Electrical power supplying device having a central power-receptacle assembly with a penisula-like housing structure supplying electrical power to power plugs, adaptors and modules while concealed from view during power supplying operations

• US 9,912,154 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Original Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Inventors: Fleisig, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Kitov, Zeev V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US15/204,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20170025852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 307 11
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0081 Auxiliary apparatus with electrical connections for office furniture
• 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 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/02 using a single network for simultaneous distribution of power at different frequencies; using a single network for simultaneous distribution of ac power and of dc power

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 power supply plug, and supplying AC electrical power to the device. The device includes a housing base portion having a central aperture providing access to a 3D interior volume bounded by a side wall extending circumferentially about the 3D interior volume and having a capacity for holding a plurality of power adapter modules and/or power adapter blocks associated with said group of electrical appliances located in the environment. The device further includes a central power-receptacle assembly having a peninsula-like housing structure supported generally within the central portion of the housing base portion and extending above the bottom support surface within the 3D interior volume, and towards a portion of the wall of the housing base portion, and supporting a plurality of internally disposed alternating current (AC) electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, including an AC-to-DC power conversion circuit, which are operably connected to the power supply cord.

Claims

1. An electrical power supplying device for supplying alternating current (AC) electrical power and direct current (DC) electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, wherein each electrical appliance has a power cord routed through said 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 a standard power receptacle by way of a power supply plug, and supplying AC electrical power to said electrical power supplying device;

a housing base portion having a central aperture providing access to a 3D interior volume bounded by a side wall extending circumferentially about said 3D interior volume and having a capacity for holding a plurality of power adapter modules and/or power adapter blocks associated with said group of electrical appliances located in said environment which can be loaded into said 3D interior volume through said central aperture;

a bottom support surface disposed opposite said central aperture, and on which the plurality of power adapter modules and/or power adapter blocks can be supported within the 3D interior volume;

a central power-receptacle assembly having a peninsula-like housing structure supported generally within a central portion of said housing base portion and extending above said bottom support surface within the 3D interior volume, and towards a portion of a side wall of said housing base portion, and said peninsula-like housing structure supporting a plurality of internally-disposed alternating current (AC) electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, including an AC-to-DC power conversion circuit, which are operably connected to said power supply cord, and

wherein when power plugs of said power adapter modules are plugged into said plurality of internally-disposed AC electrical receptacles, said power adapter modules can be supported on said bottom support surface, while said power adapter modules and excess power cord are stored and contained within said 3D interior volume;

a housing cover portion for closing off said central aperture and covering said central power-receptacle assembly, including said peninsula-like housing structure, and said housing base portion and concealing said power plugs and said one or more power adapter modules supported and stored within said 3D interior volume;

wherein said peninsula-like housing structure supports at least one externally-disposed AC electrical receptacle that is accessible from the outside of said side wall of said housing base portion, and is adapted to receive the appliance power plugs of at least one electrical appliance to supply AC electrical power thereto;

wherein said peninsula housing structure further supports at least one externally-disposed USB direct current (DC) power port that is operably connected to said AC-to-DC power conversion circuit and accessible from outside of said side wall of said housing base portion, and is adapted to receive the appliance power plug of at least one electrical appliance to supply DC electrical power to the electrical power plug;

wherein said peninsula-like housing structure has a side portion through which said externally-disposed electrical power receptacle and said at least one externally-disposed USB power port are supported; and

wherein the side wall of said housing base portion includes a first set of apertures for allowing an electrical plug to be plugged into said externally-disposed electrical power receptacle to receive AC electrical power, and at least one externally-disposed USB power plug to be plugged into said at least one externally-disposed USB direct current (DC) power port to receive DC electrical power; and

a power cord portal formed in at least a portion of said housing base portion, to allow a group of electrical power cords associated with said group of electrical appliances outside of said electrical power supplying device, to enter/exit said 3D interior volume in a bundled manner.

2. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said power cord portal is formed in said housing base portion, allowing passage of electrical cords through said power cord portal.

3. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said housing base portion is adapted for horizontally-oriented support on a horizontal support surface in said environment.

4. The electrical power supplying device of claim 1, wherein said housing base portion is adapted for vertically-oriented support on a horizontal support surface in said environment.

5. An electrical power supplying device for supplying alternating current (AC) electrical power and direct current (DC) electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, comprising:

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

wherein each electrical appliance has a power cord routed through said environment and into said electrical power supplying device and terminating with an appliance power plug;

a housing base portion having a central aperture providing access to a 3D interior volume bounded by a side wall extending circumferentially about said 3D interior volume and having a capacity for holding a plurality of power adapter modules and/or power adapter blocks associated with said group of electrical appliances located in said environment which can be loaded into said 3D interior volume through said central aperture;

a bottom support surface disposed opposite said central aperture, and on which the plurality of power adapter modules and/or power adapter blocks can be supported within the 3D interior volume;

a central power-receptacle assembly having a peninsula-like housing structure supported generally within a central portion of said housing base portion and extending above said bottom support surface within the 3D interior volume, and towards a portion of a side wall of said housing base portion, and said peninsula-like housing structure supporting a plurality of internally-disposed alternating current (AC) electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, including an AC-to-DC power conversion circuit, which are operably connected to said power supply cord, and

wherein when power plugs of said power adapter modules are plugged into said plurality of internally-disposed AC electrical receptacles, said power adapter modules can be supported on said bottom support surface, while said power adapter modules and excess power cord are stored and contained within said 3D interior volume;

a housing cover portion for closing off said central aperture and covering said central power-receptacle assembly, including said peninsula-like housing structure, and said housing base portion and concealing said power plugs and one or more power adapter modules supported and stored within said 3D interior volume;

wherein said peninsula-like housing structure supports at least one externally-disposed AC electrical receptacle that is accessible from outside of a side wall of said housing base portion, and is adapted to receive the appliance power plugs of at least one electrical appliance to supply AC electrical power thereto; and

a power cord portal formed in at least a portion of said housing base portion, to allow a group of electrical power cords associated with said group of electrical appliances outside of said electrical power supplying device, to enter/exit said 3D interior volume in a bundled manner.

6. The electrical power supplying device of claim 5, wherein said peninsula-like housing structure further supports at least one externally-disposed USB direct current (DC) power port that is operably connected to said AC-to-DC power conversion circuit and accessible from the outside of said side wall of said housing base portion, and is adapted to receive the electrical power plug of at least one electrical appliance to supply DC electrical power to the appliance power plug.

7. The electrical power supplying device of claim 6, wherein the side wall of said housing base portion includes a first set of apertures for allowing an AC electrical plug to be plugged into said externally-disposed AC electrical receptacle to receive AC electrical power, and at least one externally-disposed USB power plug to be plugged into said at least one externally-disposed USB DC power port to receive DC electrical power.