ENSEMBLE POUR PRISE DE SORTIE

ASSEMBLY FOR AN OUTLET

Abrégé français

La présente invention concerne une prise de sortie pivotante, destinée à des équipements électriques ou autres, pouvant être installée dans différentes surfaces telles que des bureaux ou meubles similaires, des cloisons sèches, et des parois extérieures de bâtiments. La structure permet de monter de manière pivotante un support de fixation de prise de sortie doté d'une fente destinée à une prise de sortie alimentant un ou plusieurs dispositifs. Un bloc terminal sert à interconnecter la prise de sortie avec différentes sources destinées aux équipements. Le support de fixation de prise de sortie pivote entre une position de fonctionnement et une position de repos. Le support de fixation de prise de sortie intègre également une porte, un volet de porte, un guide de cordon, et un support de fixation de cordon. Le guide de cordon est conçu pour permettre à différents dispositifs d'être connectés à la prise de sortie même lorsque le support de fixation de prise de sortie se trouve en position de repos. Le support de fixation de cordon peut être utilisé pour maintenir en place les cordons de différents dispositifs. La combinaison de ces caractéristiques présente un certain nombre d'avantages comprenant la réduction de la tension imposée aux cordons, l'esthétique, et la protection contre les intempéries.

Abrégé anglais

A pivoting outlet, for electrical and other services, that can be installed in
various surfaces such as desktops or similar furniture, drywalls, and outside
walls of buildings. The structure pivotally mounts an outlet bracket with a
slot for an outlet providing one or more services. A terminal block is
included to interconnect the outlet to various sources for the services. The
outlet bracket is pivotally rotated between a working and a recessed position.
Further, a door, a door tab, a cord guide, and a cord bracket are integrated
with the outlet bracket. The cord guide is designed to allow various devices
to be connected to the outlet even with the outlet bracket in the recessed
position. The cord bracket may be used to secure the cords of the various
devices. The combination of these features has a number of advantages
including cord strain relief, aesthetics, and weather protection.

Revendications

7
CLAIMS
1. An assembly for an outlet, the outlet having a working face, the assembly
comprising:
a structure defining a surface having an opening;
an outlet bracket adapted to support the outlet and mounted to the structure
for
movement between a working position in which the working face is presented
within
the opening, and a recessed position in which a volume adjacent to the working
face is
available for component storage; and
a cord bracket, mounted on the outlet bracket and which projects into the
volume when the outlet bracket is in the recessed position, for a cord to wrap
around
in order to provide strain relief and to prevent a plug attached to the cord
from being
accidentally pulled out of the outlet.
2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a door connected to the outlet
bracket.
The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a cord guide which is integral
with at least one of the door and the structure for passage of a wire when the
outlet
bracket is in the recessed position.
4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one detent mechanism
mounted on the outlet bracket and the structure for holding the outlet bracket
in the
recessed position.
5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one detent mechanism
mounted on the outlet bracket and the structure for holding the outlet bracket
in the
working position.
6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one terminal block for
connecting the outlet to at least one source.

8
7. The assembly of claim 6, -wherein the terminal block is attached to the
structure.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet bracket has a slide mounting
for
holding the outlet.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet has at least one of electrical
outlet, data port, communications port, video port, and entertainment port.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cord bracket has a T shape.
11. An assembly for an outlet, the outlet having a working face, the assembly
comprising:
a structure defining a surface having an opening;
an outlet bracket adapted to support the outlet and mounted to the structure
for
movement between a working position in which the working face is presented
within
the opening, and a recessed position in which a volume adjacent to the working
face is
available for component storage;
a door connected to the outlet bracket;
a cord guide which is integral with at least one of the door and the structure
for
passage of a wire when the outlet bracket is in the recessed position;
at least one detent mechanism mounted on the outlet bracket and the structure
for holding the outlet bracket in the recessed position; and
a cord bracket, mounted on the outlet bracket and which projects into the
volume when the outlet bracket is in the recessed position, for a cord to wrap
around
in order to provide strain relief and to prevent a plug attached to cord from
being
accidentally pulled out of the outlet.
12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising at least one detent mechanism
mounted on the outlet bracket and the structure for holding the outlet bracket
in the
working position.

9
13. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising at least one terminal block
for
connecting the outlet to at least one source.
14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the terminal block is attached to the
structure.
15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the outlet bracket has a slide mounting
for
holding the outlet.
16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the outlet has at least one of
electrical
outlet, data port, communications port, video port, and entertainment port.

Description

CA 02400419 2002-08-15
WO 01/61815 PCT/CA01/00186
ASSEMBLY FOR AN OUTLET
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates in general to outlets and, more particularly, to an
assembly for electrical, data, optical, BNC outlets or connectors.
BACKGROUND ART
Most electrical devices have a cord with a plug to connect to a receptacle for
a
source of electrical power. Until recent times, usually one source and
therefore only
l0 one connection was required. However, in recent times, technological
progress has
resulted in an increasing number of useful devices that require connection to
a host of
other sources or devices to function properly. These other sources or devices,
herein
referred to as "services", may include electrical power supplies, networks
whether
data or mufti media, telephone lines, and communication networks. The
multiplicity
15 of different services has also resulted in a multiplicity of different
receptacles or
outlets. Further, these services have to be provided in a number of very
different
environments including the office, home, factory and outdoors.
While providing a range of different services, the receptacles or outlets are
further required to satisfy a number of requirements including ease of
replacement for
2o a different set of receptacles, ease of use, aesthetics, weather proofing,
and wire or
cord strain relief. There are a number of different outlet designs, but they
are not able
to satisfactorily meet all these requirements. They include recessed
receptacles with a
cover, temporary power/data taps, retractable power centers, and rotatable
receptacles.
It is desirable to have an assembly with an outlet which can be easily
replaced
25 to provide a different number of receptacles for different services even
after the
assembly has been installed; that allows users to easily connect and
disconnect the
plugs; that allows a door for a greater aesthetic appearances even when in
use; that
allows for weather proofing if necessary; and that provides strain relief for
the cords
of the various devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the assembly for an outlet,
where the outlet has a working face, comprises a structure defining a surface
having
an opening; an outlet bracket adapted to support the outlet and mounted to the

CA 02400419 2002-08-15
WO 01/61815 PCT/CA01/00186
2
structure for movement between a working position in which the working face is
presented within the opening, and a recessed position in which a volume
adjacent to
the working face is available for component storage; and a door movable
between an
opened position for permitting access to the opening and a closed position for
closing
the opening.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a cord bracket is attached
to the outlet bracket and which projects into a volume inside the assembly
when the
outlet bracket is in the recessed position. The cord bracket can be integral
with the
outlet bracket.
Therefore, the invention disclosed herein has certain advantages including an
outlet which can be easily replaced to provide a different number of
receptacles for
different services even after the assembly has been installed; allowing users
to easily
connect and disconnect the plugs; allowing the assembly to be covered by a
door for a
greater aesthetic appearances even during use; allowing for weather proofing
if
necessary; and providing strain relief for the cords of the various devices.
Other and further advantages and features of the inventions will be apparent
to
those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an assembly for an outlet, the outlet having a working face, the assembly
2o comprising:
a structure defining a surface having an opening;
an outlet bracket adapted to support the outlet and mounted to the structure
for
movement between a working position in which the working face is presented
within
the opening, and a recessed position in which a volume adjacent to the working
face is
available for component storage; and
a cord bracket, mounted on the outlet bracket and which projects into the
volume when the outlet bracket is in the recessed position, for a cord to wrap
around
in order to provide strain relief and to prevent a plug attached to the cord
from being
accidentally pulled out of the outlet.
3o In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided
an assembly for an outlet, the outlet having a working face, the assembly
comprising:

CA 02400419 2002-08-15
WO 01/61815 PCT/CA01/00186
3
a structure defining a surface having an opening;
an outlet bracket adapted to support the outlet and mounted to the structure
for
movement between a working position in which the working face is presented
within
the opening, and a recessed position in which a volume adjacent to the working
face is
available for component storage;
a door connected to the outlet bracket;
a cord guide which is integral with at least one of the door and the structure
for
passage of a wire when the outlet bracket is in the recessed position;
at least one detent mechanism mounted on the outlet bracket and the structure
to for holding the outlet bracket in the recessed position; and
a cord bracket, mounted on the outlet bracket and which projects into the
volume when the outlet bracket is in the recessed position, for a cord to wrap
around
in order to provide strain relief and to prevent a plug attached to cord from
being
accidentally pulled out of the outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts in the several
views, and in which:
2o Figure 1 is a partial sectional perspective view of the assembly for an
outlet
where the outlet is partially open;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the assembly for an outlet where the outlet is
in
the closed or recessed position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the assembly for
an outlet where the outlet is in the working or opened position;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the
assembly with a number of different types of receptacles in the working or
opened
position; and
Figure 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of another alternate
3o embodiment of the assembly where the outlet bracket is on a slide mounting
instead
of a pivot mounting.

CA 02400419 2002-08-15
WO 01/61815 PCT/CA01/00186
4
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred
embodiment of an assembly for an outlet for electrical power.
The assembly is designed to be a modular unit for ease of installation into a
drywall 44 adjacent to a wall stud 46. It has clearance holes 34 for mounting
screws.
The assembly includes a structure 10, an outlet bracket 14, an outlet 16, a
door 18, a
cord bracket 20, and a terminal block 24. The structure I 0 is composed of a
standard
metal double-gang junction box 48 and an outlet assembly housing 50. The
terminal
block 24 is attached to the back of the structure 10 in an out-of the-way
location on
to the outlet assembly housing 50. The electrical power wire (not shown)
passes through
a hole (not shown) in the junction box 48 and connects (not shown) to the
terminal
block 24. The terminal block 24 is further connected to the outlet 16 by
connect wire
32 for delivering electrical power to the outlet 16. The connect wire 32 is of
sufficient length to allow the full travel of the outlet bracket 14 from the
working
position to the recessed position.
The outlet bracket 14 is pivotally mounted across an edge of the opening 12 of
the structure 10 by a pivot pin 28. A detest mechanism 54 is attached to the
outlet
bracket 14 and the structure 10 to hold the outlet bracket 14 in the recessed
position
and to provide an initial resistance to the movement of the outlet bracket 14
from the
2o recessed position to the working position. The detest mechanism 54 is a
standard
externally threaded ball stud, which is attached to the outlet bracket 14, and
a
corresponding bracket to capture the ball, which is attached to the stmcture
10. An
outlet bracket open stop 21 is attached to structure 10 to stop the outlet
bracket 14
from rotating past the working position.
The outlet bracket 14 has a slide mounting 52 on one side of the pivoting axis
of the pivot pin 28, and the door 18 and cord bracket 20 on the other side.
The door
18 is integral with the outlet bracket 14. The cord bracket 20 is attached to
the outlet
bracket 14 adjacent to the working face 15 of the outlet 16 and projects into
the
structure 10 when the outlet bracket 14 is in the recessed position. The shape
of the
3o slide mounting 52 is designed to allow a standard electrical outlet to be
slid into the
mounting. A cord guide 42 is integral with the door I 8 and includes a power
cord
channel 22 on the structure 10. A door tab 36 is also integral with the door
18 to

CA 02400419 2002-08-15
WO 01/61815 PCT/CA01/00186
assist with opening the outlet bracket 14 and overcoming the resistance of the
detent
mechanism 54.
In this embodiment, the working position coincides with the opened position,
the recessed position coincides with the closed position, and the outlet
bracket 14 and
5 the door have a common axis of rotation. A plastic bezel 26 covers the front
surface
45 and the door 18. The colouring, texture and style of the plastic bezel 26
can be
chosen to match the surrounding decor.
The assembly can be used in both the working and recessed positions. A plug
38 can be connected to and used with the outlet 16 in the working position. A
cord 40
1o can also be wrapped around the cord bracket 20 to provide strain relief and
to prevent
the plug 38 from being accidentally and forcibly pulled out. The outlet
bracket 14 and
the door 18 can be closed or moved to the recessed position with the plug 38
connected to the outlet 16. The cord 40 can pass through the door 18 via the
cord
guide 42. Figure 2 illustrates a plug 38 and cord 40 connected to the outlet
16 in the
recessed position.
In the recessed position, with the cord 40 wrapped around the cord bracket 20,
further cord strain relief is provided as any pulling force on the cord 40
would have to
overcome the resistance of the detent mechanism and the force needed to rotate
the
outlet bracket 14.
In a further alternate embodiment, Figure 3 illustrates a latch 56 as an
additional means to hold the door 55 in the closed or recessed position.
In a further alternate embodiment, another detent mechanism has been added
to the above embodiments to hold the outlet bracket in the working position as
well as
preventing such from rotating past the working position.
Figure 4 illustrates a further application, the outlet provides a number of
different receptacles as provided by an electrical socket 62, co-axial cable
port 58, and
RJ11 port 60 for various services like electricity, data, communications,
video, and
entertaW ment.
Figure 5 illustrates a further alternate embodiment where the outlet bracket
is
3o slide mounted to the structure 76 on bracket slide 64 instead of being
pivotally
mounted to the structure 76. The assembly can be slid into or out of a wall or
other

CA 02400419 2002-08-15
WO 01/61815 PCT/CA01/00186
6
structure. The door 66, cord bracket 68, door tab 70, and cord guide 72 are
affixed to
the outlet bracket 74.
Although alternate embodiments of the invention have been described herein,
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made
thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the
appended claims.

Dessin représentatif