Patent ID: 6979209

Claim:
A utility receptacle assembly comprising: a) a base member adapted to be placed within an opening in a work surface, the base member defining a recess; b) a receptacle member pivotally connected to the base member within the recess and movable between an open position and a closed position, the receptacle member including at least one receptacle opening adapted to receive a receptacle therein; c) a biasing member engaged between the receptacle member and the base member to bias the receptacle member to the open position; and d) a latch arrangement for selectively maintaining the receptacle member in the closed position, wherein the latch arrangement includes a stop member on one of the base member and the receptacle member, and a movable latch member that is slidably mounted for lateral movement on the other of the base member and the receptacle member, wherein the latch member is laterally movable between a latching position in which the latch member is engaged with the stop member to maintain the receptacle member in the closed position, and a release position in which the latch member is disengaged from the stop member to enable movement of the receptacle member between the open and closed positions, and wherein the latch member includes a wedge member that is configured and arranged to engage the stop member and to move the latch member laterally from the latching position to the release position upon inward movement of the receptacle member from the closed position to enable the receptacle member to move outwardly to the open position under the influence of the biasing member.