power board

Abstract

A power strip (10) includes a body (60) having a planar front wall (12) including a plurality of electrical receptacles (14) and a rim wall (16) extending rearwardly from a perimeter of the front wall (12). A rear wall (22) has electrical prongs (32) to be received into receptacle (15) on an electrical outlet (11), and the rear wall (22) is recessed inwardly such that the electrical outlet (11) is housed within the recess. A hole (36) extends through the front and rear walls (12, 22) alignable with a hole (50) in the electrical outlet (11), and a threaded fastener (34) extends through the hole (36) and the hole (50) in the electrical outlet (11) to secure the power strip (10) to the electrical outlet (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a power supply board. Background Technology

[0002] Power outlets in buildings typically consist of panels with multiple sockets fixed to a wall or other surface. It's usually impossible to directly increase the number of sockets on such outlets without hiring a licensed electrician to remove the panel and install an alternative. Adapters or power strips can be easily plugged into existing outlets to provide additional sockets; however, these devices typically protrude from the outlet and are held in place only by the electrical prongs. Therefore, these power strips are less safe and less aesthetically pleasing than well-installed power outlets.

[0003] This invention relates to a power board designed to provide additional power outlets to existing power sockets in a manner that facilitates installation, fixation, and provides a neat appearance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a power board is provided, comprising: The body has a planar front wall including a plurality of power sockets and an edge wall extending rearward from the periphery of the front wall; and The rear wall has outwardly extending electrical prongs that can be received into sockets on a power outlet mounted on the surface, and the rear wall is recessed inward so that when the electrical prongs are received into the sockets of the power outlet, the power outlet is accommodated within the recess. The power board is provided with holes extending through the front wall and the rear wall, which are aligned with holes in the power socket. A threaded fastener is also provided, extending through the holes in the power board to be received in the holes in the power socket, thereby securing the power board to the power socket.

[0005] Preferably, each of the holes is located between the end of the insertion hole and the center of the front wall of the body.

[0006] Preferably, the hole is located in the middle between the upper and lower sides of the front wall.

[0007] Preferably, a cavity is defined between the front wall and the rear wall, and an electrical connector is provided in the cavity for connecting an electrical pin of a plug inserted into a socket on the power board, and the electrical connector is connected to the electrical pin extending outward from the rear wall.

[0008] Preferably, the front wall and the rear wall are rectangular, and the edge wall includes an upper wall portion, a lower wall portion, a first side wall portion, and a second side wall portion.

[0009] Preferably, the cover plate is disposed on the front side of the front wall of the power board.

[0010] Preferably, the cover plate includes a front wall portion and a side wall portion, the front wall portion being located in front of the front wall of the body during use, and the side wall portion being received around the periphery of the side wall of the body. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures, wherein: Figure 1 This is a top perspective view of the power board according to the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Front view of the power board; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Rear view of the power board; Figure 4 Showing Figure 1 Rear perspective view of the power board after the front cover has been removed; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Front perspective view of the power board; Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Exploded view of the power board; Figure 7 Before connecting to an existing power outlet Figure 1 A top perspective view of the power board; and Figure 8 It connects to the power outlet. Figure 1 Top perspective view of the power board. Specific Implementation Referring to the accompanying drawings, a power board 10 is shown, comprising a body 60 having a front wall 12 including a plurality of sockets 14. The front wall 12 is planar, and each of the sockets 14 is configured to receive an electrical pin from an electrical plug of an appliance. In the illustrated embodiment, four such sockets 14 are provided on the front wall 12; however, it should be understood that an alternative number of sockets 14 may be provided.

[0013] The main body 60 of the power board 10 also includes an edge wall 16 extending rearwardly from the periphery of the front wall 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 12 is rectangular in shape, and the edge wall 16 thereby includes an upper wall portion 18 and a lower wall portion 19 located on the upper and lower sides of the main body 12, and a first end wall portion 20 and a second end wall portion 21 located near a first end and a second end of the main body. Each of the upper wall portion 18 and the lower wall portion 19, and the first end wall portion 20 and the second end wall portion 21, is generally rectangular in shape.

[0014] The power board 10 includes a rear wall 22 located adjacent to and parallel to the front wall 12. The rear wall 22 is rectangular and defines an inner cavity between the rear wall 22 and the front wall 12. Electrical connectors are disposed within this inner cavity to mate with electrical pins of a plug inserted into the socket 14. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of active pin connections 24 are provided connected to the active rail 25, a plurality of neutral pin connections 26 are connected to the neutral rail 27, and a plurality of ground pin connections 28 are provided on the ground rail 29. Each active, neutral, and ground pin connection 24, 26, and 28 is configured to mate with a corresponding active, neutral, and ground pin on the plug inserted into the socket 14.

[0015] The rear wall 22 is recessed inward from the rear edge of the edge wall 16 to define a cavity 30 in the rear portion of the power board 10. The defined cavity 30 is sized to accommodate a power socket 11 mounted to a surface 13, such as a wall. Therefore, the power board 10 can be placed against the surface 13 on which the power socket 11 is mounted, such that the rear edge of the edge wall 16 mates with the surface 13, and the power socket 11 is fully accommodated within the cavity 30.

[0016] The rear wall 22 includes electrical pins 32 extending outward therefrom. The electrical pins 32 are configured to engage with sockets 15 on the power socket 11. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the electrical pins 32 include active, neutral, and ground pins.

[0017] The electrical pins 32, extending outward from the rear wall 22, are electrically connected to the corresponding active rails, neutral rails, and ground rails 25, 27, and 29 within the inner cavity of the power board 10. Therefore, when the electrical pins 32 are received in the sockets 15 of the power socket 11, power is supplied from the power socket 11 to each of the sockets 14 on the power board 10.

[0018] The power board 10 includes one or more fasteners configured to secure the power board 10 to the power socket 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners include threaded fasteners 34 passing through holes 36 in the front wall 12 and rear wall 22 of the power board 10. The holes 36 are configured to align with corresponding holes 50 on the power socket 11, such that the fasteners 34 can pass through the corresponding holes in the existing power socket 11 to secure the power board 10 to the power socket 11. The holes 50 on the power socket 11 include holes 50 configured to secure the power socket 11 to a surface 13 in the absence of the power board 10 of the present invention. Therefore, the fasteners previously securing the power socket 11 to the surface 13 can be removed, and then the threaded fasteners 34 can be passed through the power board 10 and the power socket 11 to secure both in place.

[0019] The hole 36 in the power board 10 is located between the outermost socket 14 (the socket 14 closest to the first end wall portion 20 and the second end wall portion 21) and the center of the body 60. In the embodiment shown with four sockets 14, a pair of inner sockets 14 are provided between the outermost sockets 14, and the hole 36 is located between one of the outermost sockets 14 and the pair of inner sockets 14. The hole 36 is also located approximately midway between the upper and lower wall sides of the body 60.

[0020] The power board 10 is further provided with a cover plate 38 to be received above the front wall 12 and surrounding the edge wall 16. The cover plate 38 includes a front wall portion 40 and an edge wall portion 42, such that the front wall portion 40 is located in front of the front wall 12 and the edge wall portion 42 is located around the outer side of the edge wall 16. The cover plate 38 includes a first hole 44 aligned with the socket 14 and a second hole 46 aligned with a switch 48 disposed on the power board 10 for switching power to each socket 14.

[0021] The power board 10 may also include overload protection, which can be reset by an overload switch 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the overload switch 70 is configured to extend from the lower wall portion 19.

[0022] In use, by using the power board 10, the power socket 11 on the surface 13 can be converted to have additional sockets. The power board 10 is received on top of the power socket 11, such that the electrical prongs 32 are received in the sockets 15 of the power socket 11. The power board 10 is fastened to the power socket 11 by fasteners 34, and the cover plate 38 fits on the front of the front wall 12, thereby providing a multi-socket power socket.

[0023] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the foregoing embodiments in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power supply board, comprising: The main body has a planar front wall including a plurality of power sockets and an edge wall extending rearward from the periphery of the front wall; as well as The rear wall has outwardly extending electrical prongs that can be received into sockets on a power outlet mounted on the surface, and the rear wall is recessed inward so that when the electrical prongs are received into the sockets of the power outlet, the power outlet is accommodated within the recess. The power board is provided with holes extending through the front wall and the rear wall, which are aligned with holes in the power socket. A threaded fastener is also provided, extending through the holes in the power board to be received in the holes in the power socket, thereby securing the power board to the power socket.

2. The power board according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the holes is located between the end of the insertion hole and the center of the front wall of the body.

3. The power board according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hole is located in the middle between the upper and lower sides of the front wall.

4. The power board according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A cavity is defined between the front wall and the rear wall, and an electrical connector is provided in the cavity for connecting an electrical pin of a plug inserted into a socket on the power board, and the electrical connector is connected to the electrical pin extending outward from the rear wall.

5. The power board according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The front wall and the rear wall are rectangular, and the edge wall includes an upper wall portion, a lower wall portion, a first side wall portion, and a second side wall portion.

6. The power board according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, A cover plate is provided to connect to the front of the front wall of the power board.

7. The power board according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cover plate includes a front wall portion and a side wall portion, the front wall portion being located in front of the front wall of the body during use, and the side wall portion being received around the periphery of the side wall of the body.

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