Patent Abstract:
A simplified extensible raceway for electrical outlets including a cutable raceway that includes an electrical extension cord that can plug into an existing outlet and be extended in any direction by connection within the raceway to electrical outlet box(es) that engage the raceway and an existing supporting structure. The raceway and associated electrical outlet system can be extended by the addition of additional pairs of electrical extension cords having both male and female ends connected to additional electrical outlets.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a do-it-yourself electrical distribution system that utilizes an extensible raceway that includes extension cords connecting outlet boxes that can be mounted at varying positions along the raceway. The system permits easy installation of external outlets that can be placed at various distances along the raceway. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wall outlets provide access to electrical service in buildings and home. It is not unusual, especially in older structures, that it is desired to provide additional outlets along or up a wall to accommodate the installation of additional electrical equipment. A wide variety of so-called “power strips”, track systems and cordless extension systems have been designed and provided for this purpose. The installation of conventional track systems generally requires “hard wiring” of the system into the existing electrical system of the structure. This tends to be complicated and dangerous for the homeowner. To overcome this problem, systems such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,621 to Elmouchi, that include an adaptor that enables manual electrical coupling between a conductor strip and a conventional duplex wall outlet when the adaptor is positioned over the face of the outlet have been designed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,165 to Nadeau describes an electric power distribution system that plugs into an existing outlet and along which various wall outlets may be positioned. U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,686 to Longmire shows a raceway plugged into an existing wall outlet that may be extended using a series of additional raceways to form an arrangement where an electrical plug can be plugged into the raceway at varying lengths. 
     While all of the foregoing provide useful solutions to the problem of adding electrical distribution inside of a structure without hard wiring, there remains the problem of terminating the raceway contained wiring or conductor strip when the length of the section of raceway purchased does not exactly meet the length required for a particular installation. For example, if one were running such a strip along the base of a wall from a point that required a turn at a corner two feet, three and one half inches from the last junction, it would be necessary to cut the purchased strip to obtain such an odd length. This poses the problem of joining the next strip section, to that already cut, at the corner. A similar problem could occur in any installation and for a variety of reasons. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a simplified extensible raceway for electrical outlets comprising a cutable raceway that includes an electrical extension cord that can plug into an existing outlet and be extended in any direction by connection within the raceway to electrical outlet box that engages the raceway and an existing supporting structure and includes an additional pair of electrical extension cords having both male and female ends. Terminal electrical outlet boxes are also provided. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a partially blown-apart view of the electrical outlet raceway of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical outlet raceway system of the present invention comprises raceway  10 , outlet box(es)  12 , electrical outlet(s)  14 , and male  15  and female  17  connector equipped extension cords  16  and  18 . Attachment plates  20 , and  22 , whose function will be explained hereinafter, are mounted on surface  24  to which the raceway system is being attached. 
     Raceway  10  is preferably manufactured from a material that is easily cut to length such as a plastic. Since extension cords  16  and  18 , described below, already have an insulation layer thereon, raceway  10  could be fabricated from an easy to cut metal such as aluminum or some other thin gauge metal. 
     Each of outlet boxes  12  include breakaway channel entries  28  on all four sides and slots  30  in their side walls for engagement with tabs  32  on outlet mounting plates  20 . Each of electrical outlets  14  has connected thereto or integrated therewith at least one extension cord  16  and/or  18 . In the case where the initial connection is being made with an existing electrical outlet  26 , the electrical outlet  14  is equipped with a single extension cord  34  having a male connector  36  whose tines extend at right angles from extension cord  34  to make installation easier. In the case of the terminal electrical outlet  36 , it is equipped with a single male connector  15  equipped extension cord  16  since a second extension cord is not required. 
     Those outlet mounting boxes  12  that include an electrical outlet  14  have a cover plate  38  that includes openings for electrical outlets  14 . Cover plates  38  include a screw hole  40  for insertion of screw  42  that secures electrical outlet  14  in outlet box  12 . Cover plate  38  is preferably formed as an integral unit with outlet box  12 , but may also be a separate unit attached to outlet box  12  by means of screws (not shown). In the case of the initial attachment of the raceway system of the present invention with the existing outlet  26 , a solid cover plate  44  is included in outlet box  12 . 
     Raceway cover  52  having flanges  54  that engage mating flanges  56  on raceway  10  provide the means for closing raceway  10  after installation as described below. 
     In the case where it is necessary to carry the raceway system of the present invention around a corner, an angular raceway section  50  can be provided. In the alternative, a miter may be cut in the top and bottom surfaces of raceway  10  and raceway  10  then bent around the corner using its rear surface to hold it together. In the case of an outside angled corner, an appropriate raceway member formed for such purpose is used. 
     Installation of the raceway system of the present invention is accomplished by selecting an existing outlet  26  from which it is desired to extend further outlets. The conventional cover plate (not shown) is removed and outlet-mounting plate  22  attached about existing outlet  26 . At those locations where it is desired to mount an outlet box, outlet mounting plate(s)  20  are attached to surface  24  using appropriate fasteners. Outlet mounting plate  22  is a modified version of mounting plate  20  having an opening at the center thereof to permit access to existing outlet  26  while providing tabs  32  for attachment of outlet box  12  thereover. Sections of raceway  10  are then cut to the appropriate length, if necessary, and applied to surface  24  extending in the direction that installation of additional outlets is desired, either vertically or horizontally as shown in the FIG.  1 . Raceway sections  10  may be attached to the wall or held in place by engagement of the openings provided by removal of break away channel entries  28  in outlet box(es)  12  with raceway  10 . It is preferred that mounting plates  20  be attached to surface  24  using some appropriate fastener or adhesive. Once mounting plates  20  and raceway  10  are properly sized and secured, the appropriate type of outlet box  12 , terminal, in-line or initial connection, is installed at each of the appropriate locations, as shown in FIG. 1, by engaging tabs  32  with slots  30 . The various extension cords  16  and  18  are then plugged together and inserted into raceway  10 . As is apparent, when a section of raceway  10  has been shortened by cutting, extension cords  16  and  18  are “shortened” by folding or otherwise inside of raceway  10 . If electrical outlets  14  are located at the ends of several sections of raceway  10 , an appropriate length of extension cord can be installed in raceway  10  therebetween. Cover  52  is then snapped into place over raceway  10  by engagement of flanges  54  and  56 . Finally, connection of the installed system is made to existing electrical outlet  26  and the final outlet box  12 , having a planar cover plate  48  in lieu of an electrical outlet, engaged with modified mounting plate  22 , to complete the installation. 
     As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in any ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Any and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7