Expandable power and data center with latching mechanism

• US 8,295,036 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US12/664,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 439/131, 174/57, 174/67, 162/24
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables

Abstract

An expandable power and data center (300) is adapted to be mounted within a slot (304) of a work surface (302). The power and data center (300) includes a stationary housing (306) and a carriage (328). The carriage (328) includes socket areas where power receptacles (338) and data ports (340) can be inserted. A top surface (330) of the carriage (328) and a top surface (350) of a frontal cover (348) form a pressure area (360). With the carriage in a closed position (328), a user can exert a downward pressure on the pressure area (360), causing the carriage (328) to move to an open position. A damper (368) restricts the speed at which the carriage (328) moves between the closed position and an open position.

Claims

1. A pivotable power and data center adapted to be mounted to a work surface, said power and data center comprising:

a storage area;

at least one power receptacle for energizing electrical devices;

at least one data port for communications interconnection to communication devices;

means for maintaining said power and data center in a closed, retracted position, while still retaining the capability of continued interconnection of said electrical devices and said communication devices;

means for moving said power and data center between said closed, retracted position and an open, extended position in response to a manual touch on a top of said power and data center;

a stationary housing;

a carriage rotatable relative to said housing between a closed position and an open position;

a set of windows mounted in said carriage for receiving power receptacles or similar energy elements;

a cover coupled to said carriage and movable between a closed position and an open position;

characterized in that said power and data center further comprises;

a plurality of securing mechanisms for securing said power and data center to a bottom surface of said work surface, each of said securing mechanisms comprising;

a vertically disposed bushing thread mounted to a tower;

a foot connected to or otherwise integral with a bottom of said tower;

a vertical bracket connected to or otherwise integral with said foot;

a lip extending outwardly from a top of said vertical bracket;

said bushing thread is engaged with a corresponding thread located on said power and data center in a manner so that as said securing mechanism is rotated 90°

, said

securing mechanism is prevented from further rotation, and a further tightening of said securing mechanism will cause said foot to move upwardly so as to abut against said bottom surface of said work surface;

at least one spring mechanism and at least one latch mechanism are coupled to said carriage so as to permit rotation of said carriage between said closed position and said open position; and

when said carriage and said cover are in said closed positions, a user may exert downward pressure on a top of said carriage, and in response to said downward pressure, said spring mechanism and said latch mechanism will operate so as to cause said carriage to move to side open position.

2. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of connecting clips are substituted for said plurality of securing mechanisms, each of said connecting clips comprising:

an angled back portion;

a reverse angled section integral with a lower part of said angled back portion;

a parallel angled section positioned at a bottom portion of said reverse angled section, said parallel angled section lying in a plane parallel to a plane of said angled back portion;

a lower, integral connection is made between said lower part if said parallel angled portion and a lower portion of a vertical front plate;

when said connecting clip is in a final position, said vertical front plate is positioned inside an interior of said power and data center, while said angled back portion, reverse angled section and parallel angled section are positioned outside of a lower edge surface of said power and data center, so that an upper edge of said angled back portion prevent said power and data center from being lifted upwardly through a slot of said work surface;

said connected clip comprising a resilient configuration, so that when said power and data center is lowered into said slot, said angled back portion deflects inwardly, so that said power and data center is received through said slot; and

when desired to remove said power and data center from said slot, said angled back portion is manually deflected inwardly, so that said power and data center can be lifted upwardly through said slot.

4. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said power and data center further comprises at least one damper coupled to said carriage, with said damper restricting the speed at which said carriage moves from said closed position to said open position, and also from said open position to said closed position.

5. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said cover is coupled to said carriage through at least one link.

6. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said power and data center consists of two of said spring mechanisms and two of said latch mechanisms.

7. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that each of said spring mechanisms and each of said latch mechanisms are positioned at opposing sides of said carriage.

8. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said power and data center forms a storage area for storing excess cord length when said carriage and said cover are both in said open positions.

9. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that when said carriage and said cover are both in said closed positions, said carriage and said cover are sized and configured so that cords can still be received within said power receptacles and extend outwardly between said carriage and said cover.

3. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claimed 1, characterized in that when said carriage is moving form said closed position to said open position, said latch mechanism operate so as to cause said carriage to cease rotation at a position relative to said housing corresponding to said position of said carriage.

10. A pivotable power and data center adapted to be mounted to a work surface, said power and data center comprising:

a storage area;

at least one power receptacle for energizing electrical devices;

at least one data port for communications interconnection to communication devices;

means for maintaining said power and data center in a closed, retracted position, while still retaining the capability of continued interconnection of said electrical devices and said communication devices;

means for moving said power and data center between said closed, retracted position and an open, extended position in response to a manual touch on a top of said power and data center;

a stationary housing;

a carriage rotatable relative to said housing between a closed position and an open position;

a set of windows mounted in said carriage for receiving power receptacles or similar energy elements;

a cover coupled to said carriage and movable between a closed position and an open position;

characterized in that;

at least one spring mechanism and at least one latch mechanism are coupled to said carriage so as to permit rotation of said carriage between said closed position and said open position;

when said carriage and said cover are in said closed positions, a user may exert downward pressure on a top of said carriage, and in response to said downward pressure, said spring mechanism and said latch mechanism will operate so as to cause said carriage to move to said open position;

said cover is coupled to said carriage through at least one link; and

said link comprises a first link pivot at a first link end, said first link pivot coupling said link to said carriage, and a second link pivot positioned at an end of said link which opposes the end of said link having said first link pivot, said second link pivot coupling said link to said cover.

11. A pivotable power and data center in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that said power and data center consists of a total of two of said links.