Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02539765 2006-03-08
ELECTRICAL OUTLET PLUG STRIP
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 , FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an eiectrical outlet piug strip and more
particularry to an
electrical outlet plug strip for use beneath a kitchen cabinet positioned
above a kitchen
countertop.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In most kitchens, cabinets are positianed above horizontally extending
countertops. Frequently, electrical outlet plug strips are secured to the
supporting wall
directly below the bottom of the cabinet, The electrical outlet plug strips
are usually of
one or two designs. In one prior art design, such as illustrated in Fig. 1,
the prior art
plug strip includes a vertically disposed outer wall in which horizontally
spaced-apart
eieetrical outlets are provided. Although the electricai outlets are fairly
visible to the
person about to insert an electrical plug into one of the outlets, the close
proximity of
the outlet to the bottom wall of the cabinet makes it difficult for a person
to grasp the
electrical plug and insert the same into the outlet due to the small distance
between
the outlet and the bottom wall of the cabinet.
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In the prior art embodiment of Fig. 2, the electrical outlets are provided in
the
bottom of the plug strip which eliminates the clearance problems of the strip
of Fig. 1.
However, since the outlets are located in the bottom wall of the strip, it is
difficult, if not
impossible, for a person to visually observe the outlet to enable the person
to praperly
position the electrical plug to facilitate the insertion of the plug into the
outlet. This is
made especially difficult due to the fact that the countertop positioned below
the
cabinet makes it difficult for a person to position his/her head to observe
the
connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An eiectrical out}Qt plug strip is described comprising an elongated,
horizontally
disposed hollow housing having a horizontal(y disposed upper wall member
having
inner and outer ends, a vertically disposed inner wall member having upper and
lower
ends extending downwardly from the inner end of the upper wall member, a
horizontally disposed bottom wall member having inner and outer ends extending
outwardly from the lower end of the inner wall member, and an angularly
disposed
outer wall member which extends between the outer end of the upper wall member
and the outer end of the bottom wall member. The outer wall member extends
downwardly and inwardly from its upper end to the outer end of the boitom wall
member. A plurality of horizontally spaced electrical outlets are positioned
in the
angularly disposed outer wall member.
The outer wall member is selectively removably positioned between the upper
wall member and the bottorn wall member with the outer wall member being snap-
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fitted into position between the upper and lower wall members. Preferably, the
upper wall member, inner wall member and bottom wall member are formed from a
one-piece extruded aluminum matetial. End caps are positioned at the opposite
ends of the housing to selectively close the same. The housing may also
contain
low voltage electrical leads to enabie iow voltage lights, remote from the
plug strip,
to be powered thereby. The plug strip of this invention is ideally suited for
use
beneath a kitchen cabinet positioned above a horizontally disposed countertop.
The
angularly disposed outer wall member enables electrical plugs to be easily
Inserted
into the outlets due to the inclined design of the outer wall member. The
inclined
outer wall member not only provides clearance for a person's hand, but atso
enables
a person to visually observe the electrical outlet as the plug is being
inserted
thereinto.
The embodiment described hereinafter may provide one or more of the
following advantages or features:
an improved electrical outlet plug strip;
an improved electrical outlet plug strip which Is ideally suited for use
beneath
a kftchen cabinet disposed above a kitchen countertop;
an electrical outlet plug strip of the type described above wherein electrical
outlets are provided in an inclined outer wall member thereof which not only
provides
dearance for the person installing a plug member into the outlet but which
also
enables the person to observe the electrical outlet during the insertion of
the plug
into the outlet;
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an electrical outlet plug strip which not only contains high voitage
eiectricai
outlets, but which also Includes low voltage electrical wires therein for
powering low
voitege lights positioned beneath a kitchen cabinet remote from the plug
strip; and/or
an electrical outlet plug strip of the type described above which is
economical
of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a sectional view iiiustrating one type of plug strip of the prior
art.
Figure 2 is a sectional view Illustrating a second type of prior art plug
strip.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the plug strip of this invention.
Figure 4 is a partial exploded perspective view of the plug strip of this
invention with one of the end caps Illustrated in a removed position.
Figure 5 is an end view of the plug strip Illustrating the front wall in a
closed
position with the broken lines iiiustrating the front wall in an open
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
F-gure 1 illustrates a typical electrical outiet plug strip of the prior art
and
which is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10. The plug strip 10
is
usually an elongated, horizontaiiy disposed housing which is posftioned
directiy
beneath a horIzontaify extending bottom wall 12 of a kitchen cabinet which is
secured to a vertically disposed wall 14 in conventional fashion. Usually, but
not
necessarily, a
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horizontally disposed countertop 16 extends outwardly from the wall 14 below
the
bottom wall 12 of the cabinet. Frequently, tile or granite 18 is secured to
the exterior
surface of the wall 14 between the plug strip 10 and the countertop 16. In the
embodiment of Fig. 1, the electrical outlets 20 are provided in the vertically
disposed
outer wall 21 of the plug strip 10. The close proximity of the outlets 20 to
the bottom
surface of the bottom wall 12 of the cabinet makes it extremely difficult to
provide
sufficient clearance for a person's hand to easily insert an electrical plug
into one of
the outlets 20.
Fig. 2 illustrates an electrical outlet plug strip which is referred to
generally by
the reference numeral 22. The plug strip 22 has the electrical outlets 20
provided in
the horizontally extending bottom wall 23 thereof. Although the embodiment of
Fig. 2
makes it somewhat easier to insert electrical plugs into the outlets 20, it is
difficult for a
person to visually observe the outlets 20 due to the positioning of the
countertop 16
and the cabinet.
It is the shortcomings of the types of embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 that the
instant invention is provided so as to not only enable a person to have
sufficient
clearance for his or her hand to effect the insertion of an electrical plug
into an
electrical outlet, but also to enable a person to be able to visually observe
the electrical
outlet during the plugging-in step.
The electrical outlet plug strip of this invention is referred to generally by
the
reference numeral 24 which is comprised of an elongated, horizontally disposed
housing 26 having opposite ends 28 and 30. Housing 26 includes a horizontally
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disposed upper wall member 32 having an inner end 34 and an outer end 36. The
numeral 38 refers to an inner wall member of housing 26 which has an upper end
40
and a lower end 42. Housing 26 also includes a horizontally disposed bottom
wall
member 44 having an inner end 46 and an outer end 48. Preferably, upper wall
member 32, inner wall member 38 and bottom wall member 44 are comprised of an
extruded or pultruded aluminum material although other materials may also be
utilized.
The opposite ends 28 and 30 of the housing are open and are selectively closed
by
end caps 50. As seen in the drawings, the length of the upper wall member 32
is
greater than the length of the bottom wall member 44. The upper wall member 32
is
provided with an elongated arcuate connector shoulder 52 which is positioned
inwardly
of the outer end 36 at the bottom surface thereof, as seen in Fig. 5. Bottom
wall
member 44 is provided with an elongated arcuate lip 54 at its outer end which
defines
a recess 56. 8ottom wall member 44 is also provided with a shoulder 58 which
is
positioned inwardly of lip 54, as seen in Fig. 5.
The numeral 60 refers to the outer wall member or cover of the housing 26
which is snap-fitted into place to close the outer end of the housing 26. The
upper end
of outer wall member 60 has an inwardly protruding portion 62 which defines an
arcuate recess 64 and a shoulder 66. The outer wall member 60 is provided with
a
protruding connector element 67 including an outwardly extending member 68 at
its
lower end.
Outer wall member fi0 is mounted on housing 26 as follows. The outer wall
member 60 is manipulated so that the member 68 is positioned in the recess 56.
The
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upper end of outer wall member 60 is pivotally moved upwardly and inwardly so
that
connector shoulder 52 is received by the recess 64 to effect a snap-in
connection
therebetween. The shoulder 66 yieldably prevents the disconnection of the
upper end
of the outer wall member 60 from the connector sheulder 52. When the outer
wall
member 60 is mounted on the housing 26 as described, the shoulder 58 prevents
the
lower end of the outer wall member 60 from moving inwardly with respect to the
bottom wall 44. When it is desired to open the outer end of the housing 26, a
screw
driver or the like is inserted into the gap 70 and manipulated to disconnect
the inwardly
protruding portion 62 from the shoulder 52.
The outer wall 60 is provided with a plurality of horizontally spaced
electrical
outlets 72 fom7ed therein which are of the 110-115 VAC type, Electrical wires
extending from a source of electrical power enter the inner wall member 38 and
are
connected to the outlets 72 in conventional fashion. If desired, the outer
surface of
outer wall member 60 may be covered with a decorative plate or the like. Outer
wall
60 may also have a low voltage connector or receptacle 74 pravided therein
which is
connected to low voltage electrical leads In the interior of the housing 26,
Low voltage
lights positioned on the underside of the cabinet may be electrically
connected to the
receptacle 74 if so desired,
Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of Its stated
objectives.
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