Patent Application
20180191112
The present invention relates to furniture accessories and electrical outlets.
Portable electronic devices often require charging of their onboard batteries, capacitors, or other electrical energy storage devices. However, in many circumstances the locations where compatible electrical power sources are available for charging purposes are not conducive to permitting usage of the portable electronic devices while the devices are charging. For example, users seated at a chair or sofa, or resting on a bed, may wish to use a portable electronic device that requires charging, but typical charging cord lengths may not permit usage of the portable electronic device by a user who is seated or otherwise supported at a particular furniture article.
The present invention provides convenient access to electrical power and/or electronic data outlets for users seated on a furniture article, or for users located nearby the furniture article. The drape-over article may be draped or hung over the arm or back of a chair or sofa, for example, and includes a flexible or rigid body that has an inverted U-shape, or that is capable of assuming an inverted U-shape. The drape-over article has downwardly-extending inner and outer arm portions spaced apart from one another, and a central bight portion that forms an upper region of the body. An electrical power and/or electronic data outlet is mountable to the outer arm portion and is accessible along an outer surface of the outer arm portion. The electrical power and/or electronic data outlet can be energized by an electrical power source such as a wall outlet or an onboard battery.
In one form of the present invention, a drape-over article for furniture includes a body having an inverted U-shape or capable of assuming an inverted U-shape, and an electrical outlet made accessible to users along the body. The body has inner and outer arm portions spaced apart from one another and extending downwardly from a central bight portion that extends between the arm portions. The bight portion forms an upper region of the body. The electrical outlet is mountable to the outer arm portion and is accessible along an outer surface of the outer arm portion. The electrical outlet is configured to receive electrical power from an electrical power source.
According to one aspect, the article includes an outlet chamber at the outer arm portion. The outlet chamber is configured to receive and support the electrical outlet. Optionally, the outlet chamber projects outwardly from an outer surface of the outer arm portion.
According to another aspect, the outlet chamber includes an upper opening configured to receive the electrical outlet, and an outer opening configured to provide access to the electrical outlet when the electrical outlet is inserted into the chamber. Optionally, the outlet chamber includes a lower opening opposite the upper opening. The lower opening is configured to receive an electrical cord associated with the electrical outlet when the electrical outlet is inserted into the chamber. Optionally, the outlet chamber and the outer arm portion are unitarily formed from a flexible sheet material.
According to yet another aspect, the electrical outlet includes at least one high voltage AC power outlet and at least one low voltage DC power outlet. Optionally, an electrical power converter is provided for converting incoming high voltage AC power to a low voltage DC power output that is supplied to the low voltage DC power outlet.
According to a further aspect, there is provided an electrical outlet housing for mounting the electrical outlet. Optionally, an outlet chamber is located at the outer arm portion, and has a shape generally corresponding to that of the electrical outlet housing.
According to still another aspect, the body is made of a flexible sheet material. For example, the flexible sheet material may be made from any one or more of: woven fabric, leather, faux leather, rubber, and rubber-like material.
According to another aspect, the body is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. For example, the body may be made from any one or more of: wood, metal, resinous plastic, and composite material.
According to a still further aspect, the length of the inner arm portion is substantially the same as the length of the outer arm portion.
Therefore, the present invention provides users seated at or otherwise positioned near a furniture article with access to electrical power and/or electronic data via one or more electrical outlets positioned at a drape-over article that can be placed atop a portion of the furniture article. Optionally, the drape-over article may be used as a blanket for warmth, and simultaneously used to recharge a portable electronic device and/or to provide electronic data connectivity, such as for playing media. The drape-over article may be fitted with electrical power outlets that receive power from an onboard battery or other portable energy storage device for portability, or may be plugged into an electrical power source for substantially continuous power.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a drape-over article 10 is readily supported along a piece of furniture 12, such as the arm 12a or back 12b of a chair or sofa (
Drape-over article 10 includes a main body 20 having two downwardly-extending arm portions including the above-referenced outboard arm portion 18a and an inboard arm portion 18b, plus an upper/central bight portion 22 that extends between the arm portions 18a, 18b and forms an upper region of the body 20, such as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, storage chamber 28 projects outwardly from outer surface 24 of the main body's outboard arm portion 18a by a distance that is at least slightly greater than the thickness of power strip 16. Storage chamber 28 may be formed of a flexible fabric or other sheet material, or from a substantially rigid material, which may be the same material as that of main body 20, or may be a different material. In the case of same materials used for storage chamber 28 and main body 20, the storage chamber and main body may be unitarily formed, such as in a weaving process (e.g., woven fabric) or in a molding process (e.g. resinous plastic). Storage chamber 28 is sized and shaped to generally conform to the outer dimensions of power strip 16. Optionally, it is envisioned that the storage chamber may be positioned or formed along an inboard-facing surface of outboard arm portion 18a (i.e., opposite outer surface 24), with access to electrical outlets 14 provided through an opening (similar to elongate opening 30) that would be formed in outboard arm portion 18a. It is further envisioned that the storage chamber may be positioned or formed centrally to outboard arm portion 18a, such as between two separate layers of material that form the outward-facing and inboard-facing surfaces of the outboard arm portion 18a.
Power strip 16 includes four high voltage AC power outlets 14a and two low voltage DC power outlets 14b (illustrated as USB-style outlets) mounted in a power strip housing 40, all of which receive power from an electrical power source such as a wall outlet 42 that is engaged by plug 36 (
Main body 20 may be made from substantially any flexible sheet material such as woven fabric from natural and/or synthetic fibers, leather, faux leather, rubber, and rubber-like material, or combinations thereof. Optionally, main body 20 may be manufactured in a similar manner and from the same or similar materials as a blanket or rug. Such materials will readily assume an inverted U-shape when draped over a chair arm 12a or the like, and will conform to the shapes of many different furniture sections or portions on which drape-over article 10 may be placed by a user. However, it is further envisioned that a rigid or semi-rigid material may be used for main body, such as wood, metal, resinous plastic, or composite material. Still further, an inverted L-shape may be sufficient for the main body, particularly if the lower surface of the upper portion is lined with a high-friction material (e.g., soft rubber or coarse grit) or a self-attaching material (such as the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener).
The outboard arm portion 18a and inboard arm portion 18b may be substantially the same length as one another, or may be manufactured to (or in the case of flexible body material, may be adjusted to) different lengths. For example, it may be desirable for the inboard arm portion 18b to have a shorter length than outboard arm portion 18a, since the vertical space available along the outboard surface of a chair arm or back is typically longer than the vertical space available along the inboard surface thereof, due to the presence of seat cushions and supports usually located inboard of these inboard arm or back surfaces.
Although power strip 16 and storage chamber 28 are illustrated in a vertically-aligned orientation along outer surface 24 of outboard arm portion 18a, many variations of arrangement and location are equally possible. For example, the power strip and storage chamber may be oriented horizontally or diagonally, and may be placed substantially anywhere along either arm portion 18a, 18b (or even bight portion 22) where it is convenient to provide access to electrical outlets 14. In some embodiments, user preference may dictate that the power strip 16 be placed along an inboard surface of a chair arm or back, simply by reversing the orientation of drape-over article 10 about a vertical axis compared to what is shown in the appended drawings. It is further envisioned that two or more power strips may be placed along either or both arm portions 18a, 18b, or even along bight portion 22. It is further envisioned that one or more electronic data outlets may be provided in addition to (or in place of) one or more electrical power outlets. For example, by providing an HDMI connector or other video-capable connector with wiring to a remotely located video display, a user seated at furniture 12 can display images or video onto the remote video display by connecting a hand-held media player (such as a smart phone or tablet computer) to the video-capable connector. It should be understood that both electrical power outlets and electronic data outlets may be referred to herein as “electrical outlets,” without limitation to power and/or data capability.
Accordingly, the drape-over article of the present invention provides convenient access to electrical charging power and/or electronic data or signal connectivity for users supported at a furniture article. Electrical power outlets and/or electronic data outlets may be mounted in the drape-over article, which may be similar to a blanket or could be a rigid or semi-rigid article, so that a person may access the outlet(s) for charging or data purposes. In some embodiments the drape-over article may be used as a blanket for warmth, and also used to recharge a portable electronic device and/or to provide electronic data connectivity. When one or more electrical power outlets are fitted, those outlets may receive power from an onboard rechargeable battery or other energy storage device, or may receive power from another source such as an electrical wall or floor outlet.
Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/441,095, filed Dec. 30, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62441095 | Dec 2016 | US |
