Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Outlet box
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-07-03
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Outlet box
C312S223600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254427
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The practical handling of power and data wiring in the workplace is a serious problem. Desktops and other work surfaces are all too often badly cluttered with a plurality of wires running across the desk in a haphazard manner. In addition, desktop devices often have to be plugged in when in use and unplugged when not in use or moved to other locations. Often this requires bending down under the work surface trying to find the wall outlet.
There has been a need for an efficient and yet aesthetic manner to handle these multiple wires that are needed in the work area. It has been known to have a retractably mounted receptacle for this purpose as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,747,788 and 5,351,173. These designs, however, suffer from the problem that the device must be pulled up from the work surface, the plugs inserted, and then the device pushed back down below the desk surface. This causes unneeded work on the part of the user and the unit also suffers from possible breakage due to the repeated movement of the device from the open to closed positions using a fragile release mechanism. In addition, the wires plugged into the wall sockets are pulled up each time the device is raised, causing additional problems.
Our parent application referred to above, provides a power and communications grommet that is an improvement over those shown in the prior art. This application provides improvements over the embodiments described in our parent application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The power and communications device of this invention comprises a grommet adapted to be placed in an aperture in a desk or other work surface. An aperture is manufactured or drilled through the top of the work surface. A housing, adapted to fit into the aperture, contains a plurality of electrical receptacles and a plurality of data ports or communication receptacles. Cords adapted to plug into a power source, such as a wall socket or communications receptacle, are connected near the bottom of the housing. The communication receptacles comprise modular couplers so that communication wires, such as telephone, fax, modem wires, or any other plugs for specialty purposes, can be brought up and plugged into the base of the housing while the work surface operating devices, such as computers or telephones, are plugged in through the top of the housing.
Once inserted into the work surface the housing does not have to be moved, lifted or retracted in order to use it. The housing can, if desired, be fastened to the work surface by gluing or other convenient means. This is done by providing a lip, with a diameter larger than the aperture in the work surface, which is located at the top of the housing or body of the grommet so that the lip rests over the aperture in the work surface while the body of the grommet passes through the aperture. Thus, the great majority of the grommet lies below the surface of the desk or work surface, out of the way, and remains in that position. The electrical plugs or communication wires are simply plugged into the housing by reaching down into the grommet and plugging the plug or coupling into the receptacles in the housing.
Openings are provided which pass completely through the grommet in order to push excess wires or cords into or through the grommet, to remove them from the top surface of the work surface.
An attractive cap or cover is placed over the top of the housing, hiding the receptacles but leaving a space betwen the cap and housing for the wires to pass into the housing. The cover is easily removable and protects the interior of the housing as well as providing an attractive appearance to the work surface. If the unit is not in use, i.e. no wires are plugged in, the cap may be rotated so that it drops flush to the top of the housing, overlapping the lip, leaving no space between the cap and the housing, providing a nearly flat work surface.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and convenient device which contains power and data receptacles at a work surface.
Another object of the invention is to provide a power and communications grommet which can easily be added to any existing work surface.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient, attractive and yet inexpensive device which brings the connections for power and data cords, wires or cables to the work surface, thus eliminating the need to find the wall plug or data terminal.
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Astor Sanford
Doug Mockett & Company, Inc.
Ore Shanetta D.
Vu Hien
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