US3794956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recessible electric floor or the like outlet assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-30
•
Granted: 1974-02-26
•
Expires: 1992-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A retractable electric floor outlet assembly formed of telescopic inner and outer members, the inner member being movable between an operative extended position to an inoperative retracted position; the members terminating at one end with flat transverse surfaces becoming flush with one another when the members are in inoperative position. A lock is provided to hold the inner member inside the outer one in inoperative position of the assembly. The lock is releasable to allow the inner member to extend out of the outer member under the bias of a spring mounted therebetween. A circuit braker is formed between the two members to make an electrical junction when the members are in operative position and to brake it when the members are in inoperative position. O-ring seals on the members prevent entry of water in the outlet member.
Inventors
- 👤 R Dubreuil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:16
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/18; H02G3/185; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A recessible electric outlet assembly to be mounted on a floor or the like, flush with the surface thereof, said assembly comprising: a. telescopic inner and outer members, said inner members being movable between an operative extended position to an inoperative retracted position, said members terminating at one end with substantially flat transverse surfaces becoming flush with one another when in said inoperative position; b. electric socket means on the side wall of said inner emmber so as to lie wholly within said outer membeR in said inoperative position of said members and outside said outer member and accessible for use in said operative position; c. sealing means on at least one of said members at said one end to prevent entry of a liquid into said outer member; d. electric circuit braking means including cooperating parts on said members operatively mated with one another in said operative position to make an electric junction and separated from each other in said inoperative position to brake said junction; e. wiring means interconnecting said socket means and said circuit braking means parts of said inner member; f. resilient means biasing said members into said operative position, and releasable locking means to hold said members in said inoperative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A recessible electric outlet assembly to be mounted on a floor or the like, flush with the surface thereof, said assembly comprising: a. telescopic inner and outer members, said inner members being movable between an operative extended position to an inoperative retracted position, said members terminating at one end with substantially flat transverse surfaces becoming flush with one another when in said inoperative position; b. electric socket means on the side wall of said inner emmber so as to lie wholly within said outer membeR in said inoperative position of said members and outside said outer member and accessible for use in said operative position; c. sealing means on at least one of said members at said one end to prevent entry of a liquid into said outer member; d. electric circuit braking means including cooperating parts on said members operatively mated with one another in said operative position to make an electric junction and separated from each other in said inoperative position to brake said junction; e. wiring means interconnecting said socket means and said circuit braking means parts of said inner member; f. resilient means biasing said members into said operative position, and releasable locking means to hold said members in said inoperative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members are cylindrical and said sealing means is a first O-ring provided around said one end of said inner member adjacent the flat surface thereof and a second O-ring provided in the bore of said outer member around said one end and adjacent the flat surface thereof, said O-rings being disposed sealingly to contact one another in said inoperative position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cooperating parts comprise: a plurality of junction sleeves electrically insulatingly mounted at the top of said outer member below said O-ring; a plurality of junction pins electrically insulatingly mounted at the end of said inner member lying inside of said outer member, said pins being disposed and being of a size each snuggly to enter and fit into one of said sleeves in said operative position of said members whereby to establish an electrical contact, and wiring means electrically interconnecting said sleeves and said socket means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises: a finger element mounted to be moved radially and inwardly of said outer member, said finger element having one of its ends bevelled to enter, in said inoperative position, a notch formed in the side wall of said inner member whereby to lock said members together; a hollow case formed as an integral extension of said finger element at the end of said finger element opposite said bevelled end, said case being located in the lateral wall of said outer member; a compression spring inside said hollow case and compressively maintained therein, whereby said bevelled end of said finger element is biassed into said notch under the compressive action of said spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 4, including an opening through the lateral wall of said outer member for the insertion of said compression spring in said case.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 4, including means to release said locking means, said releasing means comprising: a radially projecting flange formed at the end of said outer member flush with said floor surface; a disc element provided in said flange above said finger element and said spring containing case; said disc element having a dowgwardly projecting stud located in a free space defined by said flange and positioned adjacent said spring containing case, said stud coming into contact with said spring containing case when said disc is rotated, to push the finger element out of said notch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An outlet assembly according to claim 6, wherein there is an O-ring provided around said disc element for providing fluid-tight sealing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises: a finger element mounted for movement radially and inwardly of said outer member, said finger element having one of its ends bevelled to enter, in said inoperative position, into a notch provided in the side wall of said inner member whereby to lock said members together; a compression spring provided at the end of said finger element opposite said bevelled end, said compression spring urging said bevelled end of saId finger element into said notch; guide means for guiding said finger element in its radial displacements, and a solenoid mounted around the end of said finger element opposite said bevelled end whereby when said solenoid is energized, it pulls said finger element out of said notch to release said locking means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises: a hollow case in the lateral wall of said outer member, one end of said case being adjacent the side wall of said inner member; a latching ball element in said case at the end thereof adjacent said side wall of said inner member, said ball element facing, in said inoperative position, a notch formed in said wall of said inner member; a compression spring in said case urging said ball element into said notch whereby to lock said members in said inoperative position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 9, including means to release said locking means, said releasing means comprising a handle provided on the top of said inner member to be grasped by hand and pulled upwardly to cause dislodgment of said latching ball element from said notch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient means urging said inner member into operative position when said unlocking means are released comprises a compression spring housed inside said telescopic members and a plate at the upper end of said inner member, one end of said spring abutting said plate while the other end abuts a base at the inward end of said outer member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1, including means for connecting and disconnecting a first and a second series of electrical wires for energizing and deenergizing the sockets of said socket means, said means comprising: an electrically insulating ring or lugs at the upper end of said outer member, said ring or lugs provided with junction sleeves; junction pins provided at the lower end of said inner member; said first series of electrical wires being connected at one end to said pins and at the other end to said sockets; said second series of wires being connected at one end to said sleeves and connectible at the other end to a power supply source; said pins adapted to enter said sleeves when said inner member is in extended operative position and to come out of said sleeves whpn said inner member moves to inoperative position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said outer member has a base formed with an aperture for the passage of said second series of electrical wires.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said outer member is provided laterally with apertures for the passage of said second series of electrical wires.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |