Pop-out outlets for housings

• US 20040142587A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Milan
• Original Assignee: Henry Milan
• Inventors: Milan, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 6,872,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables

Abstract

An electronic housing device has at least one extendable housing portion provided with electrical connectors and being selectively movable into and out of an opening in a housing of the device. At least one of the connectors can be accessible when the housing portion is retracted and the housing can also be provided with additional accessible electrical connectors.

Claims

1. An electronic housing device comprising:

a housing for enclosing electronics and having an opening formed therein;

a line cord attached at one end to said housing and having an opposite end adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power;

a first electrical connector supported on said housing and being accessible;

an extendable housing portion mounted in said opening and being selectively moveable into and out of said housing; and

a second electrical connector mounted on said extendable housing portion, said second electrical connector being accessible when said extendable housing portion is extended out of said housing and not being accessible when said extendable housing portion is retracted into said housing.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said second electrical connector is one of a three-prong electrical power outlet, a RJ11 connector, a RJ45 connector and a co-ax connector.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said line cord has hot, neutral and ground wires and said second electrical connector is said three-prong electrical power outlet connected to said hot, neutral and ground wires.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said first electrical connector is a three-prong electrical power outlet connected to said hot, neutral and ground wires.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said housing and said extendable housing portion have complimentary rails to guide said extendable housing portion during movement into and out of said housing.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said housing has a stop preventing said extendable housing portion from extending beyond a predetermined distance from said housing.

7. The device according to claim 1 including a spring loaded pop-out feature for urging said extendable housing portion from said housing.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said first electrical connector is mounted on an exposed end of said extensible housing portion.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said line cord, said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector are connected to a surge protection device.

10. The device according to claim 1 including at least one hinge connecting said extendable housing portion to said housing for swinging said extensible housing portion into and out of said opening.

11. An electronics housing device comprising:

an enclosed housing having at least one opening formed therein;

at least two accessible electrical connectors mounted on said housing;

an extendable housing portion mounted in said at least one opening and being selectively extensible from and retractable into said housing; and

at least two additional electrical connectors mounted on said extensible housing portion, at least one of said two additional electrical connectors being accessible when said extendable housing portion is extended out of said housing and not being accessible when said extendable housing portion is retracted into said housing.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein said at least two accessible electrical connectors are three-prong electrical power outlets.

13. The device according to claim 11 wherein said at least two additional electrical connectors are three-prong electrical power outlets.

14. The device according to claim 11 wherein said housing and said extendable housing portion have complimentary rails to guide said extendable housing portion during movement into and out of said housing.

15. The device according to claim 11 wherein said housing has a stop preventing said extendable housing portion from extending beyond a predetermined distance from said housing.

16. The device according to claim 11 including a spring loaded pop-out feature for urging said extendable housing portion from said housing.

17. The device according to claim 11 wherein said at least two accessible electrical connectors and said at least two additional electrical connectors are connected to a surge protection device.

18. An electrical power outlet and surge protection device comprising:

a housing having at least one opening formed therein;

a first plurality of electrical power outlets mounted on said housing and being accessible;

an extendable housing portion mounted in said at least one opening and being selectively extensible from and retractable into said housing; and

a second plurality of electrical power outlets mounted on said extensible housing portion and being accessible when said extendable housing portion is extended out of said housing and not being accessible when said extendable housing portion is retracted into said housing.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein said first and second pluralities of electrical power outlets are connected to a surge protection device in said housing.

20. The device according to claim 18 wherein said housing and said extendable housing portion have complimentary rails to guide said extendable housing portion during movement into and out of said housing.