Abstract:
A power center assembly having a hooded member for protecting an electrical connection between a peripheral device plug and its respective outlet and a mount member for detachably mounting the power center to a surface. In particular, a power center assembly is provided having a member for protecting an electrical connection between a plug and its outlet, such as a hooded feature, and an optional member for detachably mounting the power center to a surface, such as a surface-mountable bracket. Such bracket may be affixed to the surface by a fastener such as a screw, a bolt, a pin, a nail, or a hook. For example, mountable surfaces include, but are not limited to a wall, a floor, and a workbench surface.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This utility patent application is related to copending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29,130,061 filed Sep. 26, 2000. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to power outlets or power centers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power center having specialized housing. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to power centers having a form of electrical connection-protection and a member for detachably mounting the power center to a surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The current state of the art in plug strips involves a plurality of outlets surrounded by a housing member where the electrical connection between a plurality of plugs and a plurality of respective outlets is left unprotected. As such, several problems are experienced: (1) ready dislodgement of the plug from its outlet by external forces (e.g., torque on the plug from strong drafts or from objects physically contacting the plug), (2) particulate contamination in the interstices between the plug and its outlet (e.g., dust, fibers, sawdust), (3) fluid contamination in the interstices between the plug and its outlet (e.g., oxidation at or shorting of electrical connection due to spilled beverages, flooding, diamond saw water), and (4) embrittling incident ultraviolet radiation upon the plug (e.g., cracking of polymer plug covering by sunlight). Thus, a long-felt need for a power center assembly which provides superior electrical connection-protection, and, in particular, for a power center assembly having a practical cost-effective means for protecting the electrical connection and detachably mounting the power center to any surface is seen to exist. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a power center assembly having means for protecting an electrical connection between a peripheral device plug and its respective outlet and means for detachably mounting the power center assembly to a surface. In particular, the present invention provides a power center assembly having a member for protecting the electrical connection between at least one plug and at least respective outlet, such as a hooded feature, and an optional member for detachably mounting the power center to a surface, a mount member such as a surface-mountable bracket. Such mount member may be affixed to the surface by a fastener such as a screw, a bolt, a pin, a nail, or a hook. For example, mountable surfaces include, but are not limited to, a wall, a floor, and a workbench surface. 
     Other features of the present invention are disclosed, or are apparent in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.” 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an underside view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly, showing a flange inserted into a slot as a mounting mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a corresponding side view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly, having a hood member for protecting an electrical connection between at least one plug and at least one respective outlet, in relation to a mount member and at least one mountable surface, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the power center assembly having a hood member for protecting an electrical connection between at least one plug and at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is a frontal view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 12 is a frontal view of an alternative second embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 14 is a rear view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 15 is a corresponding view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly having the hood member for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment power center assembly  650  having a housing member  5 , a hood member  10  for protecting an electrical connection between at least one plug and at least one respective outlet  30 , in accordance with the present invention. The housing member  5  may have formed therein at least one opening  8  for accommodating at least one coaxial cable connector and an opening  72  for accommodating at least one power transformer outlet  7 . The hood member  10  may have formed therein at least one labeling well  16  and at least one opening formed there-through for accommodating at least one power strip indication feature selected from a group of power strip features consisting essentially of an audible alarm  11 , an on/off button  12 , a ground indicator  13 , a current indicator (wiring fault)  14 , and a surge protection indicator  15 . 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an underside view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650  illustrating the housing member  5  having a bottom surface  50 , a tapered rear side  55 , at least one slot  51  having a cross-section located at line  4 A— 4 A, and at least one location for inserting a mating flange  52  (indicated by dotted lines) of a mount member, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650 , taken along line  4 A— 4 A, showing a flange  52  being inserted into a slot  51  as a mounting mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet  30 , in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . The housing member  5  may have at least one optional opening  8  for accommodating at least one coaxial cable. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650  having the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet  30  and a housing member  5  with at least one power transformer outlet  7 , in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a corresponding side view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  1 . The housing member  5  has an opening  70  for accommodating a rubber boot and an opening  71  formed there-through for accommodating a reset button  73 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the power center assembly  650 , having a hood member for protecting an electrical connection between at least one plug and at least one respective outlet, in relation to a mount member  80  and at least one mountable surface  60 , in accordance with the present invention. At least one through-hole  82  is formed through the mount member  80  for accommodating at least one fastener  83 . The at least one fastener  83  affix the mount member  80  onto the at least one mountable surface  60  through at least one tap  84  formed therein for facilitating affixation of the mount member  80 . The mount member  80  may be affixed to a bench-top (e.g., θ=0°) or to a wall (e.g., θ=90°). The mount member  5  is then slidably mounted onto the mount member  80  by inserting the at least one flange  52  into the at least one slot  51 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having a hood member  10  for protecting an electrical connection between at least one plug and at least one respective outlet  30 , in accordance with the present invention. The housing member  5  may have formed therein at least one opening  8  for accommodating at least one coaxial cable connector, at least one opening  6  for accommodating at least one phone/modem jack, and an opening  72  for accommodating at least one power transformer outlet  7 . The hood member  10  may have formed therein at least one labeling well  16  and at least one opening formed there-through for accommodating at least one power strip indication feature selected from a group of power strip features consisting essentially of an audible alarm  11 , an on/off button  12 , a ground indicator  13 , a current indicator (wiring fault)  14 , a surge protection indicator  15 , a clean power indicator  17 , and a reset button  18 . 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is a frontal view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet  30 , in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . The housing member  5  may have at least one optional opening  8  for accommodating at least one coaxial cable connector. 
     FIG. 12 is a frontal view of an alternative second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . The housing member  5  may have at least one optional opening  8  for accommodating at least one coaxial cable connector and at least one opening  6  for accommodating at least one phone/modem jack. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . The housing member  5  has at least one opening  72  for accommodating at least one power transformer outlet  7 . 
     FIG. 14 is a rear view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 15 is a corresponding view of the second embodiment of the power center assembly  850  having the housing member  5  and the hood member  10  for protecting the electrical connection between the at least one plug and the at least one respective outlet, in accordance with the present invention, as depicted in FIG.  8 . The housing member  5  has an opening  70  for accommodating a rubber boot and an opening  72  for accommodating the at least one power transformer outlet  7 . 
     Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications in form, semiconductor material, and fabrication material detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”