Floor Fixture Patents (Class 174/490)
  • Patent number: 11217886
    Abstract: A floor system uses interlocking elements to form a surface raised above a floor surface for the distribution of electrical power and data throughout the floor of a building. The base units of the interlocking elements define channels which receive cables for data and power transmission. Channel and corner covers overlie the channels and interlock with the base units to form the raised surface. Fused electrical feed modules within channels provide electrical power to bus bars which distribute the power to fused terminal boxes and radio frequency sensors and beacons mounted in the base units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: FreeAxez LLC
    Inventors: Earl Geertgens, Tama Geertgens
  • Patent number: 10741981
    Abstract: A power unit mounting box is disclosed that is adapted to couple to a working surface. The mounting box includes a first surface having a power outlet disposed thereon, and the first surface is angled with respect to the working surface when the power unit mounting box is coupled to the working surface. This provides for ease of access to the power outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: William T. Sharp
  • Patent number: 10673191
    Abstract: An electrical power unit is positionable in or along a work surface and includes a housing with a movable cover that is positionable in open and closed positions at an upper region of the housing. The cover defines an interior region in which a wireless power transmitter is mounted. A lamp unit is disposed in the housing or the cover. The lamp unit is configured so that emitted light is visible from outside the power unit when the cover is closed. The wireless power transmitter is operable to selectively illuminate the lamp unit when the wireless power transmitter is energized. Optionally, at least one direct-contact electrical or data receptacle is provided at the housing, and may be arranged or positioned so that it is accessible at least when the cover is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrne, Nickolas J. Morrow
  • Patent number: 10311265
    Abstract: A universal mounting ring has an arcuate or curved upper portion and a plurality of downwardly depending tabs. The universal mounting ring is configured to interface with an electrical enclosure, such as conventional electrical junction boxes to permit a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to be secured within the enclosure and mate with a wide variety of enclosure cover assemblies manufactured by third parties. The downwardly depending mounting tabs are provided with multiple mounting positions such that the reader may be securely mounted at a plurality of positions relative to a cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventors: Toby Mark Padilla, Randall Dennis Bousfield
  • Patent number: 10141730
    Abstract: An in-ground enclosure for housing electrical components is provided. The in-ground enclosure can include an outer shell, a first compartment located within the outer shell, a second compartment located within the outer shell, an upper panel comprising a first compartment opening for accessing the first compartment and a second compartment opening for accessing the second compartment, a dividing wall separating the first compartment from the second compartment, a first compartment cover adapted for removably sealing the first compartment opening, and a second compartment cover adapted for removably sealing the second compartment opening. A telecommunications base station is also provided. The telecommunications base station can include an in-ground enclosure and a cellular base station, which can include an antenna coupled to signal processing equipment and a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BOBSBOX, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Aycock, Robert J. Schilling
  • Patent number: 10121343
    Abstract: A notification appliance is disclosed. The notification appliance may be a strobe notification appliance, such as an LED strobe notification appliance. The notification appliance may be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Further, the notification appliance may include an optic that is configured to shape the light output from the notification appliance. For example, in a wall-mount, the optic may be mounted off-axis of a plane defined by a back plate of the notification appliance. Further, the notification appliance may be composed of a back plate, a driver board, and a front housing, with the front housing being attached to one or both of the back plate and the driver board. Moreover, the notification appliance may be used with an adapter bracket, which may be used to connect the notification appliance with one or more types of junction boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Kenneth Savage, Jr., Steven Varieur
  • Patent number: 9920734
    Abstract: A starter (1) includes a motor unit (3), an output shaft (4) configured to receive a rotational force of the motor unit (3) and rotate, a pinion gear (74) (a pinion mechanism) helically engageable with a ring gear (23) of an engine, a clutch mechanism (5) configured to transmit the rotational force of the output shaft (4) to the pinion gear (74), and an electromagnetic device (9) configured to bias a pressing force toward the ring gear (23) to the clutch mechanism (5) and the pinion gear (74), wherein a plunger spring (91) (a backlash absorption mechanism) configured to bring one end (81a) (a point of action) of a plunger inner part (81) in constant elastic contact with the clutch mechanism (5) is installed at the electromagnetic device (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Ikemori, Hiroshi Ooka, Masaaki Oya, Shigehiro Kanbe, Masataka Odagiri, Mitsuhiro Kogure, Hiroki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9775258
    Abstract: The cable management container includes a breadbox-like container with a lid that follows the contours of the container. The container includes a front wall, rear wall, side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall, and a sleeve. The top wall also functions as the lid. The bottom wall supports a receptacle array. The receptacle array includes a plurality of power outlets into which multiple electrical plugs may be organized and plugged into connection with an external power source. The container further includes at least one aperture on one of the sides of the container through which electrical cords may be threaded as well as an external power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Jerry Sandefer
  • Patent number: 9706833
    Abstract: A desktop receptacle includes: a housing having a top surface, at least one electrical port formed therein, and defining an enclosed space configured to hold an electrical circuit; and a rigid support having a peripheral portion and an angled portion connected to the peripheral portion and attached to the top surface of the housing, the angled portion forming a holding angle relative to the peripheral portion that is not perpendicular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: 9653860
    Abstract: A modular electrical receptacle box configured to allow outlets and switches to be easily installed using wire segments extending between terminals in the box bottom surface and the outlet and switch. The box has a housing having a first recess, at least one electrical outlet or switch secured to the housing and disposed in the first recess, a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the bottom wall, a plurality of electrical conductor segments extending between the outlet or switch and the electrical terminals, and a first connector coupled to the electrical terminals via a plurality of electrical busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Hestrin
  • Patent number: 9635931
    Abstract: A table having electrical ports for supplying power or data. The table may include one or more port housings having one or more electrical ports disposed on a surface of the port housing. The port housing may be configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the one or more electrical ports may be concealed beneath the top surface of the table. In the second position, the one or more electrical port may be deployed above the top surface table. The table may include a motor coupled to an assembly for rotating the one or more port housings between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kully Mandon, Christopher M. Green, Jonathan P. Siegel, Edwin Wood, Andrew Murphy
  • Patent number: 9614338
    Abstract: A power receptacle module for a work surface having multiple power receptacles includes a mounting frame configured to be received within an aperture in the work surface, a pivoting receptacle assembly pivotally mounted in the mounting frame and configured to pivot between a first orientation and a second orientation, relative to the mounting frame. The pivoting receptacle assembly has a flat face plate and a plurality of power receptacles fixedly mounted below the flat face plate. When the pivoting receptacle assembly is in the first orientation, the flat face plate is flush with a top surface of the work surface, and the plurality of power receptacles are hidden below the work surface. When the pivoting receptacle assembly is in the second orientation, the flat face plate is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the work surface, and the plurality of power receptacles are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Alexander, Peter Keyzer, Michael Johnson, Lawrence W. Kallio, III, Jeffrey L. Clark
  • Patent number: 9425533
    Abstract: A rotatable socket assembly, provided in form of a rotatable socket, includes: a side provided with a socket unit and a functional socket, and an adjacent side provided with a flat surface. The rotatable socket starts rotating, when a switch on an active surface of the rotatable socket is pressed to start the driving motor, such that check elements connected to the active end of the driving motor drive the rotatable socket to rotate by a predetermined angle to cause the socket to face upward, thereby facilitating the use of a plug. Alternatively, when the plug is not in use, the switch at a predetermined angle is pressed, such that the check elements connected to the active end of the driving motor drive the rotatable socket to rotate by a predetermined angle to cause the flat surface to face upward and enable the socket to face laterally and get hidden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas J. Oosterman
  • Patent number: 9281665
    Abstract: A device for mounting a switch or the like on a mounting plate having a front side, a back side as well as a mounting hole. The switch has a housing with a housing upper side and at least one fixing projection insertable into the mounting hole from the back side of the mounting plate. Moreover, both a support to support the fixing projection against the front side of the mounting plate and counter-supporting elements to support the housing upper side against the back side of the mounting plate are provided. The counter-supporting elements are springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Schaltbau GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Bauer
  • Patent number: 8884161
    Abstract: An electrical outlet box for installing in a hole defined in a pre-existing, finished floor of a building. The outlet box comprises a box portion, a backplate, and a cover plate. The box portion comprises a first pair of opposing walls, a second pair of opposing walls, a bottom wall, and a mounting flange. Top edges of each wall of the first and second pairs of opposing walls define an open top end of the box portion. The bottom wall is affixed to bottom edges of each wall of the first and second pairs of opposing walls, thereby defining a cavity within the first and second pairs of opposing walls and the bottom wall. The cavity is adapted for receiving an electrical outlet. The mounting flange surrounds the open top end and is adapted for sitting flush against the installed floor when the outlet box is mounted in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8378232
    Abstract: A convertible electrical floor box assembly for installation in a poured concrete floor that includes a non-metallic floor box and a metallic outer box. The non-metallic floor box includes a base plate, a perimetrical side wall with one or more openings for accessing the interior, an open top, a mating structure and an internal support structure for receiving a voltage divider. The metallic outer box includes a base plate, a perimetrical side wall with one or more apertures for accessing the interior, an open top and a mating structure. The non-metallic floor box is adapted for installation in a concrete floor or it can be used together with the metallic outer box as an assembly that is adapted for installation in a concrete floor by inserting the non-metallic floor box in the metallic outer box so that the openings and apertures are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Drane
  • Patent number: 8119910
    Abstract: A power and communication receptacle trough has a frame which has an upper, peripheral portion and a plurality of walls downwardly extending from the upper, peripheral portion. The frame defines an interior region. A receptacle attachment member is disposed within the interior region of the frame and is attached to the frame. The receptacle attachment member has a wave-like contour having a crest portion. At least one power or communication receptacle is connected to the receptacle attachment member. The receptacle attachment member has a central portion and the crest portion of the wave-like contour is at the central portion of the receptacle attachment member. Covers are movably attached to the upper, peripheral portion. Each cover corresponds to a respective half of the frame. A lighting device is attached to the receptacle attachment member to illuminate the interior region of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Premier Manufacturing Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Golden, Dave Black, Glenn Golden, Russell Hayden, Jillian Pai, Sean Scott
  • Patent number: 7989710
    Abstract: An in-floor receptacle or electrical conduit box with a compartment divider removably attached to a gang-plate divider, a gang-plate divider removably attached to a gang-unit holder, at least one gang-unit holder removably attached to the inside of the box, and at least one knockout located on each side or floor of the box. The in-floor electrical conduit box enables the connection of permanent cables, wires or cords to temporary cables, wires or cords. The in-floor electrical conduit box further comprises a lid with at least one removable door whereby the removal of the door permits cable access to the box while the box is still covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: FSR Inc.
    Inventors: David Hansen, John Macaluso
  • Patent number: 7482536
    Abstract: An underfloor cable junction unit for installation in a raised-floor system used as cooling air supply duct for devices arranged on the raised floor and having floor panels with cooling air outlets has a top side. The top side or at least a major part of it is open to enable the passage of cooling air through the top side toward a floor panel with cooling air outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Traugott Marquardt
  • Patent number: 7459632
    Abstract: A cover assembly adapted to be mounted over an in-floor fitting, including a frame having a passage defined therethrough, a lid pivotally secured to the frame and positioned over the passage, an egress door movably secured to the lid, and a sealing membrane bonded to an underside of said lid and said egress door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: The Wiremold Company
    Inventor: Tim Bowman
  • Patent number: 7388164
    Abstract: An electrical floor box for providing multiple services such as electrical service and communication service has a housing formed from a top section, a bottom section, and a middle section connecting the top and bottom section. The housing is covered by a cover that rests in a cover flange. The cover flange has a gutter for collecting any liquids that seep into the housing. A removable power panel rests in the interior of the housing and provides electrical receptacles. An accessory box for providing additional services such as compressed air and water can be attached to electrical floor box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas L. Scanzillo
  • Patent number: RE49112
    Abstract: A notification appliance is disclosed. The notification appliance may be a strobe notification appliance, such as an LED strobe notification appliance. The notification appliance may be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Further, the notification appliance may include an optic that is configured to shape the light output from the notification appliance. For example, in a wall-mount, the optic may be mounted off-axis of a plane defined by a back plate of the notification appliance. Further, the notification appliance may be composed of a back plate, a driver board, and a front housing, with the front housing being attached to one or both of the back plate and the driver board. Moreover, the notification appliance may be used with an adapter bracket, which may be used to connect the notification appliance with one or more types of junction boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Kenneth Savage, Jr., Steven Varieur