Desktop receptacle with mounting plate

A desktop receptacle assembly includes a box having a bottom surface, an electrical connection assembly held within the box, a first finger connected to the bottom surface that has a first portion connected to the bottom surface and a second portion connected to the first portion, the first portion having a first width and the second portion having a second width that is greater than the first width, and a mounting plate associated with the bottom surface that includes at least one bracket and a first finger opening associated with the first finger. The first finger opening has a first opening width corresponding to the first width of the first finger and a second opening width corresponding to the second width of the first finger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to desktop receptacles, and, more particularly, to desktop receptacles that are mounted with plates.

2. Description of the Related Art

Desktop receptacles are commonly employed in or on desk surfaces to provide data and power connections to electrical devices that are used on the desk surface. Many varieties of desktop receptacle can be employed including built-in receptacles and removable receptacles. Removable desktop receptacles are desirable because they can be taken out of the work surface and replaced with different receptacles that offer different features. Since removable desktop receptacles are not built-in as part of the work surface, they can require additional support to keep the desktop receptacle attached to the work surface. The additional support gives the desktop receptacle stability and keeps the receptacle from easily detaching from the work surface, but can be difficult to attach to the desktop receptacle.

What is needed in the art is a desktop receptacle assembly that can be easily attached to a work surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a desktop receptacle assembly with a bottom surface having one or more fingers attached that can slide in and out of corresponding finger openings formed through a mounting plate.

The invention in one form is directed to a desktop receptacle assembly that includes a box having a bottom surface; an electrical connection assembly held within the box; a first finger connected to the bottom surface that has a first portion connected to the bottom surface and a second portion connected to the first portion, the first portion having a first width and the second portion having a second width that is greater than the first width; and a mounting plate associated with the bottom surface and including at least one bracket and a first finger opening associated with the first finger. The first finger opening has a first opening width corresponding to the first width of the first finger and a second opening width corresponding to the second width of the first finger.

The invention in another form is directed to a desktop receptacle assembly that includes a box having a bottom surface; an electrical connection assembly held within the box; a first finger connected to the bottom surface that has a first portion connected to the bottom surface and a second portion connected to the first portion, the first portion having a first width and the second portion having a second width that is greater than the first width; and a mounting plate associated with the bottom surface and including at least one bracket and a first finger opening associated with the first finger. The first finger opening has a first opening width corresponding to the first width of the first finger.

An advantage of the present invention is that the finger(s) on the bottom of the box can slide in and out of the finger opening(s) on the mounting plate, providing an easy way to attach or detach the box from the mounting plate.

Another advantage is that the mounting plate can be kept attached to the work surface after removing the box and used to support a different box with a finger on the bottom.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the sole Figure, there is shown a desktop receptacle assembly10which generally includes a box12with a bottom surface14, an electrical connection assembly16held within the box12, fingers18,20,22and24connected to the bottom surface14of the box12, and a mounting plate26associated with the bottom surface14of the box12. As can be seen, the box12has a generally rectangular shape and can include a cover28opposite the bottom surface14. The cover28can sit flush with a desk surface (not shown) to hide the electrical connection assembly16within the box12from sight. The box12can also have a cutout30formed in its bottom surface14that allows the electrical connection assembly16to be accessible to electrical connections from the bottom. The electrical connection assembly16can be any assembly that allows for electrical power or data connections to be formed between a power or data source and a power or data receiver. A wide variety of such electrical connection assemblies can be used in the present invention. It is contemplated that the box12could have many different shapes and sizes, depending on the desktop receptacle assembly10's application, and the shown box12is for illustrative purposes only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Similarly, the box12can be made from a large variety of materials, with polymers being a useful material due to their low weight and ease of manufacturing.

Fingers18,20,22and24are connected to the bottom surface14of the box12. Each finger18,20,22and24can be arranged on the bottom surface14as desired. While four fingers18,20,22and24are shown inFIG. 1, it is contemplated that only one finger or multiple fingers could be connected to the bottom surface14. Each finger18,20,22and24has a respective first portion18A,20A,22A and24A that connects to the bottom surface14and a respective second portion18B,20B,22B and24B that connects to its respective first portion18A,20A,22A and24A. The fingers18,20,22and24can have an L-shape, with the first portions18A,20A,22A and24A forming right angles with their respective second portions18B,20B,22B and24B. While L-shaped fingers18,20,22and24are shown, other shapes are also contemplated for the fingers18,20,22and24. Each first portion18A,20A,22A and24A has a respective first width FW1, FW2, FW3and FW4and each second portion18B,20B,22B and24B has a respective second width SW1, SW2, SW3and SW4that is greater than its respective first width FW1, FW2, FW3and FW4. This allows for the second portions18B,20B,22B and24B to form ledges that the mounting plate26can rest on when it is associated with the bottom surface14. The first portions18A,20A,22A and24A should be long enough to accommodate the thickness of the mounting plate26, so that the mounting plate26can rest on the ledges formed by second portions18B,20B,22B and24B. One optional configuration of the fingers18,20,22and24, as shown, is to have finger20as a mirror image of finger18and finger24as a mirror image of finger22. Such an arrangement can provide additional stability to the mounting plate's26association with the fingers18,20,22and24by limiting the amount of transverse movement that the mounting plate26can do when it is sliding on to the fingers18,20,22and24. Similarly, it is also useful if finger18is coaxial with finger20on the bottom surface14and if finger22is coaxial with finger24on the bottom surface14, so that if the mounting plate is properly aligned with fingers18and22or fingers20and24, it is properly aligned with all fingers18,20,22and24. The fingers18,20,22and24can be formed of any material and either formed as an integral part of the box12or separately connected to the bottom surface14.

A mounting plate26is associated with the bottom surface14of the box12and has finger openings32,34,36and38that are associated with respective fingers18,20,22and24and brackets40,42,44and46that will allow the mounting plate26to be connected to a desk surface. As can be seen, finger openings32and34have respective opening widths OW1and OW2that only correspond to the first widths FW1and FW2of fingers18and20, while finger openings36and38have respective first opening widths OW3and OW4that correspond to the first widths FW3and FW4of fingers22and24as well as respective second opening widths OW5and OW6that correspond to the second widths SW3and SW4of fingers22and24. As used throughout, “corresponds” refers to the opening width being approximately equal to that of its corresponding width on the finger, so that the finger opening allows for tight sliding of the finger within the finger opening. It should be appreciated that the term “width” is a subset of the broader term “dimension,” which can refer to widths, heights, lengths, etc. Mounting plate26can have an edge48with cutout50formed into the edge48. The cutout50can be sized and shaped to surround cutout30formed in the bottom surface14, so that the mounting plate26does not obstruct the cutout30formed in the bottom surface14.

The finger openings32and34can extend to the edge48, or possibly other edges of the mounting plate26, so that the mounting plate26can slide on to fingers18and20without the need to line up a second width of the finger openings32and34with fingers18and20. In contrast, the finger openings36and38must be aligned with the bottom surface14so that the second opening widths OW5and OW6overlap the second widths SW3and SW4of fingers22and24. Once the second widths SW3and SW4overlap their corresponding second opening widths OW5and OW6, the mounting plate26can slide so that the first portions18A,20A,22A and24A get at least partially held within their corresponding first opening widths OW1, OW2, OW3and OW4. This allows for the mounting plate26to be held by the fingers18,20,22and24and associated with the bottom surface14, adding support to the box12. Much like the fingers22and24, it is useful if finger openings36and38are mirror images of each other to more securely hold the mounting plate26. Finger opening32can also be coaxial to finger opening34and/or finger opening36can be coaxial to finger opening38. Other arrangements of the finger openings32,34,36and38are also contemplated, so long as they line up with their respective fingers18,20,22and24and allow for the bottom surface14to be slidingly associated with the mounting plate26. As previously described, the bottom surface14can have only one finger or multiple fingers. The mounting plate26should have as many corresponding finger openings as the bottom surface has fingers so that the mounting plate26can be slidingly associated with bottom surface14without the fingers interfering with the mounting plate's26association.

The mounting plate26includes brackets40,42,44and46. As can be seen, the brackets40,42,44and46form supports for the box12and associated mounting plate26when they are attached to a surface, such as the bottom of a desk surface (not shown). The brackets40,42,44and46are spaced apart so that a bracket is located at each corner of the mounting plate26, to provide better load distribution between the brackets40,42,44and46. Other arrangements of brackets are contemplated, with the number and location of brackets being adjustable as desired. The brackets40,42,44and46can also act to further constrain the box's12movement relative to the mounting plate26, making it easier to properly align the fingers18,20,22and24with the finger openings32,34,36and38and associate the mounting plate26with the bottom surface14. Each bracket40,42,44and46can have a respective base40A,42A,44A and46A that extends from a main surface52of the mounting plate26and a respective bearing surface40B,42B, and44B (bracket46's bearing surface is not shown) that can engage a surface to provide support to the mounting plate26. Each bracket40,42,44and46can also have an opening formed through its bearing surface that allows fixation screws54to bring the bearing surfaces into contact with a support surface. Although the brackets40,42,44and46are shown as L-shaped brackets, other bracket shapes are also contemplated as being used. Further, the brackets40,42,44and46could be formed as an integral part of the mounting plate26or could be separate pieces that are attached to the mounting plate26, if desired. The mounting plate26and brackets40,42,44and46can be formed of any material, such as metals due to their strength characteristics, and in any fashion. Similarly, it is contemplated that the mounting plate26and brackets40,42,44and46can be adapted to mount to many different surfaces by changing the shape of the mounting plate26and/or brackets40,42,44and46.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, another embodiment of a desktop receptacle assembly60of the present invention is shown. The desktop receptacle assembly60includes a box62with a bottom surface64, an electrical connection assembly16(shown inFIG. 1) held within the box62, hooks66,68,70, and72associated with the bottom surface64, and a mounting plate74associated with the bottom surface64. The box62has a different shape than previously described box12, but is otherwise similar.

As can be seen, the hooks66,68,70,72are not connected to the bottom surface64of box62, but held to the box62by a cosmetic surround75. As shown, the cosmetic surround75is connected to the box62by set screws, but could be connected to the box62in other ways if desired. The cosmetic surround75has side surfaces76that extend past the bottom surface64of the box62. The hooks66,68,70,72are shown as being formed at an end78of the cosmetic surround75that extends past the bottom surface64, but could also be connected to the end78. Each hook66,68,70,72has a respective first portion66A,68A,70A,72A and second portion66B,68B,70B,72B. The first portions66A,68A,70A,72A each have respective first dimensions D1, D2, D3, D4, shown here as a length, and second portions66B,68B,70B,72B each have respective second dimensions D5, D6, D7, D8, also shown as lengths, that are greater than their respective first dimensions D1, D2, D3, D4. Although the first dimensions D1, D2, D3and D4and second dimensions D5, D6, D7and D8are shown as lengths, they could also be other types of dimensions such as width and thickness. When the first portions66A,68A,70A and72A and second portions66B,68B,70B and72B extend in the same direction, holding edges66C,68C,70C and72C (shown inFIG. 3) can be formed between the parts of the second portions66B,68B,70B and72B that are not overlapped by their respective first portions66A,68A,70A and72A and the side surfaces76. If the hooks66,68,70and72were connected to the bottom surface64, the holding edges66C,68C,70C and72C would be formed between the parts of the second portions66B,68B,70B and72B that are not overlapped by their respective first portions66A,68A,70A and72A and the bottom surface64. These holding edges66C,68C,70C and72C allow for the mounting plate74to be held by the hooks66,68,70and72and associated with the bottom surface64.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting plate74has openings80,82,84and86that each correspond to a respective hook66,68,70and72. The openings80,82,84and86, as shown, each have a width that allows its respective hook66,68,70and72to pass through the opening80,82,84and86. The openings80,82,84and86each correspond to their respective hook's second portion66B,68B,70B and72B so that the second portion66B,68B,70B and72B can pass through the opening80,82,84and86and so the mounting plate74can slide along the holding edges66C,68C,70C and72C of the hooks66,68,70and72. As shown, openings80and82extend to an edge87of the mounting plate74. In this case, it is useful if openings80and82have a length that is less than that of their corresponding hooks66and68, so that the hooks66and68will not fall through the openings80and82and the mounting plate74can be held by the hooks66and68. Similarly, it is useful if openings84and86have lengths that are at least slightly (around 1-2%) larger than their hooks70and72, but less than twice the length's value. This allows the openings80,82,84and86to slide past their respective hooks66,68,70and72while still being able to have the mounting plate74slide along the hooks66,68,70and72without falling off. By passing the mounting plate74over the second portions66B,68B,70B and72B and sliding the mounting plate74along the holding edges66C,68C,70C and72C, the mounting plate74can be tightly associated with the bottom surface64of the box62and quickly removed, if desired. To further support the desktop receptacle assembly60, the mounting plate74has one or more brackets88that are similar to previously described brackets40,42,44and46, but have a flange92that extends along a length of the mounting plate74and has two mounting openings96to hold mounting screws98. While multiple hooks are shown as being associated with bottom surface64and multiple openings on the mounting plate74, there could be as few as one hook associated with the bottom surface64, with one respective opening on the mounting plate74, or more, as desired. It should also be appreciated that the location where the hooks are associated with the bottom surface64can be altered, as desired, to change how the mounting plate74supports the desktop receptacle assembly60.