Wall-mountable electrical power supplying device having a ring-like structure for receiving the power plugs and/or power adapters associated with a plurality of electrical appliances, and a housing containing and concealing the same during power supply operations

• US 8,159,085 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Original Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Inventors: Fleisig, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ BORROTO, ALFONSO
• Application Number:
  US12/586,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20110076882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/42, 307/72, 307/73, 307/75, 307/147, 307/155, 439/650, 439652-654, 174/493, 174/494
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes 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

Abstract

A wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment. The wall-mountable device includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and has 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, which are electrically connected to the power supply cord. 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. A power cord portal allows a group of electrical power cords associated with the group of electrical appliances to enter/exit the 3D interior volume in a bundled manner. A cover housing portion is provided and adapted to cover the central aperture of the power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into the electrical receptacles and appliance power cords associated with the electrical appliances. Also, a wall-mounting bracket, operably connectable to the base housing portion, is provided for mounting the electrical power supplying device on the wall surface in proximity to the standard wall receptacle.

Claims

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

a power supply cord for plugging into said standard wall receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and supplying electrical power to said wall-mountable electrical power supplying device;

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 boundaries of said 3D interior volume, and adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits electrically connected to said power supply cord;

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 appliance 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 (i) appliance power plugs plugged into said electrical receptacles, and (ii) said appliance power cords associated with said electrical appliances and passing through said power cord portal, 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 on said wall surface in proximity to said standard wall 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 a power cord connector for connecting said power supply cord to said power-ring subassembly, and an ON/OFF power switch and indicator, and wherein said power-ring housing portion has side wall apertures for access to said power cord connector and 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 assist in the lifting said cover housing portion.

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

7. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said electrical receptacles and said one or more electronic circuits are mounted in mounting brackets provided on a surface in said power-ring subassembly, so that electrical wiring establishes necessary interconnections among said electrical receptacles and said one or more electronic circuits.

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, and accommodate the storage of power adapter plugs that are formed at the terminal portion of 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 surface, for mounting of said plurality of electrical receptacles, and said one, or more electronic circuits; and

elements provided on the surface of said substantially planar structure, for the mounting and routing of electrical conductors that interconnect together said electrical receptacles and said one or more electronic circuits, 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 power adapter plugs and power adapter modules contained within said 3D interior volume, and protects access thereto by children.

11. The wall-mountable electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals and protects said appliance power plugs, power adapter plugs and power adapter modules contained in said 3D interior volume, from liquid spills in said environment.

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 subassembly, 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 one or more electronic circuits comprises a surge protection circuit.