Abstract:
A power and data adapter assembly includes an electrical receptacle assembly having a receptacle housing, removable side tabs and a simplex receptacle. The assembly also includes a data port assembly having the receptacle housing, data port adapter and data port connector. The data port assembly and simplex receptacle assembly are receivable within a channel support through ends of the channel support and are positionable in desired positions along the length of the channel support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/816,051, filed Jun. 15, 2010, which claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/268,703, filed Jun. 15, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to power and data elements for use in power distribution systems, and, more particularly, the use of a channel element for purposes of receiving and supporting various ones of outlet receptacle housings, data port housings, communication port housings, and the like, 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With various types of power distribution assemblies, various numbers of electrical receptacles, data ports, communication ports, and other electronic elements may be utilized. It would be advantageous if there was commonality among the various types of electrical elements which may be utilized within a power distribution assembly. Further, it would be advantageous if these electrical elements could be readily reassembled in terms of configurations, and also utilize a means for receiving and supporting the electrical elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The invention will now be described with respect to the drawings, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of a receptacle housing in accordance with the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a left-side end view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front, elevation view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a right-side end view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an underside view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front, perspective view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a rear, perspective view of the receptacle housing; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a rear, elevation view of a power and data channel support in accordance with the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the channel support shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a left-side end view of the channel support; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a front, elevation view of the channel support; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a right-side end view of the channel support; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is an underside view of the channel support; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a front, perspective view of the channel support; 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a rear, perspective view of the channel support; 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a front, perspective view of the receptacle housing shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is a perspective and partially exploded view of the receptacle housing shown in  FIG. 17 , and showing the relative positioning of the removable side latch tabs; 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is an exploded view of the receptacle housing shown in  FIG. 17 , and showing the main body of the receptacle housing consisting of the housing shell, a data port insert and a data port connector, thereby forming a data port assembly; 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the data port assembly shown in  FIG. 19 , but shown in a fully assembled state; 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a receptacle housing for a simplex receptacle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 22  is a partially exploded and perspective view, showing the removable side latch tabs and the housing shell; 
           [0027]      FIG. 23  is a perspective and exploded view showing the receptacle housing with a simplex receptacle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the fully assembled simplex receptacle assembly; 
           [0029]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the receptacle housing shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the simplex receptacle assembly shown in  FIG. 24 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view illustrating the use of the receptacle assembly with a data port; 
           [0032]      FIG. 28  illustrates the use of the housing in a perspective view with a USB port and corresponding cable; 
           [0033]      FIG. 29  illustrates a data port housing which may be utilized with an adapter assembly in accordance with the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 30  illustrates a docking station in an open configuration, showing the docking station components; 
           [0035]      FIG. 31  is a perspective and partially exploded view showing two of the data port assemblies as they are positioned so as to be received within the channel support; 
           [0036]      FIG. 32  illustrates a further data port assembly which may be utilized and received within the channel support; 
           [0037]      FIG. 33  illustrates the relative positioning of the docking station so as to be receivable within the channel support; 
           [0038]      FIG. 34  is a perspective view showing the relative positioning of two of the receptacle assemblies positioned so as to be received within the channel support; 
           [0039]      FIG. 35  illustrates a perspective view of the channel support with two of the data port assemblies, data port housing, docking station and two simplex receptacle assemblies, and also shows a relative positioning of a pair of side covers which can be releasably secured to the channel support;  FIG. 36  illustrates a perspective view of the fully assembled channel support and side covers; 
           [0040]      FIG. 37  shows a portion of a data port as received within a portion of the channel support; 
           [0041]      FIG. 38  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  38 - 38  of  FIG. 37 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 39  is a perspective view of an assembled power and data assembly, having a cord, with three simplex receptacle assemblies and two data port assemblies; 
           [0043]      FIG. 40  is a view of another type of power and data assembly, showing a single simplex receptacle assembly; 
           [0044]      FIG. 41  is a further perspective view of another power and data port assembly, showing use of a channel support with a set of four data port housings and three simplex receptacle assemblies; 
           [0045]      FIG. 42  shows the use of a channel support housing to simplex receptacle assemblies and a data port housing and utilized with a retractable light assembly; and 
           [0046]      FIG. 43  illustrates a further power and data assembly in perspective view, using a channel support, with a pair of data port assemblies and a pair of simplex receptacle assemblies. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]      FIGS. 1-8  illustrate various views of a simplex receptacle housing  100  in accordance with the invention. 
         [0048]    More specifically, FIG,  1  is a rear view of the receptacle housing.  FIG. 2  is a plan view of the receptacle housing, while  FIG. 3  is a left-side end view of the receptacle housing.  FIG. 4  is a front, elevation view of the receptacle housing, while  FIG. 5  is a right-side end view of the receptacle housing.  FIG. 6  is an underside view of the receptacle housing. 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  is a front, perspective view of the receptacle housing. FIG,  8  is a rear, perspective view of the receptacle housing. With reference to these drawings, the receptacle housing  100  includes an opening  102  which is adapted to receive an outlet receptacle. The housing  100  includes a main body  104  with a front cover  106 . The front cover  106  includes a face  108 . The cover  106  also includes a set of sides  112 . A pair of latch tabs  114  are positioned at upper and lower sides of the front cover  106 . Side latch tabs  116  are positioned on opposing sides of the front cover  106 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9-16  illustrate a power and data channel support  120 . Various views of the channel support  120  are shown in  FIGS. 9-16 . 
         [0051]    More specifically,  FIG. 9  illustrates a rear, elevation view of the channel support  120 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a plan view of the support  120 , while  FIG. 11  illustrates a left-side end view of the support  120 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a front, elevation view of the channel support  120 , while  FIG. 13  illustrates a right-side end view of the support  120 .  FIG. 14  illustrates an underside view of the support  120 .  FIG. 15  illustrates a front, perspective view of the support  120 , while  FIG. 16  illustrates a rear, perspective view of the support  120 . The channel support  120  includes an elongated channel  121  formed between a pair of opposing sides  122 . The opposing sides  122  have inner side surfaces  124 . The sides  122  are integral with or otherwise connected together with a floor section  126 . At the upper portions of each of the inner side surfaces  124  is a longitudinally extending rib  128 . Positioned immediately above the ribs  128  are a set of opposing upper channels  130 . 
         [0052]    As previously described with respect to  FIGS. 1-8 , the invention provides for what can be characterized a receptacle housing  100 . In fact, this housing  100  is capable of being utilized for various electrical elements, in addition to electrical receptacles.  FIGS. 17-20  illustrate the use of the receptacle housing  100  with a data port connector  132  ( FIG. 19 ) and data port insert  134  (also  FIG. 19 ). The data port insert  134  can be received within the opening  102  of the housing  100 , and secured to the housing  100  by means of the removable tabs  116 , The data port insert  134  is sized so as to appropriately receive the data port connector  132 . The resultant component is the data port assembly  136  shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0053]    The housing  100  can also be used for other components, such as simplex receptacles. A simplex receptacle assembly  140  is shown in  FIGS. 21-24 .  FIG. 24  shows a fully assembled simplex receptacle assembly. FIG,  21  shows the receptacle housing  100  previously described herein, and  FIG. 22  shows the housing  100  with the removable tabs  116 .  FIG. 23  illustrates an exploded view showing the receptacle housing  100 , with a simplex receptacle  142  positioned so as to be received within the opening  102 . In this particular instance, an insert is not required, since the opening  102  is originally sized so as to receive the receptacle  142 . 
         [0054]      FIGS. 25-30  show other components which can be utilized with the adapter assembly in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 25  again illustrates the housing  100 , while  FIG. 26  again shows the simplex receptacle assembly  140 , with the receptacle  142  itself.  FIG. 27  illustrates the use of the receptacle housing  100  with a data port  144 . The data port  144  may or may not require an insert for the opening  102 .  FIG. 28  illustrates the use of the housing  100  with a USB port  146 , and corresponding cable  148 . Again, an insert may or may not be required. 
         [0055]      FIG. 29  illustrates a data port housing  151  which maybe used with the adapter assembly in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 30  illustrates a docking station  150  in an open state, and showing the docking station components  154 . The docking station  150  is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/131,403 filed Jun. 9, 2008, and titled “DOCKING STATION WITH POWER AND DATA CENTER.” 
         [0056]      FIGS. 31 and 32  illustrate the manner in which certain electrical elements can be received within the channel support  120 . Specifically,  FIG. 31  illustrates the positioning of a pair of receptacle housings  100  with data ports  144  as they can be slidably received within the channel support  120 .  FIG. 32  shows the data ports  144  within the channel support  120 . With this configuration, the latch tabs  114  on opposing sides of the housings  100  are received within the upper channels  130  of the channel support  120 . FIG,  32  also shows the relative positioning of a data port housing assembly  151  as it is ready to be received within the channel support  120 . The data port assembly housing  151  includes a pair of elongated and resilient latches  153  which are also received within the upper channels  130 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 33  is similar to  FIG. 32 , but illustrates the positioning of the docking station  150  so as to be received within the channel support  120 . The docking station  150  can be positioned so as to slide between ribs  128  of the channel support  120 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 34  shows relative positioning of a pair of simplex receptacle assemblies  140 , for reception within the channel support  120 . Again, the latch tabs  114  will be received within the upper channels  130 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 35 and 36  illustrate the channel support  120  fully assembled with the pair of data ports  144 , data port assembly  151 , data station  150 , and the pair of simplex receptacle assemblies  140 .  FIGS. 35 and 36  also show (with  FIG. 35  shown in exploded view) the relative position of a pair of side covers  164  which can be releasably secured to the channel support  120 . The inner surfaces of the side covers  164  include sets of ribs  166 . The ribs  166  cooperatively are received within channels  168  located within the floor section  126  of the channel support  120 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 37  shows a portion of a data port  144  as received within a portion of the channel support  120 .  FIG. 38  is a. sectional view, taken along section lines  38 - 38  of  FIG. 37 . Specifically,  FIG. 38  shows how the data port  144  is coupled to the channel support  120 , through the latch tabs  114  being received within the channels  130 . Also shown are the ribs  128 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 39-43  are perspective views showing various illustrations of various electrical assemblies utilizing the power and data adapter assembly in accordance with the invention, which incorporates the channel support  120 .  FIG. 39  is a perspective view of a power and data. assembly  170 , with a cord  172 . The assembly  170  uses the channel support  120  and a cover plate  171 . The assembly in  FIG. 39  includes a pair of data ports  144  and three simplex receptacle assemblies  140 . 
         [0062]    Power and data assembly  174  shown in  FIG. 40  includes a cord  172 , with the channel  120  being received within a power and data housing  173 . The assembly includes a single simplex receptacle assembly  140 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 41  illustrates a further power and data assembly  178 . This power and data assembly  178  includes four data ports  144  and three simplex receptacle assemblies  140 . Cords  172  and data cables  175  are also shown. 
         [0064]      FIG. 42  illustrates the use of a channel support  120  with a pair of simplex receptacle assemblies  140 , data port housing  151 , and a retractable light assembly  176 . Still further,  FIG. 43  illustrates a further power and data assembly  180 , using a channel support  120 , with a pair of data ports  144  and a pair of simplex receptacle assemblies  140 . 
         [0065]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the pertinent arts that other embodiments of the power and data adapter assemblies in accordance with the invention can be designed. That is, the principles of the invention are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and other variations of the above-described illustrative embodiments of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.