This invention relates generally to electrical connectivity systems, and relates more particularly to such systems capable of being mounted to an object.
Electric devices require electric power and/or data signals in order to function, and electrical connectivity systems of many descriptions have been developed for the purpose of delivering such power and data signals. Electrical connectivity systems include wall outlets, power strips, and surge protectors that deliver electric power in the form of alternating current (AC), and further include phone jacks, Ethernet ports, USB and FireWire hubs, cable and Internet connection ports, and other products containing outlets, jacks, or ports that deliver electric power and/or data required by an electronic device.
In many cases it is desirable to temporarily position the electrical connectivity system in a particular place convenient to a worksite where an electric device is to be used. Some existing electrical connectivity systems have mounting strips, screw loops, or other features that allow them to be permanently or semi-permanently attached to a mounting surface such as a wall or table. A smaller number of existing electrical connectivity systems have mounting mechanisms that enable temporary attachment, but these tend to be unwieldy, bulky, or otherwise poorly suited for such temporary attachment. Accordingly, there exists a need for an electrical connectivity system that is neat and compact, easy to use, and capable of being securely mounted to an object while also being easily removed from the object when such mounting is no longer desired.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which:
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical, mechanical, or other manner.
In one embodiment of the invention, an electrical connectivity system capable of being mounted to an object comprises a housing, a mounting mechanism integrated with the housing, and a power cord. The housing comprises an electrical connection port and a cavity capable of engaging the object. The mounting mechanism is integrated with the housing and is capable of retaining the cavity in engagement with the object. The power cord is also integrated with the housing and is capable of delivering electric power to the electrical connection port.
Referring now to the figures,
In the illustrated embodiment, object 101 is oriented generally horizontally, as a desktop or tabletop would be. It should be understood that electrical connectivity system 100 may just as easily be a mounted to an object oriented generally vertically, as in the case of a wall stud or the like. Furthermore, electrical connectivity system 100 may be mounted to various surfaces of such objects, such that electrical connection port 111 can be presented in any of a variety of orientations, including, for example, vertically, horizontally, facing toward or away from a surface on which object 101 rests, and facing toward or away from a particular wall of a room.
In the illustrated embodiment, electrical connection port 111 is an electrical power outlet. However, electrical connection port 111 can be any port, outlet, jack, or the like that supplies an electric signal usable by an electric device. As it is used herein, the phrase “electric device” refers to any device using electricity, and includes power tools, appliances, electronic devices such as computers, computer peripherals, telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pocket PCs, and the like, and many other devices. In addition to electrical connection port 111, housing 110 also comprises circuitry necessary for the functioning of electrical connection port 111. Such circuitry, since it is known in the art, is not further described herein.
Housing 110, in various embodiments, may take a variety of shapes such that housing 110 has a variety of cross sections. As an example, housing 110 can have a cross section that is substantially a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon, or some other polygon. In the drawings and in the discussion that follows, housing 110 will be shown and described as having a rectangular cross section, but such drawings and discussion should not be thought of as limiting housing 110 to that particular shape.
Cavity 112 is capable of engaging object 101, meaning that a portion of object 101 is able to fit inside cavity 112 in such a way that housing 110 may be securely attached to object 101 in a manner to be described below. It is understood that cavity 112 comprises a void or empty space such that to describe cavity 112 is technically to describe something that isn't there, in the sense that cavity 112 is not a tangible item. However, the discussion herein taken together with the accompanying figures will be sufficient for one of ordinary skill in the art, at least, to clearly understand what is being described.
Although electrical connectivity system 100 may be mounted to objects having a variety of shapes, thicknesses, and descriptions, it is contemplated that electrical connectivity system 100 will often be mounted to an object that is or has the general characteristics of a two-by-four, i.e., have a cross section with one dimension that is roughly two inches and another dimension that is roughly four inches. (As is well known, the dimensions of a finished two-by-four are actually somewhat less than two inches by four inches.) In an unfinished garage or basement, for example, the exposed wall studs are generally two-by-fours or two-by-sixes. Tabletops and desktops are generally no thicker than a two-by-four. Sawhorses, often used at worksites, frequently have a cross piece of the same general dimensions. In summary, an electrical connectivity system capable of being mounted to a two-by-four would be capable of being mounted to a large number, and perhaps a majority, of the objects to which one might desire to mount it. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, cavity 112 has an effective width no greater than two inches. In the claims, and hereafter in this discussion, measurements will be expressed in metric rather than English units. The metric equivalent of two inches, rounded to the nearest whole number, is five centimeters.
The phrase “effective width” as used in the preceding paragraph, and elsewhere herein, means the width of that portion of cavity 112 that can actually be occupied by object 101. In a case where no other object or body is in cavity 112, the effective width is equal to the actual distance between the two extremities of cavity 112, i.e., between a portion of cavity 112 that is adjacent to surface 153 and a portion of cavity 112 that is adjacent to surface 154.
In one embodiment, electrical connectivity system 100 further comprises an adapter or shim capable of being inserted within cavity 112. Such adapter or shim reduces the effective width of cavity 112 by decreasing the portion of cavity 112 that may be occupied by object 101. An example of a suitable adapter is a sleeve or collar having the same general shape as cavity 112 but having smaller dimensions. By inserting such adapter or shim in cavity 112, electrical connectivity system 100 may be made mountable to tabletops, wall studs, sawhorse cross pieces, or other objects with thicknesses or widths that are less than that of a standard two-by-four.
In a different embodiment, mounting mechanism 120 is adjustable such that the effective width of cavity 112 may be adjusted without the use of an adapter or shim, thereby making electrical connectivity system 100 mountable to objects such as those mentioned above having thicknesses or widths that are less than that of a standard two-by-four. As an example, mounting mechanism 120 can use a toggle clamp such as is used in vice grip pliers, a ratchet mechanism, or the like, all of which are known in the art and so will not be further described herein.
Mounting mechanism 120 is integrated with housing 110, and is capable of retaining cavity 112 in engagement with object 101 until mounting mechanism 120 is released and electrical connectivity system 100 is removed from object 101. In the illustrated embodiment, mounting mechanism 120 is a cam-lock having a lever 121 that may be rotated to lock and release mounting mechanism 120, as known in the art. In a non-illustrated embodiment, mounting mechanism 120 could be a clamp, a spring-loaded device, a toothed device capable of digging into object 101, or any other device suitable for maintaining cavity 112 in engagement with object 101. As an example, mounting mechanism 120 can be any mechanism that increases friction between a portion of electrical connectivity system 100 and object 101 such that housing 110 and object 101 may be retained in engagement with each other.
Electrical connectivity system 100 may be used in various settings where it is desirable to position an electrical connection port in an easily accessible location. As an example, the electrical connection port can be a USB or FireWire port, and the location can be near a desktop or other workstation. The portability offered by electrical connectivity system 100 may be desirable in such a setting to, for example, a person who works at multiple workstations having too few USB/FireWire ports, and who wishes to carry the additional ports offered by electrical connectivity system 100 when moving from one workstation to another. As another example, the electrical connection port can be a phone jack or an Ethernet port and the location can be near a fax machine, a digital video recorder, or the like. As yet another example, the electrical connection port can be a power outlet and the location can be a garage or other household area, a worksite, or anyplace where electric power tools and the like may be used. In each of the above examples, as well as is in a large number of other situations not mentioned above, it may be desirable and useful to move the electrical connection port from one location to another and to temporarily attach it in the location currently in use. Existing electrical connectivity systems are not conducive to, or do not even allow, such temporary attachment. However, as described below, it is just this sort of temporary attachment for which electrical connectivity system 100 is designed.
In one embodiment, as mentioned above, housing 110 has a rectangular structure comprising a surface 151, a surface 152 spaced apart from and substantially parallel to surface 151, a surface 153 substantially perpendicular to and extending between surface 151 and surface 152, and a surface 154 spaced apart from surface 153 and substantially perpendicular to and extending between surfaces 151 and 152. Housing 110 further comprises a surface 155 substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 151 and 152, and substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 153 and 154. Housing 110 still further comprises a surface 156 spaced apart from and substantially parallel to surface 155, substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 151 and 152, and substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 153 and 154.
Power cord 130 exits housing 110 at one of surfaces 155 and 156. If it is important or desired that power cord 130 exit housing 110 is a particular direction, electrical connectivity system 100 may be turned or rotated such that power cord 130 does exit housing 110 in that particular direction. As an example, if electrical connectivity system 100 is oriented substantially horizontally and power cord 130 must exit housing 110 to the left, then electrical connectivity system 100 may be oriented as shown in
Electrical connection port 111 is located at surface 151 and cavity 112 is located at surface 152. In the illustrated embodiment, electrical connection port 111 is one of a plurality 170 of electrical connection ports. It is contemplated that plurality 170 will comprise between three and twelve electrical connection ports, although more or fewer electrical connection ports may also make up plurality 170.
A face 160 above cavity 112, and a similar face (not visible in
In a non-illustrated embodiment, electrical connectivity system 100 further comprises a second electrical connection port (not shown) at surface 153 instead of or in addition to electrical connection port 111 at surface 151. In a different non-illustrated embodiment, electrical connectivity system 100 still further comprises a third electrical connection port (also not shown) at surface 154. The third electrical connection port can be in place of or in addition to the second electrical connection port and/or electrical connection port 111. The second electrical connection port can be one of a plurality of electrical connection ports located at surface 153. Similarly, the third electrical connection port can be one of a plurality of electrical connection ports located at surface 154. Although it is not illustrated, surface 155 and/or surface 156 may also be the location of one or more electrical connection ports.
Depending on the orientation electrical connectivity system 100 when it is mounted to object 101, one or another of the above-described embodiments may be more desirable or suitable than the others. As an example, when electrical connectivity system 100 is oriented as shown in
In order to mount electrical connectivity system 100, a portion of object 101 is placed within cavity 112 and mounting mechanism 120 is closed or locked, such as by placing lever 121 in the closed position. As an example, portion 221 of mounting mechanism 120 presses against object 101 such that friction is created between object 101 and portion 221. Such friction, in one embodiment, makes it difficult or impossible to remove object 101 from cavity 112. Continuing the example, in one embodiment, cavity 112 comprises a portion 230 and a portion 240 exterior to portion 230. Object 101 fills portion 230 and does not fill portion 240 when object 101 is inserted in cavity 112. In other words, portion 230 is that portion of cavity 112 that is filled by object 101 when object 101 is inserted in cavity 112. As illustrated, portion 221 of mounting mechanism 120 extends across portion 240 of cavity 112 and contacts object 101 when object 101 is inserted in cavity 112 and lever 121 is in the closed position. When lever 121 is moved toward the open position, portion 221 of mounting mechanism 120, because it is irregularly shaped, rotates out of contact with object 101 thus freeing object 101 to be removed from cavity 112.
As illustrated in
Mounting bracket 320 is capable of being coupled to housing 310 and comprises a cavity 340 capable of engaging the object. Mounting bracket 320 further comprises a mounting mechanism 350 capable of retaining cavity 340 in engagement with the object. As an example, cavity 340 can be similar to cavity 112, and mounting mechanism 350 can be similar to mounting mechanism 120, both of which were first shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, mounting bracket 320 comprises a surface 321, a surface 322 spaced apart from and substantially parallel to surface 321, and a surface 323 substantially perpendicular to and extending between surface 321 and surface 322. Surfaces 321, 322, and 323 define cavity 340 by bounding cavity 340 on three sides. Mounting mechanism 350 is at surface 321. Surface 322 has an aperture 372 located therein, and surface 323 has an aperture 373 located therein.
Also in the illustrated embodiment, housing 310 has a rectangular structure comprising a surface 351, a surface 352 spaced apart from and substantially parallel to surface 351, a surface 353 substantially perpendicular to and extending between surface 351 and surface 352, and a surface 354 spaced apart from surface 353 and substantially perpendicular to and extending between surfaces 351 and 352. Housing 310 further comprises a surface 355 substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 351 and 352, and substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 353 and 354. Housing 310 still further comprises a surface 356 spaced apart from and substantially parallel to surface 355, substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 351 and 352, and substantially perpendicular to and stretching between surfaces 353 and 354.
As illustrated in
As an example, the housing can be similar to housing 110, first shown in
A step 420 of method 400 is to mount an electrical connection port in the housing such that a face of the electrical connection port is accessible at the first surface of the housing. As an example, the electrical connection port can be similar to electrical connection port 111, first shown in
A step 430 of method 400 is to attach to the housing a mounting mechanism capable of retaining the cavity in non-permanent engagement with the object. As an example, the mounting mechanism can be similar to mounting mechanism 120, first shown in
A step 440 of method 400 is to physically and electrically connect to the housing a power cord capable of delivering electric power to the electrical power outlet. The manner in which the power cord is physically and electrically connected to the housing is known in the art. As an example, the power cord can be similar to power cord 130, first shown in
As an example, the housing can be similar to housing 310, first shown in
A step 520 of method 500 is to form a mounting bracket capable of being coupled to the housing and comprising a cavity capable of engaging the object. The mounting bracket may be formed using standard or known techniques for working with metal, plastic, or other material from which the mounting bracket is made. As an example, the mounting bracket can be similar to mounting bracket 320, first shown in
A step 530 of method 500 is to attach to the mounting bracket a mounting mechanism capable of retaining the cavity in engagement with the object. As an example, the mounting mechanism can be similar to mounting mechanism 350, first shown in
A step 540 of method 500 is to physically and electrically connect to the housing a power cord capable of delivering electric power to the electrical connection port. The manner in which the power cord is physically and electrically connected to the housing is known in the art. As an example, the power cord can be similar to power cord 330, first shown in
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Various examples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the electrical connectivity system discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, and may disclose alternative embodiments of the invention.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the invention claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2271463 | Reeves | Jan 1942 | A |
2647713 | Wersching | Aug 1953 | A |
2716531 | Johnson | Aug 1955 | A |
3006589 | Drysdale | Oct 1961 | A |
3049688 | Sinopoli | Aug 1962 | A |
3249351 | Smith | May 1966 | A |
3250030 | Lapastora | May 1966 | A |
3297886 | Danner | Jan 1967 | A |
3473767 | Schwaneke | Oct 1969 | A |
4206910 | Biesemeyer | Jun 1980 | A |
4747788 | Byrne | May 1988 | A |
4792881 | Wilson et al. | Dec 1988 | A |
4795141 | Mulvaney | Jan 1989 | A |
4854016 | Rice | Aug 1989 | A |
4875878 | Meyer | Oct 1989 | A |
5057039 | Persing et al. | Oct 1991 | A |
5176343 | Cheney et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5364084 | Karash | Nov 1994 | A |
5402972 | Schmidt | Apr 1995 | A |
5472157 | Lehrman | Dec 1995 | A |
5702075 | Lehrman | Dec 1997 | A |
5899761 | Crane et al. | May 1999 | A |
5964618 | McCarthy | Oct 1999 | A |
6004157 | Glass | Dec 1999 | A |
6098859 | Bortner | Aug 2000 | A |
6174199 | Rushing | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6179665 | Rossman et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6183280 | Laukhuf | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6229691 | Tanzer et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6234812 | Ivers et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6243257 | Ester | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6300570 | Lai | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6315604 | Lee | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6379182 | Byrne | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6435461 | Saylor et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6540554 | McCarthy | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6589073 | Lee | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6642450 | Hsiao | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6713674 | Chang | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6717053 | Rupert | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6748707 | Buchalter et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
6752653 | Morlock et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
6811281 | Hsiao | Nov 2004 | B1 |
6885796 | Lubkert et al. | Apr 2005 | B1 |
6897379 | Hsiao | May 2005 | B1 |
20020119698 | McCarthy | Aug 2002 | A1 |