Mountable power strips having arm sections and lever arm

• US 7,625,242 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axland Comec, LLC
• Original Assignee: Axland Comec, LLC
• Inventors: Dahlquist, Kevin J., Kovacevich, Ian D., Bizzell, Daniel Lee, Axland, Cheryl, Axland, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US12/164,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20080268715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 439/640, 439/655, 439/651, 439/170, 362/296, 362/806
• US Class Current: 439/640
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A mountable power strip includes: a first arm section; a second arm section; a lever arm connected to the second arm section; and a coupling assembly configured to couple the first and second arm sections together such that the first and second arm sections are configured for relative rotational movement between an open position for receipt of an object therebetween; and a closed position wherein the first and second arm sections are closer to one another than when in the open position for clamping engagement with the object. The first arm section includes a plurality of electrical receptacles positioned adjacent each other along an extent of the first arm section such that the plurality of electrical receptacles form a “strip” of electrical receptacles. Methods of use include mounting a power strip to an object.

Claims

1. A mountable power strip, comprising:

(a) a first arm section, the first arm section including a plurality of electrical receptacles positioned adjacent each other along an extent of the first arm section such that the plurality of electrical receptacles form a strip of electrical receptacles;

(b) a second arm section;

(c) a lever arm connected to the second arm section; and

(d) a coupling assembly configured to couple the first and second arm sections together such that the first and second arm sections are configured for rotational movement relative to each other about an axis of the coupling assembly;

(e) 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.

2. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the first arm section includes an elongate portion along which the strip of electrical receptacles are positioned.

3. The mountable power strip of claim 2, wherein the second arm section is curved.

4. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the first arm section and the lever-arm each includes finger grips for gripping by hand of the first arm section and the lever-arm.

5. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm sections each includes an outer resilient portion that is elastic and capable of resuming its prior shape after deformation.

6. The mountable power strip of claim 5, wherein the resilient portion of the second arm section comprises resilient protuberances for tensioned gripping of an object on which the power strip may be mounted.

7. The mountable power strip of claim 6, wherein the resilient protuberances of the second arm section are positioned adjacent each other such that the resilient protuberances define a row of resilient protuberances.

8. The mountable power strip of claim 7, wherein the row of resilient protuberances of the second arm section extends along an arcuate portion of the second arm section.

9. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the lever arm is connected to the second arm section in fixed disposition relative to the second arm section.

10. The mountable power strip of claim 9, wherein the lever arm is spring-biased such that the first and second arm sections are biased toward the closed position

11. The mountable power strip of claim 10, wherein the first and second arm sections are spring-biased toward the closed position.

12. The mountable power strip of claim 1, further comprising a main power cord for supplying electrical power to the electrical receptacles, the main power cord being connected to the first arm section at an end of the first arm section.

13. A method of mounting a power strip on an object, the power strip having first and second arm sections and a lever arm connected to the second arm section, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the power strip such that the object extends between a first arm section and a second arm section of the power strip, the first arm section including a plurality of electrical receptacles positioned adjacent each other along an extent of the first arm section so as to define a strip of electrical receptacles; and

transitioning the first and second arm sections to a closed position wherein the object is gripped between the first arm section and the second arm section.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second arm section includes a row of resilient protuberances, at least some of which are compressed by the object for tensioned gripping of the object between the first and second arm sections of the power strip.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the extent of the first arm section that includes the strip of electrical receptacles is linear.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the power strip further includes:

(a) a coupling assembly configured to couple the first and second arm sections together such that the first and second arm sections are configured for rotational movement relative to each other about an axis of the coupling assembly;

(b) 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.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first arm section includes an elongate portion along which the strip of electrical receptacles are positioned, and wherein the second arm section is curved.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second arm sections each includes an outer resilient portion that is elastic and capable of resuming its prior shape after deformation, the outer resilient portions of the arm sections being oriented in opposed facing relationship to each other on an interior side of each arm section, and each resilient portion of each arm section being compressed by the object for tensioned gripping of the object between the first and second arm sections of the power strip.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the lever arm is connected to the second arm section in fixed disposition relative to the second arm section.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the lever arm is spring-biased such that the first and second arm sections are biased toward the closed position.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of positioning the power strip includes moving the first arm section and the second arm section apart by moving the lever arm relative to the first arm section.