Device for electrically powering a plurality of user items provided with their own electrical feed and data transfer cables, to at least partially contain these cables during said feed

• US 5,924,892 A
• Filed: 09/16/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paolo Ferracina
• Original Assignee: Paolo Ferracina
• Inventors: Ferracina, Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/931,139
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 439/501, 439/456, 439/528, 439/457, 439/577, 439/464, 439/471, 439/535, 191/12.2 R
• US Class Current: 439/501
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A device (1) for electrically powering a plurality of user items, such as a processor, the modem connected thereto, its printer, its video monitor, and other user items connected or not connected to said processor, such as lamps, calculators etc., or household electrical appliances or working instruments, said user items being provided with their own electrical feed cable (13). The device comprises a box casing (2) provided with an inner compartment (3) and a plurality of access apertures (12, 90) to said compartment (3) when the casing (2) is closed, in this latter there being provided means (25) for electrically powering said user items and means (15) for at least partially gathering said feed cables (13) within said casing.

Claims

1. A device for electrically powering a plurality of user items, said user items being provided with their own electrical feed and/or data transfer cable (13), said device comprising a casing (2) provided with an inner compartment (3) and at least one access aperture (12, 90) to said compartment (3), said casing comprising associated means (25) for electrically powering said user items and means (15) for gathering and/or retaining said cables (13);

cover elements (18) for the cables secured by the means for gathering and/or retaining(15).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover elements (18) are removably associated with the means (15) for gathering and/or retaining the cables (13).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compartment (3) of the casing (2) is closed upperly, said casing (2) being of box type.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing (2) comprises two portions (6, 7) closable one onto the other and defining an internal cavity (3) within said casing (2), said portions (6, 7) comprising a plurality of walls (6A, 6B, 6C;

7A, 7B, 7C, 7D) extending perpendicularly from a corresponding flat part (6E, 7E) with which the means (15) for gathering the user cables (13) are associated.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said portions (6, 7) are hinged together along respective walls (6A, 7A) and are fixable in the closed position one on the other by fastening members.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one access aperture (12) is provided within at least one of the walls (6B, 6D;

7B, 7D) of each portion (6,

     7) of said casing.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one access aperture (12) is defined by the meeting of recesses (10, 11) provided in walls (6B, 6D;

7B, 7D) of the portions (6,

     7) of the casing (2) and arranged to be brought into contact by the closure of said portions one on the other.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means (15) for gathering and/or retaining the cables (13) and the means (25) for powering the user items, at least one is positioned within the compartment (3) in the casing (2).

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means (25) for powering the user items is positioned on an outer face (7C) of the casing (2).

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means (15) for gathering the cables (13) is associated with a face (6E) of the casing.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for powering the user items comprises a plurality of sockets (25A) associated with a wall (7C) of the casing (2).

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plurality of sockets (25A) comprise a multiple socket (25).

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for gathering and/or retaining the cables (13) comprise a plurality of members (16, 17) associated with the casing (2) and about which the corresponding cables (13) are wound.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for gathering and/or retaining the cables (13) comprise pairs of spaced-apart members(16, 17) extending perpendicularly from a flat part (6E, 7E) of the casing (2).

15. A device for electrically powering a plurality of user items, said user items being provided with their own electrical feed and/or data transfer cable (13), said device comprising a casing (2) provided with an inner compartment (3) and at least one access aperture (12, 90) to said compartment (3), said casing comprising associated means (25) for electrically powering said user items and means (15) for gathering and/or retaining said cables (13), wherein the means for gathering and/or retaining the cables (13) comprises a support member (91) which comprises a plane portion (92) provided with elements (95) adapted for gathering and retaining said cables and/or electrical devices, said support member (91) being hinged to at least a wall (6A, 7A) of the casing (2).

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the gathering and retaining elements are a plurality of holes (95) suitable for cooperating with gathering elements (98) for gathering the cables (13) and with connecting elements for retaining the electrical devices (90A).

17. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein comprising means (105) for avoiding large movements of the support member (91) relative to the walls of the casing (2).

18. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the support member (91) supports the means (25) for powering the user items.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means (25) for powering the user items are located in a seat (96) of the support member (91).