Reduced cross-section enclosed power outlet

• US 10,205,283 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JTech Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JTech Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Dickey, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Binh
• Application Number:
  US15/530,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20180301849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 361725, 361726, 361826, 361827, 174 72 R, 174 72 A, 174 86, 174 97, 174480, 307116, 307326, 307328
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes

Abstract

Power outlets adapted for installation within an enclosure are provided. Power outlets are provided having a safety interlock adapted to prevent the creation of a hazardous condition within the enclosure as a result of the continued operation of an electrical device within the enclosed space. The safety interlock may include current limiting circuitry and hardware, hazard sensing devices interconnected with such current limiting circuitry and hardware or other circuit breaker switches, and combinations of such safety interlocks. The power outlets may also be adapted for installation within a movable enclosure, such as, for example, a drawer.

Claims

1. A power outlet assembly for an enclosure comprising:

at least one power outlet electrically interconnectable with at least one electrical device;

at least one power source electrically interconnected to said at least one power outlet for providing a source of electrical energy to said power outlet, wherein the power outlet is movable within a defined range relative to said power source along a predefined path at least between a first position where the power outlet is distal to the power source and a second position where the power outlet is proximal to the junction box;

an arm disposed in pivoting relationship between the at least one power outlet and the at least one power source, the arm formed of two rigid elongated arms, wherein a first rigid elongated arm has a first end that is pivotable about a point proximal the power source, wherein a second rigid elongated arm has a first end that is pivotable about a point proximal the power outlet, wherein the first and second rigid elongated arms are pivotally interconnected at a second end of each thereof about a pivoting axis transverse to the direction of the predefined path such that that first and second rigid elongated arms are positioned vertically adjacent to each other when disposed in the second position;

a flexible electrical interconnector disposed along the arm in a conductive relation between the power source and power outlet, said flexible electrical interconnector adapted to provide a continuous electrical interconnection between the power source and power outlet without restricting the range of motion of the power outlet relative to the power source within said defined range such that continuous power is supplied from the power source to the power outlet independent of the relative positions of the power source and power outlet;

at least one safety interlock having at least one sensor capable of detecting at least one hazardous condition within the environment of said enclosure, the at least one safety interlock being adapted to interrupt the flow of electrical current between the at least one power source and the at least one power outlet upon detection of one or more of the at least one hazardous conditions;

wherein the at least one power outlet is accessible to the at least one electrical device along the entire defined range of the predefined path; and

wherein the first and second elongated arms have one of the following configurations;

wherein a first end of the first rigid elongated arm distal to the power source comprises an angled portion that is bent transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rigid elongated arm and parallel to the pivoting axis, and wherein the first rigid elongated arm is pivotally joined to the second rigid elongated arm through said angled portion, or

wherein a first end of the second rigid elongated arm distal to the power source comprises an angled portion that is bent transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second rigid elongated arm and parallel to the pivoting axis, and wherein the second rigid elongated arm is pivotally joined to the first rigid elongated arm through said angled portion.

2. The power outlet assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector, heat detector, and toxic gas monitor.

3. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting safety interlock adapted to prevent the flow of current above a specified amperage from the power source to the power outlet.

4. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rectifier in electrical connection with the power source and adapted to convert the incoming electrical current from AC to DC.

5. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter in signal communication with the at least one safety interlock for communicating the status of the power outlet assembly to a user, and wherein the transmitter is configured to automatically transmit upon activation of any one of the at least one safety interlocks.

6. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the power source is in a fixed position and the power outlet is movable relative to said power source.

7. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one safety interlock switch configured to activate the operation of the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the second position and deactivate the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the first position.

8. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second rigid elongated arms combine to provide a predefined curved path to the flexible electrical interconnector such that the flexible electrical interconnector is prevented from being bent below a minimum bend radius, the minimum bend radius being defined along a vertical axis disposed transverse to the direction of the pre-positioned path at least when the first and second rigid elongated arms are in the second position.

9. The power outlet assembly of claim 8, wherein the rigid elongated arms collectively define an internal channel within which the flexible electrical interconnector is disposed and at least partially enclosed.

10. The power outlet assembly of claim 9, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector and rigid elongated arms are configured such that when the power outlet is proximal to the power source along the predefined path, the flexible electrical interconnector and the elongated arms are bent into a single U-shape having a first end interconnected with the power source and a second end interconnected with the power outlet and having a bend radius at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius, and wherein the U-shape is disposed has a folded length approximately half the length of the defined range of motion of the power outlet, and is disposed within a vertical plane disposed along the vertical axis.

11. A power equipped enclosure comprising:

an enclosure defining an internal volume, said internal volume being accessible;

at least one power outlet disposed within the internal volume of the enclosure outlet, the at least one power outlet being electrically interconnectable with at least one electrical device;

at least one power source electrically interconnected to said at least one power outlet for providing a source of electrical energy to said power outlet, wherein the power outlet is movable within a defined range relative to said power source along a predefined path at least between a first position where the power outlet is distal to the power source and a second position where the power outlet is proximal to the power source;

an arm disposed in pivoting relationship between the at least one power outlet and the at least one power source, the arm formed of two rigid elongated arms, wherein a first rigid elongated arm has a first end that is pivotable about a point proximal the power source, wherein a second rigid elongated arm has a first end that is pivotable about a point proximal the power outlet, wherein the first and second rigid elongated arms are pivotally interconnected at a second end of each thereof about a pivoting axis transverse to the direction of the predefined path such that that first and second rigid elongated arms are positioned vertically adjacent to each other when disposed in the second position;

a flexible electrical interconnector in a conductive relation between the power source and power outlet, said flexible electrical interconnector adapted to provide a continuous electrical interconnection between the power source and power outlet without restricting the range of motion of the power outlet relative to the power source within said defined range such that continuous power is supplied from power source to the power outlet independent of the relative positions of the power source and power outlet;

at least one safety interlock having at least one sensor disposed within the enclosure and capable of detecting at least one hazardous condition within the environment of said enclosure, the at least one safety interlock being adapted to interrupt the flow of electrical current between the at least one power source and the at least one power outlet upon detection of one or more of the at least one hazardous condition; and

wherein the at least one power outlet is accessible to the at least one electrical device along the entire defined range of the predefined path; and

wherein the first and second elongated arms have one of the following configurations;

wherein a first end of the first rigid elongated arm distal to the power source comprises an angled portion that is bent transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rigid elongated arm and parallel to the pivoting axis, and wherein the first rigid elongated arm is pivotally joined to the second rigid elongated arm through said angled portion, or

wherein a first end of the second rigid elongated arm distal to the power source comprises an angled portion that is bent transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second rigid elongated arm and parallel to the pivoting axis, and wherein the second rigid elongated arm is pivotally joined to the first rigid elongated arm through said angled portion.

12. The power equipped enclosure of claim 11, wherein the enclosure includes at least one movable element, and wherein the power source and power outlet are arranged such that the movement of the at least one movable element moves the power outlet relative to the power source.

13. The power equipped enclosure of claim 12, wherein the movable element is a drawer.

14. The power equipped enclosure of claim 12, wherein the power outlet has an orientation selected from one of either disposed vertically in the side of the drawer, or disposed horizontally in the bottom of the drawer.

15. The power equipped enclosure of claim 11, further comprising at least one safety interlock switch configured to activate the operation of the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the second position and deactivate the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the first position.

16. The power equipped enclosure of claim 11, wherein the first and second rigid elongated arms combine to provide a predefined curved path to the flexible electrical interconnector such that the flexible electrical interconnector is prevented from being bent below a minimum bend radius, the minimum bend radius being defined along a vertical axis disposed transverse to the direction of the pre-positioned path at least when the first and second rigid elongated arms are in the second position.

17. The power equipped enclosure of claim 11, wherein the rigid elongated arms collectively define an internal channel within which the flexible electrical interconnector is disposed and at least partially enclosed.

18. The power equipped enclosure of claim 11, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector and rigid elongated arms are configured such that when the power outlet is proximal to the junction box along the predefined path, the flexible electrical interconnector and the elongated arms are bent into a single U-shape having a first end interconnected with the power source and a second end interconnected with the power outlet and having a bend radius at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius, and wherein the U-shape has a folded length approximately half the length of the defined range of motion of the power outlet, and is disposed within a vertical plane disposed along the vertical axis.