Electrical outlet fixture recessible in a housing

• US 6,435,903 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nelson, Eric L.
• Original Assignee: Nelson, Eric L.
• Inventors: Nelson, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US09/692,759
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 439/528, 439/131, 439/140, 174/57, 174/48
• US Class Current: 439/528
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A system for selectively recessing an electrical outlet includes a housing that has an opening. An outlet fixture has at least one receptacle for receiving an electrical plug. A guide within the housing receives the outlet fixture and permits the outlet fixture to be moved within the housing. A latch selectively holds the outlet fixture in a recessed position until the latch is released to permit the outlet fixture to return to a non-recessed position. A method of selectively recessing an electrical outlet includes receiving and inserting a plug into an electrical outlet body within a housing. The electrical outlet body is moved along guides into the housing. The electrical outlet body is stopped at a recessed position within the housing, and the electrical outlet body is restrained in a recessed position. The method further includes selectively returning the electrical outlet body to a position proximate to the front of the housing. In one embodiment, a terminal assembly is included so that the outlet body is electrically connected using flexible wiring between the outlet body and the terminal assembly. Alternatively, the outlet body is connected to the terminal assembly using pins or flexible contacts that are electrically engaged only when the outlet body is recessed.

Claims

1. A system for selectively recessing an electrical outlet, comprising:

a housing having four side walls, a back wall, and an opening opposite the back wall;

an outlet fixture having a front face that includes at least one receptacle for receiving an electrical plug;

a guide within the housing, the guide receiving the outlet fixture and permitting the outlet fixture to be moved within the housing from a first position where the front face of the outlet fixture is proximate to the opening of the housing to a second position where the front face of the outlet fixture is recessed with respect to the opening; and

a latch positioned on one of the side walls of the housing proximate to the opening, the latch having an engagement end, the latch positioned so that the engagement end is between the outlet fixture and the one of the side walls when the front face of the outlet fixture is proximate to the opening, the length of the latch selected so that the engagement end engages at least a portion of the front face when the outlet fixture is in a recessed position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the guide allows the outlet fixture to move in a direction perpendicular to the opening in the housing.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one stop to limit the travel of the outlet fixture within the housing.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a catch on the outlet fixture to engage the latch.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet fixture returns to a position proximate to the opening of the housing when the latch is released by moving the engagement end of the latch away from the front face of the outlet fixture so that the engagement end of the latch is positioned between the outlet fixture and the one of the sidewalls of the housing.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a terminal assembly that receives supply lines, and wherein the outlet fixture is electrically connected to the terminal assembly.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the outlet fixture is electrically connected to the terminal assembly by flexible wiring.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the terminal assembly includes a plurality of sockets; and

the outlet fixture includes a plurality of pins aligned with said plurality of pins, the plurality of pins having lengths selected to cause the plurality of pins to engage the plurality of sockets only when the outlet fixture is in moved to the recessed position.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the terminal assembly includes a first plurality of contacts; and

the outlet fixture includes a second plurality of contacts aligned with said first plurality of contacts, the first plurality of contacts engaging the second plurality of contacts only when the outlet fixture is in moved to the recessed position.

10. A method of selectively recessing an electrical outlet comprising:

receiving and inserting a plug into an electrical outlet body within a housing, the outlet body having a front face that includes at least one receptacle that selectively receives an electrical plug, the outlet body having a first position wherein the front face is proximate to an opening of the housing;

moving the electrical outlet body into the housing;

stopping the electrical outlet body at a recessed position within the housing wherein the front face of the outlet body is displaced from the opening of the housing; and

restraining the electrical outlet body in the recessed position using a latch that has an engagement end that engages the front face of the outlet body when the outlet body is in the recessed position and that is positioned between the outlet body and the housing when the outlet body is returned to the first position.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising returning the electrical outlet body to a position proximate to a front of the housing.