Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-05
2002-09-03
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S055000, C220S003800, C439S535000, C248S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06444906
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to providing access to electrical power, communications, television and audio equipment in the recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer and mobile home construction arts, and more particularly in certain aspects, to providing access from an accessory plate parallel to, but recessed within the exterior wall of a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home.
DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT FILING REFERENCE
This invention was the subject of U.S. Patent Office Disclosure Document No. 465229, filed Nov. 18, 1999, entitled, EXTERIOR WALL-MOUNTED ACCESSORY OUTLET UNIT FOR A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to providing access to electrical power, communications, audio equipment, and television cable access in the exterior wall of a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home, and more particularly in certain aspects to providing user access to such services from a panel mounted within a separate openable and flush-mounted cavity.
Many people who travel with a recreational vehicle or “fifth-wheel ” type of trailer do so with all of the comforts of home. In particular, it is common for people to travel with televisions and portable stereo systems as well as telephones, but usually these are located within the recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home. When setting up the RV or trailer for private enjoyment or entertain under an extensible awning or tent nearby, it is frequently not possible to entertain inside the RV or trailer, but it is desirable to have a television, stereo or other source of entertainment, as well as a telephone and access to electrical power outside of the vehicle. Occupants and users of the modem recreational vehicle, travel trailer or mobile home generally desire and may require access to electrical power, communications, audio equipment, and television cable access, in various combinations, outside. Services in certain prior art systems are usually provided only within the interior of the recreational vehicle, travel trailer or mobile home, thus requiring that outside access be accomplished with extension cords.
Three problems which frequently arise pertain to: (1) the lack of electrical connections to which appliances and conveniences may be connected; (2) the lack of ready access for the electrical, audio, television, and telephone connections which may not have been originally provided for; and, (3) the expense involved and the lack of safety in having numerous electrical lines, cables and extension cords running from inside the vehicle or mobile home to the exterior to operate the desired appliances and conveniences to be connected.
In certain prior art, the basic design criteria for recreational vehicles and mobile homes does not include bringing many conventionally indoor conveniences and appliances outdoors. However, as users' tastes have evolved, many people enjoy being able to listen to music, watch television, have ready access to a telephone and electrical power, or entertain outside of the recreational vehicle or trailer. While equipped with many comforts and conveniences, most recreational vehicles, trailers and mobile homes are very compact and allocate space, especially for passage, very carefully. It is unsafe to have cords, cables and wires running along the floor where people walk, as these create safety hazards; however, because access to various electrical connections are limited, many users do not have a way to safely run wires and cables to the outdoors. Until this invention, there was no comparable cost-effective means to permit an operator to access either additional electrical accessory outlets, or to access the television antenna or satellite dish or to extend safely speaker cords, or to access directly a telephone line from the exterior of a recreational vehicle, travel trailer, or mobile home.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
External access to the power of a mobile home or travel trailer has been limited in certain prior art systems to providing access to an extension cord. Two now-expired U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,811,004 and 3,966,073, each relate to an access hatch mountable, specifically, into the side of a mobile home or travel trailer for providing access to a single electrical power supply cord. In each patent, the opening or aperture at the back of the recessed housing is large enough to allow the easily movable passage of the plug, socket, or extension cord of an electrical power line, the plug or socket portion resting in the cavity of the hatch for connection to an external electrical power source.
The art relating to gaining access to electrical power, telephone lines and other electrical connections through a flush-mounted cavity containing a variety of fixed outlets relates to building construction. U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,565 discloses a method and apparatus for creating flush concrete-slab-floor-mounted boxes to provide access to electrical power, communications and computer data services in an office building environment. There is no teaching or suggestion for applying this method or process in the context of the floor or wall of mobile home or travel trailer, as the patent teaches specifically for use in the construction of slab concrete floors of office buildings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention in at least certain embodiments is directed to an improved apparatus for providing an in-wall access to connections for a variety of communication an entertainment equipment that is disposed in a recess within the exterior wall of a recreational vehicle, travel trailer or mobile home. The invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art described above.
The apparatus in at least certain embodiments of the present invention includes a housing that defines an interior volume within the exterior wall of a mobile home wall. Within this volume and resting in a receiving ridge of the interior walls is a mounting plate for receiving accessory outlets and mounting hardware and shields for separating the accessory outlets. The housing is positioned on or in the exterior wall of the recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home. The housing has spaced-apart walls. Each of these walls has an exterior edge that conforms to the cavity through the exterior wall of the recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer, or mobile home. The side walls are joined so as to circumscribe an interior space.
The side walls extend inwardly and generally perpendicular to the plane of the exterior wall of the recreational vehicle, mobile home, motor home, or travel trailer. The housing also has an opening bounded by a mounting lip that overlies the upper edges of the side walls and defines an opening. This opening is sized to permit the facile introduction of connectors, extension cords, and other electrical connections into the accessory outlets mounted on the mounting plate. An openable and securably closable door covers the opening and mounting plate.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an in-wall access that permits a number of connections to services, appliances and conveniences.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide access that permits a larger number of connections to services and appliances than are provided conventionally.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as details of certain preferred embodiments thereof will be more fully understood from the following description and the drawings.
This invention in at least certain embodiments is an exterior wall-mounted accessory outlet unit for a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home with an exterior wall. In one aspect, such an apparatus includes: (1) a housing, adapted to be positioned through the exterior wall of a recreational vehicle, motor home, travel trailer or mobile home, and having side walls, each of the side walls having a top edge, two side edges, and an inward-facing surface with a re
Patel Dhiru R
Silverman Samuel Brown
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