ELECTRICAL OUTLET ASSEMBLY

• US 20080220646A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolan Northwest LLC
• Original Assignee: Dolan Northwest LLC
• Inventors: Leddusire, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,488,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/567 Traverse cable outlet or wire connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged

Abstract

An electrical outlet device includes an enclosure that contains one or more electrical outlets. The enclosure has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and forming an enclosure perimeter. The device further includes a cavity extending into the side surface of the enclosure and configured for receiving an electrical power cord that attaches inside of the enclosure perimeter.

A surface mounted outlet assembly includes an enclosure that contains one or more power plug-ins. The assembly further includes a mounting bracket that rigidly mounts the enclosure to furniture or to a wall. A shape of the enclosure in combination with a shape and arrangement of the mounting bracket allow a top end of power cord to attach and drop vertically downward from the enclosure. A top surface, front end, and sides of the enclosure extend around a front and sides of the top end of the power cord. The unique shape also allows a wider variety of power transformer shapes to be plugged into the enclosure at the same time.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet device, comprising:

an enclosure having one or more electrical outlets, the enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and forming an enclosure perimeter; and

a cavity extending into the side surface of the enclosure and configured for receiving an electrical power cord that attaches inside of the enclosure perimeter.

2. The electrical outlet device according to claim 1 wherein the cavity includes a top face that extends below the top surface of the enclosure and a side face that extends down from the top face through the bottom surface of the enclosure.

3. The electrical outlet device according to claim 2 wherein the electrical power cord is coupled to the top face of the cavity and then drops down between the side face and through an opening in the bottom surface of the enclosure.

4. The electrical outlet device according to claim 1 including three or more electrical plug-ins located on the top surface of the enclosure that each face substantially toward a same location on the top surface of the enclosure.

5. The electrical outlet device according to claim 4 including a first electrical outlet located on a first side of the enclosure, a second electrical outlet located on a front end of the enclosure and aligned at a 90 degree angle with a first electrical plug-in, and a third electrical outlet located on a second opposite side of the enclosure and aligned at a 90 degree angle with the second electrical outlet and aligned at a 180 degree angle with the first outlet.

6. The electrical outlet device according to claim 1 including one or more mounting arms extending down from the bottom surface of the enclosure.

7. The electrical outlet device according to claim 6 wherein the mounting arms include a first mounting arm aligned on a first side of the cavity and a second mounting arm aligned on a second opposite side of the cavity.

8. The electrical outlet device according to claim 6 wherein the power cord extends down through a space between the first and second mounting arm.

9. The electrical outlet device according to claim 6 wherein the one or more mounting arms are either offset from a back end of the enclosure or extend in substantially a same plane with a back end of the enclosure.

10. The electrical outlet device according to claim 6 wherein the one or more mounting arms are either formed from a same piece of material that forms the enclosure and extend down from the bottom surface of the enclosure or the mounting arms are attached to the bottom surface of the enclosure with a support base.

11. The electrical outlet device according to claim 1 including:

a compartment formed in the bottom surface of the enclosure containing an attachment bracket; and

a mounting bracket that is contained within the compartment when attached to the attachment bracket so that the bottom surface of the enclosure sits against a piece of furniture or a wall when attached to the mounting bracket.

12. A surface mounted outlet assembly, comprising:

an enclosure that contains one or more power plug-ins; and

a mounting bracket that rigidly mounts the enclosure to furniture or a wall, a shape of the enclosure in combination with a shape and arrangement of the mounting bracket allowing a top end of a power cord to attach and drop vertically downward from the enclosure while a top surface, front end, and sides of the enclosure extend around a front and sides of the top end of the power cord.

13. The outlet assembly according to claim 12 including a cavity that extends into a side of the enclosure that receives the power cord and extends down through a bottom side of the enclosure enabling the power cord to connect within an outer perimeter of the enclosure an drop vertically down through the bottom side of the enclosure.

14. The outlet assembly according to claim 12 wherein the enclosure includes:

a flat horizontal top surface that includes the power plug-ins;

a flat horizontal bottom surface;

a curved front end;

straight sides extending from the curved front end; and

a straight back end extending perpendicularly between the two sides.

15. The outlet assembly according to claim 14 including:

a first plug-in located on a first side of the top surface;

a second plug-in located on a second opposite side of the top surface; and

a third plug-in located on a front end of the top surface.

16. The outlet assembly according to claim 12 wherein the mounting bracket includes a mounting plate either formed with or attached to the enclosure that attaches to a piece of furniture or wall such that a back end of the enclosure can be mounted substantially flush with a side of the furniture or wall while at the same time allowing the power cord to drop substantially straight down from the enclosure.

17. The outlet assembly according to claim 12 wherein the enclosure is molded of a flame retardant mix of polymeric material.

18. A mounting bracket for a surface mounted electrical outlet enclosure, comprising:

a support base for mounting to a bottom surface of the electrical outlet enclosure; and

a mounting arm extending down from the support base that is configured to attach to a side of furniture or to a wall.

19. The mounting bracket according to claim 18 wherein the support base and mounting arm form an opening for allowing a power cord to drop down from the enclosure through the mounting bracket.

20. The mounting bracket according to claim 19 wherein the mounting arm includes a first arm extending down from a first side of a cavity in the enclosure that receives the power cord and a second arm extending down from a second opposite side of the cavity.

21. The mounting bracket according to claim 18 wherein the support base suspends the electrical outlet enclosure either over a top surface of the furniture or out over a side of the furniture.

22. The mounting bracket according to claim 18 wherein the support base suspends the electrical outlet enclosure out from a side of a wall.