IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,882,536
Granted Patent B2
US 8,882,536 · App. 13/751,118 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Power distribution unit with interchangeable outlet adapter types

Inventor: James Utz (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Chatsworth Products, Inc.
H01R23/6866H01R43/26H01R25/164H05K7/1492H01R2103/00H01R13/743H01R24/78H01R25/006H01R27/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,882,536
App. No.
13/751,118
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power distribution unit includes a printed circuit board, having a plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations, and a plurality of outlet adapters. Each outlet adapter has a user-facing outlet connector and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector. The outlet connector of a first of the plurality of outlet adapters is different from the outlet connector of a second of the plurality of outlet adapters. The inlet connector of each outlet adapter includes terminals. The terminals of the inlet connector of the first of the plurality of outlet adapters are arranged in a terminal pattern that matches that of the terminals of the inlet connector of the second of the plurality of outlet adapters such that the first and the second outlet adapters are interchangeably attachable at any of the plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations of the printed circuit board.

Claims (42)

1. A method of interchanging outlet adapter types in a power distribution unit, the method comprising:

(a) providing a printed circuit board, as part of a power distribution unit, having a plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations and a first outlet adapter, wherein the first outlet adapter includes a user-facing outlet connector, of a first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector, and wherein the first outlet adapter is attached to the printed circuit board, via the inlet connector thereof, at a selected one of the plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations;

(b) removing the first outlet adapter from the printed circuit board;

(c) providing a second outlet adapter, having a user-facing outlet connector, of a second outlet connector type that is different from the first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector;

(d) attaching the second outlet adapter, via the inlet connector thereof, to the printed circuit board at the selected one of the plurality of adapter receiving locations;

(e) prior to the step of removing the first outlet adapter, of removing a first cover plate that is configured with an opening, of a first size, to accommodate the first outlet adapter; and

(f) after the step of attaching the second outlet adapter, of replacing the first cover plate with a second cover plate that is configured with an opening, of a second size, to accommodate the second outlet adapter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inlet connector of the first outlet adapter includes terminals arranged in a pattern, wherein the inlet connector of the second outlet adapter includes terminals arranged in a pattern, and wherein the terminal pattern of the first outlet adapter matches that of the second outlet adapter.

5. A method of interchanging outlet adapter types in a power distribution unit, the method comprising:

(a) providing a printed circuit board, as part of a power distribution unit, having a plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations;

(b) providing a first outlet adapter, wherein the first outlet adapter includes a user-facing outlet connector, of a first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector, and wherein the first outlet adapter is attached to the printed circuit board, via the inlet connector thereof, at a selected one of the plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations;

(c) providing a first cover plate removably secured to the printed circuit board with a separate fastener, the first cover plate being configured with an opening, of a first size, to accommodate the first outlet adapter;

(d) removing the first cover plate from the printed circuit board;

(e) removing the first outlet adapter from the printed circuit board;

(f) providing a second outlet adapter, having a user-facing outlet connector, of a second outlet connector type that is different from the first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector;

(g) attaching the second outlet adapter, via the inlet connector thereof, to the printed circuit board at the selected one of the plurality of adapter receiving locations; and

(h) replacing the first cover plate with a second cover plate that is configured with an opening, of a second size, to accommodate the second outlet adapter.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the first outlet adapter and the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the second outlet adapter have matching terminal patterns.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the first outlet adapter and the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the second outlet adapter each has terminals arranged in a C20-type terminal pattern.

10. A method of interchanging outlet adapter types in a power distribution unit, the method comprising:

(a) providing a printed circuit board, as part of a power distribution unit, having a plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations and a first outlet adapter, wherein the first outlet adapter includes a user-facing outlet connector, of a first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector, and wherein the first outlet adapter is attached to the printed circuit board, via the inlet connector thereof, at a selected one of the plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations;

(b) removing the first outlet adapter from the printed circuit board;

(c) providing a second outlet adapter, having a user-facing outlet connector, of a second outlet connector type that is different from the first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector;

(d) attaching the second outlet adapter, via the inlet connector thereof, to the printed circuit board at the selected one of the plurality of adapter receiving locations;

(e) removing a first cover plate that is configured with an opening, of a first size, to accommodate the first outlet adapter; and

(f) replacing the first cover plate with a second cover plate that is configured with an opening, of a second size, to accommodate the second outlet adapter.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inlet connector of the first outlet adapter includes terminals arranged in a pattern, wherein the inlet connector of the second outlet adapter includes terminals arranged in a pattern, and wherein the terminal pattern of the first outlet adapter matches that of the second outlet adapter.

14. A method of interchanging outlet adapter types in a power distribution unit, the method comprising:

(a) providing a printed circuit board, as part of a power distribution unit, having a plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations and a first outlet adapter, wherein the first outlet adapter includes a user-facing outlet connector, of a first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector, and wherein the first outlet adapter is attached to the printed circuit board, via the inlet connector thereof, at a selected one of the plurality of outlet adapter receiving locations;

(b) removing the first outlet adapter from the printed circuit board;

(c) providing a second outlet adapter, having a user-facing outlet connector, of a second outlet connector type that is different from the first outlet connector type, and a printed circuit board-facing inlet connector; and

(d) attaching the second outlet adapter, via the inlet connector thereof, to the printed circuit board at the selected one of the plurality of adapter receiving locations;

(e) wherein the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the first outlet adapter and the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the second outlet adapter have matching terminal patterns; and

(f) wherein the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the first outlet adapter and the printed circuit board-facing inlet connector of the second outlet adapter each has terminals arranged in a C20-type terminal pattern.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first outlet adapter has a C19-type outlet connector type, and the second outlet adapter has a C13-type outlet connector type.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2013
From: UTZ, JAMES
To: CHATSWORTH PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029819/0488 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61591369 · Jan 27, 2012
Related Publication 20130196535A1 · Aug 1, 2013