Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals

Details Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals

1999-06-24

2001-04-24

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Covers or face plates

C220S241000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06222124

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wall outlet plates, and, more particularly, to an integrated wall outlet plate, faceplate, and electrical box for use with low-voltage signals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As advanced voice, data, and video services evolve, homeowners are faced with the prospect that the existing wiring in their houses is not adequate to distribute the services throughout the house. Either the cabling system does not perform well enough, or there is no outlet where the service is to be used, or both. In either case, homeowners must retrofit new cables into their houses in order to take advantage of the new services. Aside from pulling cables through the walls, this type of cabling retrofit often involves installing new electrical boxes, outlets, and faceplates at all locations where outlets are desired.
Nearly all electrical boxes, outlets, and faceplates are designed and optimized for use in new construction. While there are some products that are specifically designed for retrofit (sometimes called “old work”) application, these products are designed to replace only one of the three components (i.e., the electrical box, the outlet, or the faceplate). All three components are needed and must be assembled on site during installation. Examples of existing products for use in a retrofit installation include retrofit electrical boxes, which use standard outlets and faceplates, and a combination outlet and faceplate, which must be used with an electrical box.
Installations using products of this type generally involve the following steps: a hole is cut in the wall, a cable is pulled through the hole, the cable is terminated (i.e., a connector is installed on the end of the cable), the cable is passed through a retrofit electrical box, the electrical box is attached to the wall, the cable terminations are connected to the outlet, the outlet is installed into the electrical box, and the faceplate is installed onto the outlet. When this process has to be repeated for every outlet that is to be installed, it becomes a labor-intensive, time consuming, and expensive undertaking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An integrated wall outlet plate constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a faceplate having a front side and a rear side. A plurality of connectors is integrally formed with the faceplate, each of the connectors extending through the faceplate from the front side to the rear side. Mounting means are positioned on the rear side of the faceplate, for mounting the outlet plate in a wall.
By combining the three components (electrical box, outlet, and faceplate) into a single component, and by optimizing the design for use in retrofit installations, the disadvantages of the prior art are easily overcome. Installing the integrated wall outlet plate requires fewer steps: a hole is cut in the wall, the cable is pulled through the hole, the cable is terminated, the cable terminations are connected to the integrated outlet plate, and the integrated outlet plate is installed in the wall. This integrated design shortens the installation time required for each outlet, thereby resulting in lower total installation time and costs.
Since the integrated wall outlet plate is designed without an enclosed electrical box, it may not be suitable for use in connection with high voltage cables (i.e., 110 volt AC power). This is because existing electrical regulations require that high voltage cables must be enclosed within an electrical box for safety reasons. Additionally, the integrated wall outlet plate is not optimal for use in new construction, where the cables are installed before the wall is in place.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2320400 (1943-06-01), Bedell
patent: 5114365 (1992-05-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5221814 (1993-06-01), Colbaugh et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2554994