Multipurpose power center

• US 20070275594A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/439,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20070275594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/501
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A multipurpose power center comprises a housing, a cover member, a plurality of electrical outlets, an electrical cable, and a connection port coupled to the cover member. The housing has an outer surface, a top side, a bottom side, and an opening extending from the top side to the bottom side. The cover member is configured to encase the opening on the top side of the housing. The electrical outlets are positioned along the outer surface of the housing, and the electrical cable is connectable to a power source and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical outlets.

Claims

1. A multipurpose power center comprising:

a housing having an outer surface, a top side, a bottom side, and an opening extending from the top side to the bottom side;

a cover member configured to encase the opening on the top side of the housing;

a plurality of electrical outlets positioned along the outer surface of the housing;

an electrical cable connectable to a power source and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical outlets; and

a connection port coupled to the cover member, wherein the connection port is configured to receive a twisted pair cable.

2. The multipurpose power center of claim 1, wherein the connection port comprises a phone port configured to receive a phone cable.

3. The multipurpose power center of claim 1, wherein the connection port comprises a network port configured to receive a network cable.

4. The multipurpose power center of claim 1, and further comprising a coaxial cable connector coupled to the cover member.

5. The multipurpose power center of claim 1, and further comprising a ground fault circuit interrupter coupled to the electrical outlets.

6. The multipurpose power center of claim 1, and further comprising a surge suppressor configured to prevent a surge of electricity from reaching the electrical outlets.

7. The multipurpose power center of claim 1, and further comprising a recessed channel disposed along the bottom side of the housing, wherein the channel is configured to receive a cable.

8. The multipurpose power center of claim 7, and further comprising a plurality of hook members configured to secure the cable within the recessed channel.

9. A multipurpose power center comprising:

a housing having a bottom side configured to be positionable over a substantially flat surface;

a removable cover member attachable to the housing;

a plurality of electrical outlets disposed along the housing and configured to provide an electrical power source; and

a network port positioned on the removable cover member and configured to provide a network interface.

10. The multipurpose power center of claim 9, wherein the housing further includes an opening extending from a top side to the bottom side of the housing, and wherein the removable cover member is configured to encase the opening when attached to the housing.

11. The multipurpose power center of claim 9, and further comprising a video connection port positioned on the cover member.

12. The multipurpose power center of claim 11, wherein the video connection port comprises a coaxial cable connector.

13. The multipurpose power center of claim 11, wherein the video connection port comprises an S-video port.

14. The multipurpose power center of claim 11, and further comprising an audio connection port positioned on the cover member.

15. The multipurpose power center of claim 9, and further comprising a plurality of feet members disposed along the bottom side of the housing and configured to create a spatial relationship between the housing and the substantially flat surface.

16. The multipurpose power center of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the feet members is formed from an elastomer.

17. A portable, multipurpose power center comprising:

a housing having a top side, a bottom side, and an opening extending from the top side to the bottom side;

a plurality of electrical outlets disposed along the housing and configured to provide an electrical power source;

a removable cover member attachable to the top side of the housing such that the cover member encases the opening on the top side of the housing;

a network port positioned on the housing and configured to receive a network cable; and

a microphone positioned on the removable cover member and configured to attach to a telephone unit.

18. The multipurpose power center of claim 17, wherein the cover member is attachable to the housing with a plurality of fasteners.

19. The multipurpose power center of claim 17, and further comprising a speaker positioned on the removable cover member and configured to attach to the telephone unit.

20. The multipurpose power center of claim 17, and further comprising a multimedia connection port positioned on the removable cover member and configured to receive a multimedia cable.