Pop-up electrical receptacle unit
First Claim
1. A pop-up electrical receptacle unit comprising a receptacle for receiving therein the prongs of an electrical plug, means constraining said receptacle for rectilinear movement between a retracted position and protracted position, spring means for urging said receptacle from its said retracted position into its said protracted position, manually releaseable means for retaining said receptacle in its said retracted position including a rotary ratchet mechanism, an actuator on said receptacle having a pin thereon for alternately shifting said ratchet mechanism into an interfering position relative to said pin to establish said retracted position when said receptacle is moved from its protracted position to its said retracted position and into a non-interfering position when said receptacle is moved from its retracted position rectilinearly against the force of the spring means to cause said pin to shift said ratchet mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The pop-up electrical receptacle unit, when mounted in relation to an opening in a desk or table, enables the user to effect a retracted or concealed condition of the receptacle by pressing the receptacle downwardly and then permitting the receptacle to rise slightly by means of a coil spring. Such action rotates a ratchet mechanism into an obstructive relation with a pin carried on an actuator attached to the underside of the receptacle and movable therewith. The user effects a protracted or exposed condition of the receptacle by again depressing and releasing the receptacle so as to rotatively index the ratchet mechanism into an angular relation in which the actuated pin is no longer obstructed, the receptacle then being thrust upwardly by the coil spring into its protracted position in which position the prongs of an electrical plug can be inserted into the elevated receptacle.
69 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A pop-up electrical receptacle unit comprising a receptacle for receiving therein the prongs of an electrical plug, means constraining said receptacle for rectilinear movement between a retracted position and protracted position, spring means for urging said receptacle from its said retracted position into its said protracted position, manually releaseable means for retaining said receptacle in its said retracted position including a rotary ratchet mechanism, an actuator on said receptacle having a pin thereon for alternately shifting said ratchet mechanism into an interfering position relative to said pin to establish said retracted position when said receptacle is moved from its protracted position to its said retracted position and into a non-interfering position when said receptacle is moved from its retracted position rectilinearly against the force of the spring means to cause said pin to shift said ratchet mechanism.
- 2. A pop-up electrical receptacle unit comprising a bracket adapted at one end to be attached to a furniture item, a receptacle reciprocably mounted on said bracket for receiving therein the prongs of an electrical plug, said bracket constraining said receptacle for rectilinear movement between a retracted position and protracted position, said retracted position resulting in said receptacle projecting a lesser distance beyond said one end of said bracket and said protracted position resulting in said receptacle being projected a greater distance beyond said one end of said bracket, a ratchet mechanism rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said bracket, said ratchet mechanism including first and second cup-shaped members, each cup-shaped member having a series of annularly disposed angled teeth, the teeth of said first cup-shaped member being angularly offset with respect to the teeth on said second cup-shaped member, said first cup-shaped member having at least one slot located between two adjacent teeth, a plunger connected at one end to said receptacle and extending through said cup-shaped members, a transverse pin carried on said plunger, said pin being of a size to pass through said slot when said slot is angularly in register therewith, whereby manual movement of said receptacle in a direction toward said retracted position causes said pin to enter through said slot and engage at least one tooth on said second cup-shaped member to partially rotate said cup-shaped members in one angular direction, and spring means for urging said plunger in a direction toward said protracted position so that when manual pressure is removed from said receptacle, then said spring means urges said pin in a direction to engage at least one of the teeth on said first cup-shaped member to partially rotate said cup-shaped members farther in said one angular direction and to rotate said slot out of registry with said pin so that said receptacle is retained in its said retracted position.
- 8. A pop-up electrical receptacle unit comprising a receptacle for receiving therein the prongs of an electrical plug, means constraining said receptacle for rectilinear movement between a retracted position and protracted position, spring means for urging said receptacle from its said retracted position into its said protracted position, manually releasable means including a ratchet mechanism for retaining said receptacle in its said retracted position, said ratchet mechanism including first and second disk members, each having a series of teeth thereon successively engageable by said actuating means, and means fastened to said receptacle and movable therewith for actuating said ratchet mechanism.
Specification