Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Supporting plural – independent coupling parts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-07
2001-02-20
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Supporting plural, independent coupling parts
C439S502000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190199
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to interconnections for coupling electronic and electrical devices to output power. More specifically, this invention pertains to apparatus for facilitating full utilization of a conventional power strip by multiple plug-in power adapters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The emergence of numerous electronic devices as common features of today's environment, whether the office, industry or the home, is well recognized. Common ancillary support devices often associated with the use of electronics apparatus include the “power strip” that consists of a plurality of female plug receptacles aligned longitudinally about a surface of a generally-rectangular housing and the box-like plug-in power adapter that is commonly fixed at the remote end of a conductor coupled to the device. (Note: By separating the power adapter from the electronic device, one forgoes the necessity of UL certification as well as that of equivalent non-U.S. organizations such as CSA (Canada) and CE (Europe), of the device.)
The above-mentioned ancillary devices may perform a number of functions as required by the associated electronics, including voltage step-down, rectification, surge protection and the like. Regardless of the particular functions offered, there exists an inherent incompatibility between the physical structures of common power strips and plug-in power adapters. The receptacles of a power strip function as remote sockets for plugging into the a.c. power main or source. Generally, however, the distances between adjacent female plug receptacles of conventional power strips are insufficient to permit one to plug power adapters into adjacent power strip receptacles. As a result, one can make use of only a fraction of the receptacles of a single power strip when connecting a plurality of plug-in adapters. This can greatly complicate certain applications and arrangements such as those involving numerous electronic modules located within a conventional equipment rack. Solutions such as the use of customized power strips (with increased, non-standard receptacle-to-receptacle spacings) or multiple, partially-utilized power strips of conventional design can be costly and involve the undue consumption of precious space in such applications as airborne electronics as well as fixed installations subject to high land and construction costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the foregoing problems of the prior art by providing apparatus for operatively coupling at least one device of the type that includes an associated plug-in power adapter to an a.c. power outlet. Such apparatus includes a power strip of the type that includes a plurality of female receptacles aligned along a surface of a strip housing.
A bracket is provided. Means are provided for affixing the power adapters to the bracket. A shuttle conductor cord has a male plug and a female receptacle affixed to its opposed ends with the male plug of the cord coupled to a receptacle of the power strip and the female receptacle of the cord coupled to the male plug of the power adapter.
The preceding and other features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures in which numerals, corresponding to numerals of the written description, point to the features of the invention. Like numerals refer to like features of the invention throughout both the drawing figures and the written description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5603628 (1997-02-01), Schapiro, Jr.
patent: 5984720 (1999-11-01), Milner et al.
patent: 6024588 (2000-02-01), Hsu et al.
Bump Joel G.
Wilcox Hugh T.
Abrams Neil
Clump Corporation
Kramsky Elliott N.
Zarroli Michael C.
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