Patent Publication Number: US-2018054082-A1

Title: Battery powered electrical outlet

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/377,215, filed Aug. 19, 2016, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a portable electrical outlet. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a portable electrical outlet that is powered by a rechargeable power tool battery pack. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a portable electrical outlet is selectively coupled to an electrical device and a rechargeable power tool battery pack. The rechargeable power tool battery pack is configured to power the electrical device when the rechargeable power tool battery pack and the electrical device are coupled to the portable electrical outlet. The portable electrical outlet includes a housing and an electrical socket coupled to the housing. The electrical socket includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The first aperture is configured to receive a first electrical prong of the electrical device, and the second aperture is configured to receive a second electrical prong of the electrical device. The portable electrical outlet also includes a battery holder formed on a side of the housing. The battery holder includes a terminal. The battery holder is configured to support the rechargeable power tool battery pack for the rechargeable power tool battery pack to be electrically coupled to the terminal. 
     In another aspect, a portable electrical outlet is selectively coupled to an electrical device and a rechargeable power tool battery pack. The rechargeable power tool battery pack is configured to power the electrical device when the rechargeable power tool battery pack and the electrical device are coupled to the portable electrical outlet. The portable electrical outlet includes a housing having a post. The post is configured to be removably inserted into a surface to support the housing above the surface. The portable electrical outlet also includes an electrical socket coupled to the housing. The electrical socket includes an aperture. The aperture is configured to receive an electrical prong of the electrical device. The portable electrical outlet further includes a battery holder formed on a side of the housing. The battery holder includes a cavity and a terminal. The cavity is configured to receive the rechargeable power tool battery pack for the rechargeable power tool battery pack to be electrically coupled to the terminal. 
     In yet another aspect, a portable electrical outlet assembly is configured to power an electrical device. The portable electrical outlet assembly includes a rechargeable power tool battery pack and a portable electrical outlet. The portable electrical outlet includes a housing and an electrical socket coupled to the housing. The electrical socket includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The first aperture is configured to receive a first electrical prong of the electrical device, and the second aperture is configured to receive a second electrical prong of the electrical device. The portable electrical outlet also includes a battery holder formed on a side of the housing. The battery holder includes a terminal. The battery holder is configured to support the rechargeable power tool battery pack for the rechargeable power tool battery pack to be electrically coupled to the terminal. The rechargeable power tool battery pack is configured to power the electrical device when the rechargeable power tool battery pack and the electrical device are coupled to the portable electrical outlet. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical device coupled to a portable electrical outlet according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a rechargeable power tool battery pack selectively coupled to the portable electrical outlet of  FIG. 1  or a power tool. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the portable electrical outlet of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the portable electrical outlet of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical circuit schematic of the portable electrical outlet of  FIG. 1  including a solar panel operable to charge the rechargeable power tool battery pack. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the portable electrical outlet of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the portable electrical outlet of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electrical device  10  including an electrical cord  15  selectively coupled to a portable electrical outlet  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical device  10  is a fan, but can be other corded electrical devices (e.g., a light, holiday decorations such as Christmas lights, a misting device, a radio, a power tool, a laptop coupled to a charging cord, a smartphone coupled to a charging cord, a tablet coupled to a charging cord, etc.). 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a rechargeable power tool battery pack  25  is also selectively coupled to the portable electrical outlet  20  for the battery pack  25  to power the electrical device  10 , discussed in more detail below. In one embodiment, a portable electrical outlet assembly includes the portable electrical outlet  20  and the rechargeable power tool battery pack  25 . When the battery pack  25  is not coupled to the portable electrical outlet  20 , the battery pack  25  can alternatively be selectively coupled to a power tool  30  (e.g., a drill, a hammer drill, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, etc.) to power the power tool  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the battery pack  25  includes a nominal voltage of at least 10 volts. In other embodiments, the battery pack  25  can include a nominal voltage of about 12 volts or about 18 volts. The illustrated battery pack  25  includes a body  35  that supports lithium-ion battery cells and has latches  40  (only one latch  40  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) to selectively couple the battery pack  25  to the portable electrical outlet  20  or the power tool  30 . The battery pack  25  also includes a stem  45  coupled to and extends away from the body  35  with the stem  45  having battery terminals  50  that are electrically coupled to the lithium-ion battery cells. In other embodiments, the body  35  can support other types of battery cells (e.g., nickel-cadmium battery cells, etc.) to power the electrical device  10  and the power tool  30 . Further, the battery pack  25  may include other types of coupling mechanisms (e.g., rails) instead of the stem  45  so that the battery pack  25  is a slide-on-style battery pack rather than a tower- or insert-style battery pack. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , the electrical cord  15  of the electrical device  10  includes a plug  55  having a first prong  60 , a second prong  65 , and a ground prong  70 . As such, the illustrated plug  55  can be a Type B plug. In other embodiments, the plug  55  can be other types (e.g., Type A-O). In further embodiments, the plug  55  can be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the portable electrical outlet  20  includes a housing  75  (e.g., a moisture resistant housing) having a front side  80 , a rear side  85  opposite the front side  80 , a top side  90 , a bottom side  95  opposite the top side  90 , a first side  100 , and a second side  105  opposite the first side  100 . A post  110  that defines a longitudinal axis  115  is coupled to and extends from the bottom side  95 . The illustrated post  110  tapers from the bottom side  95  to an end or point  120  of the post  110  distal to the bottom side  95 . The post  110  is operable to be removably inserted into a surface  125  (e.g., ground;  FIG. 1 ) so that the housing  75  is supported above the surface  125 . In other embodiments, the post  110  can be coupled to the first side  100  and/or the second side  105  of the housing  75 . In further embodiments, the post  110  may be replaced with other types of stands for supporting the outlet  20  on a surface. For example, alternative stands may include a tripod base, a weighted base, a magnetized base, an adhesive base, and the like. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a pair of electrical sockets  130  is coupled to the front side  80  of the housing  75 . A first electrical socket  135  and a second electrical socket  140  of the pair of electrical sockets  130  both include a first aperture  145 , a second aperture  150 , and a ground aperture  155  (e.g., a Type B socket). Each electrical socket  135 ,  140  is sized to receive the plug  55  of the electrical device  10 . In particular, the first aperture  145  receives the first prong  60 , the second aperture  150  receives the second prong  65 , and the ground aperture  155  receives the ground prong  70 . As such, the plug  55  is insertable into or removable out of one of the first and second electrical sockets  135 ,  140  in a first direction  160  ( FIG. 2 ) that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  115  of the post  110 . In other embodiments, at least one of the first and second electrical sockets  135 ,  140  can be coupled to the first side  100  or the second side  105  of the housing  75 , which would still maintain the first direction  160  to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  115 . However, in further embodiments, at least one of the first and second electrical sockets  135 ,  140  can be coupled to the top side  90  of the housing  75 , which would alter the first direction  160  to be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  115 . In some embodiments, both the first and second electrical sockets  135 ,  140  can be different types of sockets (e.g., Type A-O). In other embodiments, the first electrical socket  135  can be one type of socket (e.g., Type B) and the second electrical socket  140  can be another type of socket (e.g., USB socket). 
     A socket cover  165  is pivotably coupled to the front side  80  of the housing  75  about an axis  170  between an open position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that allows access to the pair of electrical sockets  130  and a closed position ( FIG. 3 ) to block access to the pair of electrical sockets  130 . The illustrated axis  170  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  115  of the post  110 , but in other embodiments, the axis  170  can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  115 . A moisture resistant seal can also be provided between the socket cover  165  and the front side  80  of the housing  75  to protect the pair of electrical sockets  130  from moisture when the socket cover  165  is in the closed position. In other embodiments, the socket cover  165  may be omitted. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , a battery holder  175  is formed on the rear side  85  of the housing  75  and is sized to receive the battery pack  25 . In particular, the battery pack  25  is insertable into or removable out of the battery holder  175  in a second direction  180  ( FIG. 2 ), which is opposite to the first direction  160 . In other words, the second direction  180  is parallel to the first direction  160 . In other embodiments, the battery holder  175  can be coupled to the first side  100  or the second side  105  of the housing  75 , which would still maintain the second direction  180  to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  115 . However, in further embodiments, the battery holder  175  can be coupled to the top side  90  of the housing  75 , which would alter the second direction  180  to be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  115 . In other words, the second direction  180  is perpendicular to the first direction  160 . 
     The illustrated battery holder  175  includes a cavity  185  with outlet terminals  190  (only one outlet terminal  190  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) located within the cavity  185  with the outlet terminals  190  electrically coupled to the pair of electrical sockets  130  ( FIG. 5 ). The battery holder  175  also includes a latching arrangement  195  sized to receive the latches  40  of the battery pack  25 . The illustrated latching arrangement  195  includes a first aperture  200  and a second aperture  205  located on opposing sides of the cavity  185 . With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , a battery cover  210  is fixedly coupled to the rear side  85  of the housing  75  to extend away from the battery holder  175  and includes an opening  215  in which the battery pack  25  is received through to engage the battery holder  175 . In some embodiments, a pivotable cover (similar to the socket cover  165 ) can be coupled to the battery cover  210  to allow access to the battery holder  175  when in an open position and not allow access to the battery holder  175  but provide a moisture resistant seal when in a closed position. In other embodiments, the battery cover  210  may be omitted. 
     The illustrated portable electrical outlet  20  also includes at least one solar panel  220  coupled to the top side  90  of the housing  75  ( FIGS. 2-4 ) and is electrically coupled to the outlet terminals  190  ( FIG. 5 ). Moreover, because the outlet terminals  190  are electrically coupled to the pair of electrical sockets  130 , the solar panel  220  is also electrically coupled to the pair of electrical sockets  130  by the outlet terminals  190 . In other embodiments, the solar panel  220  can be directly coupled to the pair of electrical sockets  130  and the outlet terminals  190 . In further embodiments, the solar panel  220  can be coupled to another side of the housing  75  (e.g., the first side  100  or the second side  105 ), can extend onto a side of the battery cover  210 , and/or multiple solar panels  220  can be coupled to multiple sides of the housing  75 . The portable electrical outlet  20  can also include suitable electrical components to convert and/or regulate electrical current traveling from the solar panel  220  to the outlet terminals  190  and/or traveling from the outlet terminals  190  to the pair of electrical sockets  130  (e.g., a DC to AC power converter can be electrically coupled between the outlet terminals  190  and the pair of electrical sockets  130 ). In other embodiments, the solar panel  220  can be omitted from the portable electrical outlet  20 . 
     In operation, the portable electrical outlet  20  is placed at a desired location on the surface  125  by sticking the post  110  into the surface  125 . For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates the portable electrical outlet  20  supported above a residential yard adjacent an outdoor patio area. To connect the battery pack  25  to the portable electrical outlet  20 , the battery pack  25  is moved along the second direction  180  through the opening  215  of the battery cover  210  to engage with the battery holder  175 . In particular, the stem  45  of the battery pack  25  is received within the cavity  185  for the battery terminals  50  to connect with the outlet terminals  190 . Once the battery terminals  50  connect with the outlet terminals  190 , the battery pack  25  energizes the pair of electrical sockets  130 . In other embodiments, an ON/OFF switch can be coupled to the housing  75  and is operable to selectively energize the pair of electrical sockets  130  after the battery terminals  50  are connected to the outlet terminals  190 . In addition to the battery terminals  50  connecting with the outlet terminals  190 , the latches  40  of the battery pack  25  engage with the latching arrangement  195  of the portable electrical outlet  20 . In particular, a portion of the latches  40  extends through the first and second apertures  200 ,  205  and engages the rear side  85  of the housing  75  to lock the battery pack  25  to the portable electrical outlet  20 . 
     The electrical device  10  is powered by the battery pack  25  by inserting the plug  55  into one of the first and second electrical sockets  135 ,  140  along the first direction  160 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the solar panel  220  is operable to charge the battery pack  25  when it is coupled to the battery holder  175 . For example, once the battery terminals  50  contact the outlet terminals  190 , the solar panel  220  automatically begins to supply the battery pack  25  with direct electrical current (i.e., DC power) to increase the voltage level (e.g., to charge) the battery pack  25 . If the plug  55  is not coupled to the first and second sockets  135 ,  140 , all of the DC power from the solar panel  220  is received by the battery pack  25  to charge the battery pack  25 . However, if the plug  55  is coupled to one of the first and second sockets  135 ,  140 , then all of the DC power from the solar panel  220  is directed toward the pair of electrical sockets  130  to help the battery pack  25  power the electrical device  10 . In other embodiments, the DC power from the solar panel  220  can charge the battery pack  25  simultaneously as the battery pack  25  is powering the electrical device  10 . In further embodiments, the DC power from the solar panel  220  can directly power the electrical device  10  (e.g., Christmas lights) when the battery pack  25  is detached from the portable electrical outlet  20 . 
     To remove the battery pack  25  from the portable electrical outlet  20  to, for example, recharge the battery pack  25  or to power the power tool  30 , the latches  40  are depressed allowing the latches  40  to disengage from the latching arrangement  195 . Thereafter, the battery pack  25  is moved along the second direction  180  and away from the rear side  85  of the housing  75  to disengage the battery pack  25  from the portable electrical outlet  20 . As such, the battery cover  210  is sized to provide enough clearance on both sides of the battery pack  25  to allow for an operator&#39;s fingers to be positioned between the battery cover  210  and the battery pack  25  to depress the latches  40 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a portable electrical outlet  20   a  according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The portable electrical outlet  20   a  is similar to the portable electrical outlet  20 ; therefore, like components have been given like references numbers including the letter “a” and only the differences between the portable electrical outlets  20 ,  20   a  will be discussed in detail. In addition, components or features described with respect to only one or some of the embodiments described herein are equally applicable to any other embodiments described herein. 
     The portable electrical outlet  20   a  includes a housing  75   a  having a front side  80   a,  a rear side  85   a,  a top side  90   a,  a bottom side  95   a,  a first side  100   a,  a second side  105   a,  and at least two posts  110   a  each defining a longitudinal axis  115   a  and having an end  120   a.  Three pairs of electrical sockets  130   a  are coupled to the front side  80   a  and each pair includes a first electrical socket  135   a  and a second electrical socket  140   a  both having a first aperture  145   a,  a second aperture  150   a,  and a ground aperture  155   a.  The portable electrical outlet  20   a  also includes socket covers  165   a  each associated with one of the pairs of electrical sockets  130   a.  Each socket cover  165   a  is independently moveable relative to the other socket covers  165   a.  When a socket cover  165   a  is in an open position (e.g., outer two socket covers  165   a  illustrated in  FIG. 6 ), the plug  55  is insertable into or removable out of one of the first and second electrical sockets  135   a,    140   a  in a first direction  160   a.    
     As best shown in  FIG. 7 , three battery holders  175   a  are formed on the rear side  85   a  of the housing  75   a  and each is sized to receive one battery pack  25  along a second direction  180   a.  Each battery holder  175   a  includes a cavity  185   a  with outlet terminals  190   a  located within the cavity  185   a  (only one outlet terminal  190   a  is illustrated for each battery holder  175   a  in  FIG. 7 ). Each battery holder  175   a  also includes a latching arrangement  195   a  having a first aperture  200   a  and a second aperture  205   a.  With continued reference to  FIG. 7 , a battery cover  210   a  surrounds all three battery holders  175   a  and includes an opening  215   a  in which three battery packs  25  are received through to each engage one of the battery holders  175   a.  The portable electrical outlet  20   a  also includes a solar panel  220   a  coupled to the top side  90   a  of the housing  75   a.    
     In operation, when a first battery pack  25  engages a first battery holder  175   a  so that the battery terminals  50  connect with the outlet terminals  190   a,  the first battery pack  25  energizes a single pair of electrical sockets  130   a,  which is associated with the first battery holder  175   a.  As such, the other two pairs of electrical sockets  130   a  are not electrically coupled to the first battery pack  25  and are not energized. The other two pairs of electrical sockets  130   a  are energized once second and third battery packs  25  are coupled to the battery holders  175   a  associated with these two pairs of electrical sockets  130   a.  In other embodiments, a single battery pack  25  can energize all three pairs of electrical sockets  130   a  once the single battery pack  25  is coupled to any one of the three battery holders  175   a.    
     Although the disclosure has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the disclosure as described. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.