Abstract:
The present invention disclosed relates to a flexible electrical outlet strip that is comprised of a series of electric receptacles joined by independent ball and socket modules. Each ball and socket module is electrically interconnected with the power source and capable of rotating 360 degrees while maintaining electrical continuity. Each ball and socket connection also provides up to 60 degrees of pivotal movement at each socket joint. A fixed single-axis pivotal hinge joins receptacles  1, 2, 3  to  4, 5, 6  increasing mobility and possible outlet configurations. Combined, these characteristics will enable each electric receptacle to be positioned in a unique configuration to accommodate bulky and odd-shaped plugs and power adapters, conform into flexible shapes and designs for space constrained areas, hang or wrap around objects, and assist with cord management.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/368,851, Filed 2010 Jul. 29 by the present inventors 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Prior Art 
       [0002]    The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears Relevant: 
       U.S. Pat. Nos. 
       [0003]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Patent Number 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 7,607,928 
                 B2 
                 October 2009 
                 Schriefer 
               
               
                 7,393,250 
                 B2 
                 July 2008 
                 Tanaka 
               
               
                 7,264,514 
                 B2 
                 September 2007 
                 Hsu 
               
               
                 7,557,297 
                 B2 
                 July 2009 
                 Axland 
               
               
                 7,497,740 
                 B2 
                 March 2009 
                 Mei 
               
               
                 5,848,915 
                 A 
                 December 1998 
                 Canizales 
               
               
                 6,315,617 
                 B1 
                 November 2001 
                 Al-Sabah 
               
               
                 7,510,426 
                 B2 
                 March 2009 
                 Hwang 
               
               
                 6,780,038 
                 B1 
                 April 2004 
                 Huang 
               
               
                 7,544,100 
                 B2 
                 June 2009 
                 Teitelbaum 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           10 —Power Strip with Articulatable Outlets 
           20 —Power Cord 
           30 —Conventional Power Plug 
           40 —Master Switch 
           50 —Surge Protector Reset 
           100 —Power Strip Housing 
           120  ( a, b, c, d, e, f )—Articulatable Links of the Power Strip 
           130 —Outlet Receptacle 
           140 —Hinged Joint 
           142 ,  144 —Hinged Leaves 
           160 —Ball, for Ball-and-Socket Joint 
           162 —Surface of Ball, for Ball-and-Socket Joint 
           170 —Socket, for Ball-and-Socket Joint 
           172 —Inner Surface of Socket for Ball-and-Socket Joint 
           174 —Opening for Ball-and-Socket Joint 
           190 —Loop-style Anchor 
           194 —Hook 
           200 —Rotor Assembly 
           210 —Floating Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           212 —Circular Floor of Floating Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           214 —Peripheral wall of Floating Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           216 ,  218 ,  220 —Concentric Annular Dividing Walls of Floating Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           222  ( a, b, c )—Conductive Rings of Floating Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           230 —Fixed Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           232 —Circular Floor of Fixed Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           234 —Peripheral wall of Fixed Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           236 ,  238 ,  240 —Concentric Annular Dividing Walls of Fixed Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           242  ( a, b, c, d, e, f )—Conductive Ball-Bearings of Rotor Assembly 
           244  ( a, b, c )—Conductive Rings of Fixed Plate of Rotor Assembly 
           250 —Interconnected Wires 
           255 —Fastener for Rotor Assembly 
           257 —Compression Spring for Rotor Assembly 
           260 —Secured Point of Interconnected Wires 
         e—Equator of the Ball&#39;s Outer Surface/Socket&#39;s Inner Surface for Ball-and-Socket Joint. 
       
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0038]    The present invention relates generally to power strips including multiple electrical outlets for receiving plugs of powerable devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0039]    Electric power strips are well-known in the art. Such power strips are often used to electrically connect more than one electrically-powered device to a single wall-mounted AC power receptacle. Accordingly, power strips typically include one plug for insertion into the wall-mounted receptacle and several similarly-configured outlets, electrically connected to the power strip&#39;s plug, for receiving plugs of devices that are intended to be powered by the power strip. Typical arrangements often further include a master switch for breaking the electrical connection between the power-strip&#39;s plug and the power strip&#39;s outlets, and a surge-protection device, such as a circuit-breaker. 
         [0040]    Most power strips include a rigid housing, typically plastic or metal, that supports and/or defines the power strip&#39;s outlets. A common arrangement includes a rectangularly-shaped housing supporting six or more outlets in a linear array. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the spatial relationship among the power strip&#39;s outlets is fixed according to the design of the power strip.  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary power strip including a rigid housing and a linear array of outlets that is representative of many prior art power strips. 
         [0041]    This design was historically useful for standard two-prong and three-prong electrical cord plugs, for 110V devices, such as lamps, alarm clocks, fans, televisions, cable boxes, etc. which could be connected to a typical 110V wall-receptacle in straight-forward fashion. Such standard plugs are typically sized to have a face that is essentially the same size or smaller than the face of the outlet to which it is to be mated. Therefore, typical power strips include closely-spaced outlets, and all outlets were accessible to such standard plugs. 
         [0042]    However, many modem electrically-powered devices do not operate on 110V (or other standard wall-receptacle voltage) power platforms. Examples of such devices include most cellular telephones and smartphones power tools, computer peripherals, and the like. As a result, such devices, and/or chargers for batteries for such devices, require transformers to step down the voltage available at the standard wall receptacle. Typically, such transformers are built into the distal end of the power cable of such a device (or its charging device), and as a result, the plug-end of the power cords of such devices is large and bulky, and has face dimensions that exceed the face dimensions of a typical power outlet. Due to the limited space between each closely-spaced outlet on a conventional power strip, it is often the case that an over-sized transformer/plug of one device prevents use of an adjacent outlet. 
         [0043]    Therefore, a power strip is needed that facilitates concurrent use of all adjacent outlets of a power strip, even when powering devices having over-sized transformers/plugs. The present invention fulfills this need among others. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0044]    The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0045]    The present invention provides a power strip including outlets supported on a rigid housing that includes interconnected but articulatable links. Adjacent rigid links may be manipulated about at least one axis of rotation relative to one another. Accordingly, the outlets may be positioned relative to one another such that a typical over-sized transformer/plug received in one outlet will not preclude use of an adjacent outlet. 
         [0046]    In a preferred embodiment, the power strip&#39;s housing includes rigid links that are interconnected by at least one of a hinged joint and a ball-and-socket joint. The hinged joint provides a range of motion between adjacent links about a single axis. The ball-and-socket joint provides a range of motion between adjacent links about three orthogonal axes. Each joint is configured to provide for uninterrupted electrical interconnection with the power strip&#39;s plug and/or adjacent outlets through the entire range of motion. 
         [0047]    Thus, the present invention provides for dramatically-increased outlet configuration flexibility, and allows for all receptacles to be used concurrently, even with oversized transformers/plugs. The articulatable segments also allow a user to form the power strip into various structural shapes, which allows for easy mounting or fastening to hooks or other fixed objects. For example, the power strip may be wrapped around a table leg, or bent into a loop (and in certain embodiments fastened to itself to maintain the loop shape). This distinct feature enables the flexible power strip to be used in a number of circumstances where a rigid power strip would not work well (e.g., to enable the power strip to be wrapped around a leg of a desk/table in a somewhat spirallhelical fashion, where a nontraditional space dictates the necessity of a flexible structure), or where multiple large power adapters are necessary. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS 
         [0048]    The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which: 
           [0049]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary prior art power strip including a rigid housing and a linear array of outlets; 
           [0050]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a power strip with articulatable outlet links in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are plan views of the hinged joint of the power strip of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of the hinged joint of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0053]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective views showing a ball-and-socket joint of the power strip of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a rotor assembly for maintaining electrical interconnection through the range of motion of the ball-and-socket joint of  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b;    
           [0055]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are assembly perspective and plan views, respectively of the fixed plate and floating plate of the rotor assembly of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0056]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the rotor assembly of  FIG. 8 , showing mating of the fixed and floating plates of  FIGS. 9 and 10  and their relative rotation; 
           [0057]      FIG. 12  is a section view through the assembled rotor assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0058]      FIG. 13  is a partial sectional view of the power strip of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0059]      FIG. 14  is a plan view of the power strip of  FIG. 2 , showing the power strip latched in a closed-loop configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0060]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a plan view of an exemplary power strip  10  in accordance with the present invention. The exemplary power strip  10  includes certain conventional features, such as power cord  20  terminating in a conventional power plug  30 , a conventional master switch  40 , and a conventional surge protector (surge protector not shown, surge protector reset switch  50  shown). By way of example, the power cord  20  may be a conventional power strip power cord housing two 14 AWG insulated conductors and one 14 AWG copper ground wire, and the plug may be a conventional, e.g., NEC-compatible, 110 V plug. By way of further example, the surge protector/fuse may be constructed with current limiting circuitry to prevent power surges, along with a 15 amp fuse to prevent overdraw of current from attached devices. Any conventional technology may be used for these features. Because they are beyond the scope of the present invention, such features are not discussed in detail herein. 
         [0061]    In accordance with the present invention, the housing  100  of the power strip  10  includes multiple articulatable links  120 . In the exemplary embodiment, each link  120  includes an outlet  130  configured to receive a conventional power plug of an electrically powered device.  FIG. 2  shows the preferred embodiment of the orientation of these outlets perpendicular to the long axis of the link, though they may also be positioned parallel to the link as shown in later figures. Each outlet is electrically interconnected with other outlets and/or the power cord/plug so that all outlets may be powered via the power strip&#39;s plug. 
         [0062]    Each link  120  is constructed of a rigid material such as an insulative plastic material. By way of example, each link may be formed by injection molding fluent plastic material into a suitably configured mold. However, at least two of the links, and preferably all of the links, are interconnected by a joint permitting relative motion between adjacent links. Preferably the joints provide relative rotation about at least one axis. 
         [0063]    The exemplary power strip  10  shown in  FIGS. 2-14  includes links  120   c ,  120   d  connected by a hinged joint  140 , and links  120   a / 120   b ,  120   b / 120   c ,  120   d / 120   e  and  120   e / 120   f  connected by ball-and-socket joints  150 . 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , an exemplary hinged joint  140  is shown interconnecting links  120   c  and  120   d  of the power strip  10  of  FIG. 2 . Referring now to  FIG. 3 , links  120   c  and  120  are specially-formed to include complementary hinge leaves  142 ,  144  joined for relative motion therebetween. By way of example, the leaves may be joined by a pivot pin, such as a metal pin, a screw, or an integrated plastic pin. Accordingly, links  120   c  and  120   d  are pivotable about the pivot pin  146 , generally about an axis extending in the z-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system shown for reference purposes in  FIG. 3 . This exemplary embodiment permits a range of rotational motion from a collapsed position (see  FIG. 3 ), in which the respective outlets  130  of links  120   c  and  120   d  are positioned adjacent one another in substantially parallel fashion, to an extended position (see  FIG. 4 ), in which the respective outlets  130  of links  120   c  and  120   d  are positioned inverted (opposed by approximately 180 degrees) relative to one another, and preferably lie substantially along a line. 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the hinge leaves are constructed to maintain continuous electrical interconnection through the entire range of motion of the hinged joint  140 . This may be performed in various ways. For example, in one embodiment, the leaves may simply house wires passing therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the power strip  10  includes rotor assembly  200  similar to that shown and discussed below with reference to the ball-and-socket joint. More specifically, the hinge leaves  142 ,  144  act as the fixed and floating plates described below, and contain raceways, conductive rings, and conductive contacts in the form of conductive metallic ball-bearings, as discussed below. 
         [0066]    Thus, the position of  FIG. 3  provides substantial clearance in the direction of the y-axis (see  FIG. 3 ) and the position of  FIG. 4  provides substantial clearance in the direction of the x-axis (see  FIG. 3 ), to accommodate a broad range of differently-shaped, over-sized transformers/plugs. Further, it will be appreciated that the hinged joint  140  allows the power strip  10  to effectively be folded flat against itself (see  FIG. 2 ), for storage and/or use in a compact state. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , link  120   f  is provided with a loop-style anchor  190 , and link  120   a  is provided with a complementary hook  194 . In such an embodiment, the power strip  10  can be locked in the folded position of  FIG. 3  by engaging the hook  194  of link  120   f  with the anchor  190  of link  120   a.    
         [0067]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an exemplary ball-and-socket joint  150  is shown interconnecting links  120   e  and  120   f  of the power strip  10  of  FIG. 2 . Each ball-and-socket joint  150  is formed by a ball  160  of one link, e.g.,  120   f , and a socket  170  of an adjacent link, e.g.  120   e . As is typical of ball-and-socket joints, each socket  170  includes an inner surface  172  shaped to accept at least a portion of a sphere, and each ball  160  has an outer surface  162  that has an overall spherical (or partially-spherical) shape for mating with the inner surface  172  of the socket  170 . The socket  170  is shaped so that it has an opening  174  that is smaller than the equator e (see  FIG. 4   a ) of the ball&#39;s outer surface  162  and the socket&#39;s inner surface  172 , so that the socket can capture and retain the ball therein for motion relative thereto. Preferably, the opening  174  is only slightly smaller than the ball&#39;s equator so that the ball can be press-fit into the socket without permanent damage to the socket or the ball, while permitting a high degree of relative motion between links interconnected by the ball-and-socket joint, as best shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0068]    In this exemplary embodiment, the ball-and-socket joint permits 360 degrees of relative rotation about the x-axis (see  FIG. 6 ), about 120 degrees of relative rotation about the y-axis, and about 120 degrees of relative rotation about the z-axis. 
         [0069]    Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, which includes six links, each of which is capable of about 60 degrees of angular rotation in each direction about the y and z axes, it is possible to articulate the links to collectively form a closed loop, in a generally circular configuration. In a preferred embodiment, each of the end links  120   a ,  120   f  is provided with one of an anchor and a complementary hook. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , link  120   f  is provided with a loop-style anchor  190 , and link  120   a  is provided with a complementary hook  194 . This closed loop configuration allows the power strip to be wrapped around certain fixed objects, with the ability to hang freely. For example, the power strip could be wrapped around the trunk of a Christmas tree and locked into place with the hook and anchor. This could provide an elevated location for all Christmas tree light outlets, without laying a power strip on the ground where it may be susceptible to exposure water during watering of the tree. 
         [0070]      FIGS. 8-13  show an exemplary rotor assembly  200  that allows for the above described relative motion of the links interconnected by the ball-and-socket joints while maintaining electrical interconnection through the range of motion. Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the rotor assembly  200  is shown relative to a ball  160  and socket  170 . Preferably, the entire rotor assembly  200  is captured within the ball  160 . Alternatively, a portion of the rotor assembly is housed within the ball, and a portion is housed with the socket  170 . 
         [0071]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-12 , it will be appreciated that the rotor assembly  200  includes a fixed plate  230  and a floating plate  210 . The fixed plate  230  is intended to be fixed to, and rotate with, and associated link. In contrast, the floating plate  210  is intended to rotate, as necessary, relative to the fixed plate during relative rotation of adjacent links about the x-axis. The fixed and floating plates  230 ,  210 , are specially configured to ensure that electrical interconnection is maintained there between through 360 degrees of relative rotation. 
         [0072]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , it will be appreciated that floating plate  210  is generally disk-like, and includes a substantially flat circular floor  212 , a peripheral side wall  214  extending substantially perpendicularly to the floor  212 , and a plurality of concentric annular dividing walls  216 , 218 , 220  positioned substantially perpendicularly to the floor  212  within the peripheral side wall  214 . The floating plate is nonconductive, and the sidewalls collectively define three annular raceways (a first between side wall  214  and dividing wall  216 , a second between dividing wall  216  and dividing wall  218 , and a third between dividing wall  218  and dividing wall  220 ). Each annular raceway is lined with a conductive ring  222   a ,  222   b ,  222   c , such as a ring of copper stamped from a flat sheet, which may be heat-staked or otherwise fit or bonded in the raceway. Each conductive ring is electrically connected to one of the positive, neutral and ground conductors of the power strip circuit. For example, wires  250  may be soldered to contacts electrically connected to these rings, in a manner similar to that shown in  FIG. 11  for fixed plate  240 . 
         [0073]    Further, the rotor assembly  200  includes an attachment fastener  255  through the center of the fixed plate  230  and floating plate  210  in such a manner that it fastens the two together and prevents movement in the axial direction that would cause the conductive ball-bearings to disengage from contact with the conductive rings of the floating and fixed plates, while at the same time permitting relative rotation between fixed plate  230  and floating plate  210 . This fastener may be mechanical in nature, such as a conventional bolt and nut as shown, or interference fit split-shaft molded directly into the center of fixed plate  230 . The fastener will also incorporate compression spring  257  between the end of the fastener and the floating plate to keep constant pressure on floating plate to ensure that the bearings maintain contact with both opposing faces of the rotor assembly at all times. 
         [0074]    Further, the rotor assembly  200  includes an attachment fastener through the center of the fixed plate  230  and floating plate  210  in such a manner that it fastens the two together and prevents movement in the axial direction that would cause the conductive ball-bearings to disengage from contact with the conductive rings of the floating and fixed plates, while at the same time permitting relative rotation between fixed plate  230  and floating plate  210 . This fastener may be mechanical in nature, such as a conventional bolt and nut, or integrated plastic pin and capture washer directly into the center of fixed plate  230 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 13  is a partial sectional view of the power strip of  FIG. 2 . As best shown in  FIG. 7 , each rotor assembly  220  is captured within a respective ball-and-socket joint  150 . Further, the wires  250 , conductive rings  222   a ,  222   b ,  222   c  on floating plate  210 , conductive rings  244   a ,  244   b , and  244   c  on fixed plate  240 , and conductive ball-bearings  242   a ,  242   b ,  242   c ,  242   d ,  242   e , and  242   f  constrained between them collectively provide continuous positive, neutral, and ground electrical paths so that all outlets  130  of the power strip may be powered via the power strip&#39;s cord  20  and plug  30 . 
         [0076]    In use, relative motion of the links  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c ,  120   d ,  120   e , and  120   f  is permitted by simply manually grasping the links and manipulating each joint  140 ,  150 . Further, such relative motion is permitted while the integrity of the electrical path is maintained throughout the entire range of motion of each joint. More specifically, as each ball-and-socket joint  150  is rotated about the y- and z-axes (see  FIG. 13 ), no relative motion between the floating and fixed plates  210 ,  230  is required to maintain the integrity of the electrical paths. However, as each ball-and-socket joint  14  is rotated about the z-axis, the floating plate  210  is permitted to rotate as necessary (i.e., to the extent such rotation cannot be accommodated by simple bending or twisting of interconnecting wires  250 ) relative to the fixed plate  230  of the same rotor assembly  200 . The floating plate  210  may be caused to rotate by the imposition of a torsional force from the attached wires  250 . Fixed plate  230  may be braced by internal structures of the ball and or friction therewith, or may be otherwise secured within the ball. Wires may be secured to an internal portion of the housing, e.g. between an outlet  130  and an adjacent fixed plate  230  (since there is no relative rotation therebetween) or between an outlet  130  and adjacent floating plate  210  (such that twisting of the wires  250  relative to the secured point  260 ,  FIG. 13 ) will cause the transference of torsional force that will cause floating plate  240  to rotate relative to fixed plate  210 , and relieve forces on the wires  250  while avoiding torsional or other forces on the end of the wires  250  joining the outlet. 
         [0077]    The links  120   a ,  120   f  may be latched and unlatched using the anchor and loop  190 ,  194  in a straightforward fashion, either to lock the power strip in a folded position  9  see  FIG. 2 ) or in a closed-loop configuration (see  FIG. 14 ). The master switch  40  and surge protector  50  can be operated in a conventional manner. 
         [0078]    Thus it will be appreciated that the power strip  10  enables pivoting and/or rotation of adjacent links to position the respective outlets  130  to accommodate over-sized large AC adapters/transformers/plugs, and to achieve a flexible footprint to fit into smaller spaces, to hang/wrap around objects for mounting purposes, and to provide enhanced cord management. 
         [0079]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.