Multimedia outlet with protective cover

• US 20020142650A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Coppock, David G., Clark, Gordon P., Mattson, Loren J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/536
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A cover assembly for covering an outlet box. The assembly includes a cover plate and an insert piece having a middle member and two retention members. The cover plate defines a cover aperture which receives the middle member of the insert piece from a back side of the cover plate. The retention members of the insert piece abut the back side of the cover plate. The insert piece may define a connector aperture for receiving a cable connector and may include designation figures. The assembly may also include a strap defining mounting apertures for receiving snap-fit connector modules. The strap may define shelves along two opposed sides for receiving the retention members of an insert piece. The strap may also define tab slots for receiving tabs of the insert piece.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for covering an open end of an outlet box, the assembly comprising:

an insert piece having a middle member and two retention members, the retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members having a front surface recessed from a front surface of the middle member; and

a cover plate having a front side and a back side, the cover plate defining a fastener hole, the cover plate defining a plate aperture, wherein the middle member of the insert piece may be received in the plate aperture from the back side of the cover plate so that a back side of the cover plate abuts the front surface of the retention members of the insert piece.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert piece defines a connector aperture.

3. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert piece includes a tab on a back side of the middle member, and wherein the strap defines a tab slot which receives the tab of the insert piece.

4. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein a front side of the middle member of the insert piece includes at least one designation figure.

5. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert piece is a first insert piece and wherein the assembly further comprises a second insert piece having a middle member and two retention members, the retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members of the second insert piece each having a front surface, wherein the second insert piece may be received by the plate aperture from the back side of the cover plate so that the plate aperture received the middle member of the second insert piece and the back side of the cover plate abuts the front surface of the retention members of the second insert piece.

6. A cover assembly for covering an open end of an outlet box, the assembly comprising:

a strap having a front surface and a back surface, the strap defining at least one mounting aperture for receiving a cable connector, the strap having a first side and a second side;

an insert piece having a middle member and two retention members, the retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members each having a front surface;

a cover plate having a front side and a back side, the cover plate defining a fastener hole, the cover plate defining a plate aperture,

wherein the insert piece may be received by the plate aperture from the back side of the cover plate so that the middle member is received in the plate aperture and the back side of the cover plate abuts the front surfaces of the retention members of the insert piece; and

wherein the cover plate may be coupled to the strap so that the middle member of the insert piece overlaps at least a portion of the mounting aperture of the strap.

7. The cover assembly of claim 6 wherein the sides of the strap each define a recessed shelf which receive the retention members of the insert piece so that the retention members of the insert piece are retained between the cover plate and the recessed shelf of the strap.

8. The cover assembly of claim 7 wherein the insert piece defines a connector aperture.

9. The cover assembly of claim 8 further comprising a cable connector module housing a cable connector, the connector module received in the mounting aperture of the strap, the connector of the connector module received by the connector aperture of the insert piece.

10. The cover assembly of claim 6 wherein the insert piece includes a tab on a back side of the middle member, and wherein the strap defines a tab slot which receives the tab of the insert piece.

11. The cover assembly of claim 6 wherein a front side of the middle member of the insert piece includes at least one designation figure.

12. The cover assembly of claim 6 wherein the insert piece is a first insert piece and wherein the assembly further comprises a second insert piece having a middle member and two retention members, the retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members of the second insert piece each having a front surface, wherein the second insert piece may be received by the plate aperture from the back side of the cover plate so that the plate aperture received the middle member of the second insert piece and the back side of the cover plate abuts the front surface of the retention members of the second insert piece.

14. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising connector modules received by the mounting aperture of the strap.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the sides of the strap each define a recessed shelf which receive the retention members of the insert piece so that the retention members of the insert piece are retained between the cover plate and the recessed shelf of the strap.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the insert piece defines a connector aperture.

17. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising a cable connector module housing a cable connector, the connector module received in the mounting aperture of the strap, the connector of the connector module received by the connector aperture of the insert piece.

18. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the insert piece includes a tab on a back side of the middle member, and wherein the strap defines a tab slot which receives the tab of the insert piece.

19. The assembly of claim 13 wherein a front side of the middle member of the insert piece includes designation figures.

20. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the insert piece is a first insert piece and wherein the assembly further comprises a second insert piece having a middle member and two retention members, the retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members of the second insert piece each having a front surface, wherein the second insert piece may be received by the plate aperture from the back side of the cover plate so that the plate aperture received the middle member of the second insert piece and the back side of the cover plate abuts the front surface of the retention members of the second insert piece.

13. An outlet box assembly comprising:

a telecommunications outlet box;

a strap having a front surface and a back surface, the strap defining at least one mounting aperture for receiving a cable connector, the strap having a first side and a second side, the strap being coupled to the open end of the outlet box;

an insert piece having a middle member and two retention members, the retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members defining two side shoulders each having a front surface;

a cover plate having a front side and a back side, the cover plate defining a fastener hole, the cover plate defining a plate aperture defined by an aperture edge,

wherein the insert piece is received by the plate aperture from the back side of the cover plate so that the aperture edge of the plate aperture abuts the front surfaces of the side shoulders of the insert piece;

wherein the cover plate is coupled to the outlet box so that the strap is between the outlet box and the cover plate and so that the middle member of the insert piece overlaps at least a portion of the mounting aperture of the strap.

21. An insert piece for an outlet box cover assembly, the insert piece comprising:

a middle member, the middle member having a front surface, and a rear surface;

a tab extending from the rear surface of the middle member in a direction perpendicular to the rear surface of the insert piece; and

two retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members each having a front surface, the front surface of the retention members being recessed from the front surface of the middle member.

22. The insert piece of claim 21 wherein the front surface of the middle member includes designation figures.

23. The insert piece of claim 21 further comprising a second tab extending from the rear surface of the middle member in a direction perpendicular to the rear surface of the insert piece.

25. The insert piece of claim 24 wherein the front surface of the middle member includes designation figures.

27. The strap of claim 26 wherein the strap body defines two corresponding tab slots for each mounting aperture, the tab slots being on opposed sides of the corresponding mounting aperture and wherein the strap defines a pair of opposed recessed shelves for each mounting aperture.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the front member of the insert piece defines a connector aperture for accessing the connector through the insert piece.

24. An insert piece for an outlet box cover assembly, the insert piece comprising:

a middle member, the middle member having a front surface, and a rear surface, the middle member defining a connector aperture for receiving a cable connector; and

two retention members extending from opposed sides of the middle member, the retention members each having a front surface, the front surface of the retention members being recessed from the front surface of the middle member.

26. A strap for an outlet box cover assembly, the strap comprising:

a strap body, the strap body having a front surface, a back surface, a first side and a second side;

wherein the strap body defines at least one mounting aperture for receiving a cable connector;

wherein the first and second sides of the strap body each define a recessed shelf;

wherein the strap body defines a fastener hole for receiving a fastener to couple the strap to a telecommunications outlet box; and

wherein the strap body defines a tab slot for receiving a tab of an insert piece.

28. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box having an open end;

a cover plate having a front side and a back side, the cover plate defining a plate aperture, the cover plate coupled to the open end of the outlet box;

a cable connector coupled to the outlet box and positioned to be accessible through the plate aperture of the cover plate;

an insert piece having a front member and a retention member extending from a side of the front member, the insert piece being positioned between the back side of the cover plate and the connector so that the connector cannot be removed from the outlet box without first removing the cover plate from the outlet box.

30. An outlet assembly comprising:

an outlet box assembly having an open end;

a cover plate having a front side and a back side, the cover plate defining a plate aperture, the cover plate coupled to the open end of the outlet box assembly;

a cable connector positioned at the open end of the outlet box assembly and positioned to be accessible through the plate aperture of the cover plate;

a flexible mounting tab including a ramped lip for snap mounting the cable connector to the outlet box assembly;

means held by the cover plate for retaining the cable connector with the outlet box assembly.