Through-wall electrical system

• US 20050006124A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Russell E. Kruse, Russell L. Bryant
• Original Assignee: Russell E. Kruse, Russell L. Bryant
• Inventors: Bryant, Russell L., Kruse, Russell E.
• Application Number:
  US10/913,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006124A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A system for accessing an electrical wiring network from opposing sides of a wall. The wall includes at least one structural support and a wall surface. The system includes an electrical box having a perimeter wall and two open sides. The open sides are located at opposing ends of the perimeter wall, thereby defining a passageway through the electrical box. Additionally, the system includes a pair of frames coupled to the electrical box at the open sides, and at least two electrical outlets coupled to the frames. Each outlet includes a plurality of integral conductor leads extending therefrom.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to an electrical wiring network from opposing sides of a wall, the wall comprising at least one structural support, said system comprising:

an electrical box comprising a perimeter wall and two open sides, said open sides located at opposing ends of said perimeter wall, thereby defining a passageway through said electrical box;

a pair of frames configured to be coupled to said electrical box at said open sides; and

at least one electrical outlet configured to be coupled to one of said frames, said outlet comprising a housing and a plurality of integral leads extending in close proximity of each other at a central location of said housing, each said lead comprising a wire and a layer of insulating material covering a portion of said wire such that a predetermined length of said wire extends past said insulating material at said distal end of each said lead.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical outlet further comprises a housing having a non-conductive outer surface free from actively conductive appendages.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said non-conductive outer surface is further free from exposed actively conductive surfaces.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each said frame is further configured to cover one of said open sides and comprises an aperture located off-center in said frame configured to receive at least one said electrical outlet.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said aperture comprises at least one raised lip located along the perimeter of said aperture configured to have a height approximately equal to a thickness of a wall surface.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said frames are further configured to be coupled to said opposing open sides of said electrical box having said off-center apertures positioned catty-corner.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein positioning said off-center apertures catty-corner provides space behind each said off-center aperture within said electrical box such that when at least one said outlet is coupled to each said frame sufficient space is provided behind each said outlet to facilitate wiring.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical box perimeter wall is configured to have a depth approximately equal to a width of the structural support, said electrical box configured to be coupled to the structural support and said frames configured to be coupled to said electrical box prior to a wall surface being coupled to the structural support.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical box perimeter wall is configured to have a depth approximately equal to a width of the structural support plus the thickness of at least one wall surface attached to at least one side of the structural support.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical box perimeter wall is configured to be adjustable such that the depth of the perimeter wall is adjustable to various depths.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said system further includes at least one electrical control module configured to be coupled to one of said frames, each said control module comprising a plurality of integral leads extending therefrom.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said integral leads are bundled together inside a non-conductive casing such that at least a portion of said distal ends of said integral leads extends past a distal end of said non-conductive casing.

13. A method for providing access to an electrical wiring network from opposing sides of a wall that has at least one structural support, said method comprising:

attaching to the structural support an electrical box having a perimeter wall and two open sides, the open sides located at opposing ends of the perimeter wall, thereby defining a passageway through the electrical box;

attaching a pair of frames to opposing sides of the electrical box, each frame comprising a single aperture located substantially off-center in the frame, the frames configured to be coupled to the opposing open sides such that each aperture is located substantially off-center within the respective open side, whereby the apertures are positioned diagonally opposed from each other on the electrical box; and

connecting at least one electrical outlet to each frame such that the electrical outlets are positioned diagonally opposed within the electrical box, the outlet including a housing and a plurality of integral leads extending in close proximity of each other at a central location of the housing, each lead including a wire and a layer of insulating material covering a portion of the wire such that a predetermined length of the wire extends past the insulating material at the distal end of each said lead,

wherein the diagonally opposed apertures provide space behind each electrical outlet such that wiring connected to the electrical outlet in one of apertures will not interfere with wiring connected to the electrical outlet in the other diagonally opposed aperture.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein connecting at least one electrical outlet comprises connecting at least one electrical outlet having a non-conductive outer surface free from actively conductive appendages.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein connecting at least one electrical outlet comprises connecting at least one electrical outlet having a non-conductive outer surface free from exposed actively conductive surfaces.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein connecting the outlet to the electrical wiring network comprises connecting the predetermined exposed length of wire of at least one lead to the wiring network.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein coupling one frame to each open side comprises:

mounting the electrical box to the structural support prior to the wall surface being coupled to the structural support; and

coupling one frame to each open side prior to the wall surface being coupled to the structural support.

18. An electrical outlet comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of electrical receptors adapted to receive a plug; and

a plurality of integral leads extending in close proximity of each other at a central location of said housing, said leads having proximal ends in electrical connection with said corresponding electrical receptors and distal ends extending outwardly from said central location of said housing, each said lead comprising a wire and a layer of insulating material covering a portion of said wire such that a predetermined length of said wire extends past said insulating material at said distal end of each said lead.

19. The electrical outlet of claim 18 wherein said housing comprises a non-conductive outer surface free from actively conductive appendages.

20. The electrical outlet of claim 18 wherein said housing comprises a non-conductive outer surface free from exposed actively conductive surfaces.

21. The electrical outlet of claim 18 wherein said leads extend from said outlet at least 1 inch.

22. The electrical outlet of claim 18 wherein said leads extend from said outlet at least 4 inches.

23. The electrical outlet of claim 18 wherein said housing comprises a back side and said leads extend from said back side.

24. The electrical outlet of claim 18 wherein said outlet further comprises a first connector of an electrical connection module and said lead proximal ends are connected to a second connector of said electrical connection module, said first connector configured to couple with said second connector thereby providing electrical connection of said leads with said receptors.

25. The electrical outlet of claim 18, wherein said integral leads are bundled together inside a non-conductive casing such that at least a portion of said distal ends of said integral leads extends past a distal end of said non-conductive casing.

26. An electrical outlet comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of electrical receptors adapted to receive a plug;

a plurality of leads extending in close proximity of each other from a central location of said housing, said leads having proximal ends in electrical connection with said corresponding electrical receptors and distal ends extending outwardly from said central location of said housing, each said lead comprising a wire and a layer of insulating material covering a portion of said wire such that a predetermined length of said wire extends past said insulating material at said distal end of each said lead; and

an electrical connection module including a first connector electrically coupled to said receptors, and a second connector having said lead proximal ends connected thereto, wherein said first connector is configured to removably couple with said second connector such that when coupled together an electrical connection is formed between said leads with said receptors.

27. The electrical outlet of claim 26, wherein said integral leads are bundled together inside a non-conductive casing such that at least a portion of said distal ends of said integral leads extends past a distal end of said non-conductive casing.

28. The electrical outlet of claim 26 wherein said housing comprises a non-conductive outer surface free from actively conductive appendages.

29. The electrical outlet of claim 26 wherein said housing comprises a non-conductive outer surface free from exposed actively conductive surfaces.