Abstract:
An office furniture system including at least one modular wall panel, a work surface attached to the at least one modular wall panel and a spill tolerant outlet coupled with the work surface. The spill tolerant outlet including a housing having a side and an opposite side, a plurality of electrical terminals accessible through the side and at least one fluid drain opening in the opposite side.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/420,416, entitled “DUPLEX RECEPTACLE WITH DRAIN HOLES”, filed Oct. 22, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an electrical receptacle, and, more particularly, to a spill tolerant electrical outlet.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    The modern office environment often consists of large open areas or floor space that is divided into separate and distinct work areas by way of a modular wall panel system. Modular wall panels can be moved about with relative ease to change an office floor plan. Contained in modular wall panels are modular power distribution systems, which may include a wiring harness or wiring channel that is connected to a modular electrical device such as an electrical outlet. A wiring harness or channel typically includes a plurality of wires, which are associated with line, neutral and ground conductors of the power distribution system.  
           [0006]    The distribution of electrical power in a modular power distribution system is accomplished by way of a plurality of connected, electrically pre-wired wiring harnesses that contain a plurality of power, neutral and ground lines. Connected to the wiring harness is a modular electrical outlet, which is electrically connected to a power source.  
           [0007]    Work surfaces are often attached to, or even supported by, modular wall panels. Often a power distribution box is placed on the work surface and is interconnected with the power distribution system to provide easy access to electrical power on the work surface.  
           [0008]    A work surface in an office or other working environment often contains a plethora of electronics equipment, paper reports and manuals, a telephone, lighting, and personal needs. Personal needs that are often located on the work surface include such items as beverage containers. If a beverage container or other fluid container is spilled on the work surface not only is there inconvenience but a potential hazard if the fluid enters an electrical outlet.  
           [0009]    What is needed in the art is an electrical assembly that can tolerate fluid spills.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention provides a spill tolerant electrical outlet having an escape path for fluids, which may enter the electrical outlet.  
           [0011]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an office furniture system including at least one modular wall panel, a work surface attached to the at least one modular wall panel and a spill tolerant outlet coupled with the work surface. The spill tolerant outlet includes a housing having a side and an opposite side, a plurality of electrical terminals accessible through the side and at least one fluid drain opening in the opposite side.  
           [0012]    An advantage of the present invention is that fluid that enters the electrical outlet is directed to a drain hole through which the fluid can escape.  
           [0013]    Another advantage is that the electrical outlet does not retain fluids therein.  
           [0014]    Yet another advantage is that the electrical outlet of the present invention may be utilized in other applications. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular wall panel system including a spill tolerant outlet of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electrical assembly utilized in the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a front view of an electrical outlet of the present invention utilized in the electrical assembly of FIG. 2 and in the modular wall panel system of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is an opposite side view of the electrical outlet of FIG. 3; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical outlet of FIGS. 3 and 4 viewed from  5 - 5 . 
     
    
       [0021]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention contained in a modular wall panel system  10 . Modular wall panel System  10  includes modular wall panels  12 , wiring channel assembly  14 , work surface  16 , and electrical assembly  18 . Modular wall panel system  10  is a typical system used in an office environment allowing the construction of work space modules within an open area of an office floor space.  
         [0023]    On a portion of wall panel  12  there is a wiring channel assembly  14  wherein electrical power is distributed through wall panels  12 .  
         [0024]    Work surface  16  is connected to at least one wall panel  12  and is a substantially horizontal surface, which provides a work space area for a person in the office environment. There may be various items located on work surface  16  such as a computer system, telephone system, books, papers, and other equipment. In order to power the electronics in an office environment there is provided electrical assembly  18 , which includes a telephone jack  22 , a data jack  24 , a lid  26 , a cord  28  and a housing  29  that is inset into work surface  16 .  
         [0025]    Telephone jack  22  and data jack  24  are respectively connected with telephone and data circuits and thereby providing a convenient connection at work surface  16  to those services. Lid  26  sets in a recessed pocket and is positioned on the top of housing  29  by pulling up on lid  26  and then hinging lid  26  down over top of telephone jack  22  and data jack  24 . Lid  26  has a opening  30  such that when lid  26  is closed access to electrical outlet  20  is still possible therethrough.  
         [0026]    Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, there is shown electrical outlet  20  that includes power terminal opening  32 , neutral terminal opening  34 , ground terminal opening  36 , attachment screws  38 , housing  40 , front side  42 , back side  44 , electrical feed connections  46 , fluid escape openings  48  and sloped portions  50 .  
         [0027]    Electrical outlet  20  is positioned in electrical assembly  18  and is electrically connected to a power source by way of cord  28 . Electrical outlet  20 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is normally installed in a substantially horizontal manner with openings  32 ,  34  and  36  facing upward from horizontal surface  16 . Housing  40  has a front side  42  and a back side  44 , with front side  42  having openings  32 ,  34  and  36  therein. Opening  32  allows the power terminal of a standard  120  volt plug to enter therethrough to make electrical connection therein. In a like manner neutral terminal opening  34  and ground terminal opening  36  provide openings for the other two terminals of a standard electrical plug. Electrical feed connections  46  allow electrical wiring (not shown) to be connected to electrical outlet  20 .  
         [0028]    Fluid escape openings  48  are located along and through back side  44  in such a fashion as to allow fluid that may accumulate within electrical outlet  20  to escape therefrom. Openings  48  are large enough to allow the flow of fluid therethrough yet are sized small enough to prevent the entry of most insects therethrough. As can be seen in FIG. 5, sloped areas  50  may be included to further direct fluid toward fluid escape openings  48 .  
         [0029]    The purpose of fluid escape openings  48  is to allow electrical outlet  20  to be tolerant of spills of fluid that may enter through openings  32 ,  34  and  36  of front side  42 . If fluid is spilled onto the top of electrical outlet  20  some fluid may enter through openings  32 ,  34  and  36 . To prevent puddling or pooling of the fluid within electrical outlet  20  fluid escape openings  48  are positioned to remove fluid that enters therein. The goal is to provide an electrical outlet  20  that is tolerant to spills in such a manner as to prevent an electrical short circuit within electrical outlet  20 .  
         [0030]    Underwriter Laboratories “UL” includes a spill test section in safety standard UL-1363. One of the criteria of this standard is that spilled fluid is not to be allowed to create a conductive path between receptacle conductors within an electrical outlet such as electrical outlet  20 . The goal is to maintain the dielectric integrity of the conductors after the injection of a measured amount of conductive fluid.  
         [0031]    While the description of the invention illustrates a manner in which electrical outlet  20  may be manufactured, a standard duplex outlet can also be modified by the adding of fluid drain openings  48  through a back side  44  of electrical outlet  20 . The positioning of fluid drain openings  48  is such that they are drilled, abraded, melted or otherwise made through back side  44  in portions of electrical outlet  20  that do not have conductive members proximate thereto. Additionally, the location of fluid escape openings  48  are such that they are at low spots in housing  40  so that accumulated fluid will be directed toward fluid escape openings  48 . Even if the interior of housing  40  is relatively flat, appropriately placed fluid escape openings  48  will substantially drain fluid that enters through openings  32 ,  34  and  36  to prevent a conductive path from forming between conductors therein.  
         [0032]    In use electrical outlet  20  is mounted horizontally in a work surface with front side  42  facing up. If a fluid spill occurs on work surface  16  fluid entering through openings  32 ,  34  and  36  will flow toward back side  44  and then escape through openings  48 . Electrical outlet  20 , even though being modified by the inclusion of fluid drain holes  48 , can still be utilized in non-horizontal surfaces without compromising any electrical characteristic needed in that application.  
         [0033]    Alternatively, drain holes  48  may be located along corners of housing  40  adjacent to back side  44 .  
         [0034]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.