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 said complementary coupling part, said coupling part having a face surface and being carried by the housing for movement between(i) a first, flush disposition wherein said face surface of the coupling part is substantially aligned with and co-planar with a face of the housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to said complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from said complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in the first position; and
(ii) a plurality of recessed dispositions 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 at a user-selectable depth and substantially parallel to said face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to said complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from said complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in any of said recessed positions or can remain in any of said recessed dispositions without being coupled to said complementary coupling part.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 plurality of user-selectable positions 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 a selected one of multiple recessed dispositions. 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 one or multiple notches in the coupling part to latch the coupling part in either a flush or recessed disposition.
33 Citations
14 Claims
-
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 said complementary coupling part, said coupling part having a face surface and being carried by the housing for movement between (i) a first, flush disposition wherein said face surface of the coupling part is substantially aligned with and co-planar with a face of the housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to said complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from said complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in the first position; and (ii) a plurality of recessed dispositions 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 at a user-selectable depth and substantially parallel to said face of said housing, and wherein said coupling part can be coupled to said complementary coupling part so as to conduct power and/or signals to or from said complementary coupling part with said coupling part remaining in any of said recessed positions or can remain in any of said recessed dispositions without being coupled to said complementary coupling part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of recessing a coupling part in a junction device which connects with a complementary coupling part comprising:
-
(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, the coupling part having a face surface and being carried by the housing, (b) locking the coupling part in at first, flush disposition wherein the face surface of the coupling part is substantially aligned with and co-planar with a face of the housing, (c) inserting the complementary coupling part into the coupling part when the coupling part is in the first, flush disposition such that the coupling part conducts power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part with the coupling part remaining in the first, flush disposition, (d) unlocking the coupling part such that the coupling part is movable from the first, flush disposition, and (e) moving the coupling part to desired one of multiple recessed dispositions wherein the face surface of the coupling part is not co-planar with the face of the housing but is, instead, disposed within the housing and positioned substantially parallel to the face of the housing, and wherein the coupling part continues to conduct power and/or signals to or from the complementary coupling part.
-
Specification