Device for electrifying dining table

• US 4,500,150 A
• Filed: 06/23/1982
• Issued: 02/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donna C. Leibensperger, Robert L. Leibensperger
• Original Assignee: Donna C. Leibensperger, Robert L. Leibensperger
• Inventors: Leibensperger, Donna C., Leibensperger, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/391,114
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 312/223, 339/113, 339/119, 339/130, 339/132-134, 339/147, 339/163, 339/164, 339/125, 339/28, 174/48, 174/49
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/185 Floor outlets and access cups

Abstract

A device for attaching to the underside surface of a dining table which is connectable to a receptacle mounted in the floor beneath the table. The device has a generally T-shaped base with an electric receptacle box attached thereto which contains a plurality of plug receptacles, a circuit breaker, a power ON-OFF switch and a condition-indicating light. A plurality of hook formations are located adjacent the receptacle box for releasably holding the ends of one or more electrical cords from appliances such as coffee pots, bun warmers, hot plates, etc., resting on the table surface. A pair of reel-forming hooks are formed on the elongated leg portion of the T-shaped base to provide a storage reel for an electrical supply cord connected to the receptacle box. The supply cord is adapted to be connected to the floor-mounted receptacle for energizing the receptacles mounted on the base. The floor-mounted receptacle includes a tubular sleeve of dielectric material having a plug-in receptacle mounted in the upper end thereof. A closure cap is removably mounted in the upper end of the receptacle sleeve to conceal the receptacle when the device is not in use and when the power supply cord is disconnected and is placed in stored position on the reel hooks.

Claims

1. A device for electrifying a dining or food serving table including:

(a) a mounting plate;

(b) means for attaching the mounting plate to the table, which means is completely concealed beneath the table on the underside surface of the table to be electrified;

(c) first receptacle means mounted on the plate for receiving a plug of a cord of an electric appliance placed on the upper surface of the table with said cord extending over the table edge;

3. The device defined in claim 1 in which circuit breaker means is mounted on and is operatively engageable with the first receptacle means for protecting appliances plugged into said first receptacle means.

4. The device defined in claim 1 in which an ON-OFF power control switch is mounted on the first receptacle means and communicates with the power supply cord for selectively energizing and de-energizing the first receptacle means.

5. The device defined in claim 1 in which an indication light is mounted on the first receptacle means to indicate whether said first receptacle means is energized or de-energized.

6. The device defined in claim 1 in which the supply cord holding means is a U-shaped member having a pair of spaced upstanding legs terminating in flanges extending outwardly from the legs in opposite directions with respect to each other.

7. The device defined in claim 5 in which the cord holder clip means is located between the pair of legs for releasably securing the power supply cord adjacent the plug end when the supply cord is in stored position.

8. The device defined in claim 1 in which the mounting plate, supply cord holding means and appliance cord clip means are formed as an integral one-piece member of plastic material.

9. The device defined in claim 1 in which the mounting plate has a T-shaped configuration.

10. The device defined in claim 1 in which the second receptacle means includes a sleeve of dielectric material, a plug-in receptacle mounted within the sleeve for receiving the plug end of the electric supply cord, and means for securing the sleeve within a hole formed in a floor beneath the table on which the device is mounted.

11. The device defined in claim 9 in which spring means is mounted within the sleeve for biasing the plug-in receptacle into abutting engagement with an internal annular shoulder formed in the sleeve.

12. The device defined in claim 10 in which the spring means is a spring washer.

13. The device defined in claim 9 in which the sleeve securing means is an annular collar telescopically mounted on the sleeve and engageable with the undersurface of a floor in which the second receptacle means is mounted.

14. The device defined in claim 9 in which the sleeve securing means is a mounting plate adapted to be fastened into the top surface of a floor in which the receptacle sleeve is mounted;

and in which the mounting plate of the sleeve securing means clamps an annular flange formed on the top of the sleeve againt the floor to secure said sleeve in the floor.

15. The device defined in claim 9 in which the sleeve has an open top end to provide access to the plug-in receptacle located within such sleeve and positioned below said top end;

and in which a closure cap is removably mounted within the open top end when the plug end of the supply cord is disconnected from the second receptacle means.

16. The device defined in claim 14 in which the closure cap has a top surface which is adapted to match the covering of the floor in which the second receptacle means is installed.

2. (d) an electric supplying cord connected with the first receptacle means having a plug end;

(e) holding means provided on the plate for holding substantially the entire supply cord wound in a stored position;

(f) clip means formed on the mounting plate adjacent the first receptacle means for releasably gripping a cord of said electric appliance and for maintaining a subsantial portion of the cord adjacent the underside surface of the table, which cord is connected with the first receptacle means to prevent the plug end of the cord from being pulled from the receptacle; and

(g) second receptacle means adapted to be mounted in a floor directly beneath the table and connected to a source of electric power for receiving the plug end of the electric supply cord to supply power to the first receptacle means.