Baseboard with movable electrical outlet

• US 5,183,406 A
• Filed: 08/30/1991
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bryan D. Glen
• Original Assignee: Bryan D. Glen
• Inventors: Glen, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/752,877
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 439/110-122, 439/207, 439/209-211, 439/213, 439/214, 439/216, 439/332-334, 439/359, 439/361
• US Class Current: 439/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35

Abstract

Existing electrical outlet tracks require that the outlet be slid from one location to another along the track. The present invention provides a readily movable electrical receptacle which also discourages contact with the conductors. The receptacles of the present invention can be readily installed at any location along a baseboard conductor without sliding of the receptacle. This is accomplished using a T-shaped element which is inserted through the lengthwise groove of the continuous track and rotated into place. Screw-mounted bars are used to tighten the receptacle into place at the chosen location. Multiple raceways on a single baseboard, accommodating different types of receptacles, are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution system comprising:

a) an elongated housing having a front panel defining a hollow interior, and a plurality of parallel elongated slots formed in said front panel, said front panel having an inner and outer surface;

b) a plurality of pairs of electrical conduction means fixed to the inner surface of said front panel, each pair of said conduction means being parallel to and spaced from one of said slots;

c) means for providing an electrical differential between each said pair of conduction means; and

d) a plurality of movable receptacle means for releasably engaging said housing, each receptacle means comprising a face having electrical receptacle means, means for releasably securing said movable receptacle to said housing and means for electrically engaging said conduction means, said conduction engaging means being adapted to engage said conduction means when one of said receptacle means is installed in one of said slots.

2. The electrical distribution system of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a telephone receptacle.

3. The electrical distribution system of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a standard electrical outlet.

4. The electrical distribution system of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a coaxial cable receptacle.

5. The electrical distribution system of claim 3 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a telephone receptacle.

6. The electrical distribution system of claim 4 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a standard electrical outlet.

7. The electrical distribution system of claim 5 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a coaxial cable receptacle.

8. The electrical distribution system of claim 2 wherein one of said plurality of receptacles comprises a coaxial cable receptacle.

9. The electrical distribution system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing an electrical differential comprises a body having projection adapted to be mounted in an end of said hollow interior and provided with conductors located to contact said conduction means on said front panel, and terminal means connected to said conductors for providing an electrical differential between pairs of said conductors.

10. The electrical distribution system of claim 1 further comprising connector means having first and second ends, each end having a projection adapted to be fixedly mounted in an end of said hollow interior and provided with first and second conductors located to contact one of said pairs of electrical conduction means on said front panel, whereby an electrical connection is made between the conduction means of first and second housings when said first and second ends of said connector means are mounted in said first and second housings.

11. The electrical distribution system of claim 10 wherein said connector means comprises a central vertical post and said first and second ends meet said post at right angles.