Flip-up electrical and communications device for use in combination with a worksurface

• US 5,709,156 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gevaert, Steven C., Barchacky, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/475,712
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/23, 108/25, 108/26, 312/223.6, 312/223.1
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A utility receptacle assembly for use in combination with a worksurface includes a base mountable to the worksurface and a utility receptacle pivotably and removably mounted to the base. The base includes a passage within which the utility receptacle member is received, and the base further includes at least one recess located adjacent the passage. A cover member is secured to the utility receptacle member, and functions to enclose the passage and the recess when the utility receptacle member is in a closed, inoperative position and to provide access to the recess when the utility receptacle member is moved to an open, operative position. The utility receptacle member and the base include releasable engagement structure for maintaining the utility receptacle member in its open, operative position. The releasable retainer structure is manually engageable by a user for returning the utility receptacle member to its closed, inoperative position. A cable extends into an internal cavity defined by the utility receptacle member, and a strain relief assembly prevents movement of the cable relative to the utility receptacle member. The recess includes a bottom section for mounting a communication jack having a first mounting configuration, and the bottom section is removable and replaceable with a different bottom section for mounting a communication jack having a different mounting configuration.

Claims

1. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface, the worksurface having an opening which opens onto a first one of its surfaces, comprising:

a base stationarily mounted to the worksurface within the opening, wherein the base includes a recess having a first mounting section with mounting structure for stationarily mounting a first utility receptacle having a first configuration;

a utility receptacle member pivotably and removably mounted to the base, the utility receptacle member including a utility receptacle face and having an electrical receptacle associated with the face, the utility receptacle member being pivotable between an operative position in which the receptacle face is accessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and a storage position in which the receptacle face is inaccessible from adjacent the worksurface, wherein the receptacle member includes an open internal cavity within which electrical contact structure for the electrical receptacle is located, wherein the internal cavity opens in a first direction;

a cable extending into the internal cavity of the receptacle member through a wall thereof, the cable having a plurality of wires;

wire routing structure associated with the internal cavity and including a plurality of recesses opening in the first direction, wherein each recess is adapted to receive one of the plurality of wires;

a cover mounted to the receptacle member and including retainer structure for maintaining the wires within the recesses;

releasable retainer structure interposed between the base and the receptacle member for releasably maintaining the receptacle member in its operative position, the releasable retainer structure being movable to an engagement position when the receptacle member is moved to its operative position for releasably maintaining the receptacle member in its operative position, and being manually movable to a release position by an operator to enable the receptacle member to be moved to its storage position;

wherein the first utility receptacle is accessible through the recess in the base when the utility receptacle member is in its operative position, and wherein the utility receptacle member in its storage position prevents access to the first utility receptacle;

wherein the first mounting section of the base is removable from the base and replaceable with a second mounting section having utility receptacle mounting structure to secure a second utility receptacle having a second configuration to the base member.

2. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface, the worksurface having an opening which opens onto a first one of its surfaces, comprising:

a base securable to the worksurface within the opening;

a utility receptacle member pivotably engaged with the base, and including a receptacle face with at least one utility receptacle associated therewith, wherein the receptacle member is pivotably movable between an operative position in which the receptacle face is accessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and a storage position in which the receptacle face is inaccessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface; and

retainer structure interposed between the base and the receptacle member for releasably maintaining the receptacle member in its operative position, the retainer structure being movable to an engagement position when the receptacle member is moved to its operative position for releasably maintaining the receptacle member in its operative position, and being manually movable to a release position by an operator to enable the receptacle member to be moved to its storage position.

3. The utility assembly of claim 2, wherein the utility receptacle member is pivotably engaged with the base via pivoting mounting structure providing releasable engagement of the utility receptacle member with the base.

4. The utility assembly of claim 2, wherein the retainer structure comprises a flexible, resilient member having a foot engageable with a retainer surface on the base, wherein engagement of the resilient member foot with the base adjacent the retainer surface results in flexing of the resilient member during movement of the receptacle member to its operative position for moving the foot into engagement with the retainer surface.

5. The utility assembly of claim 4, wherein the utility receptacle member includes a pair of side walls which are pivotably engaged with the base, and wherein a flexible resilient member is associated with each side wall.

6. The utility assembly of claim 4, wherein each flexible resilient member comprises a flexible portion of a wall of the utility receptacle member, wherein the foot is located toward an end of the flexible portion.

7. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface having an opening, comprising:

a utility receptacle member movably mounted within the opening and including a utility receptacle face, the utility receptacle member having an electrical receptacle associated with the utility receptacle face and being movable between a first operative position providing access to the utility receptacle face from the worksurface and a second storage position in which the utility receptacle face is inaccessible from the worksurface, wherein the receptacle member includes an open internal cavity within which electrical contact structure for the electrical receptacle is located, wherein the internal cavity opens in a first direction;

a cable extending into the internal cavity of the receptacle member through a wall thereof, the cable having a plurality of wires;

wire routing structure associated with the internal cavity and including a plurality of recesses opening in the first direction, wherein each recess is adapted to receive one of the plurality of wires; and

a cover mounted to the receptacle member and including retainer structure for maintaining the wires within the recesses.

8. The utility assembly of claim 7, further comprising a strain relief arrangement interposed between the cable and a wall of the utility receptacle member to prevent movement of the cable relative to the wall during movement of the utility receptacle member between its operative and inoperative positions.

9. The utility assembly of claim 8, wherein the utility receptacle member wall includes an opening through which the cable extends, and wherein the strain relief arrangement comprises a collar secured to the cable, the collar being engageable with the utility receptacle member wall adjacent the opening, and a tab extending from the cover and into the opening and engageable with the collar.

10. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface, the worksurface having an opening which opens onto a first one of its surfaces, comprising:

a base stationarily mounted to the worksurface within the opening, wherein the base includes at least one stationary first utility receptacle;

a utility receptacle member movably engaged with the base, and including a receptacle face with at least one second utility receptacle associated therewith, wherein the utility receptacle member is movable between an operative position in which the receptacle face is accessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and a storage position in which the receptacle face is inaccessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface, and wherein the stationary first utility receptacle is accessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface when the utility receptacle member is in its operative position, and wherein the utility receptacle member in its storage position prevents access to the first utility receptacle from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface.

11. The utility assembly of claim 10, wherein the base includes a recess within which the first utility receptacle is stationarily mounted.

12. The utility assembly of claim 11, further comprising a cover associated with the utility receptacle member, wherein the cover overlies the recess when the utility receptacle member is in its inoperative position for preventing access to the first utility receptacle, and wherein the cover provides access to the recess and the first utility receptacle when the utility receptacle member is in its operative position.

13. The utility assembly of claim 11, wherein the utility receptacle member is movably engaged with the base adjacent the recess within which the utility receptacle member is mounted, and further comprising a cover mounted to and movable with the utility receptacle member which extends over the recess, wherein the cover overlies the recess when the utility receptacle member is in its inoperative position for preventing access to the first utility receptacle, and wherein the cover provides access to the recess and the first utility receptacle when the utility receptacle member is in its operative position.

14. The utility assembly of claim 13, wherein the receptacle member includes an open internal cavity within which contact structure for a receptacle associated with the receptacle face is located, wherein the internal cavity opens in a first direction, and further comprising a cable extending into the internal cavity of the receptacle member through a wall thereof, the cable having a plurality of wires;

wire routing structure associated with the internal cavity and including a plurality of recesses opening in the first direction, wherein each recess is adapted to receive one of the plurality of wires; and

wire retainer structure provided on the cover for maintaining the wires within the recesses.

15. The utility assembly of claim 13, wherein a wall of the utility receptacle member includes an opening through which the cable extends, and further comprising a strain relief arrangement interposed between the cable and the utility receptacle member wall, the strain relief arrangement including a collar secured to the cable, the collar being engageable with the utility receptacle member wall adjacent the opening;

and a boss extending from the cover and into the opening and engageable with the collar.

16. The utility assembly of claim 10, wherein the base includes a first mounting section to which the first utility receptacle is mountable, and wherein the first mounting section is removable and replaceable with a second mounting section engageable with the base for mounting a utility receptacle to the base having a different mounting configuration than that of the first utility receptacle.

17. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface having an opening, comprising:

a utility receptacle member movably mounted within the opening and including a utility receptacle face, the utility receptacle member having an electrical receptacle associated with the utility receptacle face and being movable between a first operative position providing access to the utility receptacle face from the worksurface and a second storage position in which the utility receptacle is inaccessible from the worksurface, wherein the receptacle member includes an open internal cavity within which electrical contact structure for the electrical receptacle is located, wherein the internal cavity opens in a first direction;

a cable extending into the internal cavity of the receptacle member through a wall thereof, the cable having a plurality of wires;

wire routing structure associated with the internal cavity and including a plurality of recesses opening in the first direction, wherein each recess is adapted to receive one of the plurality of wires, and a series of internal walls disposed within the internal cavity, each wall defining an upper end, and wherein at least one of the plurality of recesses is formed toward the upper end of each wall, and

a cover mounted to the receptacle member and including retainer structure for maintaining the wires within the recesses.

18. The utility assembly of claim 17, wherein the electrical contact structure comprises one or more electrically conductive members mounted to one or more of the internal walls.

19. The utility assembly of claim 17, wherein the cover includes a bottom surface, and wherein the cover retainer structure comprises a plurality of retainer members extending from the cover bottom structure, wherein the retainer members function to prevent movement of the wires out of the recesses formed in the upper ends of the internal walls.

20. The utility assembly of claim 19, wherein the internal walls are oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the cover bottom surface, and wherein the internal wall upper ends are differently spaced below the cover bottom surface, and wherein the retainer members are sized and shaped so as to be in close proximity to the upper end of each internal wall.

21. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface having an opening, comprising:

a utility receptacle member movably mounted within the opening and including a utility receptacle face, the utility receptacle member being movable between a first operative position providing access to the utility receptacle face from adjacent the worksurface and a second storage position in which the utility receptacle face is inaccessible from the worksurface, wherein the utility receptacle member includes an internal cavity defined by at least one wall;

a utility cable extending into the internal cavity through an opening in the internal cavity wall; and

a strain relief arrangement interposed between the cable and the wall for fixing the position of the cable relative to the wall to prevent movement of the cable relative to the wall during movement of the utility receptacle member between its operative and inoperative positions, the strain relief arrangement comprises a collar fixed to the cable and engageable with the internal cavity wall adjacent the opening for fixing the position of the cable relative to the wall; and

a cover enclosing the internal cavity of the utility receptacle member, and wherein the cover includes a tab extending into the opening in the internal cavity wall and engageable with the collar.

22. The utility assembly of claim 21, wherein the cable includes a plurality of wires, and further comprising wire routing structure located within the internal cavity and including a plurality of recesses facing the cover, wherein each recess is adapted to receive one of the plurality of wires, and wire retaining structure provided on the cover for maintaining the wires within the recesses.

23. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface, the worksurface having an opening which opens onto a first one of its surfaces, comprising:

a base securable to the worksurface within the opening and including a pair of spaced walls;

a utility receptacle member pivotably and removably mounted to the base, the utility receptacle member including a receptacle face with at least one utility receptacle associated therewith, wherein the receptacle member is pivotably movable between an operative position in which the receptacle face is accessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and a storage position in which the receptacle face is inaccessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and further including a pair of spaced side walls, and wherein the utility receptacle member is pivotably and removably mounted to the base via disengageable pivoting connection structure associated with and interposed between the spaced walls of the base and the utility receptacle member side walls, and wherein the disengageable pivoting connection structure comprises an opening formed in each side wall of the utility receptacle member, a resilient flexible member associated with each of the spaced walls of the base, and a protrusion provided on each resilient member, wherein each resilient flexible member is biased by its resiliency toward an engaged position in which its protrusion extends into an opening in one of the side walls of the utility receptacle member, and is manually movable by an operator to a release position in which the protrusion is removed from the side wall opening.

24. The utility assembly of claim 23, wherein each resilient flexible member comprises a section of the base wall which is deformable relative to the adjacent areas of the base wall.

25. The utility assembly of claim 24, wherein each of the pair of spaced base walls defines an edge, and wherein the deformable section of the base wall is formed between a pair of spaced slots extending inwardly from the edge of the base wall.

26. A utility assembly for use in combination with a worksurface, the worksurface having an opening which opens onto a first one of its surfaces, comprising:

a base securable to the worksurface within the opening and including a pair of spaced walls;

a utility receptacle member pivotably and removably mounted to the base, the utility receptacle member including a receptacle face with at least one utility receptacle associated therewith, wherein the utility receptacle member is pivotably movable between an operative position in which the receptacle face is accessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and a storage position in which the receptacle face is inaccessible from adjacent the first surface of the worksurface and further including a pair of spaced side walls and wherein the utility receptacle member is pivotably and removably mounted to the base via disengageable pivoting connection structure associated with and interposed between the spaced walls of the base and the utility receptacle member side walls; and

retainer structure interposed between the base and the utility receptacle member for releasable maintaining the utility receptacle member in its operative position, the retainer structure being movable to an engagement position when the receptacle member is moved to its operative position for releasably maintaining the utility receptacle member in its operative position, and being manually movable to a release position by an operator to enable the utility receptacle member to be moved to its storage position.

27. The utility assembly of claim 26, wherein each of the pair of base side walls borders a recess formed in the base, and further comprising a utility receptacle located within each recess.

28. The utility assembly of claim 27, wherein the utility receptacle member includes a cover which overlies the recesses when the utility receptacle member is in its inoperative position for preventing access to the utility receptacles located within the recesses, and wherein movement of the utility receptacle member to its operative position provides access to the recesses and the utility receptacles therewithin.