Abstract:
A power strip comprising a housing, a plurality of female outlets on at least one surface of the housing, and a recessed connector, such as an IEC connector, on a surface of the housing, is disclosed. The recessed connector is wired within the housing to provide power to the plurality of female outlets. Preferably, the recessed connector is a male plug for connection to a power cord or wire harness.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of, and hereby incorporates by reference, provisional application Ser. No. 61/137,393 filed Jul. 30, 2008. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present device relates to power strips. Particularly, the present device relates to a power strip capable of connection to various sources. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Standard commercial power strips are typically comprised of a housing body having a plurality of outlets on a top surface and a power cord extending from an end with a male plug for plugging directly into a power source, such as a wall outlet, and providing power and surge protection to the multiple outlets. The extra outlets allow several devices—for example, a computer, a monitor, and a printer—to be run from a single wall outlet. 
         [0004]    However, there are some instances where a power strip would be useful, but the standard extending power cord is not versatile enough for the desired use. For example, a power tool drawer used to provide power to a number of power tool battery charging stations may need a more flexible cord to handle the repeated opening and closing of the drawer. Also, a computer desk may benefit from a fixed mounted power strip with a connector on the back of the desk for providing power to the strip. 
         [0005]    Current power strips, which are pre-wired with cords having male plugs have limited usefulness in such applications. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention solves these and other problems of prior power strip devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    There is disclosed herein an improved power strip which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
         [0008]    A power strip comprising a housing, a plurality of female outlets on at least one surface of the housing, and a recessed connector, such as an IEC connector, on a surface of the housing, is disclosed. The recessed connector is wired within the housing to provide power to the plurality of female outlets. Preferably, the recessed connector is a male plug for connection to a power cord or wire harness. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the power cord which may be used in certain embodiments comprises a connector at one end to couple to the recessed connector and a male plug at another end to connect to a power outlet. Likewise, the wire harness comprises at least one connector for detachable connection to the recessed connector of the housing, and one connector for detachable connection to a power cord. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the at least one connector for detachable connection to the recessed connector comprises at least two different connectors. Additionally, the wire harness may comprise at least one connector for detachable connection to the recessed connector of the housing, and at least one connector for detachable connection to a power cord. 
         [0011]    A power strip assembly is also described. The assembly comprises at least one power strip having a housing, a plurality of female outlets on at least one surface of the housing, and a recessed connector on a surface of the housing, wherein the recessed connector is wired within the housing to provide power to the plurality of female outlets, and a wire harness attachable to the recessed connector. 
         [0012]    These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 1A-1D  are a collection of views of a power strip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are a collection of views of a power cord in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are a collection of views of a flexible cord carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a collection of views of a possible configuration of a power drawer harness in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a collection of views of a wire harness in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is illustrated a power strip, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The power strip  10  has a housing  12  including several surfaces. The upper surface of the housing  12  preferably includes a series of female power outlets  14  and a power switch  15 . On another surface—the bottom surface of the housing is shown though any of the surfaces of the strip  10  may be suitable—a recessed connector  16  is positioned. As noted, the connector  16  may alternatively be placed on a side surface or top surface, as well. The connector  16  is preferably an IEC connector, as such connectors and cords for the same are widely used and readily available. Naturally, other suitable connectors known to those skilled in the art may also be used. 
         [0021]    Within the housing  12 , wiring is provided to connect each of the female outlets  14  to the connector  16  and the power switch  15 , such that power coming into the strip  10  at the connector can be directed to the outlets  14  by turning on the power switch  15 . The power can also be discontinued by turning off the power switch  15 . Such wiring is well understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0022]    Detachably connected to the connector  16  is a cord  20 . Though not shown, a simple power cord having a female connector at one end which mates with the connector  16  of the power strip  10 , and a male plug at the other end for directly plugging into a power outlet, may be suitable for some uses. Such a configuration would allow the power strip  10  to be used as a standard power strip. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 2A-C  illustrate a preferred power cord  20  having an angled connector (C 13 ) at one end and a male AC power inlet connector (C 16 ) at the other end. While the C 13  and C 16  connectors are most preferred, other IEC connectors such as, but not limited to the C 14 , C 15 , C 17  and C 18  connectors are certainly feasible for some applications. The angled connector of power cord  20  connects directly to the connector  16  of the power strip. The AC power inlet connector could be mounted, for example, to the surface of a tool chest, a computer desk, a drafting table, or other such system or device requiring a supply of power. From the AC power inlet connector, a power cable as described above could be connected. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A  and B and  4 A and B, a flexible cord carrier  22  is illustrated as it might be used in a power drawer (not shown). The carrier  22 , which is comprised of a series of protective links, is used to protect a power cable which undergoes repeated bending and flexing. 
         [0025]    A suitable configuration, shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , might include the power strip  10  mounted permanently within a tool box drawer to power, for example, several battery chargers. The C 13  connector of the power cord  20  would be connected to the connector  16  of the power strip  10  and a section of the cord  20  which is subject to repeated flexing due to the opening and closing of the drawer, would be housed within the carrier  22 . The AC power inlet end of the cord could then be mounted, as shown, on a back surface of the tool box. Again, a power cord having a standard male plug can be attached from the outside of the tool chest for ultimately bringing AC power to the power strip  10 . 
         [0026]    Other possible configurations for power strip  10  include linking several together using a wire harness  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . For example, where a number of power strips  10  are secured to different locations of a workstation (such as a computer desk, drafting table, tool bench or the like), they may be connected through a wire harness  30 . Additional single outlets  32 , if desired, may also be provided at locations about the workstation. Ultimately, the power to the outlets of the power strips  10  and the single outlets  32  ise provided through the AC power inlet mounted on a surface of the workstation and connected through another power cord to a power source. 
         [0027]    The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.