Multipurpose wall outlet with USB ports

• US 9,350,557 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multipurposes Wall Outlet Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: Manolo Fabio Rivera
• Inventors: Rivera, Manolo Fabio
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US14/504,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20150017930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 370/419, 370/463, 370/328, 370/400
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A multipurpose wall outlet that provides electrical power via at least one standard electrical socket(s) and at least one USB port as well as providing a wired and wireless internet connection is disclosed. The multipurpose wall outlet has a housing in which is assembled at least one receiver for receiving a signal from a wireless data network, at least one processor for processing the signal from the wireless data network, at least one electrical socket, at least one USB port, at least one ethernet port, and a transmitter for transmitting a wireless data signal.

Claims

1. A wall outlet apparatus for mounting in a wall to provide an electrical outlet, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a front side, the housing being arranged so that the front side faces outward from the wall when the wall outlet apparatus is mounted in the wall;

a plurality of USB ports accessible from the front side;

an power interface connector in electrical communication with the plurality of USB ports, wherein the power interface connector is adapted to electrically couple to a power source; and

a electronic processing module comprising a processor and a smart chip, the electronic processing module being located in the housing and electrically coupled to the USB ports and the power interface connector;

wherein the wall outlet apparatus is adapted, during operation, to;

receive electrical power having alternating current from the power source,

convert the electrical power to direct current using the smart chip, and

output the converted electrical power from the USB ports.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic processing module further comprises a communications subsystem for communication with a wireless data network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic processing module further comprises a card reader interface adapted to read a SIM card.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic processing module further comprises a memory module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic processing module is adapted to convert electrical power received from the power source from a first voltage into a second voltage different from the first voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first voltage is an AC voltage and the second voltage is a DC voltage.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first voltage is 110 VAC or 125 VAC.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second voltage is 5 VDC.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic processing module is adapted to:

receive a signal comprising data from a first external device;

process the received signal; and

transmit a second signal comprising data to a second external device based on the received signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an antenna,

wherein the electronic processing module is adapted to receive the signal from the first external device using the antenna.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the received signal is a WiFi signal or a cellular signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic processing module is adapted to transmit the second signal to the second external device using the antenna.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a data port accessible from the front side,

wherein the electronic processing module is adapted to receive the signal from the first external device using the data port.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data port is an RJ45 socket or RJ11 socket.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a data port accessible from the front side,

wherein the electronic processing module is adapted to transmit the signal to the second external device using the data port.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein processing the received signal comprises routing data in the received signal between the first device and the second device.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein processing the received signal comprises generating VOIP voice data based on the received signal;

and

wherein transmitting the second signal to the second device comprises transmitting the VOIP voice data to the second device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket extending from the housing, wherein the mounting bracket is adapted to secure the wall outlet to the wall.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical socket accessible from the front side, wherein the electrical socket is in electrical communication with the power interface connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the electrical socket is a NEMA connector.