# US 11,309,658 B2 · Poke-through electrical outlet assembly with closure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,658 B2 - Document ID: US11309658B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/538,531 - Filed: 2019-08-12 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-13 - Applicants: Norman R. Byrne; Aaron G. Lautenbach; Matthew R. Haller; Marc A. Mitchell; Matthew R. Andree; Peter J. Maher; Timothy C. Cramblet - Inventors: Norman R. Byrne; Aaron G. Lautenbach; Matthew R. Haller; Marc A. Mitchell; Matthew R. Andree; Peter J. Maher; Timothy C. Cramblet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309658B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/5213: {Covers} - H01R 13/447: Shutter or cover plate - H01R 13/5202: {Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings} - H01R 13/73: Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall - H01R 13/11: Resilient sockets (carrying separate resilient parts H01R13/15) - H01R 13/113: {co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section} - H01R 13/187: with spring member in the socket - H01R 13/42: Securing in a demountable manner - H01R 13/422: Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, {e.g. by friction}; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means - H01R 13/4223: {comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers} - H01R 13/426: Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar {or metal contact-retention clip} - H01R 13/44: Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)} - H01R 13/46: Bases; Cases - H01R 13/52: Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases - H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal} - H01R 13/62927: {Comprising supplementary or additional locking means} - H01R 13/74: Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel - H01R 13/748: {using one or more screws (H01R13/746 takes precedence)} - H01R 24/76: with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall - H01R 24/78: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle} - H02G 3/08: Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes - H02G 3/081: {Bases, casings or covers} - H02G 3/083: {Inlets} - H02G 3/088: {Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets} - H02G 3/12: for flush mounting - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - H02G 3/18: providing line outlets - H02G 3/185: {Floor outlets and access cups} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract An electrical power and/or electronic data unit is mountable in a floor, and is fitted with an upper bezel that is openable and closable to provide selective access to one or more electrical power or data outlets. A bezel supports one or more shutters that are movable between open and closed positions. Optionally, the shutters are supported on an openable main door that provides additional access to the outlets when the main door is open. The main door can be closed and opened with the shutters in either the open or closed positions. Respective top surfaces of the shutters, the main door, and the bezel may be co-planar when the main door and shutters are closed, and the shutters may be hidden entirely beneath the main door when the main door is closed and the shutters are open. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical power and/or electronic data unit for mounting in a floor or work surface, said electrical power and/or electronic data unit comprising: a bezel defining an outlet opening and having a generally planar upper surface; at least one electrical power outlet or electronic data outlet positioned behind said bezel and accessible through said outlet opening; a main cover door coupled to said bezel and positionable between an open-door configuration in which said at least one outlet is exposed, and a closed-door configuration in which said main cover door is positioned over said at least one outlet; said main cover door comprising an upper surface that is substantially co-planar with said upper surface of said bezel when in the closed-door configuration, and said main cover door defining a door opening through which said at least one outlet is selectively accessible when said main cover door is in the closed-door configuration; and a pair of shutters having hinge portions pivotably coupled to said main cover door at opposite sides of said door opening and pivotably movable between an open-shutter configuration in which said at least one outlet is accessible through said door opening, and a closed-shutter configuration in which said access to said at least one outlet is precluded when said main cover door is in the closed-door configuration, wherein in the open-shutter position and the closed-door configuration, said shutters including said hinge portions are covered by said main cover door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 1, wherein said shutter is pivotably coupled to an underside of said main cover door. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 1, further comprising a latch configured to releasably secure said main cover door in the closed-door configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 1, wherein said shutters are immobilized in either the open-shutter configuration or the closed-shutter configuration when said main cover door is in said closed-door configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 4, further comprising a detent at an underside of said main cover door, said detent configured to releasably engage and retain said shutters in the open-shutter configuration when said main cover door is open. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 1, wherein in the closed-shutter position a top surface of said shutters are co-planar with said upper surface of said main cover door. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 1, further comprising a sealing surface disposed around a perimeter of each of said shutters, said sealing surfaces configured to engage and establish a contaminant-resistant seal with respective surfaces of said main cover door and with the other of said shutters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 1, wherein said bezel defines a wire pass-through for extending electronic data cables and/or electrical power cords from below said electrical power and/or electronic data unit and directly into a work area. ### Claim 9 An electrical power and/or electronic data unit for mounting in a floor or work surface, said electrical power and/or electronic data unit comprising: a bezel defining an outlet opening and an upper surface; at least one electrical power outlet or electronic data outlet positioned behind said bezel and accessible through said outlet opening; a main cover door coupled to said bezel and positionable between an open-door configuration in which said at least one outlet is exposed, and a closed-door configuration in which said main cover door is positioned over said at least one outlet; said main cover door comprising an upper surface that is substantially co-planar with said upper surface of said bezel when in the closed-door configuration, and said main cover door defining a door opening through which said at least one outlet is selectively accessible when said main cover door is in the closed-door configuration; and a pair of shutters coupled to said main cover door and pivotably movable between an open-shutter configuration in which said shutters are positioned entirely between said bezel and said main cover door and said at least one outlet is accessible through said door opening, and a closed-shutter configuration in which said access to said at least one outlet is precluded when said main cover door is in the closed-door configuration; wherein when said shutters are in the closed-shutter position, a top surface of each said shutter is co-planar with said upper surface of said main cover door and said upper surface of said bezel such that said top surfaces of said shutters cooperate to fill said door opening; and wherein when said shutters are in the open-shutter position, the entirety of each said shutter, including said top surfaces, are moved out of said door opening and overlaid by said main cover door; and wherein said shutters are immobilized in either the open-shutter configuration or the closed-shutter configuration as a result of said main cover door being positioned in the closed-door configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 9, wherein said shutters are pivotably coupled to an underside of said main cover door and hinged at opposite sides of said door opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 9, further comprising a latch configured to releasably secure said main cover door in the closed-door configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 9, further comprising a detent at an underside of said main cover door, said detent configured to releasably engage and retain said shutters in the open-shutter configuration when said main cover door is open. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 9, further comprising a sealing surface disposed around a perimeter of each of said shutters, said sealing surfaces configured to engage and establish a contaminant-resistant seal with respective surfaces of said main cover door and with the other of said shutters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 13, further comprising a main door seal disposed along an underside of said main cover door around a perimeter thereof, said main door seal configured to engage and establish a contaminant-resistant seal with a recessed surface of said bezel that surrounds said outlet opening and is adjacent said upper surface of said bezel. ### Claim 15 An electrical power and/or electronic data unit for mounting in a floor or work surface, said electrical power and/or electronic data unit comprising: a bezel defining an outlet opening and having a generally planar upper surface; at least one electrical power outlet or electronic data outlet positioned behind said bezel and having an outlet face located at said outlet opening; a main cover door coupled to said bezel and positionable between an open configuration in which said at least one outlet is exposed, and a closed configuration in which access to said at least one outlet is restricted; said main cover door defining a cover opening through which said at least one outlet is selectively accessible when said main cover door is in the closed configuration; and a shutter having a hinge portion coupled to said main cover door, wherein said shutter is pivotably movable between an open-shutter configuration in which said at least one outlet is accessible through said cover opening, and a closed-shutter configuration in which said access to said at least one outlet is precluded when said main cover door is in the closed configuration, wherein in the open-shutter position said shutter including said hinge portion is entirely covered by said main cover door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 15, wherein said main cover door is pivotable upwardly away from said bezel to a raised position and said main cover door is pivotable downwardly to a lowered position at said bezel, and wherein said main cover door cooperates with said bezel to immobilize said shutter in the open-shutter and closed-shutter configurations when said main cover door is in the lowered position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 15, wherein said shutter comprises a pair of shutters pivotably coupled to an underside of said main cover door and hinged at opposite sides of said door opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 15, further comprising a detent at an underside of said main cover door, said detent configured to releasably engage and retain said shutter in the open-shutter configuration when said main cover door is open. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electrical power and/or electronic data unit of claim 15, wherein said shutter is immobilized in either the open-shutter configuration or the closed-shutter configuration as a result of said main cover door being positioned in the closed-door configuration.