Abstract:
An electrical outlet and cord management system is described for connection to a mains power supply or a data source. The system includes a tower including a base and at least one electrical outlet with surge protection for selective connection of at least one electrical device having an electrical cord and a cover for selective connection to the tower, the cover for covering at least one electrical outlet and electrical cord and for containing and managing the electrical cord.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a free-standing electrical outlet system with a protective cover for managing electrical cords. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PRIOR ART 
     Many work environments require the use of multiple electrical outlets in a small space to provide electricity to various electrical devices. As is well known, electric outlets, electric plugs and electric cords pose a danger to people and, in particular, to young children. These risks range from electrical shock from improper handling of the plugs and outlets to the inadvertent entanglement with cords with the result that the electrical devices may fall causing injury to a person or damage to equipment. In an environment where there are many outlets, such as around computers, this danger is particularly acute. 
     Another risk from exposed outlets is that contaminating debris and liquids may cause an electrical short or electrical fire if the contaminants get into exposed outlets. 
     The prior art reveals various devices to address some of the safety needs required to prevent or minimize the above hazards. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,899,761 and 5,906,517 each teach electrical power bars with electrical outlets and covers for the power bars. Although these patents teach covering the outlets, such devices require a substantial amount of space on a desktop and do not provide a system for managing the cords of electrical devices plugged into the outlets. Further, these patents do not teach protecting electrical outlets from liquids. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,228 discloses an electrical power bar housed in a rectangular structure. Although this patent also teaches covering the electrical outlets, it requires a large amount of space on a desktop and does not teach covering the electrical outlets from various contaminants and in particular liquids which could potentially seep between its cover and hinge. 
     Accordingly, although the prior art teaches various structures for housing and covering outlets, the prior art does not provide a tower system which provides numerous electrical outlets and which manages the cords of plugged-in devices within a small space. 
     Accordingly, and in order to address the above problems and the deficiencies in the prior art, there has been a need for an electrical outlet and cord system providing: 
     1. a free-standing tower which reduces the surface area required for numerous electrical outlets on a floor or desktop; 
     2. a cover which protects people and, in particular, children from electrical outlets; 
     3. a cover which protects electrical outlets from contamination by debris and liquids; and 
     4. a cord management system which minimizes the risks to people and equipment from disorganized cords by providing an effective system for storing and organizing electrical cords associated with multiple electrical devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, there is provided an electrical outlet and cord management system for operative connection to a mains power supply or a data source comprising: 
     a tower including a base and at least one electrical outlet for selective connection of at least one electrical device having an electrical cord; and 
     a cover for selective connection to the tower; the cover for covering at least one electrical outlet and electrical cord and for containing and managing the electrical cord. 
     In a more specific embodiment, there is provided an electrical outlet and cord management system for operative connection to a mains power supply or a data source comprising: 
     a tower including a base having a diameter wider than the tower and a plurality of electrical outlets for selective connection of electrical devices having electrical cords; and, 
     a cover extending from the top of the tower to the base and defining a gap between the cover and the base when the cover is attached to the base; the cover for selective and operative connection to the tower and for containing and managing the electrical cord. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is described with reference to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of an electrical outlet tower and cover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with the cover attached; 
     FIG. 2 a  is a front elevation view of the electrical outlet tower in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with the cover removed showing optional trays; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical outlet tower in accordance with one embodiment of the invention showing alternative and stepped outlets on opposite sides of the tower; and, 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the assembled electrical outlet and cover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     System Overview 
     With reference to the Figures, an electrical outlet system  100  is described. The system  100  generally includes a base  64 , a tower  66 , a plurality of electrical outlets  62  about the tower, a cover  42 , a mains plug  50  which may also include a power and reset switch  52 . 
     The electrical outlet system  100  is placed where required, such as on a floor or desktop, to provide electricity for several electrical devices from a single mains power supply. After connecting the mains plug  50 , the cover  42  is removed and various electrical devices are connected to the outlets  62  in the normal manner but preferably starting with the lowermost outlet at the bottom of the tower. Before each device is plugged in to the tower  66 , any excess cord that would normally extend beyond the tower  66  if the cord were stretched out is coiled and placed against the tower  66  or wrapped around the tower  66  near the base  64 . The device&#39;s plug is then plugged in to the tower  66 . After all of the electrical devices have been plugged in and their respective cords organized, the cover  42  is placed over and around the tower and any electrical cords and secured to the tower so as to cover both the outlets and electrical cords. The mains plug  50  is plugged into a mains power supply to provide power to the electrical devices which may require activation of a power switch  52 . 
     As indicated above, as the cover  42  is placed on the tower  66 , the various cords are coiled and placed against or around the tower  66  where they are retained between the cover  42  and the base  64  thereby restricting movement of the electrical cords and reducing the length of free cord around the tower  66 . 
     Various embodiments of the system are described in greater detail below: 
     The tower  66  includes a plurality of electrical outlets  62 , a base  64 , a mains plug  50  and an optional power and reset switch  52 . The tower  66  would normally be positioned within close proximity of electrical devices and a mains power supply to allow the mains plug  50  to be plugged in. 
     Whilst the Figures show standard electrical outlets, the tower  66  may include other outlet types including data ports for data and fax communication lines and other connectors for computer peripheral equipment. In such an embodiment, the base  64  may be provided with additional connectors (male or female) to permit connection of the system to appropriate electrical devices. The tower  66  preferably includes a surge protection circuit including a reset switch for protecting electrical devices connected to the tower against voltage and current spikes. 
     In one embodiment, the tower is generally a rectangular cuboid. Opposite sides of the tower  66  include outlets  62  arranged vertically along the sides of the tower (FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b ). The vertical spacing between the outlets on each side ensures that the outlets  62  on the other side of the tower  66  are not directly across from each other in order to minimize the overall volume of the tower  66 . The bottom end of the tower  66  tapers outward to form a circular base  64  of a larger diameter to provide stability to the tower  66 . The base may include a securing system for firmly attaching the base to a horizontal or vertical surface such as appropriate holes to allow the base to be screwed or bolted to such a surface or an adhesive for gluing the base to the surface. As such, the tower  66  can be attached to a wall, desktop or other fixture such that the tower  66  extends at any angle to the horizontal or vertical to conserve space or provide easier access to electrical devices. 
     The tower may also include trays  63  or projections which extend outwardly to assist in the support of electrical cords that are wrapped around the tower  66 . 
     In another embodiment, the base may include horizontally protruding spokes  70  for placement beneath surrounding equipment to increase the stability of the tower  66 . 
     Still further, the base  64  can be made of a heavier material than the tower  66  to provide more stability for the tower  66  by lowering the center of gravity of the tower  66 . 
     The cover  42  is preferably an open-ended casing extending between the top of the tower  66  and base  64  of the tower  66 . The top of the casing is adapted for connection to the tower  66  and the bottom of the casing adapted to allow the passage of electrical cords from the inside of the tower  66  to the outside. The cover  42  may form a gap with the base  64  as shown in FIG. 3 or engage with the base  64  and include a number of small openings to allow the through-passage of the electrical cords. As described above, once all of excess cord has been coiled and the electrical devices plugged in to the electrical outlets  62 , the cover  42  is lowered over the tower  66  and the cords and the cover  42  are secured by appropriate fastening devices such as a screw  46 . 
     The connection of the cover  42  to the tower  66  ensures that any movement of the tower  66  also moves the cover  42  which provides additional safety by covering the outlets  62  in the event that the tower  66  is knocked over. 
     In further embodiments the cover  42  may be designed to include decorative features and shapes including auxiliary lighting (including but not limited to strobe lights, neon effects, dramatic lighting), holograms and fluid flowing through the cover  42  to provide lighting effects. 
     The top of the cover  42  is preferably arcuate in order to minimize the horizontal surfaces which may otherwise collect dust and to provide additional strength in the cover  42 . 
     The cover  42  is preferably made of a durable material resilient to denting from falling debris for providing greater protection for the tower  66  and includes a smooth surface to avoid beading of liquids exposed to the cover  42 . Such materials may include appropriate plastics or metals as are known in the art.