Abstract:
A surface integrated power, communication and data input device may include power, communication and/or data channels or other suitable paths for power, communication and/or data conduction in a housing that may be attached to furniture, a wall, floor, ceiling or any suitable location by a mounting bracket or other suitable device. Each power, communication and/or data channel may include a power input and at least one power output, a communication input and at least one communication output and a data input and at least one data output, respectively. The power, communication and/or data channels may include discrete surge protection. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic support equipment and more particularly to surge protected, power, communication and data ports.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Voltage and/or current changes may damage electronic equipment, resulting in power, communication and/or data loss and even component destruction. Voltage and/or current variations may invade electronic equipment using power, data and/or communication input or output connectors such as, but not limited to power, Ethernet, USB, serial, or phone connections.  
         [0005]     Some electronic equipment owners utilize a power surge protector to guard their electrical equipment from potentially damaging input power variations. Voltage and/or current variations may trigger the power surge protector to shut off input power to electrical equipment. The power surge protector may be located adjacent to the electronic equipment on furniture or on the floor. The power input and power output cables connected to the power surge protector may become disorganized and tangled in the vicinity of the electronic equipment.  
         [0006]     What is needed is surge protection for power, communication and data connectors suitably integrated with furniture, a wall, floor or ceiling adjacent to or used with computer and/or electronic equipment to minimize disorganization and/or tangling of the input and output cables and provide power, communication and data protection from potentially damaging power variations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A surface integrated power, communication and data input device may include power, communication and/or data channels or other suitable paths for power, communication and/or data conduction in a housing that may be attached to furniture, a wall, floor, ceiling or any suitable location by a mounting bracket or other suitable device. Each power, communication and/or data channel may include a power input and at least one power output, a communication input and at least one communication output and a data input and at least one data output, respectively. The power, communication and/or data channels may include discrete surge protection.  
         [0008]     In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface integrated power, communication and/or data input device may be attached to a wall, floor, ceiling or any suitable furniture such as a chair, table, desk, countertop, credenza, sideboard or any suitable location. The surface integrated power, communication and/or data input device may be attached to a wall, floor, ceiling or furniture in any suitable orientation. The power input port and output port cords, communication and data input connector and output cables maybe organized and located inside, under, behind or in any suitable location relative to the surface.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing may be removably attached to a mounting bracket. A biasing element may be attached to the housing in any suitable location. The biasing element may removably engage the mounting bracket. The biasing element may be a spring metal clip or any suitable fastening or attaching mechanism.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a housing flange may removably engage an opening in any suitable surface of a wall, floor, ceiling or suitable furniture such as a table, desk, counter, credenza, sideboard or any suitable work surface or any suitable location. The opening may be rectilinear or any suitable shape. The housing flange may be rectilinear or any shape suitable to engage the opening. The housing flange overlaps and conceals the edge of the opening. The housing flange includes an inner perimeter.  
         [0011]     The housing may include a cover surface. The housing may be located within the inner perimeter of the housing flange. A hinge or other pivot mechanism may connect the housing flange to the housing. The housing includes a closed position and an open position relative to the housing flange. When the housing flange is orientated into the closed position, the cover surface of the housing may be substantially flush with the housing flange. The housing may pivot into the open position from the closed position to expose the part of the housing previously positioned below the housing flange to access from above the housing flange.  
         [0012]     The housing may also include one or more power input ports one or more power output ports, one or more communication input connectors, one or more communication output connectors, one or more data input connectors and one or more data output connectors. The power input port cord and communication and data input connector cables maybe organized and located inside, under, behind or in any suitable location relative to the furniture.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface integrated power, communication and/or data input device may include at least one power array or channel, at least one communication array or channel and/or at least one data array or channel. The power array includes a power input port connectable to any conventional AC power outlet. The power input port is connected to at least one power output receptacle. AC power at a suitable voltage such as 110 volts, 125 volts, or 220 volts may be used as input power. The input power is conducted through a power cord and any suitable power cord plug. The at least one data array includes at least one data input connector connected to at least one data output connector. The data connector may be configured to include, but is not limited to RJ45, DSL connection, CAT-5 connection, USB, 9-pin or 25-pin serial connector, parallel connector, SCSI-1 (small computer system interface), SCSI-2, SCSI-3, MIDI or PC keyboard cable, 5 pin DIN, 8 pin DIN or Apple Desktop Bus (ADB). The communication array includes at least one communication input connector connected to at least one communication output connector. The communication connector may be configured to include, but is not limited to RJ11 and/or RJ12. Input to, or output from each communication and data input connector or output connector may be conducted through a suitable cable and connector.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a master switch may control input power. The master switch may be a two-position toggle switch or other suitable switch. The two-position toggle switch includes an open and a closed position. Power may be conducted through the master switch to a power output receptacle when the switch is in the closed position.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a master switch may control input power and at least one subservient switch may control power output. Each subservient switch may be a two-position toggle switch or other suitable switch. Each two-position toggle switch includes an open and a closed position. Power may be conducted through each subservient switch when the switch is in the closed position. Power may be conducted to each subservient switch when the master switch is closed. Each subservient switch may control power conduction to a respective power output receptacle. Power may be conducted to a power output receptacle when the respective subservient switch and the master switch are closed.  
         [0016]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, power may be conducted from the power input port through a power surge protector prior to conduction to a power output receptacle. Communication signals may be conducted from a communication input connector through a communication surge protector prior to conduction to at least communication output connector. Each communication connector configuration such as RJ11 or RJ12 may have a dedicated surge protector. Data may be conducted from a data input connector through a dedicated surge protector prior to conduction to a data output connector for each data array. Each data connector configuration such as RJ45, USB, DSL connection, CAT-5 connection, 9-pin or 25-pin serial connector, parallel connector, SCSI-1 (small computer system interface), SCSI-2, SCSI-3, MIDI or PC keyboard cable, 5 pin DIN, 8 pin DIN or Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) may have a dedicated surge protector.  
         [0017]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure of the surface integrated power, communication and/or data input device, an indicator may be provided to designate the status or position of the master switch. Each subservient switch may also be connected to a respective switch position indicator. The indicator illuminates when power is available to the respective switch output. The indicator may be an incandescent light bulb, light emitting diode or any suitable indicator apparatus.  
         [0018]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface integrated power, communication and/or data input device may include a docking terminal. The docking terminal may include at least one power, at least one data and/or at least one communication connector. The power port configuration may include a power output receptacle. The communication connector may be configured to include any suitable communication connector such as RJ11 or RJ12. The data connector may be configured to include one or more connectors, such as RJ45, DSL connection, CAT-5 connection, USB, 9-pin or 25-pin serial connector, parallel connector, SCSI-1 (small computer system interface), SCSI-2, SCSI-3, MIDI or PC keyboard cable, 5 pin DIN, 8 pin DIN or Apple Desktop Bus (ADB). The docking terminal may be suitable for connection to any suitable electrical equipment such as a laptop computer, palmtop computer, hand-held computer, PDA, telephone, facsimile machine, scanner, speakers, flash drive, joy stick, printer, digital camera and modem or other electronic equipment. At least one indicator may be provided to designate the status of each data output connector, respectively. The electronic equipment may be connected to a suitable power, communication and/or data connector by an appropriate cable.  
         [0019]     In another aspect of the present invention, a surface integrated power, communication and data device includes a power array having a power input and at least one power output, a communication array having a communication input and at least one communication output, at least one data array with each data array having a data input and at least one data output, a housing containing the power array, the communication array and each data array and a mounting bracket removably engaging the housing.  
         [0020]     In another aspect of the present invention, a surface integrated power, communication and data device includes a power array having a power input and at least one power output, a communication array having a communication input and at least one communication output, at least one data array with each data array having a data input and at least one data output, a housing containing the power array, the communication array and each data array, a housing flange and a pivot mechanism connecting the housing to the housing flange.  
         [0021]     Examples in this application, for the sake of simplicity, will be computers. It is understood that all of the examples and that all of the embodiments of the surface integrated power, communication and data device may be used beneficially with many types of electronic equipment, for example, but not limited to computers, facsimile machines, telephones, laptop computer, palmtop computer, hand held computer, PDA, scanner, speakers, digital cameras and modems.  
         [0022]     These and other features and advantages of this invention will become further apparent from the detailed description and accompanying figures that follow. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a surface integrated power, communication and data device according to the present disclosure.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a back view of the device of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the surface integrated power, communication and data device of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a docking terminal of the device of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a surface integrated power, communication and data device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5B  is a back view of the device of  FIG. 5A .  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the surface integrated power, communication and data device of  FIG. 5A .  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a surface integrated power, communication and data device, in an open position according to the present disclosure.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of device of  FIG. 7  in the closed position.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a view of the device of  FIG. 8  along  9 - 9 ′.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a view of the device of  FIG. 8  along  10 - 10 ′.  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of the surface integrated power, communication and data device of  FIG. 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , in a currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, device  10  includes housing  16  and mounting bracket  18 . Mounting bracket  18  may be used to attach housing  16  to surface  20 . Housing  16  removably engages mounting bracket  18 .  
         [0037]     Housing  16  includes top  30 , bottom  32 , first side  34 , second side  36 , front panel  38  and back panel  40 . Biasing element  42  may be mounted on any suitable location on housing  16  such as first side  34 . Biasing element  28  may be mounted on any suitable location on housing  16  such as second side  36 . Biasing elements  42  and  28  or any suitable engagement element such as clips or fasteners may be used to removably engage housing  16  to mounting bracket  18 . Biasing elements  42  and  28  may be fabricated from spring steel or other suitable material.  
         [0038]     Mounting bracket  18  includes holes  22 ,  24  and  26 . Mounting bracket  18  may be attached to surface  20  using holes  22 ,  24  and/or  26  or any suitable attachment mechanism. Mounting bracket  18  may be attached to surface  20  in any suitable orientation.  
         [0039]     Device  10  also includes door  44 , indicators  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 , master switch  58 , subservient switches  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 , power input port  70 , power output receptacles  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80 , USB output connectors  84 ,  86 , Ethernet input connector  88 , Ethernet output connectors  90 ,  92 ,  94 , reset button  96 , communication input connector  98  and communication output connector  100 . Connectors, such as USB output connectors  84 ,  86 , Ethernet input connector  88 , Ethernet output connectors  90 ,  92 ,  94 , communication input connector  98  and communication output connector  100 , may also be known as ports.  
         [0040]     Power input port  70  may include power cord  102  and suitable receptacle plug  104 . Receptacle plug  104  is shown as a conventional three-prong male power input plug as used in North America. Electrical power may be supplied through power cord  102  by any suitable source of AC power.  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , device  10  includes power array  174 , USB array  176 , Ethernet array  178  and communication array  180 .  
         [0042]     Power may be conducted through power array  174 . Power may be conducted into power array  174  through power input port  70 . Power may be conducted out of power array  174  through power output receptacles  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  108  and/or  110 .  
         [0043]     Power array  174  may include master switch  58  and subservient switches  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 . Power input port  70  conducts power to master switch  58  and master switch  58  controls power conduction to subservient switches  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  and power output receptacles  108  and  110 . Subservient switches  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  control power conduction to power output receptacles  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80 , respectively. Master switch  58  and subservient switches  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  may be two-position toggle switches or any suitable switch.  
         [0044]     Power may be conducted from master switch  58  through surge protector  166  to each subservient switch  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 .  
         [0045]     A surge protector, such as surge protector  166 , is an electronic equipment safety device that prevents excessive voltage and/or current conduction and/or excessively rapid current and/or voltage variation conduction. When a surge protector, also known as a surge suppressor, is in a closed position, it may conduct electrical power, data signals or communication signals to electrical equipment connected to the surge protector. The surge protector may open its contacts from the closed position upon detection of an excessive voltage and/or current and/or excessively rapid current and/or voltage variation to prevent conduction through the surge protector to electrical equipment connected to the surge protector. Voltage and/or current and/or rapid current and/or voltage variation may be excessive when it may damage electronic equipment or exceeds the voltage and/or current and/or rapid current and/or voltage variation recommended by the manufacturer of the electronic equipment. A surge protector with open contacts may be reset to the closed position by any suitable means such as a reset button, or the surge protector may be a single use device that must be replaced when its contacts are open. Reset button  96  may be connected to surge protector  166 . Activation of reset button  96  may close an open surge protector  166 . The combination of reset button  96  and surge protector  166  operates as circuit breaker  194 .  
         [0046]     Indicator  46  may be connected to master switch  58 . Subservient switch status indicators  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  may be connected to subservient switches  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 , respectively. Master switch status indicator  46  indicates the status of master switch  58  and illuminates when power may be conducted to subservient switches  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and power output receptacles  108  and  110 . Indicators  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  indicate the status, respectively, of subservient switches  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  and illuminate when power may be conducted to power output receptacles  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80 , respectively. Indicators  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  may be an incandescent light bulb, light emitting diode or any suitable indicator apparatus.  
         [0047]     Data may be conducted through USB array  176 . Data may be conducted into USB array  176  through USB input connector  112 . Data may be conducted out of USB array  176  through USB output connectors  84 ,  86 ,  114  and  116 .  
         [0048]     Data may be conducted through Ethernet array  178 . Data may be conducted from Ethernet input connector  88  to Ethernet output connectors  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  82 .  
         [0049]     Data may be conducted from Ethernet input connector  88  through surge protector  170  prior to conduction to Ethernet output connectors  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  82 .  
         [0050]     Communication signals may be conducted through communication array  180 . Communication signals may be conducted from communication input connector  98  to communication output connectors  100  and  118 .  
         [0051]     Communication signals may be conducted from communication input connector  98  through surge protector  172  prior to conduction to communication output connectors  100  and  118 .  
         [0052]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , device  10  includes door  44  shielding docking terminal  106 .  
         [0053]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , hinge  202  attaches door  44  to housing  16  or  198 . Door  44  pivots on hinge  202 . Relative to housing  16  or  198 , door  44  may be open or closed. Docking terminal  106  includes power output receptacles  108 ,  110 , USB input connector  112 , USB output connectors  114  and  116 , Ethernet output connector  82 , indicators  12  and  14  and communication output connector  118 . A laptop computer, palmtop computer, hand held computer, PDA, telephone, facsimile machine or other suitable apparatus may be connected to a suitable power and/or data input connector by cable. Indicator  14  indicates when data may be conducted through Ethernet output connector  82 . Indicator  12  indicates when data may be conducted through USB output connector  114  and/or  116 . Indicators  12  and  14  may be an incandescent light bulb, light emitting diode or any suitable indicator apparatus.  
         [0054]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in another currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, device  196  includes housing  198  and mounting bracket  248 . Mounting bracket  248  may be used to attach housing  198  to surface  250 . Housing  198  removably engages mounting bracket  248 .  
         [0055]     Housing  198  includes top  200 , bottom  244 , first side  210 , second side  242 , front panel  204  and back panel  222 . Biasing element  212 , or any suitable engagement element such as clips or fasteners, may be mounted on any suitable location on housing  198  such as first side  210 . Biasing element  220 , or any suitable engagement element such as clips or fasteners, may be mounted on any suitable location on housing  198  such as second side  242 . Biasing elements  212  and  220  may be fabricated from spring steel or any suitable material.  
         [0056]     Mounting bracket  248  includes holes  252 ,  254  and  256 . Mounting bracket  248  may be attached to surface  250  using holes  252 ,  254  and/or  256 . Mounting bracket  248  may be attached to surface  250  in any suitable orientation.  
         [0057]     Device  196  also includes door  44 , indicator  208 , and switch  206 , power input port  214 , power output receptacle  238 , USB input connector  228 , USB output connector  224  and  226 , Ethernet input connector  230 , Ethernet output connector  232 , reset button  240 , communication input connector  234  and communication output connector  236 . Door  44  shields docking terminal  106 .  
         [0058]     Power input port  214  may include power cord  216  and suitable receptacle plug  218 . Receptacle plug  218  is shown as a conventional three-prong male power input plug as used in North America. Electrical power may be supplied through power cord  216  by a suitable source of AC power.  
         [0059]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , device  196  includes power array  258 , USB array  264  and  160 , Ethernet array  168  and communication array  260 .  
         [0060]     Power may be conducted through power array  258 . Power may be conducted into power array  258  through power input port  214 . Power may be conducted out of power array  258  through power output receptacles  238 ,  108  and  110 .  
         [0061]     Power array  258  may include master switch  206 . Power input port  214  conducts power to master switch  206  and master switch  206  controls power conduction to power output receptacles  238 ,  108  and  110 . Master switch  206  may be any suitable switch such as a two-position toggle switch.  
         [0062]     Power may be conducted from master switch  206  through surge protector  262  to power output receptacles  238 ,  108  and  110 . Reset button  240  may be connected to surge protector  262 . Activation of reset button  240  may close an open surge protector  262 . The combination of reset button  240  and surge protector  262  operates as circuit breaker  246 .  
         [0063]     Indicator  208  may be connected to master switch  206 . Indicator  208  indicates the status of master switch  206 . Indicator  208  illuminates when power may be available at power output receptacles  238 ,  108  and  110 . Indicator  208  may be an incandescent light bulb, light emitting diode or any suitable indicator apparatus.  
         [0064]     Data may be conducted through USB array  264  and/or USB array  160 . Data may be conducted into USB array  264  through USB input connector  112 . Data may be conducted out of USB array  264  through USB output connectors  114  and  116 . Data may be conducted into USB array  160  through USB input connector  228 . Data may be conducted out of USB array  160  through USB output connectors  224  and  226 .  
         [0065]     Data may be conducted through Ethernet array  168 . Data may be conducted into Ethernet array  168  through Ethernet input connector  230 . Data may be conducted out of Ethernet array  168  through Ethernet output connectors  232  and  82 .  
         [0066]     Data may be conducted from Ethernet input connector  230  through surge protector  266  prior to conduction to Ethernet output connectors  232  and  82 .  
         [0067]     Communication signals may be conducted through communication array  260 . Communication signals may be conducted into communication array  260  through communication input connector  234 . Communication signals may be conducted from communication array  260  to communication output connectors  236  and  118 .  
         [0068]     Communication signals may be conducted from communication input connector  234  through surge protector  268  prior to conduction to communication output connectors  236  and  118 .  
         [0069]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in another currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, device  120  may be mounted into surface  128 . Device  120  includes housing flange  122  and housing  124 . Opening  126  in surface  128  may receive housing flange  122 . Housing flange  122  overlaps opening  126  in surface  128 . Opening  126  may be in any suitable location in surface  128 . Opening  126  may be in any suitable orientation relative to surface  128 . Opening  126  may be rectilinear or any suitable shape.  
         [0070]     Housing  124  includes cover surface  130 , front panel  132 , indicators  136  and  138 , power output receptacle  140 , Ethernet output connector  144 , handle  134  and communication output connector  146 . Housing  124  is shown open relative to housing flange  122 .  
         [0071]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , housing  124  is shown closed relative to housing flange  122 . Cover surface  130  may be substantially flush with the housing flange  122 .  
         [0072]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , housing  124  may be substantially rectilinear in shape, but any suitable shape may be used. Housing  124  also includes back panel  148 , power input port  150 , Ethernet input connector  152  and communication input connector  154 . Power input port  150  includes power cord  156  and suitable receptacle plug  158 . Receptacle plug  158  is shown as a conventional three-prong male power input plug as used in North America. Electrical power may be supplied through power cord  156  by a suitable source of AC power.  
         [0073]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , device  120  also includes side panel  162  and hinge  142 . Hinge  142  connects housing flange  122  to housing  124 . Housing  124  may pivot on hinge  142  relative to housing flange  122  to expose the part of the housing  124  previously positioned below housing flange  122  to access from above housing flange  122 . Housing  124  may pivot until stop  164  butts against housing flange  122 .  
         [0074]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , device  120  also includes power channel  188 , data channel  190  and communication channel  192 .  
         [0075]     Power may be conducted through power channel  188 . Power channel  188  includes power input port  150  and power output receptacle  140 . Power may be conducted from power input port  150  through surge protector  182  prior to conduction to power output receptacle  140 .  
         [0076]     Indicator  136  indicates when power output receptacle  140  may not be electrically grounded. Ground status indicator  136  may be an incandescent light bulb, light emitting diode or any suitable indicator apparatus.  
         [0077]     Data may be conducted through data channel  190 . Data channel  190  includes Ethernet input connector  152  and Ethernet output connector  144 . Data may be conducted from Ethernet input connector  152  through surge protector  184  prior to conduction to Ethernet output connector  144 .  
         [0078]     Communication signals may be conducted through communication channel  192 . Communication channel  192  includes communication input connector  154  and communication output connector  146 . Communication signals may be conducted from communication input connector  154  through surge protector  186  prior to conduction to communication output connector  146 .  
         [0079]     Indicator  138  indicates the status of surge protector  182 , surge protector  184  and surge protector  186 . Surge protector status indicator  138  may indicate when surge protector  182 , surge protector  184  and/or surge protector  186  have open contacts. Surge protector status indicator  138  may indicate when surge protector  182 , surge protector  184  and/or surge protector  186  are in the closed position. Surge protector status indicator  138  may be an incandescent light bulb, light emitting diode or any suitable indicator apparatus.  
         [0080]     Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications in the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims and their legal equivalents.