Electrical power supplying device having a ring-like subassembly for receiving the power plugs and/or power adapters associated with a plurality of electrical appliances, and managing excess power cord length therewithin in a concealed manner

• US 8,193,658 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• 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:
  US12/586,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20110076874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/42, 307 72- 73, 307/75, 307/147, 307/155, 439650-654, 174/493, 174/494
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables

Abstract

An electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment. The electrical power supplying device includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and also a base housing portion having a bottom surface. A power-ring subassembly is supported on the base housing portion, has a central aperture defining the boundaries of a 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. The power-ring housing portion for covering said power-ring subassembly and having a set of plug apertures, aligned with said electrical receptacles, and allowing appliance power plugs associated with said electrical appliances to plug into said electrical receptacles. The 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. The cover housing portion is 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. An appliance power cord management structure is supported through the central aperture, and adapted for taking up and managing excess length of each said appliance power cord passing through said power cord portal. The excess length of appliance power cord for the electrical appliance is measured from the power cord portal to the electrical receptacle on the power-ring assembly into which the corresponding appliance power plug is plugged.

Claims

1. An electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, wherein each said electrical appliance has a power cord routed through the environment and into said electrical power supplying device, said electrical power supplying device comprising:

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

a base housing portion having a bottom surface;

a power-ring subassembly supported on said base housing portion, having a central aperture defining boundaries of a 3D interior volume, and adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are 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, aligned with said electrical receptacles, and allowing appliance power plugs associated with said electrical appliances to plug into said electrical receptacles;

a power cord portal allowing a group of appliance power cords associated with said group of electrical appliances to enter and 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 any excess length of appliance power cord associated with said electrical appliances and contained within said 3D interior volume; and

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,

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.

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

3. The 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 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 said power cord connector and said ON/OFF power switch and indicator.

5. The 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 appliance power cords through said power cord portal.

6. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which further comprises a base support portion operably connected to said base housing portion, for supporting said electrical power supplying device on a horizontal support surface.

7. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said electrical receptacles and said one or more electronic circuits are mounted into mounting brackets provided on an upper surface of said power-ring assembly, and electrical wiring establishing necessary interconnections among said electrical receptacles and said one or more electronic circuits.

8. The 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 said appliance power cords.

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

a substantially planar surface, 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 surface, 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 electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals said appliance power plugs and power adapter plugs and power adapter modules, and protects access thereto by children.

11. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which conceals and protects said appliance power plugs and power adapter plugs and power adapter modules associated therewith, from liquid spills in said environment.

12. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, which further comprises a base support portion operably connected to said base housing portion, for supporting said electrical power supplying device on a vertical support surface.

13. The electrical power supplying device of claim 12, wherein said base housing portion comprises a pair of arms, and a foot portion, each disposed at about 120 degrees from each other.

14. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, 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.

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

16. An electrical power supplying device for 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 said environment and into said electrical power supplying device, said electrical power supplying device comprising:

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

a power-receptacle assembly having a first side, a second side opposite said first side, a central aperture defining at least one cross-sectional dimension of a 3D interior volume, and a plurality of electrical receptacles electrically connected to said power supply cord and mounted within said power-receptacle assembly so that said plurality of electrical receptacles face said 3D interior volume and are accessible through said central aperture;

wherein said 3D interior volume has the capacity to hold a plurality of power transformer modules, including one or more power adapter plugs, associated with said group of electrical appliances located in said environment;

wherein each said power transformer module, said power adapter plug, and said appliance power cord is terminated in an appliance power plug that can be plugged in one of said plurality of electrical receptacles; and

wherein said power-receptacle assembly allows a plurality of said appliance power plugs, associated with said group of electrical appliances, to plug into said plurality of electrical receptacles facing said 3D interior volume;

a power cord portal allowing a group of appliance power cords associated with said group of electrical appliances, to enter and exit said 3D interior volume;

a cover portion adapted to cover said central aperture of said power-receptacle assembly; and

an appliance power cord management structure supported within said 3D interior volume, and adapted for taking up and managing excess length of each said appliance power cord passing through said power cord portal;

wherein the excess length of appliance power cord for each said electrical appliance is measured from said power cord portal to said electrical receptacle on said power receptacle assembly, into which the corresponding appliance power plug is plugged; and

wherein said cover portion further conceals (i) any of said appliance power plugs plugged into said electrical receptacles, (ii) any of said power transformer modules and/or said power adapter plugs held in said 3D interior volume, and (iii) any of said appliance power cords, associated with said group of electrical appliances, taken up and managed by said appliance power cord management structure.

17. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein said power-receptacle assembly further comprises at least one exterior power receptacle, and at least one USB power port accessible while said cover portion covers said central aperture.

18. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein a top housing portion is supported on the top side of said power-receptacle assembly.

19. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein said power-receptacle assembly further comprises:

a power cord connector for connecting said power supply cord to said power-receptacle assembly; and

an ON/OFF power switch and indicator.

20. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein said power cord portal is formed in said power-receptacle assembly.

21. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, which further comprises:

a first housing portion supported on said first side of said power-receptacle assembly; and

a second housing portion is supported on said second side of said power-receptacle assembly.

22. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion cooperate with said power-receptacle assembly to define certain spatial boundaries of said 3D interior volume.

23. The electrical power supplying device of claim 21, which further comprises a base support portion is operably connected to said first housing portion, for supporting said electrical power supplying device a horizontal support surface.

24. The electrical power supplying device of claim 21, which further comprises a support portion operably connected to first housing portion, for mounting said electrical power supplying device on a vertical support surface.

25. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein said power-receptacle assembly further comprises at least one electronic circuit board and electrical wiring, for establishing interconnections among said electrical receptacles and said at least one electronic circuit board.

26. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein at least two or more of said plurality of electrical receptacles are arranged to optimize space within said 3D interior volume of said electrical power supplying device, and accommodate the storage of said power adapter plugs that are formed at the terminal portion said appliance power cords.

27. The electrical power supplying device of claim 16, wherein said appliance power cord management structure is provided with a set of concentric flanges about an outer post surface, for winding the excess length of appliance power cord about said outer post surface and managing the excess length of appliance power cord associated with each said electrical appliance.