IP Library Granted Patent US 10,848,930
Granted Patent B2
US 10,848,930 · App. 15/384,896 · Granted Nov 24, 2020

Power outlet having availability notification

Inventors: Nelson Bonilla (Shelton, CT); Shadi Alex AbuGhazaleh (Guilford, CT)
Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
H04W4/12H01R13/453H01R13/4534H01R13/641H01R13/701H04B3/546H01R24/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,848,930
App. No.
15/384,896
Granted
Nov 24, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A notification system including an electrical receptacle and a notification control unit. The electrical receptacle includes an outlet configured to receive an electrical device and a switch. The switch is configured to determine when the electrical device is received and output a signal when the electrical device is received. The notification control unit is configured to receive the signal, determine a state of the electrical receptacle based on the signal, and output the state of the electrical receptacle.

Claims (34)

1. An electrical receptacle comprising:

an outlet configured to receive an electrical device;

a shutter configured to move from a first position to a second position when the electrical device is plugged into the outlet; and

a switch configured to output a signal when the shutter moves from the first position to the second position, wherein the shutter contacts the switch when in the second position;

wherein the signal is received by a notification control unit, the notification control unit configured to determine an availability of the electrical outlet based on the signal, and output information corresponding to the availability of the electrical receptacle, wherein the information is included in a map accessed by at least one selected from a group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a tablet.

2. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the signal is output via at least one selected from the group consisting of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

3. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the electrical outlet is at least one selected from the group consisting of a duplex outlet, a low-voltage outlet, and a universal serial bus (USB) outlet.

4. A notification system comprising:

a first electrical receptacle including

a first outlet configured to receive an electrical device; and

a first switch configured to

determine when the electrical device is plugged into the first outlet, and

output a first signal when the electrical device is plugged into the first outlet;

a second electrical receptacle including

a second outlet configured to receive an electrical device; and

a second switch configured to

determine when the electrical device is plugged into the second outlet, and

output a second signal when the electrical device is plugged into the second outlet; and

a notification control unit configured to

receive at least one selected from a group consisting of the first signal and the second signal,

determine an availability of the first outlet based on the first signal,

determine an availability of the second outlet based on the second signal, and

output a map illustrating the availability of at least one selected form a group consisting of the first outlet and the second outlet.

5. The electrical receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the signal is output via at least one selected from the group consisting of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

6. The electrical receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the at least one selected from a group consisting of the computer, the smart phone, and the tablet is located remote the notification control unit.

7. The electrical receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the electrical receptacle is at least one selected from the group consisting of a duplex outlet, a low-voltage outlet, and a universal serial bus (USB) outlet.

8. A method of providing an availability status of an electrical receptacle, the method comprising:

determining when the electrical receptacle receives an electrical device;

outputting, from the electrical receptacle, a signal when the electrical device is plugged into an outlet of the electrical receptacle;

determining, via a processing unit, the availability status the electrical receptacle based on the signal; and

outputting a map illustrating the availability status to at least one selected from a group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a tablet.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of outputting, from the electrical receptacle, the signal is performed via a wired or wireless connection.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of outputting the availability status to the at least one selected from a group consisting of the computer, the smart phone, and the tablet is performed via a wired or wireless connection.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrical receptacle is at least one selected from the group consisting of a duplex outlet, a low-voltage outlet, and a universal serial bus (USB) outlet.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: BONILLA, NELSON; ABUGHAZALEH, SHADI ALEX
To: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 040943/0288 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62273183 · Dec 30, 2015
Related Publication 20170195859A1 · Jul 6, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,342,249