MOUNTING RECEPTACLE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HUB

• US 20070164178A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanford LP (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sanford LP (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Beilstein, Christine, Cavada, Gilberto, Melzer, Kurt, DeRossi, Michael, Hughes, William
• Application Number:
  US11/275,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20070164178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/200
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/745 separate from the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A mounting receptacle is disclosed that selectively receives an interchangeable hub having a port therein, the port receiving an interface plug. The mounting receptacle may be installed in an opening in an article, such as an organizational device and, when a hub is received in the mounting receptacle, the port of the hub is accessible from an exterior of the article. The mounting receptacle may also be provided as a free-standing mounting receptacle.

Claims

1. A mounting receptacle for removably receiving a hub, said mounting receptacle comprising:

a face plate having

a first leg;

a second leg; and

a cross-bar member extending between the first and second legs, said cross-bar member, first and second legs defining a window aperture; and

a flange extending from each of the first and second legs.

2. The mounting receptacle of claim 1, wherein the face plate of the mounting receptacle includes a first surface and a second surface, and both of the flanges extend from the second surface.

3. The mounting receptacle of claim 2, wherein at least one of the flanges includes a slot therethrough.

4. The mounting receptacle of claim 3, in combination with a hub received in the window aperture, said hub having at least one plug-receiving port therein.

5. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 4, wherein the hub includes at least one securement device for selectively securing the hub within the mounting receptacle.

6. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 5, wherein the securement device includes a ridge which is removably received within the slot of the at least one flange.

7. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 4, wherein each of the at least one securement devices includes a tongue received in a respective tongue-receiving slot provided in a body of the hub.

8. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 5, wherein the hub includes a body having a front hub plate, a rear hub plate, a first side wall, and a second side wall, said front hub plate and said rear hub plate extending laterally past each of the first and second side walls and being spaced from one another so as to receive the front face and flanges of the mounting receptacle between the front hub plate and rear hub plate.

9. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 8, wherein each of the at least one flanges includes a lower rear edge which is at least one of angled or contoured to facilitate insertion of the hub in the mounting receptacle.

10. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 1, wherein the cross-bar member intersects with at least one of the first leg and second leg at a corner which is at least one of slanted or contoured.

11. The mounting receptacle and hub combination of claim 10, wherein the hub includes a body having a front hub plate, a rear hub plate, a first side wall, and a second side wall, said front hub plate and said rear hub plate extending laterally past each of the first and second side walls and being spaced from one another so as to receive the front face and flanges of the mounting receptacle between the front hub plate and rear hub plate, and the hub body includes a notch which is complementary to the corner so as to receive the slanted or contoured corner therein.

12. The mounting receptacle of claim 1 further including a plurality of apertures through the face plate to receive fasteners therein for securing the mounting receptacle to an article.

13. The mounting receptacle of claim 1, further including at least one pedestal provided along a lower edge of at least one of the first and second legs, said at least one pedestal imparting a tilt to the mounting receptacle when placed on a work surface.

14. A mounting receptacle in combination with an interchangeable hub, said mounting receptacle comprising

a face plate having

a first leg;

a second leg; and

a cross-bar member extending between the first and second legs, said cross-bar member, first and second legs defining a window aperture; and

a flange extending from each of the first and second legs; and

said interchangeable hub comprising

a body having

a front hub plate;

a rear hub plate;

a first side wall; and

a second side wall, said front hub plate and said rear hub plate extending laterally past each of the first and second side walls and being spaced from one another so as to receive the front face and flanges of the mounting receptacle between the front hub plate and rear hub plate; and

a securement device extending from each of the first and second side walls, each of said securement devices selectively engaging one of said flanges of the mounting receptacle.

15. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 14, wherein each of the securement devices includes a tounge received in a respective tongue-receiving slot provided in the body of the interchangeable hub.

16. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second side walls includes an outwardly-projecting post and each of the securement devices includes a post-receiving aperture therethrough, each of said posts extending through a respective one of the post-receiving apertures.

17. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 16, each of the post-receiving apertures having at least one biting flange in immediate proximity thereto, said at least one biting flange biting into the post received in the post-receiving aperture.

18. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 16, wherein the hub body is provided with a hood extending over each of the securement devices and the respective side wall of the interchangeable hub.

19. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 14, wherein each of the flanges is provided with a slot therethrough, and each of the securement devices includes a ridge which is removably received within the slot of the respective flange with which the securement device is engaged.

20. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 14, wherein each of the flanges includes a lower rear edge which is at least one of angled or contoured to facilitate insertion of the hub in the mounting receptacle.

21. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 14, wherein the cross-bar member intersects with at least one of the first leg and second leg at a corner which is at least one of slanted or contoured.

22. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 21, wherein the hub body includes a notch which is complementary to the corner so as to receive the slanted or contoured corner therein.

23. A mounting receptacle for removably receiving an interchangeable hub having at least one port therein to receive a plug, said mounting receptacle provided in an opening in a surface of an article and, when an interchangeable hub is removably received in the mounting receptacle, the port of said interchangeable hub is accessible from an exterior of the article.

24. The mounting receptacle of claim 23, wherein the mounting receptacle includes a face plate having first and second sides and wherein at least one flange extends from the second side, said at least one flange being selectively engageable with a resilient securement device provided on an interchangeable hub received in the mounting receptacle.

25. The mounting receptacle and interchangeable hub combination of claim 24, wherein the at least one flange includes a slot and the resilient securement device includes a ridge which is removably receivable within the slot of the respective flange with which the securement device is engageable.