Abstract:
A device designed to fit in a window that provides electrical power and signal connections for appliances used outdoors.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In todays age of technology and outdoor recreation an ever expanding number of outdoor appliances and tools have been converted to electric power. Lawn mowers, hedge clippers, and snow blowers now very often &#34;plug in&#34; to an electric outlet. Televisions, radios and other appliances usually used indoors come outside during period of pleasant weather. 
     The homeowner or even an apartment dweller often needs electrical power outside where no convenient connection exists. The solution in the past was to throw an extention cord out the window nearest the area of use. The drawbacks of this solution include leaving the windows slightly ajar, which admits unwanted pesty insects and causes the loss of heat in winter and air conditioning in the summer. Closing the window damages the extention cord and creates a shock hazard. 
     This invention solves those problems by providing electrical outlets and places for signal jacks on a panel that fits in the window. The panel adjusts to any window size and has resilient seals along the edge so that the window may be closed maintaining the integrity of the heated or cooled interior. A heavy duty power cord with three prong grounding plug connects to an interior house power wall outlet allowing the user to plug outside power cords into the panel outlets. Mounting holes or knock outs are provided to allow jacks to be inserted in the panel to permit connectons of electronic cables such as for TV, telephone and stereo. Plastic plugs are provided to close those holes not used. The outlets, power cord and jacks are located nearer one end of the panel so the assembly may be installed with either long edge up to allow the power cord and connections to be to the left or right side of a winder opening to take advantaage of the nearest interior power outlet. The invention is configured so that it may be installed vertically in a casement style window. A removable flat bracket mounts on the rear edge and projects beyond the edge of the panel to catch against the closed edge of the window to prevent the panel from being pulled out of the window opening. Clamping for the outside cables provides strain relief to keep those cables from being pulled out of their connections. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1. Depicts the external view of the panel mounted in a standard window with an expanded detail of one corner shown to illustrate how the end of the weather strip may fold over. 
     FIG. 2. Depicts a vertical cross-section (A--A) of the panel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the panel assembly (1) consists of a hollow enclosure (3) oblong in shape closed at one shorter end and open at the other from which extends an oblong inner panel (5) dimensioned to maintain a snug slide fit within the hollow of the outer enclose (3). Both the enclosure (3) and the inner panel are made of suitable material such as plastic, wood or sheet metal to provide rigidity in application and to mount the various components. Affixed along the closed edges of the enclosure by suitable means such as adhesive are continuous weather strips (7) of a resilient and compressible material such as rubber or plastic foam which strips (7) extends for some length beyond the open end of the enclosure (3). Affixed along the shorter edge of the inner panel (5) which protrudes from the enclosure (3) by similar means is a continuous weather strip (9) of the same material as the longer strips (7). 
     Referring to FIG. 2, mounted by suitable means through the front surface of the enclosure towards the closed end, is a commercially available standard electrical box (11) containing one or more standard duplex electrical outlets with covers (13) which are wired to a commercially available heavy duty standard power cord and grounded three prong plug (15) which is secured to by mechanical means (37), such as a clamp and protrudes from the back of the enclosure (3) in the area of the outlets (13). A flat oblong bracket (17) which extends beyond one edge is mounted to the rear surface along the top of the enclosure (3) by a suitable mounting means (19) such as sheet metal or self-tapping screws of sufficient length that when tightened in place, they penetrate the rear surface of the inner panel (5) holding it in place against the enclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, on the front surface of the enclosure (3) in the area of the outlets (13) are a number of prepunched knockout holes (21) of various sizes for the installation of electronic jacks or recepticle such as telephone modular recepticle (33) and coaxial cable TV jack (not shown). The preferred embodiment of this feature are prepunched knockout holes. A suitable alternative is prepunched holes (21) with plastic plugs (23) provided to close unused holes (21). An opening (25) in the rear surface of the enclosure (3) just behind the knockout holes (21) provides access to the knockout holes (21). 
     In application the user places the &#34;Window Outlet&#34; assembly (1) in the bottom of an open window frame (27). The proximity of an interior power outlet (not shown) determines if the closed end of the enclosure(3) is to the left or right. The inner panel (3) is extended so both weather strips (7) and (9) press against the side of the window frame (27). The lower and upper weather strips (7) are folded at the ends so the fold rests against the window frame (27) and on top of the side weather strip (9). The bracket (17) is mounted on the upper rear surface of the enclosure and the mounting screws (19) are tightened, which fixes the inner panel (5) in place. The movable part of the window (29) is closed against the assembly (1) pressing against the upper weather strip (7). The pressure of the closed window (29) compresses the folded ends of the weather strip (7) and seals the installation. The protrusion of the bracket (17) behind the edge of the closed window (29) keeps the assembly (1) from being pulled out of the frame (27). The power cord and plug (15) is inserted in the interior power outlet (not shown). 
     The user may then connect his appliance power cords (31) to the electrical outlets(13) in the assembly (1). The available panel knockouts (21) may be punched out to install through panel connectors such as a modular telephone plug (33) or connectors for a video tape recorder (not shown) to correct video and audio cables (not shown). The assembly (1) will work in a vertical orientation in a sliding casement window (not shown). A clamping means (35) such as a commercially available cable clamp or spring clamp is used to provide strain relief for any exterior cables (not shown) and the appliance power cords (31).