Bus bars for poke-through floor fitting

• US 6,353,180 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Czerner, Peter A., Goodman, Alfred N., Bonilla, Nelson, DeBartolo, Joseph V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/481,568
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/53, 174/50, 220/3.3, 220/3.7, 220/3.4, 439/650, 439/536, 439/535, 439/538, 522/208, 522/201, 522/205, 522/207
• US Class Current: 174/483
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0493 Service poles

Abstract

A fire-rated, poke-through floor fitting preferably for use in a three inch diameter bore within a floor. The fitting has an electrical receptacle that is sized to fit within the three inch bore. The receptacle preferably has two pairs of electrical outlets coupled to the electrical receptacle along with four voice/data jacks. The fitting provides a high number of electrical outlets and voice/data jacks, while maintaining a relatively low profile and easy accessibility. Each pair of electrical outlets can be separately connected to different power sources or each pair can be connected to the same power source. The bus bars of the receptacle can have various configurations, including non-overlapping orientations.

Claims

1. A fitting comprising:

an electrical receptacle; and

a first pair of electrical outlets coupled to said electrical receptacle and having a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a third bus bar, each of said first, second, and third bus bars having first and second ends, each of said first and second ends having a terminal for receiving a prong of an electrical plug in a first direction, and each of said first, second, and third bus bars being spaced from each of the other of said first, second and third bus bars in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular to said first direction.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein:

said receptacle has a top including a first elongated passageway having a first axis and being aligned with a first terminal of said bus bar terminals and forming part of one outlet of said first pair of outlets, said top including a second elongated passageway having a second axis and being aligned with a second terminal of said bus bar terminals and forming part of the other of said first pair of outlets.

3. A fitting according to claim 2, wherein

said first and second axes are substantially parallel.

4. A fitting according to claim 2, wherein

said first and second axes are substantially perpendicular.

5. A fitting according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second pair of electrical outlets coupled to said electrical receptacle and having a fourth bus bar, a fifth bus bar, and a sixth bus bar, each of said fourth, fifth, and sixth bus bars having first and second ends, each of said first and second ends having a terminal for receiving a prong of an electrical plug in said first direction, and each of said fourth, fifth and sixth bus bars being spaced from each of the other of said fourth, fifth and sixth bus bars in said second direction or in a third direction, which is also substantially perpendicular to said first direction.

6. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein

each of said fourth, fifth and sixth bus bars are spaced from each of said first, second and third bus bars in one of said first and second directions.

7. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein:

said receptacle has a top including a first elongated passageway having a first axis and being aligned with a first terminal of said bus bar terminals and forming part of one outlet of said first pair of outlets, said top including a second elongated passageway having a second axis and being aligned with a second terminal of said bus bar terminals and forming part of the other of said first pair of outlets, and

said top including a third elongated passageway having a third axis and being aligned with a third terminal of said bus bar terminals and forming part of one outlet of said second pair of outlets, and said top including a fourth elongated passageway having a fourth axis and being aligned with a fourth terminal of said bus bar terminals and forming part of the other of said second pair of outlets.

8. A fitting according to claim 7, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth axes are substantially parallel.

9. A fitting according to claim 8, wherein

said first and second axes are substantially perpendicular and third and fourth axes are substantially perpendicular.

10. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein

said receptacle is sized to fit within an approximately three inch diameter, substantially circular opening.

11. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein

said first, second, fourth and fifth bus bars are positioned in a first plane and said third and sixth bus bars are positioned in a second plane, beneath said first plane.

12. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein

said receptacle is sized to fit within an approximately three inch diameter, substantially circular opening.

13. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second bus bars are positioned in a first plane and said third bus bar is positioned in a second plane, beneath said first plane.

14. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein

said bus bars are positioned to receive two plugs that are substantially parallel to each other.

15. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein

said bus bars are positioned to receive two plugs that are substantially perpendicular to each other.

16. A fitting assembly comprising:

a surface with a substantially circular opening having an axis;

an electrical receptacle positioned within said opening; and

a first pair of electrical outlets coupled to said electrical receptacle and having a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a third bus bar, each of said first, second, and third bus bars being spaced from each other in a non-overlapping orientation when viewed substantially parallel to said axis.

17. A fitting assembly according to claim 16, further comprising:

a second pair of electrical outlets coupled to said electrical receptacle and having a fourth bus bar, a fifth bus bar, and a sixth bus bar, each of said fourth, fifth, and sixth bus bars being spaced from each other and from said first, second and third bus bars in a non-overlapping orientation when viewed substantially parallel to said axis.

18. A fitting assembly according to claim 16, wherein

said opening has an approximately three-inch diameter.