Table tap

• US 7,393,250 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hiroaki Tanaka
• Original Assignee: Hiroaki Tanaka
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/549,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20060234561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 439/652, 439/215, 439/214, 439/209, 174/101, 174/97
• US Class Current: 439/652
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/00 Flexible or turnable line connectors , i.e. the rotation angle being limited rotary current collectors, distributors H01R39/00

Abstract

A power strip includes two or more spaced-apart sockets each having a set of terminal insertion holes for insertion of plug terminals of a power cable or the like and either at least one flexible joint that interconnects adjacent sockets or a flexible cover of substantially tubular shape that substantially covers and interconnects the sockets. The interconnection of the sockets by the flexible joints or the flexible cover. enables the spaces between adjacent sockets to be optimized for the types and numbers of plugs, AC adapters and the like to plugged into the sockets.

Claims

1. A power strip, comprising:

two or more spaced-apart socket sections each having a set of terminal insertion holes configured to receive plug terminals of a power cable;

at least one flexible joint section that intersects adjacent socket sections; and

a flexible cover section substantially covering the spaced-apart socket sections,

wherein an entire circumference of the cover section or joint section is formed with corrugations that perpendicularly intersect a longitudinal direction of the cover section.

2. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein the joint section or cover section has a substantially tubular shape.

3. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein the joint section or cover section has a tubular shape, and the tubular shape comprises the corrugations.

4. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the joint section or cover section, or portions of outer surfaces of the socket sections exposed outside the joint section or cover section, are subjected to nonslip processing or treatment, or at least surface layers thereof are formed of a material having a nonslip effect.

5. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein the set of terminal insertion holes formed at the socket sections fall along an imaginary line and the joint section or cover section has a structure enabling it to flex at least along the imaginary line.

6. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein the set sets of terminal insertion holes formed at the socket sections fall along an imaginary line and the joint section or cover section has a structure enabling it to flex at least along a direction perpendicularly intersecting the imaginary line.

7. The power strip according to claim 1, which includes a set of sockets whose sets of terminal insertion holes are formed at the socket sections to be located along an imaginary line and a set of sockets whose set of terminal insertion holes are formed at the socket sections to be located substantially in parallel as spaced a prescribed distance apart in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the imaginary line, in which power strip it is either possible for the joint section or cover section to flex at least along the imaginary line or possible for the joint section or cover section to flex at least along the direction perpendicularly intersecting the imaginary line.

8. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein the joint section or cover section is integrally connected and fastened to the socket section.

9. The power strip according to claim 1, wherein outer peripheral surfaces of the socket sections are formed with bumps and dips that mesh with the cover section or joint section.

10. The power strip according to claim 9, wherein the bumps and dips have an undulating shape that fits into the corrugations of the cover section or joint section.