Mountable power strips having handle grips

• US 7,645,169 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axland Comec, LLC
• Original Assignee: Axland Comec, LLC
• Inventors: Axland, Cheryl, Axland, Mark, Dahlquist, Kevin J., Kovacevich, Ian D., Bizzell, Daniel Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US12/164,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 439/640, 439/655, 439/651, 439/170, 362/249.01, 362/249.07, 362/249.09, 362/249.1, 362/249.11, 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 first and second arm sections, at least one of which includes a plurality of electrical receptacles. The arm sections are coupled together for relative rotational movement between an open position for receipt of an object therebetween, and a closed position for clamping engagement with the object. The first and second arm sections are spring biased toward the closed position. The spring-biasing of the arm sections provides a clamping force for mounting the power strip to an object. The arm sections generally have the same dimensions and configuration and are coupled together between opposite end portions of each arm section. One of the end portions of each arm section defines a handle grip. Alternatively, a long handle integral with the first arm section extends generally linearly from the coupling and a short lever arm integral with the second arm section extends generally linearly from the coupling.

Claims

1. A mountable power strip, comprising:

(a) first and second arm sections, at least one of the first and second arm sections including a plurality of electrical receptacles;

(b) 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;

(c) a handle that extends from the coupling assembly and that is integral with the first arm section; and

(d) a lever arm that extends from the coupling assembly and that is integral with the second arm section;

(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;

(f) wherein the first and second arm sections are spring biased toward the closed position, the spring-biasing of the arm sections providing a clamping force for mounting the power strip to an object; and

(g) wherein the handle has a length that is substantially longer than a length of the lever arm.

2. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein only the first arm section includes electrical receptacles.

3. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the lever arm includes finger grips.

4. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the first arm section includes a plurality of electrical receptacles, with at least one electrical receptacle being disposed on a first side of the first arm section and another electrical receptacle being disposed on a second side of the first arm section, the first side being generally orthogonally oriented to the second side.

5. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second arm sections includes teeth located on an interior side thereof, the respective teeth of the first and second arm sections being oriented in opposing relation for gripping engagement of an object between the first and second arm sections.

6. The mountable power strip of claim 5, wherein the teeth are formed from a durable, resilient material.

7. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arm sections includes a curved portion that extends from the coupling assembly and that includes a plurality of electrical receptacles located along the curved portion.

8. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the handle extends generally linearly from the coupling assembly.

9. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the lever arm extends generally linearly from the coupling assembly.

10. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a pivot coupling.

11. The mountable power strip of claim 10, wherein the handle extends from the pivot coupling and is formed by an extension of the first section beyond the pivot coupling.

12. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein the lever arm and the second arm section are disposed in fixed disposition relative to each other.

13. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lever arm and a portion of the second arm section are part of a single molded piece of material.

14. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the electrical receptacles are disposed on a first side of the first arm section and a plurality of the electrical receptacles are disposed on a second side of the first arm section.

15. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein a row of electrical receptacles extends along a top surface of the first arm section and a row of receptacles extends along a side surface of the first arm section.

16. The mountable power strip of claim 1, wherein each of the handle and the lever arm includes finger grips.

17. A method of using a power strip that comprises,

(a) first and second arm sections, at least one of the first and second arm sections including a plurality of electrical receptacles;

(b) 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;

(c) a handle that extends generally linearly from the coupling assembly and that is integral with the first arm section; and

(d) a lever arm that extends generally linearly from the coupling assembly and that is integral with the second arm section;

(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;

(f) wherein the first and second arm sections are spring biased toward the closed position, the spring-biasing of the arm sections providing a clamping force for mounting the power strip to an object; and

(g) wherein the handle has a length that is substantially longer than a length of the lever arm,

the method comprising the step of mounting the power strip to an object by transitioning the power strip into the second configuration with the first and second arm sections disposed in clamping engagement with the object, whereby the power strip may provide a source of electrical power while mounted to the object.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of plugging the power strip into an electrical outlet.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the handle and a portion of the first arm section are part of a single molded piece of material;

and wherein at least a portion of the lever arm and a portion of the second arm section are part of a single molded piece of material.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of the electrical receptacles are disposed on a first side of the first arm section and a plurality of the electrical receptacles are disposed on a second side of the first arm section.