Retractable receptacle for furniture
US7674119B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02G3/185
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A receptacle for coupling electrical equipment and communications equipment to electrical and communications transmission lines is retractably mounted in an opening in a furniture unit, and in particular, the top surface of an office conference table. The receptacle is vertically displaceable so that it is elevated above the top surface of the furniture unit in which it is mounted to provide access for coupling electrical equipment such as lap top computers, or communications equipment such as telephones and fax machines, which are supported on the top surface of the furniture unit. When the equipment is coupled to the elevated receptacle unit, the unit is then displaced downwardly into the furniture such that the top surface of the receptacle unit is planar with the top surface of the furniture unit in its fully retracted position. A gap defined between the outer surface of the top surface of the receptacle unit and the inner surface of the opening in the furniture unit permits wires and cables to extend through the gap and remain connected to the receptacle unit when the receptacle unit is in its fully retracted position in the furniture unit. The receptacle unit may be displaced…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.