Abstract:
The present invention relates to a retractable electrical receptacle assembly which is installed into a standard electrical box and is substantially flush to a mounting surface into which the electrical box is mounted. The invention may be mounted into a wall, floor, countertop or work surface. The invention can be installed as part of new electrical service or can replace an existing outlet by wiring into an existing electrical box. The invention includes at least one operative socket in the closed position and at least one additional operative socket in the open position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority of PCT/US2015/015682 filed Feb. 12, 2015 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an electrical outlet assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a retractable electrical outlet assembly that fits into standard electrical outlet box which electrical outlet assembly comprises electrical outlet sockets available for use in the closed position and opens to expose additional electrical outlet sockets for use in the open position. 
         [0004]    Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In today&#39;s environment, more and more electronic devices and appliances are in use which require electrical outlets and data ports for providing power to, and recharging, such devices. Standard electrical outlets are most commonly found in duplex and quadraplex configurations which limits the number of devices or appliances that can be plugged in at any one time. Changing an existing electrical outlet into an outlet with additional sockets is expensive and requires installation of a larger outlet box, changes to the wall and electrical wiring. In many instances, there may not be room in the wall to accommodate the larger outlet box. 
         [0006]    The problem with limited outlet sockets has been overcome in the past by power strips or multi-outlet converters with multiple sockets that plug into an existing outlet. These outlet strips and converters are cumbersome with the power strips hanging from a cord and the converters protruding out from the outlet. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electrical outlet and data port assembly that provides additional outlets while still fitting into existing standard electrical boxes. More particularly, it is desirable to provide an electrical outlet and data port assembly that has outlets and data ports in the closed position and opens to expose additional electrical outlet sockets and data ports in the open position. 
         [0007]    There have been a number of recessing telescoping electrical receptacle assemblies disclosed which when in the service position the electrical outlet sockets are exposed and when in the closed position a closure plate is flush with the building member to which the assembly is attached. U.S. Pat. No. 2,811,574 issued Oct. 29, 1957 to Guerrero, U.S. Pat. No. 2,811,575 issued Oct. 29, 1957 to Guerrero, U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,886 issued Mar. 18, 1969 to Myers and U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,956 issued Feb. 26, 1974 to Dubreuil each describe a telescoping receptacle assembly with a seal to prevent the introduction of fluids. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,630 issued Oct. 3, 2000 to McKenzie, describes a recessible electrical receptacle with an open-ended housing mounted to a building member with a hinged closure pivotable from a service position to a recessed position flush with the building member. The socket of the electrical receptacle is only accessible in the open or service position. 
         [0009]    A number of patents and published applications have been directed at providing recessible power outlets and data ports mounted to work surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,577 issued Nov. 5, 1987 to Byrne describes a retractable power center which includes a rectangular housing formed in a work surface with a clamping arrangement to secure the housing to the work surface. The power outlets are arranged inside the rectangular housing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,562 issued Jul. 27, 1993 to Pierce describes a desktop wire management system with outlet receptacles mounted on a module cover mounted over the receptacles in a removable storage compartment. U.S. 2008/0200050 A1 published Aug. 21, 2008 describes an expandable power and data distribution center capable of pivoting between open and closed positions with the sockets exposed when in the open position. 
         [0010]    None of the above references, taken alone or in combination, are seen as teaching or suggesting the presently claimed retractable electrical and data port outlet assembly which assembly has sockets accessible for operative use in the closed position and provides additional sockets for operative use in the open positions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention overcomes the above limitation of the above inventions by providing a retractable electrical receptacle assembly which is installed into a standard electrical box and is substantially flush to a mounting surface into which the electrical box is mounted. The invention may be mounted into a wall, floor, countertop or work surface. The invention can be installed as part of new electrical service or can replace an existing outlet by wiring into an existing electrical box. The invention includes at least one operative socket in the closed position and at least one additional operative socket in the open position. A socket as used herein means the female receptacle or jack end of any type of connector having at least one hole including but not limited to electrical socket, electrical outlet, coaxial, or any type of data or communication ports or any other connection in which a plug end is inserted into a receptacle to complete an electrical, data or communication connection. It is understood that any opening into which an electrical appliance, data or communication device can be connected is a socket and the use of the term as used herein shall not be considered limiting. The invention comprises a substantially rectangular housing adapted to fit inside a standard electrical box with at least one outwardly open side. The assembly further comprises a multi-socket component having at least two adjacent socket surfaces comprising at least one socket opening on each of the two adjacent surfaces. The socket opening in the first and second surfaces are oriented so that the prongs of plugs simultaneously inserted into each of the two sockets do not intersect inside the multi-socket component. The multi-socket component is pivotally mounted to the housing so that in the closed position one of the two adjacent socket surfaces is exposed and the second adjacent socket surface is recessed inside the housing. In the pivoted open position of the invention, both the at least one socket opening on the first surface and the at least one socket opening on the second surface are both accessible. The assembly further comprises an assembly cover plate which is attached to multi-socket connector. The assembly cover plate is adapted to accept and be covered by a standard outlet cover plate. 
         [0012]    The object of the invention is to provide a recessed retractable electrical receptacle assembly with at least one exposed operable socket in the closed position capable of being opened to expose additional operable sockets. 
         [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide a recessed retractable electrical receptacle assembly which is adapted to fit into a standard electrical box which can increase the number of sockets in the same space. 
         [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide a recessed retractable electrical receptacle assembly which comprises both electrical sockets and data communication ports in the same assembly. 
         [0015]    Another object of the invention is to provide a recessed retractable electrical receptacle assembly which comprises sockets with either at least one ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI). 
         [0016]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a recessed retractable electrical receptacle assembly which when installed maintains the appearance of a typical outlet. 
         [0017]    A further object of the invention is to provide a recessed retractable electrical receptacle assembly which is adapted to be covered by a standard electrical outlet cover plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the components of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the multi-socket connector of the invention articulated in the closed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention in the closed position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the multi-socket connector of the invention in the open position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention in use in the open position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top plane view of the invention in the open position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top plane view of the multi-socket connector of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a side plane view of the invention in the open position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a front plane view of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the invention is shown in an exploded view. The invention comprises a housing  10  that prevents access to electrical wiring when installed in a standard electrical box  20  while also provides an open space for the multi-socket assembly component to move in and out, a multi-socket connector  30  which has sockets on two adjacent sides, a cover plate  40  and a means for pivoting the multi-socket connector between a closed position and an open position. The invention presented includes an outlet assembly that has accessible sockets when in the closed position, similar to a standard electrical outlet. When the invention is open, the design of the inventions presents additional sockets (standard electrical, USB, or other). The invention is designed and adapted to fit into a standard electrical box  20  making it retro-fittable to most residential or commercial applications. 
         [0029]    The housing  10  is substantially a rectangular box with at least one open side  17  and sized and adapted to fit into a standard electrical box  20 . The housing  10  includes a peripheral flange  11  on the open side  17  of the housing  10 . The flange  11  may include one or more hinge barrels  13  on one side for connecting to the other components of the invention and for providing a pivoting means  18 . The flanges may have one or more bore holes  12  which correspond to the bore holes  22  of a standard electrical box  20 . The housing  10  can be connected to the standard electrical box by inserting a screw through the flange bore hole  12  and electrical box bore hole  22 . The housing  10  also includes a least one opening through which the wires  14  of the invention pass through for connecting inside a standard electrical box  20 . The housing  10  optionally includes a wire stabilizer  15  having a plurality of grooves  16  for holding the connecting wires in a fixed position thereby preventing movement of the connecting wires when installed in the electrical box  20 . The wire stabilizer  15  may be a separate component as shown in  FIG. 1  or integral to the interior or exterior of the housing  10 . 
         [0030]    The invention further provides a multi-socket connector  30  which is sized and adapted to fit into the housing  10 . The multi-socket connector  30  is a substantially closed box containing standard electrical connector wiring for connecting electrical and data communication devise male end plugs. The multi-socket connector  30  has at least one socket opening  31  on each of two adjacent surfaces. Any number of multiple socket configurations can be imagined. The configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-9  has two GFCI sockets on the exposed surface and two USB sockets on the hidden surface adapted for use in a standard electrical single gang box  20 . However, it is intended that the invention encompassed any connector type and includes any standard size electrical box. 
         [0031]    The multi-socket connector has a closed position surface  33  adjacent and substantially perpendicular to an open position surface  34 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  the sockets  31  on the closed position surface  33  are exposed and available for use in the closed position.  FIGS. 2 and 3  also show that the open position surface  34  is recessed inside the housing  10  in the closed position. As can be seen in  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 , the multi-socket connector is adapted to pivotally open to expose the sockets  31  on the open position surface  34 .  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6  show that both the sockets  31  on the open position surface  34  and sockets  31  on the closed position surface  33  are available for use only in the open position. 
         [0032]    The multi-socket connector  30  is adapted so that the open socket surface  34  clears the housing  10  during the outward pivotal articulation between the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and open position as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 . The relative angle between the closed surface  33  and the adjacent open surface  34  is preferably less than  90  degrees. Preferably the relative angle between the closed surface and the adjacent open surface is between  89  and  45  degrees. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the angle in the preferred embodiment is between  70  and  75  degrees. The appropriate angle must be selected to allow the multi-socket connector  30  to clear the housing  10 . The angle optimally provides for the proper orientation of the sockets on the closed surface  33  and the adjacent open surface  34  such that the socket bore holes do not intersect inside the multi-socket connector  30  which would cause interference and arcing. The proper angle also allows the device plugs to lie flat against the closed surface  33  and open surface  34  as can best be seen in  FIG. 5 . The sockets as shown in the  FIGS. 1-9  are oriented horizontally which prevents intersection of the sockets bores inside the multi-socket connector  30 . 
         [0033]    The multi-socket connector may optionally include at least one connection tab  37  for connecting the multi-socket connector  30  to the cover plate  40 . The tab  37  of the multi-socket connector  30  may be connected to the cover plate  40  by any preferable connecting means such adhesive, screws, rivets and the like. As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , the cover plate  40  forms a substantially flush border around the exposed multi-socket connector closed surface  33  of the multi-socket connector  30  forming a framed multi-socket connector  45 .  FIG. 8  shows the multi-socket connector  30  attached to cover plate backside  41  by the tabs  37  in the open position of the invention. The framed multi-socket connector  45  optionally includes at least one bore hole  42  placed and adapted to accept a screw from a standard electrical outlet cover plate which can be installed over the cover plate  40 . Preferably, the multi-socket connector  30  has at least one pivoting means  18  such as a barrel hinge as shown in the drawings  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  7  or any other appropriate pivoting mechanism along a peripheral edge. In the case of a barrel hinge, the hinge barrels of the multi-socket connectors  30  are capable of being lined up with the hinge barrels  13  of the housing  10  to form a continuous linear barrel for accepting a hinge pin  44  to create a hinge. The hinge connects the framed multi-socket connector  45  to the housing  10  and allows the framed multi-socket connector to pivot outwardly away from the housing  10  from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0034]    It is also preferable that the relative angle between the housing  10  and the closed surface  33  is between 35 and 40 degrees as can be seen in  FIG. 6 . However, the relative angle between the housing  10  and the closed surface  34  in the open position may be between 33 and 180 degrees. 
         [0035]    The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment described herein, but to encompass any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.