Wall-mountable electrical power supplying device having a ring-like structure for receiving the power plugs and/or power adapters associated with a plurality of electrical appliances, and a housing containing and concealing the same during power supply operations

• US 20110076882A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Original Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Inventors: Fleisig, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,159,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/501
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

A wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment. The wall-mountable device includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and has a base housing portion having a bottom surface and a 3D interior volume. A power-ring subassembly is supported within the base housing portion, has a central aperture defining the boundaries of 3D interior volume, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are electrically connected to the power supply cord. A power-ring housing portion covers the power-ring subassembly and has a set of plug apertures allowing appliance power plugs associated with the electrical appliances to plug into the electrical receptacles mounted behind the plug apertures. A power cord portal allows a group of electrical power cords associated with the group of electrical appliances to enter/exit the 3D interior volume in a bundled manner. A cover housing portion is provided and adapted to cover the central aperture of the power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into the electrical receptacles and appliance power cords associated with the electrical appliances. Also, a wall-mounting bracket, operably connectable to the base housing portion, is provided for mounting the electrical power supplying device on the wall surface in proximity to the standard wall receptacle.

Claims

1. A wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for mounting to a wall surface in proximity to a standard power receptacle, and supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, wherein each said electrical appliance has a power cord routed through an environment and into said electrical power supplying device and terminating with an appliance power plug, said electrical power supplying device comprising:

a power supply cord for plugging into said standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and supplying electrical power to said electrical power supplying device;

a base housing portion having a bottom surface and a 3D interior volume;

a power-ring subassembly supported within said base housing portion, having a central aperture defining the boundaries of 3D interior volume, and adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are electrically connected to said power supply cord;

a power-ring housing portion for covering said power-ring subassembly and having a set of plug apertures allowing appliance power plugs associated with said electrical appliances to plug into said electrical receptacles mounted behind the plug apertures;

a power cord portal allowing a group of electrical power cords associated with said group of electrical appliances to enter/exit said 3D interior volume in a bundled manner;

a cover housing portion adapted to cover the central aperture of said power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into said electrical receptacles and appliance power cords associated with said electrical appliances; and

a wall-mounting bracket, operably connectable to said base housing portion, for mounting said electrical power supplying device on said wall surface in proximity to said standard wall receptacle.

2. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring housing portion attaches to said base housing portion.

3. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring subassembly further comprises at least one exterior power receptacle and at least one USB power port, and wherein said power-ring housing portion having side wall apertures for providing access to said at least exterior power receptacle, and said at least one USB power port.

4. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring subassembly further comprises a power cord connector for connecting said power supply cord to said power-ring subassembly, and an ON/OFF power switch and indicator, and wherein said power-ring housing portion has side wall apertures for said power cord connector and said ON/OFF power switch and indicator.

5. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said cover housing portion further comprises a circumference and a set of gripping threads provided along said circumference to aid in the lifting said cover housing portion as required.

6. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power cord portal is formed in said power-ring housing portion, and wherein said cover housing portion further comprises a side wall aperture for the passage of electrical cords through said power cord portal.

7. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said electrical receptacles and said at least one electronic circuit board are mounted into mounting brackets provided on the upper surface of said power-ring assembly, so that electrical wiring establishes necessary interconnections among said electrical receptacles and said at least one electronic PC board.

8. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein at least two or more of said plurality of electrical receptacles are arranged in orthogonal ways to optimize space within said 3D interior volume of said electrical power supplying device, and accommodate the storage of power adapter plugs that are formed at the terminal portion said appliance power cords.

9. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1 wherein said power-ring subassembly comprises:

a substantially planar structure, having said central aperture;

a plurality of mounting brackets, formed or provided on said substantially planar surface, for mounting of said plurality of electrical receptacles, and said at least one electronic PC circuit board; and

elements provided on the surface of said substantially planar structure, for the mounting and routing of electrical conductors that interconnect together said electrical receptacles and said least one electronic PC circuit board, and supply electrical power thereto, during device operation.

10. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals said appliance power plugs and power adapter plugs and power adapter modules, and protects access thereto from children.

11. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals and protects said appliance power plugs and said power adapter plugs and power adapter modules, from liquid spills in workstation environments.

12. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said wall-mounting bracket comprises a pair of arms for anchoring into said wall surface, and a foot portion for support against said wall surface, wherein said arm portions and said foot portion are each disposed at about 120 degrees from each other.

13. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which further comprises an appliance power cord management structure supported through said central aperture, and adapted for taking up and managing excess length of each said appliance power cord passing through said power cord portal.

14. The electrical power supplying device of claim 13, wherein the excess length of appliance power cord for said electrical appliance is measured from said power cord portal to said electrical receptacle on said power-ring assembly into which the corresponding appliance power plug is plugged.

15. The electrical power supplying device of claim 13, wherein said appliance power cord management structure is provided with a set of concentric flanges about an outer dowel surface, for winding the excess length of appliance power cord about said outer dowel surface and managing the excess length of appliance power cord associated with each said electrical appliance.

16. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said one or more electronic circuits comprises a surge protection circuit.