Patent Publication Number: US-9837753-B1

Title: Module outlet

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Outlets, also referred to as electrical outlets, power outlets or socket connectors, when connected to power serve as power conduits for appliances. Outlets can provide either Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC). For example, C13 outlets (female) and C14 appliance inlet (males) are frequently used with computer and computer related peripherals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a module outlet before assembly in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show various views of base module housing for a single outlet core of a module outlet in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows middle module housing for a single outlet core of a module outlet in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows the base module housing shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  joined with the middle module housing shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows end module housing for a single outlet core of a module outlet in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  shows the base module housing shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  joined with the middle module housing shown in  FIG. 4  and the end module housing shown in  FIG. 6  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show various views of a single outlet core of a module outlet in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  how various views of a module outlet after assembly in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  show various views of a module outlet before placement on a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  shows a module outlet after placement on a printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  shows a module outlet after placement on a printed circuit board in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  shows a module outlet after placement on a printed circuit board in accordance with another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows base module housing  10 , middle module housing  20 , end module housing  30  and outlet cores  40  ready to be assembled into a module outlet. For example, each of outlet cores  40  is a C13 connector as specified by standards of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60320. Alternatively, each outlet core is another type of outlet compatible with another IEC standard or compatible with a standard from another standards organization or a special custom configuration. The outlets described herein are generally used as power outlets. 
       FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show details of base module housing  10 . An opening  14  is ready to receive an outlet core  40 , which is placed in through a bottom of base module housing  10 . Tabs  13  are used to lock outlet core  40  into place. A dovetail groove  11  and a dovetail groove  12  are configured to receive dovetail tongues from another module housing when building a module outlet. Base module housing  10  is configured so that it can be used in a stand-alone module outlet, or can be used as one end of a module outlet assembled with other module housing to form a module outlet with multiple outlets. 
       FIG. 4  shows details of middle module housing  20 . An opening  24  is ready to receive an outlet core  40 , which is placed in through a bottom of middle module housing  20 . Tabs  23  are used to lock outlet core  40  into place. A dovetail groove  21  and a dovetail groove  22  are configured to receive dovetail tongues from another module housing when building a module outlet. A dovetail tongue  26  and a dovetail tongue  27  are configured to be placed in dovetail grooves of from another module housing when building a module outlet. 
       FIG. 5  shows base module housing  10  assembled with middle module housing  20 . Dovetail tongue  26  of middle module housing  20  has been slid into dovetail groove  11  of base module housing  10 . Dovetail tongue  27  of middle module housing  20  has been slid into dovetail groove  12  of base module housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a tab  15  of base module housing  10  is now configured so that when an outlet core  40  is placed within opening  24  of middle module housing  20 , tab  15  of base module housing  10  is used with tabs  23  of middle module housing  20  to lock the outlet core  40  into place. 
       FIG. 6  shows details of end module housing  30 . An opening  35  is ready to receive an outlet core  40 , which is placed in through a bottom of end module housing  30 . Tabs  33  are used to lock outlet core  40  into place. A dovetail tongue  36  and a dovetail tongue  37  are configured to be placed in dovetail grooves of from another module housing when building a module outlet. 
       FIG. 7  shows end module housing  30  assembled with middle module housing  20  and base module housing  10  into housing for a module outlet. When assembled, dovetail tongue  36  of end module housing  30  is slid into dovetail groove  21  of middle module housing  20 . Dovetail tongue  37  of end module housing  30  has been slid into dovetail groove  22  of middle module housing  20 . A tab  25  of middle module housing  20  is configured so that when an outlet core  40  is placed within opening  35  of end module housing  30 , tab  25  of middle module housing  20  is used with tabs  33  of end module housing  30  to lock the outlet core  40  into place. 
     While  FIG. 7  shows three module housing parts assembled together, any number of module housing parts can be assembled together. For example, end module housing  30  can be joined directly to base module housing  10  to form a module outlet with two-outlets. For example, a module outlet with four-outlets can be formed by assembling two of middle module housing  20  between end module housing  30  and base module housing  10 . For example, a module outlet with five-outlets can be formed by assembling three of middle module housing  20  between end module housing  30  and base module housing  10 . And so on. 
       FIG. 8  shows details of outlet core  40 . Outlet core  40  includes plug receptors  44  in a body  42  of outlet core  40 . When outlet core  40  is assembled into base module housing  10 , body  42  of outlet core  40  is placed up through opening  14  in outlet core  40 . A lip  41  prevents outlet core  40  from traveling out the top of opening  14 . Tabs  13  of module housing lock around lip  41  at tab reception areas  43 . This keeps outlet core  40  securely in base module housing  10 . 
       FIG. 9  shows leads  46  of outlet core  40  ready to establish electrical connection with a printed circuit board or other mounting destination of the module outlet. Support guides  45  and support guide  47  are used to support the assembled module outlet when the module outlet is mounted on a printed circuit board or other mounting destination of the module outlet. 
       FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  show end module housing  30  assembled with middle module housing  20  and base module housing  10 . For the outlet core  40  within opening  24  of middle module housing  20 , lip  41  prevents outlet core  40  from traveling out the top of opening  24 . Tabs  23  of middle module housing  20  and tab  15  of base module housing  10  lock around lip  41  at tab reception areas  43 . This keeps outlet core  40  securely in middle module housing  20 . Also, lip  41  partially covers dovetail tongue  26  of middle module housing  20  and dovetail groove  11  of base module housing  10 , as well as dovetail tongue  27  of middle module housing  20  and dovetail groove  12  of base module housing  10 . This locks dovetail tongue  26  within dovetail groove  11  and dovetail tongue  27  within dovetail groove  12 , thus locking middle module housing  20  to base module housing  10 . This assures stability of the housing of the module outlet when it is fully assembled. 
     Likewise, for the outlet core  40  within opening  35  of end module housing  30 , lip  41  prevents outlet core  40  from traveling out the top of opening  35 . Tabs  33  of end module housing  30  and tab  25  of middle module housing  20  lock around lip  41  at tab reception areas  43 . This keeps outlet core  40  securely in end module housing  30 . Also, lip  41  partially covers dovetail tongue  36  of end module housing  30  and dovetail groove  21  of middle module housing  20 , as well as dovetail tongue  37  of end module housing  30  and dovetail groove  22  of middle module housing  20 . This locks dovetail tongue  36  within dovetail groove  21  and dovetail tongue  37  within dovetail groove  22 , thus locking middle module housing  20  to base module housing  10 . This assures stability of the housing of the module outlet when it is fully assembled. 
       FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  show the assembled module outlet ready to be assembled onto a printed circuit board  51 . Leads  46  of outlet cores  40  are placed in lead receptacles  52  on printed circuit board  51 . Printed circuit board  51  can be sized to be assembled just with a module outlet, or printed circuit board  51  can be designed to be of sufficient size to receive other circuitry in addition to a module outlet. 
       FIG. 14  shows the assembled module outlet mounted onto printed circuit board  51 . 
     Connectors other than C13 connector can serve as the basis of a module outlet. For example,  FIG. 15  shows base module housing  60 , middle module housing  70 , end module housing  80  and outlet cores  90  assembled into a module outlet mounted on a printed circuit board  100 . For example, each of outlet cores  90  is a C19 connector as specified by standards of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)  60320 . Alternatively, each outlet core is another type of outlet compatible with another IEC standard or compatible with a standard from another standards organization or a special custom configuration. 
     Different types of connectors also can be assembled into a module outlet. For example,  FIG. 16  shows base module housing  110 , middle module housing  20 , end module housing  30 , outlet cores  40  and an outlet core  90  assembled into a module outlet mounted on printed circuit board  50 . For example, each of outlet cores  40  is a C13 connector and outlet core  90  is a C19 connector as specified by standards of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)  60320 . Alternatively, one or more of the outlet cores is another type of outlet compatible with another IEC standard or compatible with a standard from another standards organization. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary methods and embodiments. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.