US4718741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrified table and support structure
Assignee: EBSCO Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1986-11-06
•
Granted: 1988-01-12
•
Expires: 2006-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An electrified table top. In one form, the table wall forms the top of a base defining a cabinet. The table wall includes an integral, outwardly projecting handle portion provided with integral electrical connection structure for selective connection of power cords from electrical apparatus carried on the table wall. The electrical connection structure is provided with a power cord which may be selectively plugged into a conventional power supply receptacle. The table wall is provided with a selectively closable opening for passing the flexible electrical cords therethrough. Structure is provided for supporting the flexible cords on the underside of the table wall. Where the structure includes a base cabinet portion, the cabinet is provided with one or more openings for passing the cords to and from the handle portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L. Nichoalds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:21
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B31/00; A47B37/00; A47B37/02; A47B97/00; A47B2200/00; A47B2200/008; A47B2200/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A table wall for use with an upright support means to support objects placed thereon, said table wall comprising: a support portion defining an end; a pair of handles each having a connecting portion extending from said support portion end and a grasping portion turned from said connecting portion, the grasping portions of the handles defining opposed spaced distal ends, said grasping portions being spaced from said support portion end to receive a user's fingers therebetween; electrical connection means mounted between said distal ends and having an electrical terminal connector; means for passing an electrical cord through said support portion and to adjacent said electrical connection means for selective connection thereof to said electrical terminal connector; and means for electrically energizing said terminal connector from an electrical power source to provide electrical power to an electrical cord connected to said terminal connector for providing electrical power therethrough to electrically operable objects supported on said support portion of the table wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A table wall for use with an upright support means to support objects placed thereon, said table wall comprising: a support portion defining an end; a pair of handles each having a connecting portion extending from said support portion end and a grasping portion turned from said connecting portion, the grasping portions of the handles defining opposed spaced distal ends, said grasping portions being spaced from said support portion end to receive a user's fingers therebetween; electrical connection means mounted between said distal ends and having an electrical terminal connector; means for passing an electrical cord through said support portion and to adjacent said electrical connection means for selective connection thereof to said electrical terminal connector; and means for electrically energizing said terminal connector from an electrical power source to provide electrical power to an electrical cord connected to said terminal connector for providing electrical power therethrough to electrically operable objects supported on said support portion of the table wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein a boss is provided on said support portion end to project therefrom into abutment with said electrical connection means for rigidifying the mounting of the electrical connection means between said handle distal ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein said handle distal ends define nonplanar end surfaces and said electrical connection means defines opposite end surfaces complementary to and facially abutting said nonplanar end surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein said grasping portions of the handles define outer surfaces facing away from said support portion of the table wall, and said electrical connection means defines an outer surface substantially flush with said grasping portions outer surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein said grasping portions of the handles define rectangular transverse cross sections and said electrical connection means defines a similar rectangular transverse cross section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein said electrical terminal connector is mounted between said handles for connection of an electrical cord connector thereto by movement of the electrical cord connector toward said support portion end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein said handles are formed unitarily integral with said support portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The table wall of claim 1 wherein a boss is provided on said support portion end to project therefrom into abutment with said electrical connection means for rigidifying the mounting of the electrical connection means between said handle distal ends, and said boss and said handles are formed unitarily integral with said support portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The table wall of claim 1 including securing means for fixedly securing said electrical connection means between said distal ends of the handle grasping portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
A cabinet structure comprising: a cabinet base having a top wall and an accessible inner space; handle means projecting outwardly from said base adjacent said top wall; electrical connection means on the outwardly projecting handle means; means in said base for passing a flexible electrical cord therethrough to have one end thereof disposed above said top wall and the opposite end thereof electrically connected to said connection means; means for electrically engaging said connection means from an electrical power source comprising a flexible electrical power cord; and means in said base for passing said power cord therethrough to have one end thereof connected to said connection means and the opposite end thereof extended from said cabinet base to be plugged into an electrical power source receptacle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
A cabinet structure comprising: a cabinet base having a top wall and an accessible inner space; handle means projecting outwardly from said base adjacent said top wall; electrical connection means on the outwardly projecting handle means; means in said base for passing a flexible electrical cord therethrough to have one end thereof disposed above said top wall and the opposite end thereof electrically connected to said connection means; means for electrically engaging said connection means from an electrical power source comprising a flexible electrical power cord; and means in said base for passing said power cord therethrough to have one end thereof connected to said connection means and the opposite end thereof extended from said cabinet base to be plugged into an electrical power source receptacle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein means are provided on said cabinet base in said space for supporting flexible electrical cords thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein means are provided on said cabinet base in said space for readily releasably supporting flexible electrical cords thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein means are provided on said top wall in said space for supporting flexible electrical cords thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein means are provided on said top wall in said space for readily releasably supporting flexible electrical cords thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein said means for passing flexible cords through said base includes at least one opening in said top wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein said means for passing flexible cords through said base includes at least one opening in said top wall and at least one opening in said base below said top wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein said means for passing flexible cords through said base includes at least one opening in said top wall and closure means for selectively partially closing or fully closing each said opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein said means for passing flexible cords through said base includes at least one opening in said top wall and at least one opening in said base below said top wall and closure means for selectively partially closing or fully closing at least one said opening in said top wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cabinet structure of claim 10 wherein means are provided on said cabinet base for removably storing said opposite end of the electrical power cord thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2340713A
Cited
US2561293A
Cited
US3471109A
Cited
US3593950A
Cited
US3759538A
Cited
US3783175A
Cited
US4066305A
Cited
US4323291A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-01-11 | 1991-07-13 | 1992-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-11 | 1995-07-13 | 1996-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-11 | 1999-07-13 | 2000-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |