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US 8,262,399 B1Granted
Reconfigurable plug strip
AssigneeQuirky, Inc.
InventorsJacob Daniel Zien, Jordan Diatlo, Kate Sarah Vallon, Steven Richard Remy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power strip for conducting electrical power between an electrical power outlet having at least a live receptacle and a neutral receptacle, and at least two electrical device power plugs, each plug having at least a live prong and a neutral prong. The power strip includes a first housing segment having a first receptacle configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a first device plug and a second housing segment having a second receptacle configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a second device plug. The second housing is coupled to the first housing for pivotal movement relative to said first housing.
Claims20
A power strip for conducting electrical power between an electrical power outlet having at least a live receptacle and a neutral receptacle, and at least two electrical device power plugs, each plug having at least a live prong and a neutral prong, the power strip comprising:
- a power strip power plug having at least a live prong configured to be conductively engaged with the live receptacle of the electrical power outlet and a neutral prong configured to be conductively engaged with the neutral receptacle of the electrical power outlet;
- a first housing segment,
- said first housing segment having a first plug face including at least a first live receptacle configured to receive the live prong, and a first neutral receptacle configured to receive the neutral prong, of a first electrical device power plug,
- said first housing segment containing a first live conductive connector having
- a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the live prong of the first electrical device power plug received in said first live receptacle,
- a second portion electrically coupled to said live prong of said power strip plug, and
- a third portion,
- said first housing segment containing a first neutral conductive connector having
- a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the neutral prong of the first electrical device power plug received in the first neutral receptacle,
- a second portion electrically coupled to said neutral prong of said power strip plug, and
- a third portion;
- and
- a second housing segment,
- said second housing segment coupled to said first housing segment for pivotal movement relative to said first housing segment
- said second housing segment having a second plug face including at least a second live receptacle configured to receive the live prong, and a second neutral receptacle configured to receive the neutral prong, of a second electrical device power plug,
- said second housing segment containing a second live conductive connector having
- a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the live prong of the second electrical device power plug received in said second live receptacle,
- a second portion in slidable conductive engagement with said third portion of said first live conductive connector,
- said second housing segment containing a second neutral conductive connector having
- a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the neutral prong of the second electrical device power plug received in said second neutral receptacle,
- a second portion in slidable conductive engagement with said third portion of said first neutral conductive connector,
- whereby the live prongs of the two electrical device power plugs when engaged with said first portions of said first and second live conductive connectors are electrically coupled to the live receptacle of the electrical power outlet and the neutral prongs of the two electrical device power plugs when engaged with said first portions of said first and second neutral conductive connectors are electrically coupled to the neutral receptacle of the electrical power outlet.
19 more elements
An apparatus for providing an electrical signal path between an electrically conductive portion of a device plug and a signal port, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing segment having a first receptacle configured to receive at least the electrically conductive portion of the device plug;
- a second housing segment having a second receptacle configured to receive at least the electrically conductive portion of the device plug, said second housing coupled to said first housing for movement relative to said first housing;
- a signal port coupler configured to selectively conductively engage with the signal port;
- a first conductive connector coupled to said first housing segment and having a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the electrically conductive portion of the device plug when received in said first receptacle, a second portion electrically coupled to the signal port coupler, and a third portion;
- and
- a second conductive connector coupled to said second housing segment and having a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the electrically conductive portion of the device plug when received in said second receptacle and a second portion in slidable conductive engagement with said third portion of said first conductive connector,
- whereby the electrically conductive portion of the device plug when engaged with said first portion of either of said first conductive connector and said second conductive connector is electrically coupled to the signal port coupler for selective conductive coupling to the signal port.
4 more elements
An apparatus for providing an electrical signal path between an electrically conductive portion of a device plug and a signal port, the apparatus comprising
- a first housing segment having a first receptacle configured to receive at least the electrically conductive portion of the device plug;
- a second housing segment having a second receptacle configured to receive at least the electrically conductive portion of the device plug, said second housing coupled to said first housing for pivotal movement relative to said first housing;
- a signal port coupler configured to selectively conductively engage with the signal port;
- a first conductive connector segment coupled to said first housing segment and having a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the electrically conductive portion of the device plug when received in said first receptacle, a second portion electrically coupled to the signal port coupler, and a third portion;
- and
- a second conductive connector segment coupled to said second housing segment and having a first portion disposed to conductively engage with the electrically conductive portion of the device plug when received in said second receptacle and a second portion conductively engaged with said third portion of said first conductive connector segment,
- whereby the electrically conductive portion of the device plug when engaged with said first portion of either of said first conductive connector segment and said second conductive connector segment is electrically coupled to the signal port coupler for selective conductive coupling to the signal port.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.