Quick assembling, low voltage terminal

• US 20050007750A1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cheetah USA Corp
• Original Assignee: Quixemble, Inc.
• Inventors: Kidman, Brent L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,048,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/825
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/745 separate from the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

An assembly for securing low voltage terminals. The assembly may include a panel forming a wall covering. The panel may have an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an aperture extending therethrough. A base may abut the exterior surface of the panel proximate the aperture. The base may include one or more receivers. One or more securements may each include a retainer and slide. The retainers may abut the interior surface of the panel. The slides may extend from the retainers, pass through the aperture, and unidirectionally engage the receivers to maintain the base in abutment with the exterior surface of the panel.

Claims

1. An assembly for securing low voltage terminals, the assembly comprising:

a panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an aperture extending therethrough;

a base abutting the exterior surface proximate the aperture, the base including a first receiver; and

a first securement comprising a retainer and slide, the retainer abutting the interior surface, the slide extending from the retainer, passing through the aperture, and unidirectionally engaging the first receiver to maintain the base in abutment with the exterior surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance between the retainer and the base is controlled exclusively by linear translation of the slide within the first receiver.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first receiver includes a barb.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the slide includes a series of teeth formed therealong.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the barb unidirectionally engages the series of teeth permitting the slide to enter the first receiver and resisting removal of the slide from the first receiver.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the series of teeth and barb combine to provide a plurality of securement locations between the slide and the first receiver.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the slide is loaded in tension to grip the panel between the base and the retainer.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a flange and an insert, the flange abutting the exterior surface, the insert entering the aperture.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the first receiver is positioned on the insert.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the base is generally rectangular with an open interior and is positioned to frame the aperture.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the base further comprises a second receiver.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second securement.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the second securement abuts the interior surface, extends through the aperture, and unidirectionally engages the second receiver.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the second securement and second receiver are mutually arranged to permit insertion of the second securement into the second receiver and to resist removal of the second securement from the second receiver.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the second securement is admitted within the second receiver exclusively by linear translation.

16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a face plate connected to the base.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the base further comprises a third receiver supporting securement of the face plate to the base.

18. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a screw threadingly engaging the third receiver and urge the face plate theretoward.

19. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising an anchor connecting the face plate to the base, the third receiver arranged to receive the anchor exclusively by linear translation.

20. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising an interface connecting the face plate to the anchor.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the panel is plaster board forming a wall and presenting the exterior surface.

22. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a second receiver.

23. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a second securement.

24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the second securement abuts the interior surface, extends through the aperture, and unidirectionally engages the second receiver.

25. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a face plate connected to the base, the base further comprising a third receiver supporting securement of the face plate to the base.

26. The assembly of claim 25, further comprising a screw threadingly engaging the third receiver and urge the face plate theretoward.

27. The assembly of claim 25, further comprising an anchor connecting the face plate to the base, the third receiver arranged to receive the anchor exclusively by linear translation.

28. The assembly of claim 27, further comprising an interface connecting the face plate to the anchor.

29. An assembly for securing low voltage terminals, the assembly comprising:

a panel forming a wall covering, the panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an aperture extending therethrough;

a base abutting the exterior surface proximate the aperture, the base including at least one receiver; and

a least one securement comprising a retainer and slide forming a homogeneously formed unit, the retainer abutting the interior surface, the slide extending from the retainer, passing through the aperture, and engaging the at least one receiver to maintain the base in abutment with the exterior surface.

30. A low voltage terminal assembly comprising:

a panel forming a wall covering, the panel having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an aperture of generally rectangular shape extending therethrough;

a base abutting the exterior surface and positioned to frame the aperture, the base including at least four receivers;

at least two securements, each comprising a retainer and slide, the retainer of each of the at least two securement abutting the interior surface, the slide of each of the at least two securement extending from the corresponding retainer, passing through the aperture, and unidirectionally engaging the a receiver of the at least four receivers to maintain the base in abutment with the exterior surface; and

a face plate connected to the base by two fasteners engaging two receivers of the at least four receivers.