Patent ID: 7946864
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A retractable outdoor electrical power receptacle comprising: a top surface plate defining a horizontal surface level and being configured with an access hole; a mechanism vault extending downward a predetermined length below said surface level; a protective cover plate shaped to fit within the access hole of said top surface plate, the protective cover plate being configured to have a gap; a telescoping arm having a top end and a bottom end and being configured to slide in a direction along a vertical axis between an up position and a down position, wherein in the up position the top end is above the surface level and the bottom end is below the surface level, and in the down position the top end and the bottom end are below the surface level; an electrical power outlet box rigidly mounted on the top end of said telescoping arm; and a source of electrical power connected to said electrical power outlet box; wherein the gap in the protective cover plate is configured to fit around the telescoping arm in the up position; and wherein the protective cover plate in a first position is configured to be affixed to the top surface plate by at least one fastener point with the telescoping arm in the up position passing through the gap, and the protective cover plate in a second position rotated 180 degrees from the first position is configured to cover the telescoping arm in the down position and be affixed to the top surface plate by the at least one fastener point.