Electrical outlet and removable power module
An electrical outlet that is structured to be mounted to a wall and to be electrically connected with an AC power source employs a removable and replaceable power module that includes its own USB power outlets. The electrical outlet includes a base having a receptacle formed therein within which the power module is receivable. The base additionally includes its own AC power outlets. The power module may include, for example, one or more USB power outlets, such as USB type-A outlets, and the power module can easily be removed and replaced with an alternative power module that includes, for example, one or more USB type-C power outlets.
1. An electrical outlet structured to be electrically connected with a 1 doctor and a neutral conductor of an AC power source, the electrical outlet comprising:
a base;
an electrical apparatus situated on the base;
the electrical apparatus comprising a first connector, a second connector, a third connector, and a fourth connector;
the base having a receptacle formed therein, the first connector and the second connector being situated inside the receptacle, the receptacle being structured to receive therein the power module with the first electrical contact being electrically connected with the first connector and with the second electrical contact being electrically connected with the second connector; and
the third connector being electrically connectable with one of the line conductor and the neutral conductor, and the fourth connector being electrically connectable with the other of the line conductor and the neutral conductor;
the electrical apparatus also comprising a power module having a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a power outlet electrically connected with the first and second electrical contacts, the power module being receivable in the receptacle with the first electrical contact being electrically connected with the first connector and with the second electrical contact being electrically connected with the second connector; and
the electrical apparatus further comprising a pair of springs situated on the base and additionally comprising a pair of electrical conductors that are electrically connected with the third and fourth connectors, the first and second connectors being situated on the pair of springs, the first and second connectors being movable on the pair of springs with respect to the base from a first position wherein the first and second connectors are interposed between and are electrically connected between the pair of electrical conductors and the first and second electrical contacts when the power module is fully received in the receptacle to a second position wherein the first and second connectors are biased by the pair of springs away from the pair of electrical conductors and are electrically disconnected therefrom after the power module has been removed from the receptacle.
2. The electrical outlet of claim 1 wherein the electrical apparatus further comprises a conversion apparatus electrically connected with the first connector, the second connector, the third connector, and the fourth connector, the conversion apparatus being structured to receive AC power from the third and fourth connectors and to output DC power to the first and second connectors.
3. The electrical outlet of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a retention apparatus that is structured to engage the power module to retain the power module in the receptacle.
4. The electrical outlet of claim 3 wherein the retention apparatus is structured to releasably retain the power module in the receptacle.
5. The electrical outlet of claim 1 wherein the electrical apparatus further comprises a conversion apparatus electrically connected with the first connector, the second connector, the third connector, and the fourth connector, the conversion apparatus being structured to receive AC power from the third and fourth connectors and to output DC power to the first and second connectors, and wherein the power outlet comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector.
6. The electrical outlet of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and the power module comprises a retention apparatus that is structured to retain the power module in the receptacle.
7. The electrical outlet of claim 6 wherein the retention apparatus is structured to releasably retain the power module the receptacle.
8. The electrical outlet of claim 6 wherein the power module has a housing, the first and second electrical contacts and the power outlet being situated on the housing, the housing having a frontal surface, the power outlet being recessed in the frontal surface, the frontal surface facing away from the receptacle when the power module is received in the receptacle.
9. The electrical outlet of claim 8 wherein the base has an outer surface, the receptacle be formed in the outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface and at least a portion of the frontal surface being flush with one another when the power module is received in the receptacle.
10. The electrical outlet of claim 6 wherein the retention apparatus comprises a latch that is situated on one of the power module and the base and that is structured to engage the other of the power module and the base to retain the power module in the receptacle.
11. The electrical outlet of claim 10 wherein the retention apparatus comprises a release mechanism that s structured to disengage the latch from the other of the power module and the base to permit removal of the power module from the receptacle.
12. The electrical outlet of claim 11 wherein the retention apparatus further comprises an ejection mechanism that is structured to push the power module at least partially from the receptacle when the latch is disengaged from the other of the power module and the base.
13. The electrical outlet of claim 12 wherein the ejection mechanism comprises a biasing element that is interposed between base and the power module.
14. The electrical outlet of claim 1 wherein the base has at least one set of openings formed therein, and wherein the electrical apparatus further comprises at least one set of further electrical connectors that are situated in the at least one set of openings and that are electrically connected with the third and fourth connectors, the at least one set of further electrical connectors being structured to output AC power.
15. The electrical outlet of claim 1 wherein the power outlet is structured to output DC power as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector.
16. The electrical outlet of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises an edge that is cooperable with a retention apparatus of the electrical outlet which is structured to retain the power module in the receptacle.
17. The electrical outlet of claim 16 wherein the housing further comprising a release mechanism that is structured to disengage the edge from the electrical outlet to permit removal of the power module from the receptacle.