Abstract:
A 360° rotatable power grommet mounted in an aperture in a work surface, three vertical copper strips, each connected to a wire which passes through a base to connect to an electrical power source. The copper strips are mounted in a vertical shaft which connects to a base. There are one or more electrical receptacles having arms which rotate horizontally and close to form a central bore, the arms having inner surfaces which are molded with horizontal copper strips, the central bore clamping to the vertical shaft to transfer power from the vertical shaft to the horizontal copper strips, the central bore allowing each electrical receptacle to separately rotate 360° around the vertical shaft.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a rotating power grommet to supply electric lines and data lines into a work surface, such as a conference table, boardroom table or office desk. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are devices for supplying electric power and data devices into work surfaces, desks, counters, conference tables, boardroom tables, and any other surfaces where power, data, are needed. Present solutions to this problem generally involve a metal box, with or without a lid, making it difficult for a designer to integrate it into furniture. Designers have solved this problem by recessing the box beneath a table but this creates a problem of how to open the door, and how to avoid damaging the adjacent surface of the table while doing so. 
         [0003]    Other designers offer interfaces that raise and lower a power and data device, which have a number of power receptacles, with or without data terminals. These devices have each of the receptacles and terminals lined up in a row on one side or on opposite sides in a fixed position. An example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,788. Depending on the power grommet&#39;s orientation the receptacles might not be easily accessible or one of the free outlets might be blocked by a larger plug. Turning the outlets to any direction offers a new level access and personalization of cords. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The power and data grommet of this invention comprises a grommet adapted to be placed in an aperture in the desk or other work surface. An aperture is manufactured or drilled through the top of the work surface. A housing; which is adapted to fit into the aperture, comprises, a plurality of power receptacles, each of which is rotatable 360°, so that it is easy for a person to plug into a receptacle facing the person, at any part of the table. The grommet of this invention may, or may not, lower into the table and raise up when in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the grommet of this invention, with the power plugs and data plug lined up, similar to the prior art; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the grommet with three power plugs, with the center plug rotated 90°; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the central core shaft of the grommet; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the central core shaft with a covering; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the central core shaft mounted into a base; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a receptacle of this invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective and hidden line view of receptacles and their interior; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a portion of plugs of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a top view of a receptacle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a ring placed over the shaft; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a closed clamp; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the assembled plug portion of the grommet; and, 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is perspective view of the complete grommet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0019]    Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a perspective view of the circular grommet  10  of the present invention. There are three sections of the grommet  12 ,  14 , and  16 . Section  12  has an electrical plug  18 , section  14  also has an electrical plug  20  and section  16  has a data plug  22 . The grommet could have a plurality of modules each having an electrical plug or a data port. The grommet modules could have all electrical plugs or all data plugs, depending upon need. The drawings shown in this application generally show three modules, strictly for ease of description, but the grommet could have less or more electrical plugs, up to even 5 or more modules or combination of electrical plugs and data plugs. 
         [0020]    A liner  24  fits into a hole  28  in the desk top where grommet  10  is installed. A base portion  26  of the grommet fits down below the surface of the desk top  34  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a similar grommet  30  fitting into a hole  32  in the desk top  34 . The grommet has three electrical plugs  36 ,  38  and  40 . A liner  42  fits into hole  32 . The liner has a lip  44  which lays on the top of the desk top  34 . Lip  44  has a greater diameter than hole  32  so that the grommet does not fall through hole  32 . This grommet  30  also has a top  46  which has an optional light connected under top  46 . Plug  38  is shown rotated 90°. Each of the plugs  36 ,  38  and  40  can be rotated 360° to any desired location. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows the internal structure of the rotating power grommet. There are three stamped vertical copper strips  50 ,  51  and  52  for the positive, negative and ground. These strips are soldered to wires  54 ,  56  and  58  which continue through a base  60  below to reach an outside electrical power source. Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the copper strips mounted in a vertical plastic shaft  62 . Only copper strip  51  is visible. Wires  54 ,  56  and  58  continue into base  60 , 
         [0023]    Shaft  62  mounts into base  64  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Each copper strip  50 ,  51  and  52  has a plurality of small folds  53 ,  55  and  57  (as examples) that extend outward from their recess to make contact with horizontal rings (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to transfer electrical power to the plugs. The horizontal rings are contained in a two part clamp to facilitate assembly and stacking of multiple receptacles. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an electrical receptacle  66  of the rotating power grommet. Receptacle  66  has two parts,  68  and  70 . Part  70  has two arms  72  and  74  which are adapted to swing into openings  76  and  78  in part  68 . Openings  76  and  78  are spaced between arms  80  and  82  and arms  84  and  86 . When arm  74  fits between arm  84  and  86 , a connector, such as a screw  88 , fits into holes in the arms  84 ,  86  and  74  to hold the two parts  68  and  70  together. The holes in arms  84 ,  86  and  74  are not visible but holes  90  and  92  and  94  show how they will also swing into place and can be tightened by a connector, such as a screw  89 . 
         [0025]    When closed, the two parts  68  and  70  form a central hole, created by semi-holes  96 ,  98 . Inner surfaces of semi holes  96  and  98  are molded with copper strips  100 ,  102  and  104  in part  68  and  106 ,  108  and  110  in part  70 . Vertical shaft  62  is clamped into the central hole discussed above. This transfers electrical power from vertical shaft  62  to the horizontal copper strips  100 - 110  and allows for a 360° rotation of the plugs. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown the placement of plug  66 , with face  67  into a plastic housing  112 . Plastic housing  112  has a smaller diameter section  113 . When another plastic housing (not shown) is placed above plastic housing  112 , the bottom diameter sits on top of the ridge formed by smaller diameter  113 . This can be continued upward as each plug is placed into another plastic housing. Dotted lines are used to show that the dotted parts are inside of the grommet outer shell. Electrical receptacle  114 , with face  115 , is fixed above receptacle  66 . Each receptacle can rotate 360° separate from each other receptacle. As described in  FIG. 6 , receptacle  114  is molded with copper strips and vertical shaft  62  is clamped into the central hole. 
         [0027]    Plug pins  116 ,  118  and  120  are three female pins which sit inside of receptacle  114 . Pins  122 ,  124  and  126 , sitting above receptacle  114 , show the connection between the pins  122 ,  124  and  126 , each having a copper strap  128 ,  130  and  132 , tightened around shaft  62 , to transfer the vertical power of shaft  62  to the copper straps  128 ,  130  and  132 . The receptacle is not shown in order to show the manner in which the pins are connected. Each of the three receptacles  66 ,  114  and a receptacle not shown, which will use pins  122 ,  124  and  126 , to form another receptacle, are separately rotatable 360°. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a portion of shaft  62  with vertical copper strips  50  and  52 . As shown previously, copper strip  50  has a plurality of small folds,  53  is shown, and copper strip  52  has a small fold  55  shown. These folds  53  and  55  (as examples) extend out from their recess to make contact with horizontal rings (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to transfer the power to the plugs. Copper strap  130  is tightened around shaft  62  and contacts small fold  55  to transfer electrical power to pin  124 , which receives a male plug pin (three plug pins are usually used) to supply electric power to whatever device is plugged in. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown the typical plug assembly  66 , with face  67 , shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The plug assembly  66  is snapped into the receptacle opening of a plastic housing  140 . Part  68  and  70  are ready to be closed around shaft  62 . Copper strips  100 ,  102  and  104  will take horizontal power transfer of the vertical power (shaft  62 ). Arm  72  will rotate under arm  82  and when fully rotated in, a screw will pass through holes  90  and  94 , similar to screw  88  to close receptacle  66 . 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 10 , housing  140 , with face  67 , is then dropped over shaft  62  which has copper strip  51  with fold  57 . Parts  68  and  70  are ready to be closed over shaft  62 , and a screw inserted, similar to screw  88 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the receptacle  66 , with face  67 , is clamped and parts  68  and  70  closed by screws  88  and  142  to complete the electrical connection from the vertical shaft  62 , with copper strip  51  with fold  57 , to the horizontal receptacle. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , There is shown a completed rotating grommet in which each of the rings  201 ,  202  and  203  with receptacles  204 ,  205  and  206 , will each rotate a full 360°, and anywhere in between, so that a person using the grommet who is sitting facing the back side of the receptacles could simply rotate one ring so that the receptacle faced them and they can easily plug their device into that grommet receptacle. The grommet fits into a base  208  and the grommet has an optional cap  210 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , shows the same grommet of  FIG. 12  but with a longer view of the base  208 , and showing rim  209  which stops the grommet from falling through the hole in the desk surface. There is also a top cap  212  and an optional light  211 , such as an LED light for kitchen applications, using a power switch and a rubber seal for liquid if needed. 
         [0034]    Optionally, existing power receptacles may be used with the vertical shaft and clamp. The grommet can be mounted in three different ways. One is mounted to a surface and it pops up through the grommet hole. This can be done by pressing the top down and the unit raises up an inch or so. Then you lift the unit up and it locks in place or the unit can be spring loaded to raise up. Another option is that the unit is mounted in a fixed, upright position. Yet another option could be mounted under a desk or wall mounted that could consist of up to six outlets. 
         [0035]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.