Claims
- 1. A utility receptacle assembly comprising:
a) a base member adapted to be placed within an opening in a work surface, the base member defining a central recess; b) a receptacle member pivotally connected to the base member within the central recess and movable between an open position and a closed position, the receptacle member including at least one receptacle opening adopted to receive a receptacle therein; and c) a biasing member engaged between the receptacle member and the base member to bias the receptacle member to the open position.
- 2. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 1 wherein the biasing member comprises at least one torsion spring engaged between the receptacle member and the base member.
- 3. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one torsion spring is mounted to a pivot pin rotatably secured to the base member and engaged with the receptacle member.
- 4. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least one torsion spring is mounted at least partially around the pivot pin.
- 5. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism disposed on the receptacle member and engageable with the base member.
- 6. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 5 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch disposed on the receptacle member.
- 7. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 6 wherein the latch is slidably secured to the receptacle member.
- 8. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 6 wherein the latch includes a recess defining a notch that is selectively engageable with a stop formed on the base member.
- 9. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 8 wherein the recess defines a wedge aligned with the notch that is used to direct the stop into and out of the notch.
- 10. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a movement limiting assembly operably connected between the receptacle member and the base member and configured to limit the movement of the receptacle member with respect to the base member.
- 11. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 10 wherein the movement limiting assembly includes at least one tab disposed on one of the receptacle member or the base member and at least one flange disposed on the other of the receptacle member or the base member and engageable with the at least one tab.
- 12. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a movement controlling assembly connected between the receptacle member and the base member and operable to limit the speed of movement of the receptacle member with respect to the base member.
- 13. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 12 wherein the movement controlling assembly includes a damping member mounted to the receptacle member and engaged with the base.
- 14. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 13 wherein the damping member is a rotatable gear that is engaged with a toothed rail disposed on the base member.
- 15. A utility receptacle assembly for a work surface, the assembly comprising:
a) a base member adapted to be placed within an opening in a work surface, the base member including at least one receptacle aperture positioned on one side of a central recess; b) a receptacle member pivotally connected to the base member and disposed within the central recess, the receptacle member including at least one receptacle opening; c) a biasing member disposed on the receptacle member and engaged with the base member to bias the receptacle member at least partially outwardly from the base member; and d) a movement controlling mechanism engaged between the receptacle member and the base member to control the movement of the receptacle member relative to the base member in response to the bias of the biasing member.
- 16. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 15 further comprising a locking member disposed on one of the base member and the receptacle member and a stop selectively engageable with the locking member and disposed on the other of the base member or the receptacle member.
- 17. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 15 wherein the receptacle member comprises:
a) a receptacle portion positioned within the base member; b) a cover portion secured to the receptacle portion and positioned over the base member; and c) at least one pivot pin secured between the receptacle portion and the cover portion and rotatably engaged with the base member.
- 18. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 17 wherein the biasing member is mounted to the at least one pivot pin.
- 19. The utility receptacle assembly of claim 15 further comprising a power cord extending through a cord opening in the base member and operably connected to at least one receptacle disposed in the at least one receptacle opening.
- 20. A method for moving a utility receptacle from a concealed position to an exposed position, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a utility receptacle assembly including a base member positioned within an opening in the work surface, a receptacle member pivotally secured to the base member and including at least one receptacle thereon, a biasing member secured to the receptacle member and engaged with the base member, and a locking mechanism engaged between the receptacle member and the base member; b) disengaging the locking mechanism; and c) allowing the biasing member to move the receptacle member out of the base member to expose the at least one receptacle.
- 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of disengaging the locking mechanism comprises:
a) pressing the receptacle member towards the base member; and b) disengaging a stop on the base member from a latch on the receptacle member.
- 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of disengaging the stop from the latch comprises sliding the latch to enable the stop to move out of a recess on the latch.
- 23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of allowing the biasing member to move the receptacle member comprises controlling the speed of movement of the receptacle member out of the base member.
- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of controlling the speed of movement of the receptacle member comprises:
a) providing a movement controlling member on the receptacle member that engages the base member; and b) allowing the movement controlling member to slow the movement of the receptacle member with respect to the base member.
- 25. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of reengaging the locking mechanism after allowing the biasing member to move the receptacle member out of the base member.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/443,254, which was filed on Jan. 29, 2003.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60443254 |
Jan 2003 |
US |