Wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for mounting to a wall surface about a standard wall-mounted power receptacle, using a mounting bracket arranged between the housing and wall surface and an electrical power supply plug integrated with the housing

• US 8,026,633 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Original Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Inventors: Buch, Fredrik, Fleisig, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/586,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20110076877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 439/654, 439/501, 439/373, 439/147, 361/118, 361/601, 361/622, 361/679.01, 361/825, D08/349, D08/382, 248/121, 248/126, 248/205.1, 248/207, 248/231.91
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6608 with built-in single component H01R13/68, H01R13/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for mounting to a wall surface about a standard wall-mounted power receptacle, and supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment. The wall-mountable device includes a base housing portion having a bottom surface and a 3D interior volume. A power-ring subassembly is supported within the base housing portion, has a central aperture defining the boundaries of 3D interior volume, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits. An electrical power supply plug is integrated with the base housing portion, and is adapted for plugging into a standard wall-mounted power receptacle, and supplying electrical power to the power-ring subassembly. A power-ring housing portion covers the power-ring subassembly, and has a set of plug apertures allowing appliance power plugs associated with the electrical appliances to plug into the electrical receptacles mounted behind the plug apertures.

Claims

1. A wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for mounting to a wall surface about a standard wall-mounted power receptacle, and supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, wherein each said electrical appliance has a power cord routed through an environment and into said electrical power supplying device and terminating with an appliance power plug, said electrical power supplying device comprising:

a base housing portion having a bottom surface and a 3D interior volume;

a power-ring subassembly supported within said base housing portion, having a central aperture defining the boundaries of 3D interior volume, and adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits;

an electrical power supply plug, integrated with said base housing portion, and adapted for plugging into said standard wall-mounted power receptacle, and supplying electrical power to said power-ring subassembly;

a power-ring housing portion for covering said power-ring subassembly and having a set of plug apertures allowing appliance power plugs associated with said electrical appliances to plug into said electrical receptacles mounted behind said plug apertures;

a power cord portal allowing a group of electrical power cords associated with said group of electrical appliances to enter/exit said 3D interior volume in a bundled manner;

a cover housing portion adapted to cover the central aperture of said power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into said electrical receptacles, and appliance power cords associated with said electrical appliances and contained within said 3D interior volume; and

a wall-mounting bracket, operably connectable to said base housing portion, for mounting said wall-mountable electrical power supplying device to said wall surface, about said standard wall-mounted power receptacle, when said electrical power supply plug is plugged into said standard wall-mounted power receptacle.

2. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring housing portion attaches to said base housing portion.

3. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring subassembly further comprises at least one exterior power receptacle and at least one USB power port, and wherein said power-ring housing portion has side wall apertures for providing access to said at least exterior power receptacle, and said at least one USB power port.

4. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring subassembly further comprises an ON/OFF power switch and indicator, and wherein said power-ring housing portion has side wall apertures for said ON/OFF power switch and indicator.

5. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said cover housing portion further comprises a circumference and a set of gripping threads provided along said circumference to aid in the lifting said cover housing portion as required.

6. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power cord portal is formed in said power-ring cover portion, and wherein said cover housing portion further comprises a side wall aperture for the passage of electrical cords through said power cord portal.

7. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said electrical receptacles and electronic circuit boards are mounted into mounting brackets provided on an upper surface of said power-ring assembly, so that electrical wiring establishes necessary interconnections among said electrical receptacles and said electronic circuit boards.

8. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein at least two or more of said plurality of electrical receptacles are arranged in orthogonal ways to optimize space within said 3D interior volume of said wall-mountable electrical power supplying device, and accommodate the storage of said appliance power adapter plugs that are formed at the terminal portion said appliance power cords.

9. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power-ring subassembly comprises:

a substantially planar structure, having said central aperture;

a plurality of mounting brackets, formed or provided on said substantially planar structure, for mounting of said plurality of electrical receptacles, and at least one electronic circuit board; and

elements provided on a surface of said substantially planar structure, for the mounting and routing of electrical conductors that interconnect together said electrical receptacles and said least one electronic circuit board, and supply electrical power thereto, during device operation.

10. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals said appliance power plugs and appliance power adapter plugs and appliance power adapter modules, and prevents children from accessing said appliance power plugs and said appliance power adapter plugs and said appliance power adapter modules.

11. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals and protects said appliance power plugs and said power adapter plugs and power adapter modules, from liquid spills in workstation environments.

12. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said wall-mounting bracket comprises a pair of arms for anchoring into said wall surface, and a foot portion for support against said wall surface, wherein said arm portions and said foot portion are each disposed at about 120 degrees from each other.

13. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which further comprises an appliance power cord management structure supported through said central aperture, and adapted for taking up and managing excess length of each said appliance power cord passing through said power cord portal.

14. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 13, wherein the excess length of appliance power cord for said electrical appliance is measured from said power cord portal to said electrical receptacle on said power-ring assembly into which the corresponding appliance power plug is plugged.

15. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 13, wherein said appliance power cord management structure is provided with a set of concentric flanges about an outer dowel surface, for winding the excess length of appliance power cord about said outer dowel surface and managing the excess length of appliance power cord associated with each said electrical appliance.

16. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said base housing portion has low-profile geometrical dimensions suitable for mounting close to said wall surface.

17. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said wall mounting bracket has a threaded hole formed below a slot;

wherein said base housing portion has a rear portion and a front portion; and

wherein said wall-mountable electrical power supplying device further comprises a mounting screw that projects from the rear portion of said base housing portion below said electrical power plug and can be screwed into said threaded hole formed in said wall mounting bracket, while said electrical power plug passes through said slot in said wall-mounting bracket.

18. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 17, wherein said mounting screw can be screwed into said threaded hole by turning a knob accessible on the front side of said base housing portion.

19. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said one or more electronic circuits comprises a surge protection circuit.

20. A wall-mounting bracket in combination with an electrical power supplying device including a base housing portion having a rear surface provided with a centrally located mounting post, said wall-mounting bracket comprising:

a pair of arm portions each provided with screw anchors that screw into a wall surface and fasten said arm portions securely thereto to prevent movement of said wall mounting bracket relative to said wall surface, and support the weight of said electrical power supplying device;

a foot portion, arranged in an equally spaced apart manner from each arm portion, for contacting said wall surface; and

a slot formed between said arm portions for receiving said centrally located mounting post provided on the rear surface of said base housing portion.

21. The combination of claim 20, wherein said foot portion is arranged at about a 120 degrees from each said arm portion.

22. The combination of claim 20, wherein said foot portion further comprises a non-slip pad for safely contacting said wall surface.