Electrical outlet plug strip

• US 10,181,675 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kenneth E. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US15/846,484
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 439532, 439535
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 77/08 for incorporating apparatus operated by power, including water power; for incorporating apparatus for cooking, cooling, or laundry purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/002 Plinths, e.g. between furniture and ceiling or wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0418 Covers or lids; Their fastenings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0425 Plinths borders for use between floor or ceiling and wall E04F19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/105 in association with a plinth, channel, raceway or similar
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

Electrical outlet plug strips are positioned at the underside of a kitchen cabinet or cabinets. The plug strips include covers which are designed to shield or cover the gaps between adjacent plug strips and to shield or cover support members positioned at the bottoms of adjacent cabinets.

Claims

1. An outlet plug strip assembly, comprising:

a horizontally disposed first outlet plug strip having a first end and a second end;

a horizontally disposed second outlet plug strip having a first end and a second end;

said first and second outlet plug strip being positioned in an adjacent end-to-end manner whereby said second end of said first outlet plug is spaced from said first end of said second outlet plug strip;

each of said first and second outlet plug strips including a horizontally disposed housing having a first end and a second end;

each of said housings of said first and second outlet plug strips including;

(a) an elongated and vertically disposed inner wall member having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and outer side;

(b) said lower end of said inner wall member having an elongated and horizontally disposed first connector element secured thereto;

(c) an elongated and horizontally disposed upper wall member having a first end, a second end, an inner end, an outer end, an upper side, a lower side, an inner end and an outer end;

(d) said inner end of said upper wall member being joined to said upper end of said inner wall member so as to extend horizontally outwardly therefrom;

(e) an elongated and vertically disposed outer wall member having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side;

(f) said upper end of said outer wall member being joined to said outer end of said upper wall member so as to extend downwardly therefrom;

(g) an elongated and horizontally disposed second connector element secured to said lower end of said outer wall member;

each of said first and second outlet plug strips having an elongated first cover having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side;

said upper end of said first cover having an elongated third connector element formed therein;

said lower end of said first cover having an elongated fourth connector element formed therein;

said fourth connector element of said first cover configured to be selectively removably secured to said first connector element at said lower end of said outer wall member of said first outlet plug strip;

said third connector of said cover configured to be selectively removably secured to said second connector element at said lower end of said outer member of said first outlet plug strip;

said cover of said first outlet plug strip having a length which is greater than the length of said housing of said first outlet plug strip; and

said second end of said cover of said first outlet plug strip extending over said first end of said second outlet plug strip and being secured thereto to extend over the gap between said second end of said first outlet plug strip and said first end of said second outlet plug strip.

2. The outlet plug strip assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end of said cover of said second outlet plug strip abuts said second end of said cover of said first outlet plug strip.

3. The outlet plug strip assembly of claim 2 wherein said second end of said cover of said second outlet plug strip terminates at said second end of said second outlet plug strip.

4. The outlet plug strip assembly of claim 2 wherein said second end of said cover of said second outlet plug assembly extends outwardly of said second end of said outlet plug strip.

5. An electrical outlet plug strip assembly for use with a first wall cabinet and a second wall cabinet positioned adjacent the first wall cabinet with the first and second wall cabinets being spaced above a horizontally disposed surface and with each of the first and second wall cabinets including a horizontally disposed bottom having a first end, a second end, a back end, a front end, an upper side, a lower side, and a horizontally disposed support member, having first and second sides, positioned at the lower sides of the first and second wall cabinets at the juncture of the bottoms of the first and second wall cabinets, comprising:

a horizontally disposed and elongated first outlet plug strip positioned at the lower side of the bottom of the first wall cabinet;

said first outlet plug strip having first and second ends with said second end thereof being positioned adjacent said first side of said support member;

a horizontally disposed and elongated second outlet plug strip positioned at the lower side of the second wall cabinet;

said second outlet plug strip having first and second ends with said first end thereof being positioned adjacent said second side of said support member;

each of said first and second outlet plug strips including an elongated housing having an elongated cover selectively removably secured thereto with each of said covers having a first and second end;

said cover of said first outlet plug strip having a length greater than the length of said housing whereby said second end of said cover of said first outlet plug strip extends over said support member and said first end of said second outlet plug strip to present a continuous cover; and

said cover of said second outlet plug strip extending from said second end of said cover of said first outlet plug strip to at least said second end of said second outlet plug strip.