The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors. In particular, the present invention relates to a power distribution board assembly for supplying power to a plurality of electrically powered devices.
It is to be appreciated that any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the present invention. Further, the discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventor and/or the identification of certain related art problems by the inventor. Moreover, any discussion of material such as documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention in terms of the inventor's knowledge and experience and, accordingly, any such discussion should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia, or elsewhere, on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.
Existing power boards or power distribution boards typically include a housing having a plurality of electrical connectors associated with a plurality of electrical sockets that are configured to respectively electrically connect to an electrical plug attached to an end of a power cord extending from an electrically powered device. The power board typically includes a power cable attached to the housing and having an electrical plug for connection to an electrical supply outlet. The electrical cord typically enters the housing and is connected to each of the plurality of electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical sockets in the housing. Accordingly, when the electrical cord of the power board is connected to a mains electrical supply the electrical connectors of the electrical plugs of one or more electrically powered devices can be plugged into a respective one of the electrical sockets of the power board to thereby supply electrical power to the one or more electrically powered devices.
It is often desirable to be able to provide a means for providing an electrical power supply to one or more electrical devices at locations that are remote from a power supply outlet. This is often the case where the electrically powered device is a hand held power tool where work to be carried out by the power tool may be located at a position that is quite remote from any power supply outlet. Furthermore, in circumstances in which a user wishes to perform work, such as with a hand held power tool but not necessarily so, at a position remote from a power supply outlet it is often desirable for the user to have other means at their disposal for assisting in carrying out such work. For example, where work is to be carried out in a poorly lit environment a user may require some means of providing light in the area in which work is to be carried out.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to ameliorate the problems set out above by providing, in a first aspect, an carry cabinet for providing electrical power to an electrical device, the carry cabinet including:
In a preferred embodiment, the electrical cable being electrically connectable to an electrically powered device to transmit electrical power from the power supply to the device.
In another embodiment, the length of electrical cable is wound around a reel contained within the receptacle wherein the cable can be unwound from the reel to extend from the receptacle and wound around the reel to thereby retract the cable into the receptacle.
In yet another embodiment, the carry cabinet further includes a power distribution board including a housing having a plurality of electrical connectors for connection with one or more electrically powered devices and a length of electrical cable including an electrical connector for connection to a power supply.
In an embodiment, the power distribution board and the receptacle are releasably connectable together and the receptacle includes an electrical connector that is connectable to the length of electrical cable of the power distribution board to supply electrical power thereto.
In another embodiment, the receptacle includes one or more locking members that are configured to releasably lock the housing of the power distribution board to the receptacle.
In yet another embodiment, the locking member includes a rotatable abutment surface that is receivable through an opening in the housing of the power distribution board and is rotatable relative to the opening to a position in which the abutment surface abuts against a portion of the housing immediately adjacent to the opening to thereby lock the housing to the receptacle.
In another embodiment, the carry cabinet further includes an electrically powered light emitting device that is releasably connectable to the receptacle and includes a length of electrical cable including an electrical connector for connection to a power supply.
In an embodiment, the carry cabinet further includes an electrical connector that is connectable to the length of electrical cable of the electrically powered light emitting device to supply electrical power thereto.
In another embodiment, the light emitting device includes a housing having a base member containing a light source and a transparent cover member connected to the base member for covering the light source and allowing light to pass therethrough.
In yet another embodiment, the light emitting device housing includes a stand member pivotally attached to the base member for maintaining the light emitting device in an upright position on a surface.
In still yet another embodiment, the receptacle includes one or more locking members for releasably locking the light emitting device to the receptacle.
In a further embodiment, the locking member includes a rotatable abutment surface that is receivable through an opening in the housing of the light emitting device and is rotatable relative to the opening to a position in which the abutment surface abuts against a portion of the housing immediately adjacent to the opening to thereby lock the housing to the receptacle.
In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle includes means for releasable attachment of the receptacle to a support fixed to an upright surface.
Preferably, the receptacle includes an opposing pair of inwardly curved members for receiving a pair of outwardly curved surfaces of the support therebetween wherein the weight of the carry cabinet is substantially supported by engagement between an upper on of the inwardly curved surfaces of the receptacle and an upper one of the outwardly curved surfaces of the support.
More preferably, the receptacle pivots about the engaged upper one of the inwardly curved surfaces and the upper one of the outwardly curved surfaces until a lower one of the inwardly curved surfaces of the receptacle engages the lower one of the outwardly curved surfaces of the support in a releasably locking arrangement.
Where used herein the term ‘assembly’ is understood to by synonymous with the term ‘carry cabinet’.
In a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a carry cabinet adapted for providing electrical power to a handheld power tool, the carry cabinet including:
In a preferred embodiment the carry cabinet is portable. Thus the carry cabinet may be stored on the frame, and can be readily released and carried to where it is needed. The carry cabinet may be releasably mounted by any convenient mounting means, such as a latch that allows the carry cabinet can be changed between a mounted and a demounted configuration respectively by engaging and disengaging the latch between the carry cabinet and the frame.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the carry cabinet further includes an electrically powered light emitting device that is releasably connectable to the carry cabinet. Thus the carry cabinet is a mobile source of electricity and illumination that can placed in the most convenient location.
Furthermore, the carry cabinet of the present invention may form part of a storage system for storing devices, the system typically including:
characterised in that,
The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following figures. The following figures represent embodiments of the invention in the form of a power station assembly for connection with one more electrical devices and a power supply for supplying power to the electrical devices.
Referring to
In use, the power station assembly 10 can facilitate supply of electrical power at a location remote from a power supply outlet, such as a mains power supply outlet, at which a user may require power for one or more electrical devices. To achieve this, the power supply cord 12 may be withdrawn from within the receptacle 20 and connected to a power supply located proximally to the power station assembly 10. The retractable power cord 50 may then be withdrawn from within the receptacle 20 and brought to a location remote from the power station assembly 10, and the power supply outlet, and can be electrically connected to an electrically powered device or to the power board module 30 which is thereby capable of connection to one or more electrically powered devices and for supplying power thereto. Furthermore, the light emitting device module 40 can be removed from the receptacle 20 and can be connected to the retractable power cord 50 or the power board module 30 for casting light in a work area or on a work surface.
Referring to
The power supply cord 12 is electrically connected to a main on-off switch 16. The main on-off switch 16 is electrically connected to the retractable power cord 50 and to at least two more electrical connectors (not shown) mounted to the fascia 22 of the receptacle 20. The main on-off switch 16 is manually operable for selectively supplying electrical power from a power outlet via the power supply cord 12 to the retractable power cord 50 and the at least two more electrical connectors (not shown) mounted to the fascia 22. The assembly 10 further includes a manually resettable circuit breaker 18 that is operable for cutting the supply of electrical power from the power outlet via the power supply cord 12 to the retractable power cord 50 and/or the at least two more electrical connectors (not shown) mounted to the fascia 22 in the event that the current flow exceeds a predetermined threshold.
The retractable power cord 50 includes a length of electrically conductive cable 52 including a plug type electrical connector 54 electrically connected to one end of the cable 52. The cable 52 is wound around a reel 55 that is mounted to a bracket 56. The reel 55 is fixed within the cavity 29 of the receptacle 20 by way of the bracket 56 being fixed to the base portion 21 of the receptacle 20. The reel 55 is capable of rotating relative to the bracket 56 to enable the cable 52 to be unwound and drawn therefrom such that any desirable length of the cable 52 may be drawn from the receptacle 20 such that the connector 54 can be connected to an electrically powered device and/or to the power distribution board 30 at a location remote from the power station assembly 10. The reel 55 is configured to selectively retract the cable 52 by rotating relative to the bracket 56 when it is required by a user to retract the cable 52. The other end of the cable 52 is electrically connected to the power supply cable 12. Accordingly, when the power supply cable 12 is connected to a power supply outlet electrical power can be supplied via the retractable power cord 50 to an electrically powered device and/or to the power distribution board 30 at a location remote from the power station assembly 10.
Referring to
The power board module 30 is configured to be received within a power board module receiving opening 30A within the facia 22 of the receptacle 20. The power board module 30 includes first and second openings 37, 39 respectively located at the first and second ends 33, 35 of the housing 32. When the housing 32 is fitted within the power board module receiving opening 30A of the facia 22 a pair of locking members 37A, 39A are respectively received within one of the openings 37, 39. The locking members 37A, 39A are in the form of rotatable locking knobs that each include an abutment surface that is configured to abut against one of a pair of abutment surfaces 31, 38 located immediately adjacent to each of the openings 37, 39 when the locking knob is rotated to a appropriate position to thereby lock the power board module 30 within the module opening 30A of the receptacle 20. Rotation of the locking members 37A, 39A causes the abutment surfaces thereof to be disengaged from the abutment surfaces 31, 38 adjacent to the openings 37, 39 to enable the power board module 30 to be removed within the module opening 30A.
Referring to
Referring to
The base panel 67 of the light emitting device module 40 includes a first end 68 and a second end 69 and an opening 71, 73 at each of the respective first and second ends 68, 69. Each of the openings 71, 73 includes an abutment surface 72, 74 located immediately adjacent to respective ones of the openings 71, 73. The facia 22 of the receptacle 20 includes a light emitting device module receiving opening 40A that is configured to receive the housing 42 of the light emitting device module 40 there through. When the housing 42 of the light emitting device module 40 is received through the opening 40A a pair of locking members 71 A, 73A are received through the openings 71, 73 and operate similarly to the locking members 37A, 39A described above for locking the power board module 30 to the receptacle 20. Accordingly, each of these locking members 71 A, 73A is a rotatable knob that is adapted to rotate to a position in which the locking members 71A, 73A abut against the abutment surfaces 72, 74 to lock the light emitting device module 40 within the opening 40A of the receptacle 20 and another position in which the light emitting device module 40 can be removed from the opening 40A of the receptacle 20.
Referring to
When a user wishes to remove the power station assembly 10 from the support 80 the user can grip the receptacle 20 or the handle member 28 and remove the hook shaped members 92, 94 from the upper and lower cross members 85, 86. The user can then transport the power station assembly 10 to a location close to a power supply outlet where the user can connect the connector 14 of the power supply cord 12 to the power supply outlet. The user can then extend the retractable power cord 50 from the power station assembly 10 and bring the connector 54 of the retractable power cord 50 to a location at which the user wishes to use one or more electrically powered devices, such as hand held power tools, or where the user wishes to illuminate an area or work surface. The user can then connect the connector 54 of the retractable cable 50 to an electrically powered device at a location remote from the power station assembly 10. The user can then, as required, remove the power board module 30 from the power station assembly 10 and connect the electrical cable of the power board module 30 to the connector 54 of the retractable power cord 50 and also connect one or more electrically powered devices to the connector portions 36 of the power board module 30. The user can also remove the light emitting device module 40 from the power station assembly 10 and connect the power cord of the light emitting device module 40 to the connector 54 of the retractable power cord 50 or to a connector portion 36 of the power board module 30 and illuminate an area or a work surface.
After use, the user can return either the power board module 30 to the power board module receiving opening 30A of the receptacle 20 and/or can return the light emitting device module 40 to the light emitting device module receiving opening 40A of the receptacle 20. The user can then releasably lock the power board module 30 and the light emitting device module 40 thereto. The user can then return the power station assembly 10 to the support 80 and mount the power station assembly 10 to the interface part 83 of the support. 80
Finally, it is to be appreciated and understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010900807 | Feb 2010 | AU | national |
2010900808 | Feb 2010 | AU | national |
2010900809 | Feb 2010 | AU | national |
2010900831 | Feb 2010 | AU | national |
2010905259 | Nov 2010 | AU | national |
This application is a continuation application based on PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU2011/000210, filed Feb. 25, 2011, whose priority is claimed on Australian Patent Application Nos. 2010900808 filed Feb. 25, 2010, 2010900807 filed Feb. 25, 2010, 201000809 filed Feb. 25, 2010, 2010900831 filed Feb. 26, 2010 and 2010905259 filed Nov. 29, 2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/AU2011/000210 | Feb 2011 | US |
Child | 13594229 | US |