Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an outlet center for use with a power inlet box to electrically connect one or more loads to an auxiliary power supply connected to the power inlet box. The outlet center is designed to be mounted to an interior surface of a wall with the power inlet box mounted to an exterior surface of the wall. Electrical conductors extend through the wall between the outlet center and the power inlet box. The outlet center includes sockets adapted to receive the plug of an electrical load so that auxiliary power may be fed to the electrical load during primary power unavailability. The outlet center may illuminate when auxiliary power is available to assist a user in locating the outlet center during blackout conditions and may also include an indicator lamp that illuminates when auxiliary power is being provided to an electrical load connected to the outlet center.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/970,021 filed Sep. 5, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Auxiliary power sources, such as electric generators, are commonly used to provide power to selected loads during main or utility power supply interruption or failure. In one common approach, a building, such as a home, office, industrial site, etc., will include a subpanel to which certain loads, which may be critical loads of the building, are connected. Non-critical loads will be connected to a main panel. The subpanel, also referred to as a transfer panel, will be interconnected to the auxiliary power supply and the main power supply by a transfer switch. The transfer switch, which may be manually or automatically operated, is designed to selectively connect the subpanel to either the main power supply or the auxiliary power supply. During normal main power supply operation, main power is supplied to the subpanel and the main panel through the transfer switch and ultimately delivered to the critical and non-critical loads. During interruption of the main power supply, the transfer switch, either manually or automatically, disconnects the subpanel from the main power supply and connects the subpanel to the auxiliary power supply. The power delivered by the auxiliary power supply is then provided to the critical loads connected to the subpanel. 
     In another common approach, the hardwired main panel-subpanel configuration described above is avoided by a direct connection of a load to the auxiliary power supply. In this situation, it is common for an extension cord to be routed through a window or a garage door and interconnected between the load and the auxiliary power supply. Most auxiliary power supplies are engine driven electric generators and therefore must be located outside the building so that exhaust can be properly vented. 
     The auxiliary power supply will typically include a pair of outlets to which a load may be connected. To connect more than two loads to the auxiliary power supply, a power strip having a series of sockets must be connected to one of the outlets of the auxiliary power supply. The power cords for the various loads may then be connected to the power strip. While the use of power strips is an effective means to increase the number of loads that can be connected to the auxiliary power supply, a user still must route an extension cord through an open window or door to connect the power strip to the auxiliary power supply. This can be particularly problematic during inclement or extremely hot/cold weather. For example, when the generator is located outdoors, the connections of the extension cords to the power strip are exposed to the elements, which is particularly undesirable in rainy conditions, which is not infrequently the case during utility power interruptions. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides an alternative approach for connecting a load to an auxiliary power supply, such as an electric generator. In one embodiment, the invention is in the form of a kit that includes a power inlet box having a socket adapted to receive the power plug of the auxiliary power supply, a power outlet center having a plurality of sockets, each of which is adapted to receive the plug of an electrical load, and electrical connectors adapted to electrically connect the power inlet box and the power outlet center. In one implementation, the power inlet box is mounted to the exterior surface of a wall and the power outlet center is mounted opposite the power inlet box to the interior surface of the wall. In this implementation, the electrical connectors pass through an opening in the wall, which may be formed in a conventional manner, and include a protective conduit or sheath. The invention therefore allows a user to make indoor connections of one or more electrical loads to the auxiliary power supply without the need for extension cords running from the electrical load directly to the auxiliary power supply. 
     In a further embodiment, the power outlet center includes an illumination device that is powered by the auxiliary power supply to assist a user in locating the several sockets of the outlet center during blackout conditions. 
     In yet another embodiment, the power outlet center may include status lights or LEDs that signal when the power outlet center is being energized by the auxiliary power supply. 
     Various other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an assembly for interconnecting multiple loads to a remote auxiliary power supply, such as an electric generator, that includes a power outlet center to which one or more electrical loads may be connected and a power inlet box to which the auxiliary power supply may be connected, to provide power to the electrical loads connected to the power outlet center according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the power outlet center of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3-6  illustrate stages of mounting the power outlet center and the power inlet box of the kit shown in  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of an assembly for interconnecting multiple loads to a remote auxiliary power supply, such as an electric generator, that includes a power outlet center to which one or more electrical loads may be connected and a power inlet box to which the auxiliary power supply may be connected, to provide power to the electrical loads connected to the power outlet center according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of the power inlet box shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention includes a wall mounted power outlet center  10  that includes a plurality of outlets  12  or sockets that are interconnected to an auxiliary power supply  14 , such as an engine-driven generator, by a wall mounted power inlet box  16 . The power outlet center  10  is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface  18  of an exterior wall  20  of a building  22  whereas the power inlet box  16  is adapted to be mounted to an opposite, exterior surface  24  of the exterior wall  20 . A sheathed cable or conduit  26  containing electrical connectors  28  extends between the power outlet center  10  and the power inlet box  16  so that power delivered to the power inlet box  16  is available at the sockets  12  of the power outlet center  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the sheathed cable or conduit  26  extends through a bore or opening  30  extending linearly through the wall  20  between the mounted power outlet center  10  and the power inlet box  16 . In one embodiment, the sheath of the cable or conduit  26  is formed of PVC, but other materials may be used. 
     As known in the art, the electric generator  14  includes a power cable  30  that terminates in a plug  32  that is adapted to be received in a socket  34  of the power inlet box  16 , as known in the art. Although the invention is not limited to any particular type of power inlet box, one exemplary power inlet box is described in U.S. Ser. No. 12/199,490, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The power outlet center  12  according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . The power outlet center  12  includes a housing  36  having a face  38  in which sockets  12  are formed. As known in the art, each socket  12  includes slots  40  configured to receive blades (not shown) of the plug  42 ,  FIG. 1 , of an electrical load (not shown) or an extension cord (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, each socket  12  also includes a hole  44  that is configured to receive the ground contact of the plug  42 . 
     The sheath of cable or conduit  26  extends from the backside (not numbered) of the housing  36  and provides a protective housing for electrical connectors  28 . As will be described further below, in one preferred embodiment, the sheath of cable or conduit  26  is formed of material that can be cut as desired by a user. In a conventional manner, the electrical connectors  28  are connected to the sockets to allow current to flow from the auxiliary power supply  14  to the electrical loads connected to the power outlet center  10 . While six sockets  12  are shown, it is contemplated that the power outlet center  10  may have more or less than six sockets  12 . Additionally, it is also contemplated that for some applications it may be desirable to have a single power outlet center having sets of sockets, with the sets electrically isolated from one another and powered by separate auxiliary power supplies. This later embodiment may be particularly advantageous in industrial or office applications in which multiple generators may be needed to power a number of loads. 
     It will be appreciated that the invention allows for a fixed connection point to be established in the building for connecting various cord-connected loads to the auxiliary power supply  14  without being connected to the main breaker box or panel of the building. Moreover, since the power outlet center  10  has multiple sockets  12 , e.g., six three-prong outlets, the need for a power strip or similar device is reduced. Additionally, the need to route an extension cord from the auxiliary power supply through a door or window to a load is avoided. 
     The power outlet center  10  may include a pair of openings  46 , which are configured to receive screws or other connectors for use in securing the outlet center  10  to interior surface  18  of the exterior wall  20  of building  22 . In addition, the power outlet center  10  may include a light source  48 , which may be in the form of a pair of LEDs  48  that are powered by the auxiliary power supply  14 . The LEDs  48  function to illuminate the sockets  12  to assist with inserting plugs into the outlets, and also indicate an operating status of the auxiliary power supply  14 . Thus, in one embodiment, the power outlet center  10  includes circuitry that detects the operating status of the auxiliary power supply  14  and illuminates an LED  48  accordingly. 
     The power inlet box  16  is designed to be mounted to the exterior surface  24  of wall  20  in a conventional manner. The power inlet box  16  has a housing  50  suitable for exterior mounting and a socket  52  configured to receive a mating plug  32  of a power cord  30  connected to the auxiliary power supply  14 . Preferably, the power inlet box  16  has a cover plate  54  that protects the socket  50  when in a closed position. The outlet center  10  may be mounted in a suitable location in the building, such as in the wall of a basement, a garage, or a first floor of the building. 
     In a typical installation, the homeowner or installer first bores a hole through the exterior wall  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , using a drill or other conventional boring device. The opening is formed of sufficient diameter to receive the sheath of the cable or conduit  26  of the power outlet center  10 . 
     Once a suitable opening is formed, the power outlet center  10  is mounted to the interior surface  18  of the exterior wall  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The outlet center  10  may be mounted in a conventional manner using suitable bolts, screws, etc. through openings  46  and into the wall  20 . The outlet center  10  should be mounted after the sheath of the cable or conduit  26  has been extended through the opening to the opposite side of the wall  20 , i.e., accessible at the exterior surface  24  of the wall  20 . In one embodiment, the sheath of the cable or conduit  26  and the electrical conductors  28  may be formed of material that allows the sheath and the conductors  28  to be cut to a desired length, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Once the sheath of the cable or conduit  26  is cut to a desired length, the power inlet box  16  is connected to the sheath of the cable or conduit  26 , and the socket  52  of the power inlet box  16  is connected to the electrical conductors  28  in a conventional manner and the power inlet box  16  is then mounted to the exterior surface of the  24  of the wall  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . It is contemplated that the power outlet center  10  may be mounted to the wall  20  at a below grade location, e.g., in a basement, as well as an above-grade location, e.g., in a first floor. 
     In use, the user simply places generator  14  is a suitable location, such as outdoors or in a garage, and then connects cord  54  to the power inlet box  16  to provide power to the outlet center  10 . The user then connects any desired number of power cords, typically extension cords, to the outlet center  10  for providing power to desired loads in the event of a utility power outage. 
     In addition, while electrical conductors  28  and the cable or conduit  26  are shown and described as extending from the power outlet center  10 , it is contemplated that the electrical conductors  28  and sheath  26  may extend from a backside of the power inlet box  16 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate a power outlet center  56  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The power outlet center  56  includes a plurality of outlets  58  or sockets that may be energized by an auxiliary power supply  60 , such an engine driven generator, through a power cable  62  containing a series of power leads  64  hardwired to the outlets  58  at one end and terminating in a plug  66  at an opposite end. In this regard, the power outlet center  56  includes a housing  68  with an integrated power cable  62  for direct connection to the auxiliary power supply  60 . Alternately, the power cable  62  and the power outlet center  56  may be separate components that are assembled when the power outlet center  56  is installed. 
     In one embodiment, a conduit  70  extends from the backside of the housing  68  and is designed to fit in an opening formed in wall  72 . In this embodiment, a portion of the power cable  62  is contained within the conduit  70 . 
     In one representative embodiment, the power cable  62  is integrally formed with the power outlet center  56 . To install the power outlet center  56 , an opening is formed in wall  72  of sufficient size to pass the power cable  62  and its plug  66 . The plug-end of the power cable  62  is the fed through the opening and the housing  68  is mounted to the wall  72  in a conventional manner. The plug  66  may then be engaged with a socket of the auxiliary power supply  60 . Thus, when the auxiliary power supply  60  is operating, loads connected to the power outlet center  56  via sockets  58  may then be powered. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the power cable  62  may be stored in storage box  74  mounted to the wall  72  opposite the power outlet center  56 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The storage box  74  has a housing  76  suitable for exterior mounting and includes a back plate  80  having a pair of hangers  82  extending therefrom. When storing the power cable  62 , the power cable  62  can be wrapped around the hangers  82  to secure the power cable  62  in the housing  76 . Preferably, the storage box  74  includes a cover plate  84  that protects the cable  62  when the cover plate  84  is in the closed position. It is understood that other types of retention devices may be used to hold the cable in box  74 . Further, it is contemplated that power outlet center  56  may include various lights and indicators as described with respect to power outlet center  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is available as a kit that can be quickly assembled, such as by a homeowner or handyman, to provide the fixed connection of the load center to the auxiliary power supply as described above. 
     It is noted that an outlet center having fewer or more than six outlets may be used. Additionally, in one embodiment, the outlet center is rated for 110, 15 A operation; although, it is contemplated that the outlet center may also be differently rated, such as 220V, 30 A. 
     It is contemplated that the housing may be contained within a suitable junction box or integrally formed with a junction box. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.