Enclosed power outlet

• US 9,136,653 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JTech Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JTech Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Dickey, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US14/295,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20150108832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/326, 307/328
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition operated by change of magnetic or electric field H01H36/00; thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/22 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting

Abstract

Power outlets adapted for installation within an enclosure are provided. Power outlets are provided having a safety interlock adapted to prevent the creation of a hazardous condition within the enclosure as a result of the continued operation of an electrical device within the enclosed space. The safety interlock may include current limiting circuitry and hardware, hazard sensing devices interconnected with such current limiting circuitry and hardware or other circuit breaker switches, and combinations of such safety interlocks. The power outlets may also be adapted for installation within a movable enclosure, such as, for example, a drawer.

Claims

1. A power outlet assembly for an enclosure comprising:

at least one power outlet electrically interconnectable with at least one electrical device;

at least one junction box electrically interconnected to said at least one power outlet for providing a source of electrical energy to said power outlet, wherein the power outlet is movable within a defined range relative to said junction box along a predefined path at least between a first position where the power outlet is distal to the junction box and a second position where the power outlet is proximal to the junction box;

a flexible electrical interconnector in a conductive relation between the junction box and power outlet, said flexible electrical interconnector adapted to provide a continuous electrical interconnection between the junction box and power outlet without restricting the range of motion of the power outlet relative to the junction box within said defined range such that continuous power is supplied from the junction box to the power outlet independent of the relative positions of the junction box and power outlet;

at least one safety interlock having at least one sensor capable of detecting at least one hazardous condition within the environment of said enclosure, the at least one safety interlock being adapted to interrupt the flow of electrical current between the at least one power source and the at least one power outlet upon detection of one or more of the at least one hazardous conditions;

at least one safety interlock switch configured to activate the operation of the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the second position and deactivate the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the first position; and

wherein the at least one power outlet is accessible to the at least one electrical device along the entire defined range of the predefined path.

2. The power outlet assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector, heat detector, and toxic gas monitor.

3. The power outlet assembly of claim 2, wherein the heat detector comprises a thermostat.

4. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the power outlet assembly comprises at least two safety interlocks.

5. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting safety interlock adapted to prevent the flow of current above a specified amperage from the power source to the power outlet.

6. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rectifier in electrical connection with the power source and adapted to convert the incoming electrical current from AC to DC.

7. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter in signal communication with the at least one safety interlock for communicating the status of the power outlet assembly to a user.

8. The power outlet assembly of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is configured to automatically transmit upon activation of any one of the at least one safety interlocks.

9. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the junction box is in a fixed position and the power outlet is movable relative to said power source.

10. The power outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector is at least partially disposed within a flexible conduit adapted to confine the flexible connector within a separate predefined connector path and configured such that the bend radius of the flexible electrical interconnector is prevented from being bent below a specified minimum bend radius.

11. The power outlet assembly of claim 10, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector is fully enclosed within the flexible conduit.

12. The power outlet assembly of claim 10, wherein the flexible conduit comprises a flexible chain conduit comprised of a plurality of movable links that collectively define an internal channel within which the flexible electrical interconnector is disposed, the links being adapted to confine the flexible connector within a separate predefined connector path and configured to prevent the flexible interconnector from being bent below a minimum bend radius.

13. The power outlet assembly of claim 12, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector and flexible chain conduit are configured such that when the power outlet is proximal to the junction box along the predefined path, the flexible electrical interconnector and the chain conduit are bent into a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

a single U-shape having a first end interconnected with the junction box and a second end interconnected with the power outlet and having a bend radius at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius, and wherein the U-shape has a folded length approximately half the length of the defined range of motion of the power outlet;

at least two U-shapes disposed relative to each other in a parallel stacked configuration, wherein a first end of a first of the at least two U-shapes is interconnected with the junction box, a second end of a second of the at least two U-shapes is interconnected with the power outlet, and a second end of the first of the at least two U-shapes and a first end of the second of the at least two U-shapes are interconnected with a pivotable connector configured to maintain the distance between the armatures of the U-shapes such that the flexible electrical interconnector has a bend radius at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius, and wherein the at least two U-shapes have, in combination, a folded length approximately half the length of the defined range of motion of the power outlet; and

an S-shape, having a first end interconnected with the junction box and a second end interconnected with the power outlet, and forming at least two bends each having a bend radius that is at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius.

14. A power equipped enclosure comprising:

an enclosure defining an internal volume, said internal volume being accessible;

at least one power outlet disposed within the internal volume of the enclosure outlet, the at least one power outlet being electrically interconnectable with at least one electrical device;

at least one junction box electrically interconnected to said at least one power outlet for providing a source of electrical energy to said power outlet, wherein the power outlet is movable within a defined range relative to said junction box along a predefined path at least between a first position where the power outlet is distal to the junction box and a second position where the power outlet is proximal to the junction box;

a flexible electrical interconnector in a conductive relation between the junction box and power outlet, said flexible electrical interconnector adapted to provide a continuous electrical interconnection between the junction box and power outlet without restricting the range of motion of the power outlet relative to the junction box within said defined range such that continuous power is supplied from the junction box to the power outlet independent of the relative positions of the junction box and power outlet;

at least one safety interlock having at least one sensor disposed within the enclosure and capable of detecting at least one hazardous condition within the environment of said enclosure, the at least one safety interlock being adapted to interrupt the flow of electrical current between the at least one power source and the at least one power outlet upon detection of one or more of the at least one hazardous condition;

at least one safety interlock switch configured to activate the operation of the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the second position and deactivate the at least one safety interlock when the power outlet is in the first position; and

wherein the at least one power outlet is accessible to the at least one electrical device along the entire defined range of the predefined path.

15. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector, heat detector, and toxic gas monitor.

16. The power equipped enclosure of claim 15, wherein the heat detector comprises a thermostat.

17. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, wherein the power outlet assembly comprises at least two safety interlocks.

18. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a current limiting safety interlock adapted to prevent the flow of current above a specified amperage from the junction box to the power outlet.

19. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a rectifier in electrical connection with the power source and adapted to convert the incoming electrical current from AC to DC.

20. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter in signal communication with the at least one safety interlock for communicating the status of the power outlet assembly to a user.

21. The power equipped enclosure of claim 20, wherein the transmitter is configured to automatically transmit upon activation of any one of the at least one safety interlocks.

22. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, wherein the enclosure includes at least one movable element, and wherein the junction box and power outlet are arranged such that the movement of the at least one movable element moves the power outlet relative to the junction box.

23. The power equipped enclosure of claim 22, wherein the movable element is a drawer.

24. The power equipped enclosure of claim 22, wherein the power outlet has an orientation selected from one of either disposed vertically in the side of the drawer, or disposed horizontally in the bottom of the drawer.

25. The power equipped enclosure of claim 14, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector is at least partially disposed within a flexible conduit adapted to confine the flexible connector within a separate predefined connector path and configured such that the bend radius of the flexible electrical interconnector is prevented from being bent below a specified minimum bend radius.

26. The power equipped enclosure of claim 25, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector is fully enclosed within the flexible conduit.

27. The power equipped enclosure of claim 25, wherein the flexible conduit comprises a flexible chain conduit comprised of a plurality of movable links that collectively define an internal channel within which the flexible electrical interconnector is disposed, the links being adapted to confine the flexible connector within along a separate predefined connector path and configured to prevent the flexible interconnector from being bent below a minimum bend radius.

28. The power equipped enclosure of claim 27, wherein the flexible electrical interconnector and flexible chain conduit are configured such that when the power outlet is proximal to the junction box along the predefined path, the flexible electrical interconnector and the chain conduit are bent into a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

a single U-shape having a first end interconnected with the junction box and a second end interconnected with the power outlet and having a bend radius at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius, and wherein the U-shape has a folded length approximately half the length of the defined range of motion of the power outlet;

at least two U-shapes disposed relative to each other in a parallel stacked configuration, wherein a first end of a first of the at least two U-shapes is interconnected with the junction box, a second end of a second of the at least two U-shapes is interconnected with the power outlet, and a second end of the first of the at least two U-shapes and a first end of the second of the at least two U-shapes are interconnected with a pivotable connector configured to maintain the distance between the armatures of the U-shapes such that the flexible electrical interconnector has a bend radius at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius, and wherein the at least two U-shapes have, in combination, a folded length approximately half the length of the defined range of motion of the power outlet; and

an S-shape, having a first end interconnected with the junction box and a second end interconnected with the power outlet, and forming at least two bends each having a bend radius that is at least equal to the specified minimum bend radius.