Flush/recessable junction device
First Claim
1. A junction device for connecting with a complementary coupling part comprising:
- (a) a housing; and
(b) at least one coupling part connectable with a power and/or signal source and being sized and configured to be coupled to the complementary coupling part, said coupling part having a face surface and being carried by said housing for movement between(i) a first, flush disposition wherein said face surface of said coupling part is substantially aligned with and co-planar with a face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to the complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in said first position; and
(ii) a second, recessed disposition wherein said face surface of said coupling part is not co-planar with said face of said housing but is, instead, disposed within said housing and positioned substantially parallel to said face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to the complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in said second position or can remain in said second disposition without being coupled to the complementary coupling part.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling part is carried by a junction device housing for movement between a position wherein a face surface of the coupling part is flush (co-planar) with a face surface of the junction device housing and a position wherein the coupling part is recessed within the housing. A lift and latch mechanism urges the coupling part to its flush disposition and serves to latch the coupling part in the recessed disposition. In an alternative embodiment a latch mechanism which includes a finger is slidably carried by the housing for movement with respect to the housing to insert an end of the finger into a first or a second notch in the coupling part to latch the coupling part in either its flush or the recessed disposition.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A junction device for connecting with a complementary coupling part comprising:
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(a) a housing; and (b) at least one coupling part connectable with a power and/or signal source and being sized and configured to be coupled to the complementary coupling part, said coupling part having a face surface and being carried by said housing for movement between (i) a first, flush disposition wherein said face surface of said coupling part is substantially aligned with and co-planar with a face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to the complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in said first position; and (ii) a second, recessed disposition wherein said face surface of said coupling part is not co-planar with said face of said housing but is, instead, disposed within said housing and positioned substantially parallel to said face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to the complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in said second position or can remain in said second disposition without being coupled to the complementary coupling part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of recessing a coupling part in a junction device which connects with a complementary coupling part comprising:
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(a) providing a junction device comprising a housing and at least one coupling part connectable with a power and/or signal source and being sized and configured to be coupled to the complementary coupling part, said coupling part having a face surface and being carried by said housing, (b) locking said coupling part in at first, flush disposition wherein said face surface of said coupling part is substantially aligned with and co-planar with a face of said housing, (c) inserting the complementary coupling part into said coupling part when said coupling part is in said first, flush disposition such that said coupling part conducts power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in said first, flush disposition, (d) unlocking said coupling part such that said coupling part is movable from said first, flush disposition, and (e) moving said coupling part to a second, recessed disposition wherein said face surface of said coupling part is not co-planar with said face of said housing but is, instead, disposed within said housing and positioned substantially parallel to said face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part continues to conduct power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part.
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Specification