Device box for wall mounted communications apparatus

• US 6,207,895 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Engel, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/275,616
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 174/53, 174/54, 174/58, 174/50, 174/48, 439/535, 439/536, 220/3.2, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/3.92, 220/3.94
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls

Abstract

The device box for wall mounted communication equipment functions to provide connections for communications conductors and electrical conductors as well as a housing to receive a power transformer, with the installation of the device box for wall mounted communication equipment capable of being mounted flush with a wall surface. The device box for wall mounted communication equipment includes a box of sufficient size to receive: electrical conductors, which are terminated on an electrical outlet contained within the box; communications conductors which are terminated on a telephone jack; space to receive a transformer to interconnect the wireless telephone station set with the electrical outlet; and features that serve to mount the wireless telephone station set to the device box for wall mounted communication equipment. An optional cover plate can be provided in one embodiment of the device box for wall mounted communication equipment to enclose the transformer when it is installed in the electrical outlet contained within the device box for wall mounted communication equipment.

Claims

1. A device box for providing connections for electrical conductors and communications conductors as well as to receive a power transformer, comprising:

a box open on one side for providing a housing through which is formed at least one aperture to receive electrical conductors and communications conductors;

an outlet carrying plate including an electrical outlet and a telephone jack and connectable to said electrical conductors and said communications conductors, respectively;

upper tabs, projecting from at least two walls of an interior of said box and located proximate said open side;

mounting tabs, projecting from said at least two walls of said interior of said box and located recessed from said open side of said box, for supporting said outlet carrying plate in said box at a predetermined fixed position between said open side and a back of said box to divide said box into two sections; and

wherein said mounting tabs are formed at locations so that the outlet carrying plate can be inserted into said box and placed on said mounting tabs by angling said outlet carrying plate to clear said upper tabs.

2. The device box of claim 1 further comprising:

device mounting means located proximate said open side to enable mounting of a communications apparatus to said device box.

3. The device box of claim 1 wherein said outlet carrying plate comprises:

at least two apertures formed therein to correspond to positions of said mounting tabs to onable fasteners to be inserted through said apertures to secure said outlet carrying plate to said mounting tabs.

4. The device box of claim 1 further comprising:

barrier means affixed to said back of said box and positioned to partition an interior space of said box located below said outlet carrying plate into two volumes, separated from each other.

5. The device box of claim 1 further comprising:

a cover plate affixable to said upper tabs to substantially cover said open side of said box.

6. The device box of claim 5 wherein said cover plate comprises:

device mounting means (603, 604) projecting from a surface of said cover plate (600) in a direction away from said open side for enabling the mounting of a communications apparatus to said device box.

7. The device box of claim 5 wherein said cover plate comprises:

apertures formed in said cover plate to correspond to positions of said upper tabs to enable fasteners to be inserted through said apertures to secure said cover plate to said upper tabs.