Patent Publication Number: US-7220128-B1

Title: Extendable power source device

Description:
The present application claims benefit of priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/649,599, filed on Feb. 4, 2005, entitled “Extender”, now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to an extendable power source device and, more particularly, the invention relates to an extendable power source device which eliminates the need to use an extension cord for relatively short distance power extension applications. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   As most home and business owners know, there are never any electrical power outlets where they are needed. Older houses, especially, afford a scarcity of outlets and newer homes are not much better. Newer homes are actually wired to provide many outlets, but the loss of one strategic outlet can leave the homeowner fumbling over extension cords which are actually a safety hazard. It seems to be inevitable, in every type of household and business, that various types of furniture will be positioned in front of receptacles, making it difficult to access the electrical outlet without actually moving the furniture. 
   As noted above, extension cords are frequently connected to electrical outlets to provide power to other areas of a room. Extension cords are convenient but they can be unsightly and present the risk of an accident resulting from someone tripping over the extension cords. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is an extendable power source device for altering the position of a power receptacle on an existing wall electrical outlet. The comprises a first receptacle having a front surface and a rear surface and a second receptacle having a front surface and a rear surface. A plug receiving mechanism is formed in the front surface of both the first receptacle and the second receptacle for receiving a plug. A plug mechanism is mounted on the rear surface of the first receptacle. An adjustable bar connects between the first receptacle and the second receptacle. Electrical wiring electrically connects the first receptacle to the second receptacle wherein the first receptacle, the second receptacle, and the adjustable bar are mountable flush against a surface. 
   The present invention further includes an extendable power source device for altering the position of a power receptacle on an existing wall electrical outlet. The device comprises a first receptacle having a front surface and a rear surface and a second receptacle having a front surface and a rear surface. Plug receiving means are formed in the front surface of both the first receptacle and the second receptacle for receiving a plug. Plug means are mounted to the rear surface of the first receptacle with the plug means being rotatable three hundred and sixty (360°) degrees. An adjustable bar connects between the first receptacle and the second receptacle. Securement means are mounted on the rear surface of the second receptacle and one side of the adjustable bar for mounting the device to a surface. Electrical wiring electrically connects the first receptacle to the second receptacle, the electrical wiring being routed through the adjustable bar wherein the first receptacle, the second receptacle, and the adjustable bar are mountable flush against a surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustrating an extendable power source device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a first receptacle, a second receptacle, and an adjustable bar; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view illustrating the extendable power source device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a first receptacle, a second receptacle, and an adjustable bar; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a front surface of the first receptacle of the extendable power source device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the first receptacle of the extendable power source device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating connecting adjacent adjustable bars of the extendable power source device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the front surface of the first receptacle of the extendable power source, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1–6 , the present invention is an extendable power source device, indicated generally at  10 , for altering the position of a power receptacle (not shown) on an existing wall electrical outlet (not shown). The extendable power source device  10  is fixedly or releasably securable to any surface including, but not limited to, walls, baseboards, floors, etc. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the extendable power source device  10  of the present invention includes a first receptacle  12  and a second receptacle  14  connected together by a hollow adjustable bar  16  having a first end  18  and a second end  20 . Both the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  accept standard, three prong (hot, neutral, and ground), male power plugs on a front surface  22 . In addition, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the first receptacle  12  includes a male power plug  24  rotatable three hundred and sixty (360°) degrees on a rear surface  26  for easily adapting to the original power receptacle on the existing wall electrical outlet. Therefore, the extendable power source device  10  is positionable to the power receptacle regardless of the positioning of the existing wall outlet. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the first receptacle  12  is secured to the first end  18  of the adjustable bar  16  and the second receptacle  14  is secured to the second end  20  of the adjustable bar  16 . It is within the scope of the present invention for the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  to be constructed integral with the adjustable bar  16 . 
   Both the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  are preferably 110 volts/60 Hertz power outlets with the outer casing of the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  being constructed from sturdy plastic materials and in a variety of colors. In addition, both the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  are rated at fifteen (15) amperes or twenty (20) amperes. It should be noted that it is within the scope of the present invention for the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  to be constructed from other materials and for the voltage, Hertz, and amperage of the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  to be greater than or less than 110 volts/60 Hertz. In addition, the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  can be equipped with GFCI. 
   Furthermore, preferably, the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration with a width of approximately four and one-half (4½″) inches and a height of approximately two and three-quarters (2¾″) inches. It should be noted that while the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  have been described as having particular widths and heights, it is within the scope of the present invention for the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  to have widths and heights greater than or less than the widths and heights specified herein. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable bar  16  of the extendable power source device  10  of the present invention preferably has a first adjustable bar portion  28  receivable within a second adjustable bar portion  30 . The first adjustable bar portion  28  is slidable relative to the second adjustable bar  30  portion to lengthen or shorten the adjustable  16  bar to the desired length. In this embodiment, the first receptacle  12  is secured to the first adjustable bar portion  28  and the second receptacle  14  is secured to the second adjustable bar portion  30 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , in an alternative embodiment, the adjustable bar  16  includes a center adjustable bar portion  32 , the first adjustable bar portion  28 , and the second adjustable bar portion  30 . The first adjustable bar portion  28  is slidable relative to the center adjustable bar portion  32  from the first end  18  of the adjustable bar  16  and the second adjustable bar portion  30  is slidable relative to the center adjustable bar portion  32  from the second end  18  of the adjustable bar  16  to lengthen or shorten the adjustable bar  16  to the desired length. In this embodiment, the first receptacle  12  is secured to the first adjustable bar portion  28  and the second receptacle  14  is secured to the second adjustable bar portion  30 . 
   Preferably, the adjustable bar  16  has a thickness of approximately three-sixteenths ( 3/16″) inch, a height of approximately three-quarters (¾″), and a length extendable between approximately two (2′) feet and five (5′) feet. It should be noted that while the adjustable bar  16  has been described as having particular thicknesses, heights, and lengths, it is within the scope of the present invention for the adjustable bar  16  to have thicknesses, heights, and lengths greater than or less than the thicknesses, heights, and lengths specified herein. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for adjustable bar  16  lengths between four (4′) feet and eight (8′) feet, the ends of the adjustable bars  16  include plugs  34  and receptacles  36  for connecting multiple adjustable bars  16  together. 
   The extendable power source device  10  of the present invention further includes appropriate electrical wiring (not shown) electrically connecting the first receptacle  12  and the second receptacle  14  in parallel. Preferably, the electrical wiring is routed through the interior area of the hollow adjustable bar  16  for transferring power from the first receptacle  12  to the second receptacle  14 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , furthermore, the extendable power source device  10  of the present invention includes means for securing  38  the first receptacle  12 , the second receptacle  14 , and the adjustable bar  16  flush against a horizontal or vertical surface. In a preferred embodiment, the means for securing  38  includes at least on strip of two-sided adhesive tape applied to the rear surfaces  26  of the second receptacle  14  and/or the adjustable bar  16 . It is preferred that the adhesive tape is not applied to the rear surface  26  of the first receptacle  12  so as not to interfere with the electrical connection between the first receptacle  12  and the original power receptacle on the existing wall electrical outlet. Using more than one strip of the two-sided adhesive tape or other means for securing is within the scope of the present invention. 
   The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.