Outlet box with removable self-contained device

• US 4,636,914 A
• Filed: 11/28/1984
• Issued: 01/13/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avenue A Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avenue A Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Belli, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, Morris
• Application Number:
  US06/675,944
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 361/331, 315/86, 307/66, 362/20, 174/53, 174/54, 174/66, 200/294, 200/296, 200/297
• US Class Current: 361/600
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/085 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/056 Mounting on plugboards
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes

Abstract

The invention concerns an electrical device having a modular configuration which permits the assembly thereof with other electrical accessories, such as switches, outlets and the like, within receptacles common thereto or within outlet boxes or wall plates. This device, which may be, for instance, a flashlight with a rechargeable battery incorporated therein, rechargeable by means of the electrical network, is removable from the receptacle or outlet box so as to render it portable and utilizable also independently of the other electrical accessories.

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising an outlet box having a front window, a plurality of snap holding means around said window for holding a plurality of structures in said window, a box-like body extending in said window and engaged with at least one of said snap holding means for holding said body in said window, said box-like body defining an inner space accessible through said window, a permanent electrical accessory extending in said window and engaged with one of said snap-holding means adjacent said box-like body, said snap-holding means engaged with said permanent accessory being separate from said snap-holding means engaged with said body, said body including a plurality of electrical connecting openings in said space for receiving electrical jacks, a portable supplementary electrical device inserted into said space of said body, said supplementary device having a plurality of electrical jacks each engaged in one of said electrical connecting openings of said body, said supplementary device substantially filling said space of said body and being positioned adjacent said permanent accessory.

2. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein said outlet box includes a plurality of knock-out portions extending over said window, at least one knock-out portion being removable for receiving one of said permanent accessory and said supplementary device, said box-like body including an outer surface outside of said space, an electrical connection means extending from said outer surface and being electrically connected to said electrical connecting openings.

3. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein said box-like body has an outer surface outside of said space and includes electrical connection means extending from said outer surface and electrically connected to said electrical connecting openings, said supplementary device having an outer configuration substantially conforming to an inner configuration of said space.

4. An electrical device according to claim 3, wherein said body includes a rib in said space containing said electrical connecting openings, said supplementary device having a cavity conforming in shape to said rib, said jacks extending in said cavity and said cavity embracing said rib when said supplementary device is disposed in said space of said body.

5. An electrical device according to claim 4, wherein said supplementary device comprises a portable rechargeable flash light, said supplementary device having a front face extending in said window of said outlet box, a light bulp extending outwardly from said front face and a push button electrically connected to said light bulb.

6. An electrical device according to claim 3, wherein said window of said outlet box is divided into three side-by-side portions, said outlet box having a snap-holding means for each of said portions of said window, said permanent accessory being connected to said snap-holding means at one end of said window and filling said portion of said window thereat, a remaining two portions of said window being filled by said body and being engaged by said snap-holding means of said remaining two portions of said window.