WALL PLATE BRACKET

• US 20100051309A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

The wall plate bracket is for a high voltage outlet, and includes a wall plate having front and rear surfaces. The wall plate has an interior opening. A support housing has an inner surface and an interior region bounded by the inner surface. The support housing is connected to the rear surface such that the interior opening provides access to the interior region. The support housing is configured for support of the high voltage outlet within the interior region. A clamp is connected to the wall plate for securing the wall plate to a wall structure. The rear surface of the wall plate may have a rib to limit the clearance between the support housing and rear surface. Alternatively, the clearance may be limited by a recess in the rear surface in which a mounting tab of the support housing is located.

Claims

1. A wall plate bracket comprising:

a wall plate having front and rear surfaces, said wall plate having an interior opening;

a high voltage outlet;

a support housing having an inner surface and an interior region bounded by said inner surface, said support housing being configured for location of the high voltage outlet within said interior region, said support housing being connected to said rear surface such that said interior opening provides access to said high voltage outlet; and

a clamp connected to said wall plate for securing said wall plate to a wall structure.

2. A wall plate bracket according to claim 1, wherein said interior opening has a periphery, the high voltage outlet having a periphery which corresponds to said periphery of said interior opening such that the high voltage outlet is accommodated within said interior opening.

3. A wall plate bracket according to claim 1, wherein said wall plate has a rib connected to said rear surface such that said rib is located between said support housing and rear surface.

4. A wall plate bracket according to claim 3, wherein said interior opening comprises a pair of opposing side edges,

said rib defining a first rib which is parallel to said opposing side edges,

said wall plate having a second rib connected to said rear surface, said second rib being parallel to said opposing side edges,

said first and second ribs being located on said rear surface such that said interior opening is between said first and second ribs,

said second rib being located relative to said interior opening such that said second rib is located between said support housing and rear surface.

5. A wall plate bracket according to claim 1, wherein said wall plate comprises a faceplate having an interior opening,

said wall plate further comprising a high voltage plate connected to said faceplate such that said high voltage plate extends rearwardly relative to said faceplate and access to said high voltage plate is provided through said interior opening of said faceplate,

said high voltage plate having front and rear surfaces which define said front and rear surfaces of said wall plate, said high voltage plate having an interior opening which defines said interior opening of said wall plate,

said wall plate further comprising a low voltage plate on which a low voltage connector is supported, said low voltage plate being connected to said faceplate such that said low voltage plate extends rearwardly relative thereto and access to said low voltage plate is provided through said interior opening of said faceplate.

6. A wall plate bracket according to claim 5, wherein said low voltage plate has an interior opening in which the low voltage connector is located, said interior opening of said low voltage plate having a periphery, the low voltage connector having a periphery which corresponds to said periphery of said interior opening of said low voltage plate such that the low voltage connector is accommodated within said interior opening of said low voltage plate.

7. A wall plate bracket according to claim 5, wherein said wall plate comprises a pair of flange structures each of which is connected to said faceplate, said flange structures being further connected to said high and low voltage plates such that said high and low voltage plates are between said flange structures.

8. A wall plate bracket according to claim 1, wherein said support housing has an outer periphery, said clamp having an arm which may be swung between a retracted position in which said arm is within said outer periphery and a secured position in which said arm extends beyond said outer periphery such that said arm does not obstruct insertion and retraction of said support housing through an opening in the wall structure when said arm is in said retracted position, said arm obstructing retraction of said support housing through the opening in the wall structure when said arm is in said secured position and the wall structure is secured between said arm and wall plate.

9. A wall plate bracket according to claim 1, wherein said support housing has a mounting tab which is secured to said wall plate to provide said connection of said support housing to said rear surface,

said wall plate having a recess in said rear surface such that said mounting tab is located in said recess.

10. A wall plate bracket according to claim 9, wherein said mounting tab has a thickness, said recess having a depth which corresponds to said thickness.

11. A wall plate bracket comprising:

a faceplate having an interior opening;

a planar high voltage plate on which a high voltage outlet is supported, said high voltage plate being connected to said faceplate such that said high voltage plate extends rearwardly relative thereto and access to said high voltage plate is provided through said interior opening of said faceplate; and

a planar low voltage plate on which a low voltage connector is supported, said low voltage outlet plate being connected to said faceplate such that said low voltage plate extends rearwardly relative thereto and access to said low voltage plate is provided through said interior opening of said faceplate, said low voltage plate intersecting said high voltage plate.

12. A wall plate bracket according to claim 11, wherein said intersection between said high and low voltage plates provides for said low voltage plate to be perpendicular relative to said high voltage plate.