage output; and

a second low voltage power output receptacle coupled to said second base plate and accessible through said second power output opening, wherein said second low voltage power output receptacle is in electrical communication with said second circuit subassembly;

wherein said second low voltage power output receptacle is mountable in said housing via sliding engagement of said opposite side regions of said second base plate with respective ones of said third and fourth elongate supports.

12. The receptacle assembly of claim 11, wherein said housing comprises first and second housing portions, said first housing portion forming said power output openings and said second housing portion including said first and second sidewalls and defining said second and fourth elongate supports, wherein said first housing portion further defines a pair of slots that substantially align with respective ones of said second and fourth elongate supports, and wherein each of said slots is configured to receive one of said opposite side edge regions of a respective one of said base plates.

13. The receptacle assembly of claim 12, wherein said first housing portion defines a lateral slot configured to receive respective forward edge regions of said base plates.

14. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises first and second housing portions, said first housing portion forming said power output opening and said second housing portion including a pair of sidewalls that form respective ones of said interior surfaces and said elongate supports, wherein said circuit subassembly is mounted to said base plate and is disposed in said second housing portion.

15. The receptacle assembly of claim 14, further comprising a projecting tab extending forwardly from each of said sidewalls of said second housing portion, wherein said first housing portion defines a pair of recesses at opposite sides thereof, and wherein said projecting tabs are configured to engage respective ones of said recesses upon assembly of said first housing portion to said second housing portion.