US20230352892A1 - Power delivery assembly and components thereof - Google Patents
Power delivery assembly and components thereof Download PDFInfo
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- US20230352892A1 US20230352892A1 US18/218,632 US202318218632A US2023352892A1 US 20230352892 A1 US20230352892 A1 US 20230352892A1 US 202318218632 A US202318218632 A US 202318218632A US 2023352892 A1 US2023352892 A1 US 2023352892A1
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- wall
- interior
- enclosure
- cord
- assembly
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- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
- H02G3/10—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for surface mounting on a wall
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R25/00—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
- H01R25/006—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/44—Means for preventing access to live contacts
- H01R13/447—Shutter or cover plate
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
- H02G3/081—Bases, casings or covers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/30—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
- H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
Definitions
- a power delivery assembly for a pergola or other building is provided.
- the power delivery assembly includes a housing and a power strip.
- FIG. 1 is a right isometric view depicting a vertical post of a pergola and a power delivery assembly coupled with the vertical post, the power delivery assembly having a cover shown in an opened position and a shelf shown in a stored position;
- FIG. 2 is a left isometric view depicting the power delivery assembly of FIG. 1 , but with the cover shown in a closed position and the shelf shown in a deployed position;
- FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the power delivery assembly of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view depicting a front enclosure of the power delivery assembly of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 5 is a lower plan view of the front enclosure of FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 6 is a front isometric view depicting a rear enclosure of the power delivery assembly of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7 - 7 in FIG. 2 but with the shelf shown in a stored position and with certain components removed for clarity of illustration.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a vertical post 10 that is part of a pergola.
- a power delivery assembly 12 can be coupled with the vertical post 10 and configured to facilitate powering of a corded electrical device, such as a charger for a mobile device (e.g., mobile phone or tablet), a string of lights, or an extension cord.
- a corded electrical device such as a charger for a mobile device (e.g., mobile phone or tablet), a string of lights, or an extension cord.
- a pergola e.g., 10
- the power delivery assembly 12 can be used on any of a variety of suitable alternative buildings, such as a gazebo, an arbor, a shed, a pavilion, a pole barn, a house, or a high rise building, for example.
- the power delivery assembly 12 can include a housing 14 that extends between an upper end 16 and a lower end 18 .
- a power strip 20 can be supported by the housing 14 and can include a body 22 and a cord 24 .
- the body 22 can include a plurality of electrical sockets 28 that are each configured to interface with an electrical cord (not shown).
- the cord 24 can include a plug (not shown) (e.g., a male plug) that can allow for the power strip 20 to be plugged into a power source, such as an energized extension cord, to transmit electrical power to the electrical sockets 28 .
- the body 22 can also include a switch 30 that is operable to selectively energize the electrical sockets 28 .
- a cover 32 can be disposed at the upper end 16 of the housing 14 and pivotally coupled thereto such that the cover 32 is pivotable between an opened position ( FIG. 1 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 2 ).
- the cover 32 When the cover 32 is in the closed position, it can overlie the body 22 of the power strip 20 to protect the body 22 from being exposed to environmental conditions, such as precipitation or airborne particulates, which could adversely affect the operation of the power strip 20 .
- the cover 32 can define a plurality of slots 34 ( FIG. 1 ) that can allow for routing of any electrical cords (not shown) to the electrical sockets 28 when the cover 32 is in the closed position.
- the cover 32 can be biased into the closed position by a pair of springs 35 ( FIG. 2 ).
- a shelf 36 can be disposed at the lower end 18 of the housing 14 and pivotally coupled thereto such that the shelf 36 is pivotal between a stored position ( FIG. 1 ) and a deployed position ( FIG. 2 ).
- an electronic device 38 can be provided on the shelf 36 beneath the body 22 of the power strip 20 and plugged into the electrical sockets 28 to facilitate charging of the electronic device 38 .
- the electronic device 38 can be a tablet (as illustrated in FIG. 2 ), a mobile phone, a laptop, a smart watch, a portable speaker, headphones, earbuds, or any of a variety of suitable alternative rechargeable electronic devices.
- the shelf 36 can be pivoted into the stored position to prevent the shelf 36 from being inadvertently contacted (e.g., by a passerby).
- the housing 14 and the shelf 36 can be formed of a thermoplastic material and the cover 32 can be formed of a polycarbonate material. It is to be appreciated, however, that any of a variety of suitable alternative materials (or combinations thereof) are contemplated for the housing 14 , the cover 32 , and/or the shelf 36 , such as, for example, a metal material (e.g., stainless steel).
- the housing 14 can include a front enclosure 40 and a rear enclosure 42 .
- the body 22 of the power strip 20 and a portion of the cord 24 can be interposed between the front enclosure 40 and the rear enclosure 42 .
- the rear enclosure 42 can be coupled to the front enclosure 40 with fasteners (not shown). It is to be appreciated that the rear enclosure 42 can additionally or alternatively be coupled to the front enclosure 40 with any of a variety of suitable alternative attachment arrangements, such as, for example, adhesive, via an interference fit, or via welding.
- the front enclosure 40 can include a front wall 44 , an upper sidewall 46 at the upper end 16 , a lower sidewall 48 at the lower end 18 , and a pair of lateral sidewalls 50 that each extend between the upper and lower sidewalls 46 , 48 .
- the upper sidewall 46 , the lower sidewall 48 , and the lateral sidewalls 50 can extend from the front wall 44 .
- An interior wall 52 can extend from the front wall 44 and can be spaced from the upper sidewall 46 , the lower sidewall 48 , and the lateral sidewalls 50 .
- the interior wall 52 can at least partially define an interior receptacle 54 that is configured to receive the body 22 of the power strip 20 .
- the front wall 44 can define a front aperture 56 and can include a pair of shoulders 57 that extend between the interior wall 52 and the front aperture 56 .
- the interior wall 52 can be disposed adjacent to the front aperture 56 such that the interior receptacle 54 and the front aperture 56 are in communication with each other.
- the body 22 of the power strip 20 When the body 22 of the power strip 20 is disposed in the interior receptacle 54 , the body 22 can interface with (i.e., rest against) the shoulders 57 , and the electrical sockets 28 and the switch 30 can be disposed adjacent to the front aperture 56 such that they are accessible to a user through the front aperture 56 .
- the cover 32 When the cover 32 is in the closed position, the cover 32 can overlie the front aperture 56 and the body 22 of the power strip 20 .
- the front enclosure 40 can include a first cord support 58 disposed adjacent to the lower sidewall 48 (e.g., at the lower end 18 ) and configured to at least partially surround the cord 24 of the power strip 20 .
- the first cord support 58 can include a pair of support walls 60 that are spaced from each other and that extend from each of the front wall 44 and the lower sidewall 48 .
- a plurality of rib members 62 can extend between the support walls 60 and can be substantially convex-shaped.
- the lower sidewall 48 can define a notch 68 that is disposed adjacent to the first cord support 58 .
- the front enclosure 40 can include a plurality of cord guides 66 that extend from the front wall 44 and that are disposed between the interior wall 52 and the first cord support 58 .
- the interior wall 52 can define a notch 64 that faces the first cord support 58 .
- the cord 24 can extend through the notch 64 , along the cord guides 66 , along the first cord support 58 , and through the notch 68 , such that the cord 24 extends from the housing 14 and is accessible external to the housing 14 .
- the front enclosure 40 can also include a plurality of posts 70 that are configured to receive fasteners (not shown) for securing the front enclosure 40 and the rear enclosure 42 together.
- the rear enclosure 42 can include a rear wall 72 and an interior lip 74 that extends from the rear wall 72 .
- the interior lip 74 can be positioned on the rear wall 72 to interface with the interior wall 52 of the front enclosure 40 (e.g., in an interference fit) when the front enclosure 40 and the rear enclosure 42 are coupled together.
- the interior lip 74 can have a slightly larger perimeter than the interior wall 52 such that the interior lip 74 fits over the interior wall 52 .
- a plurality of rib members 76 can extend from the rear wall 72 and can be disposed within the interior lip 74 (e.g., such that the interior lip 74 surrounds the rib members 76 and the rib members 76 face the interior receptacle 54 ). In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the plurality of rib members 76 can be arranged in 2 different H-shaped configurations.
- the interior lip 74 can have a height H 1 and the rib members 76 can have a height H 2 that is shorter than the height H 1 .
- the interior lip 74 can fit over the interior wall 52 such that the interior wall 52 and the rear enclosure 42 can cooperate to effectively enclose the body 22 within the interior receptacle 54 .
- the plurality of rib members 76 can be configured to engage the body 22 of the power strip 20 to facilitate urging of the body 22 into contact with the shoulders 57 and to facilitate retention of the body 22 within the interior receptacle 54 (e.g., to prevent the body 22 from moving inside of the interior receptacle 54 ).
- the interior wall 52 can additionally or alternatively include retention features (not shown), such as ribs or clips, that interact with the body 22 to facilitate retention of the body 22 to the interior wall 52 .
- the rear enclosure 42 can include a second cord support 78 that is configured to at least partially surround the cord 24 of the power strip 20 .
- the second cord support 78 can include a pair of support walls 80 that are spaced from each other and that extend from each of the rear wall 72 .
- a plurality of rib members 82 can extend between the support walls 80 and can be substantially convex-shaped.
- the cord 24 can be sandwiched between the first and second cord supports 58 , 78 to facilitate retention of the cord 24 therebetween.
- the cord 24 can be compressed between the rib members 62 , 82 with enough force to prevent the cord 24 from sliding relative to the first and second cord supports 58 , 78 .
- the first and second cord supports 58 , 78 can therefore cooperate to relieve the strain on the cord 24 that otherwise might be imparted to the portion of the cord 24 that is routed between the interior receptacle 54 and the first and second cord supports 58 , 78 (along the cord guides 66 ).
- the power strip 20 can be an “off the shelf” type power strip that is readily available to consumers. As such, if the power strip 20 fails, it can be easily replaced with another power strip by removing the rear enclosure 42 from the front enclosure 40 , removing the power strip 20 , and installing a new power strip in its place.
- the front enclosure 40 and the rear enclosure 42 and more particularly, the interior wall 52 , the first and second cord supports 58 , 78 , the cord guides 66 , and the interior lip 74 can accordingly be configured to fit best with a specific style of “off the shelf” type power strips but can also accommodate other shapes and/or styles of “off the shelf” type power strips.
- the rear enclosure 42 can define a plurality of openings 84 that facilitate securement of the power delivery assembly 12 to the vertical post 10 with fasteners (not shown).
- the plurality of openings 84 can each be a keyhole shaped slot.
- the fasteners can first be attached to the vertical post 10 at locations that substantially align with the openings 84 .
- the power delivery assembly 12 can be hung on the vertical post 10 by aligning the openings 84 over the fasteners, pushing the power delivery assembly 12 flush against the vertical post 10 such that the fasteners extend into the openings 84 , and sliding the power delivery assembly 12 downwardly to hold the power delivery assembly 12 in place.
- the power delivery assembly 12 can be removed by sliding the power delivery assembly upwardly and away from the fasteners and the vertical post 10 .
- the power delivery assembly 12 can therefore be selectively installed and removed based upon whether a user wishes to have electrical power available at the vertical post 10 . It is to be appreciated that by securing the power delivery assembly 12 to the vertical post 10 using the plurality of openings 84 , the power strip 20 can be indirectly attached to the vertical post 10 (via the housing 14 ).
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Insertion, Bundling And Securing Of Wires For Electric Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
An assembly for supporting a power strip is provided and includes a housing. The housing extends between an upper end and a lower end. The housing includes front and rear enclosures. The front enclosure includes a front wall and an interior wall. The front wall defines a front aperture. The interior wall extends from the front wall and at least partially defines an interior receptacle that is configured to receive a body of a power strip. The interior wall and the rear enclosure cooperate to enclose a body of a power strip within the interior receptacle.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/458,204, filed Aug. 26, 2021, entitled Power Delivery Assembly and Components Thereof which claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/070,970, entitled Power Delivery Assembly and Housing for Same, filed Aug. 27, 2020, and hereby incorporates these applications by reference herein in their respective entireties.
- A power delivery assembly for a pergola or other building is provided. The power delivery assembly includes a housing and a power strip.
- Conventional outdoor buildings are oftentimes delivered to a site without accommodations for plugging in electronic devices.
- It is believed that certain embodiments will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a right isometric view depicting a vertical post of a pergola and a power delivery assembly coupled with the vertical post, the power delivery assembly having a cover shown in an opened position and a shelf shown in a stored position; -
FIG. 2 is a left isometric view depicting the power delivery assembly ofFIG. 1 , but with the cover shown in a closed position and the shelf shown in a deployed position; -
FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the power delivery assembly ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view depicting a front enclosure of the power delivery assembly ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is a lower plan view of the front enclosure ofFIG. 4 ; -
FIG. 6 is a front isometric view depicting a rear enclosure of the power delivery assembly ofFIG. 1 ; and -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 inFIG. 2 but with the shelf shown in a stored position and with certain components removed for clarity of illustration. - In connection with the views and examples of
FIGS. 1-7 , wherein like numbers indicate the same or corresponding elements throughout the views,FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate avertical post 10 that is part of a pergola. Apower delivery assembly 12 can be coupled with thevertical post 10 and configured to facilitate powering of a corded electrical device, such as a charger for a mobile device (e.g., mobile phone or tablet), a string of lights, or an extension cord. It is to be appreciated that although a pergola (e.g., 10) is described herein, thepower delivery assembly 12 can be used on any of a variety of suitable alternative buildings, such as a gazebo, an arbor, a shed, a pavilion, a pole barn, a house, or a high rise building, for example. - Still referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , thepower delivery assembly 12 can include ahousing 14 that extends between anupper end 16 and alower end 18. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , apower strip 20 can be supported by thehousing 14 and can include abody 22 and acord 24. Thebody 22 can include a plurality ofelectrical sockets 28 that are each configured to interface with an electrical cord (not shown). Thecord 24 can include a plug (not shown) (e.g., a male plug) that can allow for thepower strip 20 to be plugged into a power source, such as an energized extension cord, to transmit electrical power to theelectrical sockets 28. Thebody 22 can also include aswitch 30 that is operable to selectively energize theelectrical sockets 28. - A
cover 32 can be disposed at theupper end 16 of thehousing 14 and pivotally coupled thereto such that thecover 32 is pivotable between an opened position (FIG. 1 ) and a closed position (FIG. 2 ). When thecover 32 is in the closed position, it can overlie thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 to protect thebody 22 from being exposed to environmental conditions, such as precipitation or airborne particulates, which could adversely affect the operation of thepower strip 20. Thecover 32 can define a plurality of slots 34 (FIG. 1 ) that can allow for routing of any electrical cords (not shown) to theelectrical sockets 28 when thecover 32 is in the closed position. In one embodiment, thecover 32 can be biased into the closed position by a pair of springs 35 (FIG. 2 ). - A
shelf 36 can be disposed at thelower end 18 of thehousing 14 and pivotally coupled thereto such that theshelf 36 is pivotal between a stored position (FIG. 1 ) and a deployed position (FIG. 2 ). As illustrated inFIG. 2 , when theshelf 36 is in the deployed position, anelectronic device 38 can be provided on theshelf 36 beneath thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 and plugged into theelectrical sockets 28 to facilitate charging of theelectronic device 38. Theelectronic device 38 can be a tablet (as illustrated inFIG. 2 ), a mobile phone, a laptop, a smart watch, a portable speaker, headphones, earbuds, or any of a variety of suitable alternative rechargeable electronic devices. When theelectronic device 38 is removed from the shelf 36 (e.g., when charging is complete and/or when a user wants to use the electronic device 38), theshelf 36 can be pivoted into the stored position to prevent theshelf 36 from being inadvertently contacted (e.g., by a passerby). In one embodiment, thehousing 14 and theshelf 36 can be formed of a thermoplastic material and thecover 32 can be formed of a polycarbonate material. It is to be appreciated, however, that any of a variety of suitable alternative materials (or combinations thereof) are contemplated for thehousing 14, thecover 32, and/or theshelf 36, such as, for example, a metal material (e.g., stainless steel). - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , thehousing 14 can include afront enclosure 40 and arear enclosure 42. Thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 and a portion of thecord 24 can be interposed between thefront enclosure 40 and therear enclosure 42. In one embodiment, therear enclosure 42 can be coupled to thefront enclosure 40 with fasteners (not shown). It is to be appreciated that therear enclosure 42 can additionally or alternatively be coupled to thefront enclosure 40 with any of a variety of suitable alternative attachment arrangements, such as, for example, adhesive, via an interference fit, or via welding. - Referring now to
FIGS. 4 and 5 , thefront enclosure 40 can include afront wall 44, anupper sidewall 46 at theupper end 16, alower sidewall 48 at thelower end 18, and a pair oflateral sidewalls 50 that each extend between the upper andlower sidewalls upper sidewall 46, thelower sidewall 48, and thelateral sidewalls 50 can extend from thefront wall 44. Aninterior wall 52 can extend from thefront wall 44 and can be spaced from theupper sidewall 46, thelower sidewall 48, and thelateral sidewalls 50. Theinterior wall 52 can at least partially define aninterior receptacle 54 that is configured to receive thebody 22 of thepower strip 20. Thefront wall 44 can define afront aperture 56 and can include a pair ofshoulders 57 that extend between theinterior wall 52 and thefront aperture 56. Theinterior wall 52 can be disposed adjacent to thefront aperture 56 such that theinterior receptacle 54 and thefront aperture 56 are in communication with each other. When thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 is disposed in theinterior receptacle 54, thebody 22 can interface with (i.e., rest against) theshoulders 57, and theelectrical sockets 28 and theswitch 30 can be disposed adjacent to thefront aperture 56 such that they are accessible to a user through thefront aperture 56. When thecover 32 is in the closed position, thecover 32 can overlie thefront aperture 56 and thebody 22 of thepower strip 20. - The
front enclosure 40 can include afirst cord support 58 disposed adjacent to the lower sidewall 48 (e.g., at the lower end 18) and configured to at least partially surround thecord 24 of thepower strip 20. Thefirst cord support 58 can include a pair ofsupport walls 60 that are spaced from each other and that extend from each of thefront wall 44 and thelower sidewall 48. A plurality ofrib members 62 can extend between thesupport walls 60 and can be substantially convex-shaped. Thelower sidewall 48 can define anotch 68 that is disposed adjacent to thefirst cord support 58. - The
front enclosure 40 can include a plurality ofcord guides 66 that extend from thefront wall 44 and that are disposed between theinterior wall 52 and thefirst cord support 58. Theinterior wall 52 can define anotch 64 that faces thefirst cord support 58. When thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 is disposed in theinterior receptacle 54, thecord 24 can extend through thenotch 64, along thecord guides 66, along thefirst cord support 58, and through thenotch 68, such that thecord 24 extends from thehousing 14 and is accessible external to thehousing 14. Thefront enclosure 40 can also include a plurality ofposts 70 that are configured to receive fasteners (not shown) for securing thefront enclosure 40 and therear enclosure 42 together. - Referring now to
FIG. 6 , therear enclosure 42 can include arear wall 72 and aninterior lip 74 that extends from therear wall 72. Theinterior lip 74 can be positioned on therear wall 72 to interface with theinterior wall 52 of the front enclosure 40 (e.g., in an interference fit) when thefront enclosure 40 and therear enclosure 42 are coupled together. Theinterior lip 74 can have a slightly larger perimeter than theinterior wall 52 such that theinterior lip 74 fits over theinterior wall 52. A plurality ofrib members 76 can extend from therear wall 72 and can be disposed within the interior lip 74 (e.g., such that theinterior lip 74 surrounds therib members 76 and therib members 76 face the interior receptacle 54). In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 6 , the plurality ofrib members 76 can be arranged in 2 different H-shaped configurations. - Referring now to
FIG. 7 , theinterior lip 74 can have a height H1 and therib members 76 can have a height H2 that is shorter than the height H1. When thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 is disposed in theinterior receptacle 54 and therear enclosure 42 is attached to thefront enclosure 40, theinterior lip 74 can fit over theinterior wall 52 such that theinterior wall 52 and therear enclosure 42 can cooperate to effectively enclose thebody 22 within theinterior receptacle 54. The plurality ofrib members 76 can be configured to engage thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 to facilitate urging of thebody 22 into contact with theshoulders 57 and to facilitate retention of thebody 22 within the interior receptacle 54 (e.g., to prevent thebody 22 from moving inside of the interior receptacle 54). In one embodiment, theinterior wall 52 can additionally or alternatively include retention features (not shown), such as ribs or clips, that interact with thebody 22 to facilitate retention of thebody 22 to theinterior wall 52. - Referring again to
FIGS. 6 and 7 , therear enclosure 42 can include asecond cord support 78 that is configured to at least partially surround thecord 24 of thepower strip 20. Thesecond cord support 78 can include a pair ofsupport walls 80 that are spaced from each other and that extend from each of therear wall 72. A plurality ofrib members 82 can extend between thesupport walls 80 and can be substantially convex-shaped. When thebody 22 of thepower strip 20 is disposed in theinterior receptacle 54 and therear enclosure 42 is attached to thefront enclosure 40, as illustrated inFIG. 7 , thecord 24 can be routed between the cord guides 66 (one shown inFIG. 7 ) and through thefirst cord support 58 and thesecond cord support 78. The cord guides 66 can cooperate with therear enclosure 42 to facilitate routing and positioning of thecord 24 between theinterior receptacle 54 and the first and second cord supports 58, 78. - The
cord 24 can be sandwiched between the first and second cord supports 58, 78 to facilitate retention of thecord 24 therebetween. In particular, thecord 24 can be compressed between therib members cord 24 from sliding relative to the first and second cord supports 58, 78. The first and second cord supports 58, 78 can therefore cooperate to relieve the strain on thecord 24 that otherwise might be imparted to the portion of thecord 24 that is routed between theinterior receptacle 54 and the first and second cord supports 58, 78 (along the cord guides 66). - It is to be appreciated that the
power strip 20 can be an “off the shelf” type power strip that is readily available to consumers. As such, if thepower strip 20 fails, it can be easily replaced with another power strip by removing therear enclosure 42 from thefront enclosure 40, removing thepower strip 20, and installing a new power strip in its place. Thefront enclosure 40 and therear enclosure 42, and more particularly, theinterior wall 52, the first and second cord supports 58, 78, the cord guides 66, and theinterior lip 74 can accordingly be configured to fit best with a specific style of “off the shelf” type power strips but can also accommodate other shapes and/or styles of “off the shelf” type power strips. - Referring again to
FIG. 6 , therear enclosure 42 can define a plurality ofopenings 84 that facilitate securement of thepower delivery assembly 12 to thevertical post 10 with fasteners (not shown). In one embodiment, the plurality ofopenings 84 can each be a keyhole shaped slot. To facilitate attachment of thepower delivery assembly 12 to thevertical post 10, the fasteners can first be attached to thevertical post 10 at locations that substantially align with theopenings 84. Thepower delivery assembly 12 can be hung on thevertical post 10 by aligning theopenings 84 over the fasteners, pushing thepower delivery assembly 12 flush against thevertical post 10 such that the fasteners extend into theopenings 84, and sliding thepower delivery assembly 12 downwardly to hold thepower delivery assembly 12 in place. Thepower delivery assembly 12 can be removed by sliding the power delivery assembly upwardly and away from the fasteners and thevertical post 10. Thepower delivery assembly 12 can therefore be selectively installed and removed based upon whether a user wishes to have electrical power available at thevertical post 10. It is to be appreciated that by securing thepower delivery assembly 12 to thevertical post 10 using the plurality ofopenings 84, thepower strip 20 can be indirectly attached to the vertical post 10 (via the housing 14). - The foregoing description of embodiments and examples of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the disclosure and various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the disclosure is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto. Also, for any methods claimed and/or described, regardless of whether the method is described in conjunction with a flow diagram, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified or required by context, any explicit or implicit ordering of steps performed in the execution of a method does not imply that those steps must be performed in the order presented and may be performed in a different order or in parallel.
Claims (20)
1. An assembly for supporting a power strip, the assembly comprising:
a housing comprising:
a front enclosure comprising:
a front wall that defines a front aperture;
an interior wall extending from the front wall and at least partially defining an interior receptacle that is configured to receive a body of a power strip; and
a cord support disposed adjacent to the interior wall and configured to support a cord; and
a rear enclosure coupled with the front enclosure such that the interior wall and the rear enclosure cooperate to facilitate enclosure of a body of a power strip therebetween and at least partially within the interior receptacle, wherein:
the interior wall of the front enclosure is disposed adjacent to the front aperture such that the interior receptacle and the front aperture are in communication with each other; and
the interior wall defines a first notch that faces the cord support and is configured to at least partially support the cord.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front enclosure further comprises:
an upper sidewall that extends from the front wall;
a lower sidewall that extends from the front wall and is spaced from the upper sidewall; and
a pair of lateral sidewalls that extend from the front wall, each lateral sidewall being spaced from each other and extending between the upper sidewall and the lower sidewall, and wherein:
the interior wall is spaced from the upper sidewall, the lower sidewall, and the pair of lateral sidewalls;
the cord support is disposed between the interior wall and the lower sidewall; and
the lower sidewall defines a second notch adjacent to the cord support and that cooperates with the first notch and the cord support to at least partially support the cord.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front wall further comprises a pair of shoulders, each shoulder of the pair of shoulders extending between the interior wall and the front aperture.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear enclosure further comprises a rear wall and an interior lip that extends from the rear wall and selectively interfaces with the interior wall of the front enclosure.
5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the rear enclosure further comprises at least one rib member that that extends from the rear wall and faces the interior receptacle.
6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cover pivotally coupled to the housing such that the cover is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the cover overlies the front aperture when in the closed position.
7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a shelf disposed at a lower end of the housing.
8. A power delivery assembly comprising:
a power strip comprising a body and a cord; and
a housing comprising:
a front enclosure comprising:
a front wall that defines a front aperture;
an interior wall extending from the front wall at the upper end, the interior wall at least partially defining an interior receptacle, wherein the body of the power strip is at least partially disposed in the interior receptacle; and
a cord support disposed adjacent to the interior wall, wherein the cord support at least partially supports the cord of the power strip; and
a rear enclosure coupled with the front enclosure and cooperating with the front enclosure to enclose the body of the power strip therebetween and at least partially within the interior receptacle, wherein:
the interior wall of the front enclosure is disposed adjacent to the front aperture such that the interior receptacle and the front aperture are in communication with each other;
the interior wall defines a first notch that faces the cord support; and
the cord extends through the first notch and along the cord support to facilitate support of the cord with respect to the housing.
9. The power delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein the front enclosure further comprises:
an upper sidewall that extends from the front wall;
a lower sidewall that extends from the front wall and is spaced from the upper sidewall; and
a pair of lateral sidewalls that extend from the front wall, each lateral sidewall being spaced from each other and extending between the upper sidewall and the lower sidewall, and wherein:
the interior wall is spaced from the upper sidewall, the lower sidewall, and the pair of lateral sidewalls;
the cord support is disposed between the interior wall and the lower sidewall;
the lower sidewall defines a second notch adjacent to the cord support; and
the cord extends further through the second notch.
10. The power delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the front wall further comprises a pair of shoulders;
each shoulder of the pair of shoulders extends between the interior wall and the front aperture; and
the body of the power strip interfaces with each shoulder of the pair of shoulders.
11. The power delivery assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rear enclosure further comprises at least one rib member that that extends from the rear wall and facilitates urging of the body of the power strip towards the pair of shoulders.
12. The power delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rear enclosure further comprises a rear wall and an interior lip that extends from the rear wall and selectively interfaces with the interior wall of the front enclosure.
13. The power delivery assembly of claim 8 further comprising a cover pivotally coupled to the housing such that the cover is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the cover overlies the front aperture when in the closed position.
14. The power delivery assembly of claim 8 further comprising a shelf disposed at a lower end of the housing.
15. An assembly for supporting a power strip, the assembly comprising:
a housing comprising:
a front enclosure comprising:
a front wall that defines a front aperture;
an interior wall extending from the front wall and at least partially defining an interior receptacle that is configured to receive a body of a power strip;
a sidewall that extends from the front wall and is spaced from the interior wall; and
a rear enclosure coupled with the front enclosure such that the interior wall and the rear enclosure cooperate to facilitate enclosure of a body of a power strip therebetween and at least partially within the interior receptacle, wherein:
the interior wall of the front enclosure is disposed adjacent to the front aperture such that the interior receptacle and the front aperture are in communication with each other; and
the sidewall defines a notch adjacent to the interior wall that is configured to at least partially support a cord of the power strip.
16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the front enclosure further comprises a cord support disposed between the interior wall and the sidewall; and
the cord support is configured to at least partially cooperate with the notch to support the cord.
17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the front wall further comprises a pair of shoulders, each shoulder of the pair of shoulders extending between the interior wall and the front aperture.
18. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rear enclosure further comprises:
a rear wall and an interior lip that extends from the rear wall and interfaces with the interior wall of the front enclosure; and
at least one rib member that that extends from the rear wall and faces the interior receptacle.
19. The assembly of claim 15 further comprising a cover pivotally coupled to the housing such that the cover is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the cover overlies the front aperture when in the closed position.
20. The assembly of claim 15 further comprising a shelf disposed at a lower end of the housing.
Priority Applications (2)
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US18/218,632 US11791596B1 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2023-07-06 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
US18/485,984 US12015227B2 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2023-10-12 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
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US202063070970P | 2020-08-27 | 2020-08-27 | |
US17/458,204 US11710934B2 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2021-08-26 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
US18/218,632 US11791596B1 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2023-07-06 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
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US17/458,204 Continuation US11710934B2 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2021-08-26 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
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US18/485,984 Continuation US12015227B2 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2023-10-12 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
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US20230352892A1 true US20230352892A1 (en) | 2023-11-02 |
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US18/218,632 Active US11791596B1 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2023-07-06 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
US18/485,984 Active US12015227B2 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2023-10-12 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
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US17/458,204 Active 2042-01-06 US11710934B2 (en) | 2020-08-27 | 2021-08-26 | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
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US11710934B2 (en) * | 2020-08-27 | 2023-07-25 | Leisure Time Products, Llc | Power delivery assembly and components thereof |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20220069530A1 (en) | 2022-03-03 |
US11791596B1 (en) | 2023-10-17 |
US11710934B2 (en) | 2023-07-25 |
US12015227B2 (en) | 2024-06-18 |
US20240039223A1 (en) | 2024-02-01 |
CA3129006A1 (en) | 2022-02-27 |
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