Mountable power strips
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of arm sections, at least one of the plurality of arm sections including a plurality of electrical receptacles;
(b) a coupling assembly configured to couple together a first arm section of the plurality of arm sections and a second arm section of the plurality of arm sections for rotational movement relative to each other about a rotational axis; and
(c) a ratcheting assembly configured to define degrees of relative rotational movement about the rotational axis between the first arm section and the second arm section;
(d) wherein the first and second arm sections are configured to transition between,(i) a first configuration, in which the first and second arm sections are oriented in an open position for receipt of an object between the first and second arm sections, and(ii) a second configuration, in which the first and second arm sections are oriented in a closed position, the first and second arm sections being closer to one another than when in the first configuration for clamping engagement with the object;
(e) wherein the coupling assembly comprises a connecting portion of the first arm section that is received within a recess of the second arm section in abutting engagement with the second arm section such that the second arm section is retained to the first arm section, the abutment of the connecting portion with the second arm section serving to retain the first and second arm sections to one another for relative rotational movement about the rotational axis while precluding relative axial movement along the rotational axis; and
(f) wherein the ratcheting assembly comprises,(i) a release member configured for sliding movement along the rotational axis relative to the connecting portion, but disposed in fixed disposition relative to the connecting portion with respect to rotational movement about the rotational axis, the release member including teeth elements and the second arm section further including an engaging portion having corresponding teeth elements, and(ii) a biasing element configured to bias the release member along the rotational axis and the teeth elements of the release member into engagement with the teeth elements of the engaging portion of the second arm section such that, due to the shape of the inclined teeth elements and their relative dispositions,(A) when the release member is not depressed and the teeth elements of the release member are engaged with the teeth elements of the engaging portion,(I) relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section away from the open position toward the closed position is permitted, and(II) relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section away from the closed position toward the open position is inhibited, and(B) when the release member is depressed and the teeth elements of the release member are out of engagement with the teeth elements of the engaging portion, relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section toward the open position is uninhibited.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mountable power strip includes: first and second arm sections each including a plurality of electrical receptacles; a coupling assembly configured to couple the arm sections together for rotational movement relative to each other about a rotational axis; and a ratcheting assembly configured to define degrees of relative rotational movement about the rotational axis between the arm sections. The coupling assembly includes a connecting member secured in fixed disposition to the first arm section that retains the arm sections together. The ratcheting assembly includes a release member retained on the connecting member that is axially slidable relative thereto. The release member includes teeth that engage teeth of the second arm section. A biasing element retained between the connecting member and the release member is configured to bias the release member toward the rim cap such that the teeth of the release member engage the teeth of the rim cap.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arm sections, at least one of the plurality of arm sections including a plurality of electrical receptacles; (b) a coupling assembly configured to couple together a first arm section of the plurality of arm sections and a second arm section of the plurality of arm sections for rotational movement relative to each other about a rotational axis; and (c) a ratcheting assembly configured to define degrees of relative rotational movement about the rotational axis between the first arm section and the second arm section; (d) wherein the first and second arm sections are configured to transition between, (i) a first configuration, in which the first and second arm sections are oriented in an open position for receipt of an object between the first and second arm sections, and (ii) a second configuration, in which the first and second arm sections are oriented in a closed position, the first and second arm sections being closer to one another than when in the first configuration for clamping engagement with the object; (e) wherein the coupling assembly comprises a connecting portion of the first arm section that is received within a recess of the second arm section in abutting engagement with the second arm section such that the second arm section is retained to the first arm section, the abutment of the connecting portion with the second arm section serving to retain the first and second arm sections to one another for relative rotational movement about the rotational axis while precluding relative axial movement along the rotational axis; and (f) wherein the ratcheting assembly comprises, (i) a release member configured for sliding movement along the rotational axis relative to the connecting portion, but disposed in fixed disposition relative to the connecting portion with respect to rotational movement about the rotational axis, the release member including teeth elements and the second arm section further including an engaging portion having corresponding teeth elements, and (ii) a biasing element configured to bias the release member along the rotational axis and the teeth elements of the release member into engagement with the teeth elements of the engaging portion of the second arm section such that, due to the shape of the inclined teeth elements and their relative dispositions, (A) when the release member is not depressed and the teeth elements of the release member are engaged with the teeth elements of the engaging portion, (I) relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section away from the open position toward the closed position is permitted, and (II) relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section away from the closed position toward the open position is inhibited, and (B) when the release member is depressed and the teeth elements of the release member are out of engagement with the teeth elements of the engaging portion, relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section toward the open position is uninhibited. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arm sections, at least one of the plurality of arm sections including a plurality of electrical receptacles; (b) a coupling assembly configured to couple together a first arm section and a second arm section of the plurality of arm sections for rotational movement relative to each other about a rotational axis; and (c) a ratcheting assembly configured to define degrees of relative rotational movement about the rotational axis between the first arm section and the second arm section; (d) wherein the first and second arm sections are configured to transition between, (i) a first configuration, in which the first and second arm sections are oriented in an open position for receipt of an object between the first and second arm sections, and (ii) a second configuration, in which the first and second arm sections are oriented in a closed position, the first and second arm sections being closer to one another than when in the first configuration for clamping engagement with the object; (e) wherein the coupling assembly comprises, (i) a connecting member received within a cylindrical recess of the second arm section and secured to the first arm section in fixed disposition relative to the first arm section, the connecting member including a circumferential edge disposed in abutting engagement with a circumferential ledge of the second arm section such that the second arm section is retained to the first arm section, the abutment of the connecting member with the second arm section and the securing of the connecting member to the first arm section serving to retain the first and second arm sections to one another for relative rotational movement about the rotational axis while precluding relative axial movement along the rotational axis, and (ii) a biasing element of the coupling assembly disposed in abutting engagement with both the second arm section and with the connecting member and configured to bias the first and second arm sections from the closed position toward the open position; and (f) wherein the ratcheting assembly comprises, (i) a release member retained on the connecting member and configured for sliding axial movement relative to the connecting member but disposed in fixed disposition relative to the connecting member with respect to rotational movement about the rotational axis, the release member including teeth elements disposed along a circumferential area thereof that protract in the axial direction, (ii) a rim cap received within the cylindrical recess of the second arm section and including a circular flange extending outside of the second arm section to overlay and cover a surrounding edge of the cylindrical recess of the second arm section, the rim cap secured in fixed disposition to the second arm section, an opening in the rim cap receiving therethrough a portion of the release member to define a release button, the rim cap further including teeth elements disposed along a circumferential area of a rim cap, (iii) a biasing element of the ratcheting assembly retained between the connecting member and the release member and configured to bias the release member along the rotational axis toward the rim cap such that the teeth elements of the release member engage the teeth elements of the rim cap, (iv) whereby, due to the shape of the inclined teeth elements and their relative dispositions, (A) relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section away from the open position toward the closed position is permitted and relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section away from the closed position toward the open position is inhibited when the release member is not depressed and the teeth are in abutment with one another, and (B) relative rotational movement between the first arm section and the second arm section toward the open position is uninhibited when the release member is depressed and the teeth are out of abutment with one another. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification