Abstract:
A work surface electrical power distribution system including a plurality of first housing portions each having a different visual indicator and an electrical power assembly. The electrical power assembly including at least one electrical power receptacle, a second housing portion removably mountable to a work surface, the at least one electrical power receptacle connected to the second housing portion and a selected one of the plurality of first housing portions removably attached to the second housing portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/368,004, entitled “WORK SURFACE POWER MODULE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE DESIGNER COVERS”, filed Mar. 27, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a power module mountable on a work surface and more particularly, to a power module mountable on a work surface with a removable cover.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Personal computers have been developed for many applications in many fields, such as medical care, business, education and industry. Due to the diverse applications, there are many peripheral devices, which cooperate with the personal computer to achieve particular functions. Nearly all of the peripheral devices associated with personal computers require electrical power connections.  
           [0006]    Electrical power connections are available by way of electrical power strips containing multiple electrical receptacles. Power strips include not only receptacles for the distribution of electric power, but some power strips have power conditioning capabilities therein, such as over voltage protection. Power strips typically have multiple power outlets and a switch to turn at least a portion of the electrical receptacles on and off.  
           [0007]    What is needed in the art is a device for providing power and communication receptacles in an easily relocatable and attachable configuration.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a portable power module system with a selectable cover.  
           [0009]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a work surface electrical power distribution system including a plurality of first housing portions each having a different visual indicator and an electrical power assembly. The electrical power assembly including at least one electrical power receptacle, a second housing portion removably mountable to a work surface, the at least one electrical power receptacle connected to the second housing portion and a selected one of the plurality of first housing portions removably attached to the second housing portion.  
           [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that it has interchangeable covers.  
           [0011]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the covers can be quickly changed to match an office decor or to denote particular work project.  
           [0012]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the cover can be easily removed to mount the present invention or to adjust or maintain devices therein. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a power module mounted on a work center according to one form of the invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the power module of FIG. 1.  
     
    
       [0016]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a work center  10  having a support  12  and a work surface  14 . Power module  16  is mounted upon work surface  14 .  
         [0018]    Now, additionally referring to FIG. 2, there is shown power module system  16  including housing  18 , a power assembly  20  and a clamping device  22 . Housing  18  includes a face plate  24 , covers  26  and  28  and a lower housing  30 . Face plate  24 , cover  26  and lower housing  30  are snapped together in a self engaging manner. Face plate  24  and lower housing  30  may be fastened together with fasteners or they may be of integral construction.  
         [0019]    Face plate  24  includes power distribution openings  32 , communication connection openings  34  and contoured surface  36 . Power distribution openings  32  accommodate a power receptacle to thereby allow a power plug to be plugged into and through power distribution openings  32  into the electrical receptacle. Communication connection openings  34  are positioned and sized to accommodate connectors that may be snapped into place therethrough. Contoured surface  36  is shaped to interface with covers  26  and  28 .  
         [0020]    Covers  26  and  28 , respectively, include contoured surfaces  38  and  40  and cord notches  42  and  44 . Contoured surfaces  38  or  40  are shaped to coact with contoured surface  36  to enclose housing  18  and to prevent unintentional contact with electrical power contained therein. Cord notches  42  and  44  allow a power cord to egress from the interior of housing  18 .  
         [0021]    Cover  26  has a surface feature T 1 , which is a visual indicator T 1  and cover  28  likewise has a surface feature T 2 , which is a visual indicator T 2 . Visual indicator T 1  is different than visual indicator T 2 . Visual indicators T 1  and T 2  include such characteristics as various colors, surface textures, patterns and/or shapes. A cover  26  or  28  is selected with a visual indicators T 1  or T 2  to help identify power module  16  with such things as the power capacity, voltage, project and/or the office decor. Covers  26  and  28  even if shaped differently than that shown in the figures, have a peripheral edge with a contour that matches with face plate  24  and lower housing  30 . Covers  26  and  28  are interchangeable on power module  16  to thereby accommodate changes in office color schemes, project identification or power capacities. Further, covers  26  and  28  may nest on top of each other, for example cover  28  may be nested on top of cover  26 , which is installed on power module  16 .  
         [0022]    Covers  26  and  28  have self-engaging features in the form of protrusions  46  and  50  with corresponding indentations  48  and  52 . Although not specifically seen in FIG. 2, cover  26  has at least two protrusions  46  and two indentations  48 , on complimentary sides of cover  26 . Cover  28  likewise has two protrusions  50  and two indentations  52 , on complimentary sides, thereof. Protrusions  46  or  50  connect with engagement holes  54  of lower housing  30  thereby connecting cover  26  or  28  thereto without the necessity of ancillary fasteners. In addition, protrusions  50  may coact with indentations  48  to allow cover  28  to nest on top of cover  26  in a self-engaging manner.  
         [0023]    Lower housing  30  includes communication connection opening  56 , a clamp interface  58  and a grommet mount hole  60 . Communication connection opening  56  allows a communication connector to be snapped into place for access to a cable (not shown). Clamp interface  58  interacts with clamping device  22  to detachably clamp power module  16  to work surface  14 . Grommet mount hole  60  provides for an alternative mounting method of power module  16  to work surface  14  by way of placing a hole in work surface  14  and clamping power module  16  thereto, through grommet mount hole  60 .  
         [0024]    Power assembly  20  includes power plug  62 , conductors  64 , a duplex receptacle  66 , a signal splitter  68 , an entrance connector  70 , interface connector  72  and conductors  74 . Power plug  62  is electrically connected to conductors  64  that provides power to duplex receptacle  66 . Duplex receptacle  66  is fastened to the back side of face plate  24  and aligned such that the power terminals cooperate with power distribution openings  32  to thereby allow a plug to be inserted into power distribution openings  32  and to make electrical contact with duplex outlet  66 .  
         [0025]    Signal splitter  68  is connected to a bi-directional data signal and it splits the signal into multiple bi-directional signals. Each of those signals may be further split by other electronic circuits  68 . Signal splitter  68  is mounted to lower housing  30  and positioned so that conductors  74  are routed to allow connectors  70  and  72  to be, respectively, snapped into communication connection opening  56  and communication connection openings  34 .  
         [0026]    Clamping device  22  includes L-shaped bracket  76 , a clamping bracket  78  and fastener  80 . L-shaped bracket  76  interacts with clamp interface  58  to connect clamping device  22  to lower housing  30 . Clamping bracket  78  is slidably positioned along L-shaped bracket  76  by way of slot  82 . Fastener  80  tightens clamping bracket  78  against L-shaped bracket  76  as a surface of clamping bracket  78  contacts a lower surface of work surface  14 .  
         [0027]    Power module  16  is mounted to a work surface  14  of work center  10  by using clamping device  22 . Plug  62  is connected to an electrical outlet, thereby providing power to power module  16 . A communications cable (not shown) is connected to entrance connector  70  on the back side of power module  16 . Power module  16  can be relocated by loosening of clamping device  22  and repositioning of power module  16  on work surface  14 . Alternatively, clamping device  22  may be omitted and power module  16  positioned in any convenient location. Cover  26  may be removed from power/communications module  16  without the use of tools by slightly flexing cover  26  and disengaging protrusions  46  from engagement holes  54 . Once cover  26  is removed any adjustments, connections, circuit replacement, etc. may take place and then cover  26  is snapped back into place on power/communications module  16 . Cover  28  may be placed on power/communications module  16  instead of cover  26  to thereby alter the visual indicator from T 1  to T 2 . Alternatively, cover  28  may be snapped into place on top of cover  26  thereby changing the surface feature that is exposed to visual indicator T 2 .  
         [0028]    Normally only one cover is installed on power/communications module  16  and that cover is selected from a variety of covers, such as covers  26  and  28 . Covers  26  and  28  may be supplied in a kit form along with power module  16  or a cover  26  or  28  may be selected from a variety of covers in an inventory. The selected cover is then installed as a part of power/communications module  16 . The installation of the selected cover can advantageously be accomplished with out the need for tools.  
         [0029]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.