Abstract:
A power strip includes a base unit providing the electrical functions and an interchangeable cover having ornamental features. The cover can have releasably or fixedly attached portions that permit mixing and matching of colors and styling. The base unit can be modular to provide additional options.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/680,207 filed May 12, 2005 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/712,547 filed Aug. 30, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention deals with outlet or power strips, and more particularly, with removable and interchangeable covers for power strips. The present invention also concerns an outlet strip which may be in the form of a surge protector of the type commonly used to protect sensitive electrically operated equipment from line current surges. Most particularly, the invention deals with a modular outlet strip or surge protector having several types of sections which are quickly connected and disconnected by virtue of “quick connect” means provided on the modules. Electrically operated equipment, practically since its inception, has been subject to surges of current over the three power lines to which it is connected. These current surges can be caused by naturally occurring phenomenon, such as lightning strikes during thunderstorms, which induce power surges in the power lines, or by man-made causes, such as sudden variations in the power being output from a generating station due to failures of components or other generators going on- or off-line.  
         [0003]     Some types of electrical equipment have been developed which are more sensitive to line current surges than other types. Equipment which is particularly sensitive is in the nature of television sets, stereos, answering machines, and more recently, computer equipment. Ever since the advent of this sensitive electronic equipment, those in the art have sought a convenient and economical way to protect such electrical equipment from power surges. Many surge protectors are known in the prior art, and all operate by generally well-known principles, such as by capacitors connected between live and earth which discharge in the presence of a sudden surge of power and effectively short out that surge of power before it can reach the power supply cords plugged in to such surge protectors.  
         [0004]     However, the outlet strips and surge protectors available in the prior art are generally of one type. They consist of a line cord with the surge protection, where used, connected across many outlets connected in parallel. Normally, the surge protectors have an on/off switch, an indicator light, and from six to ten receptacles. In many cases, only one or two receptacles are needed at a particular location, and the excess of receptacles provides for a bulky and inconvenient appliance.  
         [0005]     Also, with the advent of computers with built-in telephone modems, a modem surge protector is many times needed in conjunction with a line current surge protector so that both the phone modern and the computer are protected from surges of current which may occur simultaneously. Thus, those skilled in the art have continued to search for solutions to the problems of how to provide a convenient, compact, and yet adaptable, surge protector.  
         [0006]     The following patents provide background in the field of housings for outlet strips and other electrical devices:  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,577 entitled “Extruded Outlet Strip”.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,907 entitled “Outlet Strip Assembly with Integral Multiple Receptacles”.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,497 entitled “Decorative Computer Keyboard Cover”.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,775 entitled “Power Strip with Inspection Window”.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,307 entitled “Electric Outlet with Rotary Socket Bodies”.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,308 entitled “Safety Device and Dust Protection for a Power Strip”.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,078 entitled “Decorative, Adjustable, Protective Cover Frame for Electronic Equipment and Furniture”.  
         [0014]     As stated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,577, multiple electrical outlet strips are very useful devices for facilitating the operation of multiple electrically powered components at a single location. Conventional multiple electrical outlet strips, such as shown in U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,743,423 and 4,113,334, usually comprise a metal casing having a plurality of outlet receptacles received by openings in one face of the casing, and connected together internally by a number of wires. Normally the outlet receptacles are integral components with their own terminals for receipt of male electrical plug prongs, with the outlet receptacles electrically interconnected by conventional wiring. Proposals have been made (see co-pending application Ser. No. 190,050 filed Sep. 23, 1980) for allowing the common wiring to provide the electrical contacts for the outlet receptacles, with the receptacles mounted within the casing in basically the same manner. Conventional housings for multiple electrical outlet strips are usually provided by pre-sized cans, or metal extrusions.  
         [0015]     While conventional multiple electrical outlet strips perform their intended functions well, the costs of construction thereof are higher than desirable. The utilization of outlet receptacles requires that the receptacles be wired to each other and to the power source, and high labor costs are often associated therewith for the wiring of the receptacles together and the insertion of the receptacles into the casing. Additionally, the provision of the multiple receptacles provides relatively high component costs, and minimizes the flexibility of forming multiple electrical outlet strips of varying numbers of plug positions.  
         [0016]     According to the invention shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,577, a multiple electrical outlet strip, and method of production thereof, are provided that result in the extremely inexpensive construction thereof. An outlet strip according to the invention is produced with a minimum of tooling costs as well as a minimum of labor costs, yet the outlet strip according to the invention has even better mechanical and electrical properties than conventional multiple electrical outlet strips. Once the length of the strip has been established, the cost will be the same irrespective of how many outlets it has since individual outlet receptacles are not utilized.  
         [0017]     Further a multiple electrical outlet strip is produced by extruding an elongated housing from electrically insulating material (preferably plastic). The housing extrusion has at least a top surface and side walls, and includes elongated electrically conductive material-receiving interior channels. The elongated housing extrusion is severed to provide a housing of a predetermined length having opposite open ends, and a plurality of spaced through-extending openings are formed in the housing top surface adjacent the electrically conductive material-receiving interior channels. The openings comprise at least two spaced sets of spaced openings for receipt of male electrical plug prongs. Electrically conductive material, such as brass strips with locking portions, is inserted into operative association with each of the electrically conductive material-receiving interior channels, the locking portions maintaining the strips in place within the housing.  
         [0018]     The brass strips are electrically interconnected to an electricity conducting element, such as a conventional electrical cord, which extends exteriorly of the housing. Wire sections from the stripped end of an electrical cord may be brought into contact with the brass strips to effect this interconnection. End covers are then connected to the open ends of the housing, providing a complete multiple electrical outlet strip.  
         [0019]     Preferably the extruding of the housing is accomplished by extruding a channel-shaped housing having an open bottom, and a bottom member adapted to cooperate with the open bottom of the housing is also extruded. Preferably interlocking portions on the housing and bottom are extruded and the bottom, once cut to the appropriate length, is slid into operative association with the housing, and can be held in place by the end covers. A plurality of self-tapping screw-receiving channels are preferably extruded in the interior of the housing and the end covers are connected to the open ends of the housing by passing self-tapping screws through each of the end caps into operative association with the screw-receiving channels which have been extruded.  
         [0020]     In order to provide guidance of male plugs into the openings formed-in the housing top surface therefor, upwardly-opening guide channels are extruded in the exterior of the top surface of the housing, and the openings are formed within the guide channels. Cover-receiving surface manifestations also are desirably extruded in the housing, and a cover of electrical insulating material having surface manifestations cooperating with the housing surface manifestations is preferably extruded and moved into operative association with the housing to cover any desired number of male electrical plug prong-receiving openings in the top of the housing.  
         [0021]     The same extrusion profile is used for both the back cover and the top and outlet sliding covers.  
         [0022]     Two types of outlet strips are widely utilized at present. The conventional type of outlet strip assembly generally comprises a cover plate, an adjacent base and receptacles in the form of singular piece or pairs, in addition to necessary electrical elements disposed therein or connected thereto to establish a complete electrical connection. As is required, the cover plate and adjacent base are both made of metals and the receptacles are made of insulated materials such as plastics. Each pair of receptacles is separately and securely mounted on the cover plate by screws or the like, with wires connecting common positive or negative terminals to respective receptacles.  
         [0023]     One obvious drawback of such construction is that the work required for separately mounting each pair of receptacles on the cover plate and for connecting adjacent receptacles by wires can be time-consuming.  
         [0024]     The more recent type of outlet strip assembly comprises a cover plate having all receptacles integrally formed thereon, an adjacent base associated with the cover plate, and three bus bars (for hot wire, neutral wire and grounding wire, respectively) running through each and every receptacle. The cover plate and the adjacent base are preferably made of plastic material, for example, by injection molding. As is apparent, in this type of outlet strip assembly, the bus bars replace the wires for connecting common positive or negative terminals of respective receptacle and the electrical elements received within the receptacles. Further, the receptacles are permanently fixed on the cover plate forming an integral part thereof. While this type of outlet strip assembly is simple in construction it still has drawbacks. For instance, since the receptacles are integrally and fixedly formed on the cover plate, it is difficult, if not impossible, to have the cover plate and the receptacles made of separate colors. In addition, it is not possible that the cover plate be made of conductive materials such as metal, as desired in some situations.  
         [0025]     According to the U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,907, to improve the above types of outlet strip assemblies, the invention shown therein has made improvements by further separating or detaching the receptacles from the cover plate and by providing a linking means between the multiple receptacle means and the base. It is noted that with the receptacles, or so called multiple receptacle means referred to hereinafter in this disclosure, and the cover plate thus separately provided, the adaptability of the outlet strip assembly is enhanced; in particular, the cover plate can be fabricated of a conductive material such as metal. This specific feature is not present if the cover plate and the receptacles are integrally formed by injection molding. Also, the cover plate of the present invention can be made of a different color than the multiple receptacle means. In accordance with the invention, an improved outlet strip assembly of the type described above is not complicated in construction and easy to manufacture and assemble. Further, with the multiple receptacle means separately provided to be releasably fixed on the base but not integrally formed with the cover plate, it is possible to have all the advantages of the known types of outlet strips described above and avoids any of the drawbacks associated with each.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     The present invention concerns a power strip including: a base unit having a plurality of electrical outlets; a first cover portion receiving the base unit, the first cover portion having formed therein a plurality of apertures each receiving and exposing an associated one of the outlets; and a second cover portion receiving the base unit and being releasably attached to the first cover portion, the first and second cover portions cooperating to substantially enclose the base unit.  
         [0027]     The first and second cover portions can be releasably attached by fastener means such as a snap fit fastener means. The base unit can include a surge suppressor module. The base unit can include at least one signal connector and one of the first and second cover portions then includes a connector aperture formed therein exposing the at least one signal connector. The base unit has a housing and the first and second cover portions cooperate to form a shape that is different from a shape of said housing. The base unit can include a line cord, a circuit breaker, an indicator light and an on/off switch and at least one of said first and second cover portions has formed therein corresponding openings exposing the line cord, the circuit breaker, the indicator light and said on/off switch.  
         [0028]     The power strip according to the present invention includes: at least a pair of base units, each of the base units including at least one of an electrical outlet and a signal connector; a first cover portion receiving at least one of the base units and including an aperture formed therein for exposing the at least one of an electrical outlet and a signal connector; and a second cover portion receiving at least one of the base units and including an aperture formed therein for exposing the at least one of an electrical outlet and a signal connector, the second cover portion being attached to the first cover portion. The base unit can include at least two modules electrically and mechanically connected together, each said module having at least one of an electrical outlet and a signal connector. The modules can include a quick connect means having a male portion on one of the modules and a cooperating female portion on another of the modules. The base unit can include at least one rail subassembly having a plurality of rails extending between end walls thereof and at least two modules having contacts electrically connecting to the rails.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     The above, as well as other, advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0030]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   c  are perspective views, respectively, of an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover and the assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  are perspective views, respectively, of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, during assembly/disassembly and the assembly;  
         [0032]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   d  are perspective views, respectively, of another alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, during assembly/disassembly and the assembly;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  are fragmentary perspective views, respectively, of a third alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, during assembly/disassembly and the assembly;  
         [0034]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   e  are perspective views, respectively, of a fourth alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a first outlet strip base unit, a second outlet strip base unit, a combined outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, the assembly, an opposite end of the combined outlet strip base unit, an opposite end of the cover and an opposite end of the assembly;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the shells forming the cover shown in  FIG. 1   b;    
         [0036]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   f  are perspective views of an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover during assembly/disassembly and the assembly in accordance with a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIGS. 7   g - 7   m  are perspective views of a sixth alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a pair of outlet strip base units, an interchangeable cover during assembly/disassembly and the assembly;  
         [0038]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   f  are perspective views of a seventh alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a rail subassembly, an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, during assembly/disassembly and the assembly;  
         [0039]      FIGS. 9   a - 9   e  are fragmentary perspective views of an eighth alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a rail subassembly, an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, during assembly/disassembly and the assembly;  
         [0040]      FIGS. 10   a - 10   e  are perspective views, respectively, of a ninth alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention of invention of a rail subassembly, an outlet strip base unit, an interchangeable cover, during assembly/disassembly and the assembly; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment base unit for use with the cover according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0042]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,676 issued Jun. 29, 2004, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/680,207 filed May 12, 2005 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/712,547 filed Aug. 30, 2005 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c,  an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1   c  and is indicated generally at  100 . The assembly  100  includes a two piece cover  101  and a common base unit  102 . The cover  101  is separable into two portions; a lower shell half  104 , and an upper shell half  106 . The base unit  102  includes a housing  103  that has on an upper surface thereof at least one and preferably a plurality of standard electrical outlets  108  of the type that receive a plug on the end of a power cord connected to a device (not shown). The outlets  108  may be disposed alternatively on any surface of the housing  103  depending upon the orientation of the assembly  100  during use. The outlets  108  are provided with electrical power by a power cord  107  extending from the housing  103  and adapted to be plugged into a standard wall outlet. One or more signal connectors  109  are provided on the housing  103  including, but are not limited to, telephone jacks, network (i.e. RJ11 or the like) jacks, coaxial connectors, and the like. The base unit  102  may also include indicators  110  and an on/off switch  111 . The switch  111  controls the connection of the outlets  108  to the power cord  107 . The indicators  110  can include lamps that indicate the state of the switch  111  and, in some cases, the status of surge protection circuitry inside the housing  103  for protecting the outlets  108  and the connectors  109 . The indicators  110  also can include a reset button for an internal circuit breaker.  
         [0044]     The lower shell half  104  is cup-shaped and is adapted to conform with and receive the lower surface of the housing  103 . The upper shell half  106  is inverted cup-shaped and includes a plurality of apertures  112  formed therethrough that receive and expose associated ones of the outlets  108  as shown in  FIG. 1   c.  Also provided are apertures  113  for the lamps  110  and the switch  111  and an aperture(s)  114  for the connectors  109 . The shell halves  104  and  106  receive the base unit  102  and are attached to one another, preferably along peripheral edges  116  thereof to enclose the base unit  102 . When attached to the base unit  102 , the shell halves  104  and  106  form an outer housing that provides a different ornamental appearance for the base unit  102 .  
         [0045]     Preferably, the housing halves  104  and  106  are attached by a snap fit using any suitable fastening means as described below. The fastening means can be fixed or releasable. Alternative releasable fasteners could include, but are not limited to, clips, tangs, spring-loaded release projections and the like (not shown) while remaining within the scope of the present invention as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0046]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a - 2   d,  an alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  200 . In  FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  parts of the assembly  200  corresponding to the parts of the assembly  100  shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c  are designed by corresponding reference numerals in the “ 200 ” range. The cover  201  has a different ornamental appearance and four of the connectors  209  are provided. The only other difference is that an aperture  213  is shown formed in an end of the shells  204  and  206  for receiving the power cord  207 . A similar aperture (not shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c ) is provided in the shells  104  and  106  for the power cord  107 .  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d,  a second alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  300 . In  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d  parts of the assembly  300  corresponding to the parts of the assemblies  100  and  200  are designed by corresponding reference numerals in the “ 300 ” range. The cover  301  has a different ornamental appearance than the covers  101  and  201  and four coaxial connectors  305  are provided in an end wall of the housing  303  and are received in an aperture  314  in the cover  301 .  
         [0048]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d,  a third alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  400 . In  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  parts of the assembly  400  corresponding to the parts of the assemblies  100 ,  200  and  300  are designed by corresponding reference numerals in the “400” range. The cover  401  has a different ornamental appearance than the covers  101 ,  201  and  301  and a removable surge suppressor module  415  is provided in an end wall of the housing  403  and is received in an aperture  417  in the cover  401 .  
         [0049]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a - 5   h,  a fourth alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  500 . In  FIGS. 5   a - 5   h  parts of the assembly  500  corresponding to the parts of the assemblies  100 ,  200 ,  300  and  400  are designed by corresponding reference numerals in the “500” range. The cover  501  has a different ornamental appearance than the covers  101 ,  201 ,  301  and  401  and provides two rows of the outlets  508 . A first base unit  502 A is similar to the base unit  202  and includes a removable surge suppressor module  515 . A second base unit  502 B has a plurality of the outlets  508  and the coaxial connectors  505 . An interface connector  519  is provided on a side of the housing  503  for electrical connection with a complementary connector (not shown) on the side of the housing  518 . Thus, electrical power from the power cord  507  is connected to the outlets  508  on the housing  518  when the interface connectors are mated as shown in  FIG. 5   c.    
         [0050]     The base units  102 ,  202 ,  302 ,  402  and  502  can be used with different covers having various ornamental features. Thus, the same base unit could be provided to different retailers with different cover designs. Also, the base unit could be sold with the customer choosing from two or more cover designs to be assembled by the customer.  
         [0051]     The fastener means for attaching the two shells of the various covers described above can take many forms. If the shells are to be permanently attached, an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or metal or plastic rivets could be used. Fastener means that permit the shells to be separated can include screws and snaps. For example, there is shown in  FIG. 6  an arm  120  extending downwardly from an inner surface of the upper shell  106 . An outwardly extending finger  121  is provided on the free end of the arm  120 . As the upper shell  106  and the lower shell  104  are moved toward one another, the finger  121  engages the upper edge of the lower shell  104  and the arm  120  is deflected inwardly in the direction of an arrow  122 . This permits the finger  121  to be moved downwardly along an inner surface of the lower shell  104  until the finger  121  is free to snap into a cavity  123  formed in the wall of the lower shell  104 . The arm  120 , the finger  121  and the cavity  123  are representative of a plurality of such fastener means spaced about the cover  101 .  
         [0052]     Also shown in  FIG. 6  is a rib  124  extending inwardly from the inner surface of the lower shell  104 . The rib  124  is representative of a support and positioning means, which can be a plurality of such ribs, for retaining the base unit  102  in position inside the cover  101 .  
         [0053]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   f,  an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7   c  and is indicated generally at  700 . The assembly  700  includes a two piece cover  701  and a common base unit  702 . The cover  701  is separable into a lower shell half  704 , and an upper shell half  706 . The base unit  702  includes a housing  703  that has on an upper surface thereof at least one and preferably a plurality of standard electrical outlets  708  of the type that receive a plug on the end of a power cord connected to a device (not shown). The outlets  708  may be disposed alternatively on any surface of the housing  703  depending upon the orientation of the assembly  700  during use. The outlets  708  are provided with electrical power by a power cord  707  extending from the housing  703  and adapted to be plugged into a standard wall outlet. One or more signal connectors  709  are provided on the housing  703  including, but are not limited to, telephone jacks, network (i.e. RJ11 or the like) jacks, coaxial connectors, and the like. The base unit  702  may also include indicators  710  and an on/off switch  711 . The switch  711  controls the connection of the outlets  708  to the power cord  707 . The indicators  710  can include lamps that indicate the state of the switch  711  and, in some cases, the status of surge protection circuitry inside the housing  703  for protecting the outlets  708  and the connectors  709 . The indicators  710  also can include a reset button for an internal circuit breaker. A removable surge suppressor module  715 , best seen in  FIGS. 7   d  and  7   f,  is provided in an end wall of the housing  703  and is received in an aperture  717 , best seen in  FIG. 7   e,  in the cover  701 . An interface power connector  719  is provided on a side of the housing  703  for electrical connection with a complementary connector (not shown) on the side of a second base unit (not shown).  
         [0054]     The lower shell half  704  is cup-shaped and is adapted to conform with and receive the lower surface of the housing  703 . The upper shell half  706  is inverted cup-shaped and includes a plurality of apertures  712  formed therethrough that receive and expose associated ones of the outlets  708  as shown in  FIG. 7   c.  Also provided are apertures  713  for the lamps  710  and the switch  711  and an aperture(s)  714  for the connectors  709 . The shell halves  704  and  706  receive the base unit  702  and are attached to one another, preferably along peripheral edges  716  thereof to enclose the base unit  702 . When attached to the base unit  702 , the shell halves  704  and  706  form an outer housing that provides a different ornamental appearance for the base unit  702 .  
         [0055]     Preferably, the housing halves  704  and  706  are attached by a snap fit using any suitable fastening means as previously described. The fastening means can be fixed or releasable. Alternative releasable fasteners could include, but are not limited to, clips, tangs, spring-loaded release projections and the like (not shown) while remaining within the scope of the present invention as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0056]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7   g - 7   m,  a sixth alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7   j  and  7   m  and is indicated generally at  700 B. The assembly  700 B includes a two piece cover  701 B, the base unit  702 , and a second base unit  702 B. The cover  701 B is separable into a lower shell half  704 B, and an upper shell half  706 B. The second base unit  702 B includes a housing  718  with a plurality of the outlets  708  and a plurality of coaxial connectors  705  provided in an end wall of the housing  718 . The interface power connector  719  on the side of the housing  703  makes an electrical connection with a complementary power connector (not shown) on the side of the housing  718 . Thus, electrical power from the power cord  707  is connected to the outlets  708  on the housing  718  when the interface power connectors are mated as shown in  FIG. 7   h  and  7   j.    
         [0057]     The lower shell half  704 B is cup-shaped and is adapted to conform with and receive the lower surface of the housings  703  and  718 . The upper shell half  706 B is inverted cup-shaped and includes a plurality of apertures  712 B formed therethrough that receive and expose associated ones of the outlets  708  as shown in  FIG. 7   j.  Also provided are apertures  713 B for the lamps  710  and the switch  711  and an aperture(s)  714  for the connectors  705  and  709 . The shell halves  704 B and  706 B receive the base units  702  and  702 B and are attached to one another, preferably along peripheral edges  716  thereof to enclose the base units  702  and  702 B. When attached to the base units  702  and  702 B, the shell halves  704  and  706  form an outer housing that provides a different ornamental appearance for the base units  702  and  702 B.  
         [0058]     Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the base unit  702  may be advantageously used as a single power strip, as shown in  FIGS. 7   c  and  7   f,  or as a double power strip, in combination with the second base unit  702 B, as shown in  FIGS. 7   j  and  7   m.    
         [0059]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8   a - 8   f,  a seventh alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8   f  and is indicated generally at  800 . The assembly  800  includes a rail subassembly  830  having a plurality of rail members  832   a  and  832   b,  and a bottom side wall  834  extending between a pair of end walls  836  and  836   a.  An aperture  838  may be provided in the side wall  834  and an aperture  838   a  may be provided in the end wall  836   a.    
         [0060]     The rail subassembly  830  is adapted to receive and retain in position a plurality of modules (as shown in  FIG. 8   b ) including a coaxial connector module  805 , a signal connector module  809 , a plurality of outlet modules  808   a,    808   b  and  808   c,  and a switch module  811  that includes a switch and indicator, such as the indicator  710  and the switch  711  shown in the assembly  700 . The outlet module  808   a  has one receptacle, the outlet module  808   b  has two receptacles and the outlet module  808   c  has three receptacles. A removable surge suppressor module  815  is received in the aperture  838  formed in the side wall  834 . Each of the modules  805 ,  808   a,    808   b,    808   c  and  809  includes contacts  840  on an exterior surface thereof for contacting the rails  832   a.  The rails  832   a  are connected to a source of electrical power (110 Volt AC) through the switch module  811  to provide electrical power to the modules  805 ,  808   a,    808   b,    808   c  and  809 , through their respective contacts  840 . Although not shown, the modules  805 ,  808   a,    808   b,    808   c  and  809  are provided with another of the contacts  840  on the opposite sides to contact one of the rails  832   b  for grounding. The modules  805 ,  808 ,  809 ,  811 , and  815  and the rail subassembly  830 , when attached, form a base unit  802  (see  FIG. 8   d ).  
         [0061]     The assembly  800  includes a two piece cover  801  that is separable into a lower shell half  804  and an upper shell half  806 . The lower shell half  804  is cup-shaped and is adapted to conform with and receive the lower surface of the base unit  802 . The upper shell half  806  is inverted cup-shaped and includes a plurality of apertures  812  formed therethrough that receive and expose associated ones of the outlet modules  808   a,    808   b  and  808   c  and the switch module  811  as shown in  FIG. 7   c.  Also provided are apertures  813  for the lamps and the switch of the switch module  811  and an aperture(s)  814  for the connectors  805  and  809 . The shell halves  804  and  806  receive the base unit  802  and are attached to one another, preferably along peripheral edges  816  thereof to enclose the base unit  802 . When attached to the base unit  802 , the shell halves  804  and  806  form an outer housing that provides a different ornamental appearance for the base unit  802 .  
         [0062]     Referring now to  FIGS. 9   a - 9   e,  an eighth alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  900 . In  FIGS. 9   a - 9   d  parts of the assembly  900  corresponding to the parts of the assembly  800  are designed by corresponding reference numerals in the “900” range. The assembly  900  includes a pair of rail subassemblies  930 A and  930 B that form respective base units  902 A and  902 B. The base units  902 A and  902 B are attached to form a combined base unit  902 C. An outlet module  908 A is mounted in the rail subassembly  930 B transverse with respect to the other outlet modules  908  and preferably contacts all of the rails  932 . A pair of the coaxial connector modules  905  and the connector module  909  are mounted facing the same direction as the outlet modules  908 . The only other difference is that the cover  901  has a different ornamental appearance than the cover  801 .  
         [0063]     Referring now to  FIGS. 10   a - 10   e,  a ninth alternative embodiment of an interchangeable cover outlet strip assembly in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  1000 . In  FIGS. 10   a - 10   e  parts of the assembly  1000  corresponding to the parts of the assemblies  800  and  900  are designed by corresponding reference numerals in the “1000” range. The cover  1001  has a different ornamental appearance than the covers  801  and  901  and a coaxial connector module  1005  and a connector module  1009  are provided in an end wall of the rail subassembly  1030 A and are received in an aperture  1014  in the cover  1001 .  
         [0064]     The fastener means for attaching the two shells of the various covers described above can take many forms. If the shells are to be permanently attached, an adhesive or ultrasonic welding could be used. Fastener means that permit the shells to be separated can include screws and snaps. For example, there is shown in  FIG. 6  an arm  120  extending downwardly from an inner surface of the upper shell  106 . An outwardly extending finger  121  is provided on the free end of the arm  120 . As the upper shell  106  and the lower shell  104  are moved toward one another, the finger  121  engages the upper edge of the lower shell  104  and the arm  120  is deflected inwardly in the direction of an arrow  122 . This permits the finger  121  to be moved downwardly along an inner surface of the lower shell  104  until the finger  121  is free to snap into a cavity  123  formed in the wall of the lower shell  104 . The arm  120 , the finger  121  and the cavity  123  are representative of a plurality of such fastener means spaced about the cover  101 .  
         [0065]     Also shown in  FIG. 6  is a rib  124  extending inwardly from the inner surface of the lower shell  104 . The rib  124  is representative of a support and positioning means, which can be a plurality of such ribs, for retaining the base unit  102  in position inside the cover  101 .  
         [0066]     The base units  102 ,  202 ,  302 ,  402 ,  502  and  702  have been shown and described as having either a single housing or two side-by-side housings. However, these base units could be of the modular type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,676 incorporated herein by reference. In this manner, various covers having different lengths and numbers of apertures could be proved and all would use the same power supply modules to assemble the corresponding base unit.  
         [0067]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , which corresponds to  FIG. 1  in U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,676, there is shown an exploded perspective view of the modular surge protector of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral  20 . The modular surge protector  20  consists of one or more modules  21 , such as a power distribution module  22 , a two receptacle module  23 , a modern surge protector module  24 , and a four receptacle module  25 .  
         [0068]     The power distribution module  22  typically has a line cord  26  terminating in a plug  27  for connection to a source of line current. The plug  27  maybe a two-prong or three-prong plug or other plug as desired. For purposes of illustration, there is shown a standard, three conductor, polarized connector or grounding plug, although it is to be understood that whatever type of line current the surge protector is to be used on, will dictate the particular term of the plug.  
         [0069]     Also found on the power distribution module  22  is a circuit breaker  28 , an indicator light  29 , and an on/off switch  30 .  
         [0070]     The line cord  26  is electrically connected seriatim to the circuit breaker  28  the indicator light  29  and the on/off switch  30  before terminating at a standard female power transfer connector or receptacle (not shown). The female receptacle has a plurality of appropriately shaped receptors (not shown) to receive a plurality of like shaped male connectors  33  carried by a male power transfer connector on the module  23 .  
         [0071]     The various modules  21  are connected by quick connect means, generally designated by the numeral  40 . Each of the quick connect means  40  contains a male portion  41  and a female portion  42 . In  FIG. 11 , the male portion  41  has a retainer means  43  in the form of a tab  44  having an upstanding ridge portion  45 , while the female portion  42  of the quick connect means  40  has a retaining means  47  in the form of a slot  48  which receives and retains the upstanding ridge  45  provided on the tab  44  forming a portion of the male portion  41  of the quick connect means  40 . The position of the retainer means  43  and the retaining means  47  can be reversed, and they can take forms other than the tab  44  which fits in the slot  48 .  
         [0072]     In  FIG. 11 , the male portion  41  of the quick connect means  40  generally takes the form of a reduced housing portion  50  surrounding the male power transfer connector, while the female portion  42  of quick connect means  40  takes the form of a shroud  51  formed on the end of a housing  52 . The reduced housing portion  50  of the housing  52  plugs into and is surrounded by the shroud  51 . Each module  21 , except the power distribution module  22 , contains one or more power supply receptacles  53  into which the power line cord equipment being protected is plugged.  
         [0073]     Thus, a base unit can be assembled from the modules  21 , such as the power distribution module  22 , the two receptacle module  23 , the surge protector module  24 , and the four receptacle module  25 . Once the configuration of the modular base unit is selected, the appropriate cover according to the present invention can be provided.  
         [0074]     The covers  101 ,  201 ,  301 ,  401 ,  501 ,  701 ,  801 ,  901  and  1001  have been shown and described as having two portions in the form of an upper shell half and a lower shell half. However, it is contemplated that the covers could be formed otherwise. For example, there could be left and right portions or front and rear portions. The cover can be divided into two or more portions in any suitable configuration depending upon the external styling and/or the internal support and positioning means.  
         [0075]     Use of the covers  101 ,  201 ,  301 ,  401 ,  501 ,  701 ,  801 ,  901  and  1001  enables a common base unit to be used with a cover in any color and/or external styling. The base unit provides all of the electrical functions associated with the power strip while the cover is ornamental and also encloses the electrical components. Thus, the cover can be formed with a shape that deviates substantially from a shape of an outer surface of the housing of the base unit. The present invention increases manufacturing efficiency by utilizing the same base unit with different covers to accommodate the desires of different retailers and/or customers.  
         [0076]     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.