Energy center with interchangeable support bases
First Claim
1. An energy center adapted to be mounted to a desk or other furniture item having a planar work surface, or a vertical side surface, said energy center comprising:
- one or more electrical and/or voice/data receptacles and communication terminals;
an upper housing for housing said receptacles and communication terminals;
one or more power cords coupled to said receptacles and communication terminals, and extending downwardly from said upper housing for purposes of supplying energy to said receptacles and communication terminals;
a first base support adapted to be releasably coupled to said upper housing, and further adapted to be mounted over a slot on a planar portion of said work surface;
a second base support, adapted to be mounted to an edge of said planar work surface or said vertical side surface; and
said upper housing is adapted to be releasably coupled interchangeably to said first base support and, alternatively, said second base support, without requiring tools for coupling and uncoupling said upper housing to and from either said first base support or said second base support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy center (100) is disclosed which is mountable to furniture assemblies comprising elements such as planar work surfaces and vertical side surfaces. In one embodiment, the energy center (100) is mountable to a work surface (102) having a planar surface (104). A slot (106) extends through the work surface (102). The energy center (100) includes an upper housing (120) having an interior spacial area (124) for housing wires and portions of electrical receptacles (112) and data ports (114). The receptacles (112) and data ports (114) are utilized to provide energy through power cords (110) and data lines (108). The upper housing (120) is interchangeably mountable to a first base support (130). The base support (130) is securable to the planar surface (140). In a second embodiment, an energy center (300) is adapted to be mounted to an edge or end of the work surface (102). The energy center (300) utilizes the same upper housing (120), but is releasably interchangeable with a second base support (310) which is in the form of a clamping device (312) utilized for purposes of releasably securing the energy center (300) to an edge of the work surface (102).
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An energy center adapted to be mounted to a desk or other furniture item having a planar work surface, or a vertical side surface, said energy center comprising:
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one or more electrical and/or voice/data receptacles and communication terminals;
an upper housing for housing said receptacles and communication terminals;
one or more power cords coupled to said receptacles and communication terminals, and extending downwardly from said upper housing for purposes of supplying energy to said receptacles and communication terminals;
a first base support adapted to be releasably coupled to said upper housing, and further adapted to be mounted over a slot on a planar portion of said work surface;
a second base support, adapted to be mounted to an edge of said planar work surface or said vertical side surface; and
said upper housing is adapted to be releasably coupled interchangeably to said first base support and, alternatively, said second base support, without requiring tools for coupling and uncoupling said upper housing to and from either said first base support or said second base support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
an outer shell;
an interior spacial area for housing appropriate electrical wires and portions of said receptacles and communication terminals; and
an open slot area through which power cords and data lines access said interior spacial area.
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7. An energy center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said first base support comprises:
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a shell portion adapted to be releasably mounted to said upper housing; and
hook retainers mounted to an interior surface of said shell portion.
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8. An energy center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said energy center further comprises connecting means mounted to said first base support and to said upper housing for releasably securing said first base support to said upper housing.
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9. An energy center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said upper housing comprises:
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an outer shell;
an interior spacial area for housing electrical wires and portions of electrical receptacles and data ports;
an open slot area through which power cords and data lines may access said interior spacial area; and
connecting hooks mounted to a lower frontal portion of said outer shell.
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10. An energy center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said second base support comprises:
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an upper cantilever section, having an upper planar section with a slot through which power cords and data lines may extend;
an interconnecting vertical portion extending downwardly from said upper cantilever section, with said slot extending through said interconnecting portion;
a lower clamp section extending forwardly from said interconnecting section; and
said lower clamp section, interconnecting section and upper cantilever section forming a slot which opens forwardly, and is appropriately configured in size so as to receive an edge of said work surface.
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11. An energy center in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that said second base support further comprises clamping screws for clamping said second base support to an edge of said planar work surface or said vertical side surface.
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12. An energy center in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that said second base support further comprises hook retainers located within said upper cantilever section.
Specification