Abstract:
A power receptacle system is provided for allowing the connection with a multiple number of enlarged plugs. The system includes a main power cord and a central housing with a plurality of outlets flexibly connected to the central housing. Each of the outlets is free to move relative to the central housing and the other outlets. Therefore, the spacing between outlets is adjustable, allowing oversized plugs to be connected to adjacent outlets without physical interference.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to electrical outlets and more particularly pertains to a new multiple outlet system for accepting a plurality of enlarged plugs.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The use of outlets is well known in prior art. More specifically, multiple outlet systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations. Known prior art outlet systems include U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,315; U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,137; U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,334; U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,515; U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,342; U.S. Pat. Des. 356,294; and U.S. Pat. Des. 382,855. Prior art specifically addressing the issue of the acceptance of multiple enlarged plugs also employ the same familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations. Known prior art regarding the acceptance of multiple enlarged plugs include U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,701; U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,915; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,434.  
           [0005]    Prior art specifically devoted to the issue of oversized plugs has addressed the issue by specifying greater spacing between one or more pairs of rigidly positioned outlets. Since transformers and converters are produced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, allowing for their use by varying the spacing of rigidly positioned outlets is, at best, inefficient. Furthermore, the trend in recent years has been for more and more computer peripherals to utilize transformers and converters rather than conventional grounded plugs. As a result, a typical home or small office computer instillation may involve seven or eight plugs to power all of the components, with five or six of them being transformers or converters.  
           [0006]    In these respects, the outlet system accommodating enlarged plugs according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides a apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a plurality of transformer plugs to be plugged into a single outlet system.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides an electrical outlet system generally comprising a plurality of single “female” outlets flexibly connected to a single power source. The placement of the individual outlet connections is such as to allow the space between adjacent outlets to adjust to accommodate a multitude of large transformer type plugs to be inserted into outlets.  
           [0008]    Each single “female” outlet of the outlet system of the present invention is preferably adapted to accept a three-pronged plug, the outlet including two elongated prong-receiving apertures and a ground prong-receiving aperture.  
           [0009]    The outlet system of the present invention includes a power cord equipped with a three-pronged plug for electronically connected to the central power source. The power cord and the plurality of “female” outlets are electronically connected within a central housing. The electronic connections within that housing will typically include built-in circuit protection and power interruption features. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the power receptacle system of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the power receptacle system of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view from a different angle of the preferred embodiment of the power receptacle system of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view from a different angle of the preferred embodiment of the power receptacle system of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2, with the flexible connecting members in a relaxed state.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of the power receptacle system as in FIG. 3, with some of the flexible connecting members flexed.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of the power receptacle system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 1, an electrical power receptacle system of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the number  10 . The power receptacle system  10  generally comprises a central insulated housing  11  with an attached power cord  12  extending from the central insulated housing  11  to an electrical power source. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of “female” outlets  13  are attached to the central insulated housing  11  by flexible connecting members  14 . Each of the “female” outlets  13  provides provisions for electrical connection, having two elongated apertures  1   5 A and  1   5 B adapted for the receipt of a pronged plug having prongs of different polarities. Each “female” outlet  13  also preferably includes an aperture  15 C adapted for receipt of the ground prong of the plug. The central insulated housing  11  incorporates an on/off switch  16  to allow power flow to the “female” outlets  13  to be interrupted. Likewise, the central insulated housing  11  may contain overload circuit breakers, surge protection devices, and battery back-up units as additional system features.  
         [0017]    The radial arrangement of “female” outlets  13 , as depicted in FIG. 1, is a possible geometry for a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, another preferred embodiment of electrical power receptacle system of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the number  20 . The power receptacle system  20  generally comprises a central insulated housing  21  with an attached power cord  22  extending from the central insulated housing  21  to an electrical power source. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of “female” outlets  23  are attached to the central insulated housing  21  by flexible connecting members  24 . Each of the “female” outlets  23  provides provisions for electrical connection, having two elongated apertures  25 A and  25 B adapted for the receipt of a pronged plug having prongs of different polarities. Each “female” outlet  23  also preferably includes an aperture  25 C adapted for receipt of the ground prong of the plug. As shown in FIG. 2, the central insulated housing  21  incorporates an on/off switch  26  to allow power flow to the “female” outlets  23  to be interrupted. Likewise, the central housing  21  may contain overload circuit breakers, surge protection devices, and battery back-up units as additional system features.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 4, the distance D1 between adjacent “female” outlets  13  when the flexible connecting members  14  are in the relaxed or unflexed position may not be sufficient to prevent interference between oversized plugs. Oversized plugs is a general term to collectively include transformers, adapters, chargers, and other “male” plug units with body dimensions that are larger than the typical grounded three-pronged plug.  
         [0019]    However, referring to FIG. 5, when the flexible connecting members  14  are flexed to expand the distance between adjacent “female” outlets  13 , the distance expands to D2, which is sufficient to prevent interference between oversized plugs. Since the flexible connecting members  14  are free to flex in any required direction, the clearance between all of the adjacent “female” outlets  13  can be expanded to prevent interference.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 6, another preferred embodiment of the electrical power receptacle system of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the number  30 . The power receptacle system  30  generally comprises a central insulated housing  31  with an attached power cord  32  extending from the central insulated housing  31  to an electrical power source. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of “female” outlets  33  are attached to the central insulated housing  31  by flexible connecting members  34 . Each of the “female” outlets  33  provides provisions for electrical connection, having two elongated apertures  35 A and  35 B adapted for the receipt of a pronged plug having prongs of different polarities. Each “female” outlet  33  also preferably includes an aperture  35 C adapted for receipt of the ground prong of the plug. The central insulated housing  31  incorporates a a plurality of “fixed female” outlets  36 . Each of the “fixed female” outlets  36  provides provisions for electrical connection, having two elongated apertures  36 A and  36 B adapted for the receipt of a pronged plug having prongs of different polarities. Each “fixed female” outlet  36  also preferably includes an aperture  36 C adapted for receipt of the ground prong of the plug. The central insulated housing  31  also incorporates an on/off switch  37  to allow power flow to the “female” outlets  33  and the “fixed female” outlets  36  to be interrupted. Likewise, the central insulated housing  31  may contain overload circuit breakers, surge protection devices, and battery back-up units as additional system features.  
         [0021]    It should be appreciated that a range of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and, in certain instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and the scope of the invention herein.