Integrated wall outlet plate for retrofit low-voltage signals

• US 6,222,124 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Pritchard, Robert C., Rutkowski, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US09/339,518
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 220/241
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An integrated wall outlet plate includes a faceplate having a front side and a rear side. A plurality of connectors is integrally formed with the faceplate, each of the connectors extending through the faceplate from the front side to the rear side. Mounting means are positioned on the rear side of the faceplate, for mounting the outlet plate in a wall. The connectors can be of various types, including, but not limited to, coaxial cable connectors, telephone wire connectors, loudspeaker wire connectors, and RCA-type audio/video connectors.

Claims

1. A wall outlet plate, comprising:

a faceplate having a front side and a rear side;

a plurality of connectors extending though said faceplate from said front side to said rear side, said connectors being integrally formed with said faceplate;

mounting means for mounting said outlet plate in a wall, said mounting means being located on said rear side of said faceplate; and

rigidifying means for rigidifying said wall outlet plate, said rigidifying means including at least one flange extending away from said rear side of said faceplate, said at least one flange including a first flange, which extends away from said rear side of said faceplate, and a second flange, which extends away from said rear side of said faceplate, and said first and second flanges being spaced apart to form a generally rectangular boundary having a first opening and a second opening.

2. A wall outlet plate according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes

a first clamp movable between a first position, in which said first clamp is contained within the rectangular boundary of said first and said second flanges such that said outlet plate can be installed into a hole in the wall, and a second position, in which said first clamp extends through the rectangular boundary via said first opening, whereby when said first clamp is in its said second position, the wall is gripped between said rear side of said faceplate and said first clamp; and

a second clamp movable between a first position, in which said second clamp is contained with the rectangular boundary of said first and said second flanges such that said outlet plate can be installed into the hole in the wall, and a second position, in which said second clamp extends through the rectangular boundary via said second opening, whereby when said second clamp is in its said second position, the wall is gripped between said rear side of said faceplate and said second clamp.

3. A wall outlet plate according to claim 2, wherein

said first clamp is stopped in its said second position by an edge of said first flange adjacent to said first opening;

and

said second clamp is stopped in its said second position by an edge of said second flange adjacent to said second opening.

4. A wall outlet plate according to claim 3, wherein said mounting means further includes

a first screw attached to said first clamp, such that when said first screw is turned, said first clamp moves from its said first position to its said second position, further turning of said first screw drawing said first clamp axially along said first screw toward the wall, thereby gripping the wall between said rear side of said faceplate and said first clamp;

and

a second screw attached to said second clamp, such that when said second screw is turned, said second clamp moves from its said first position to its said second position, further turning of said second screw drawing said second clamp axially along said second screw toward the wall, thereby gripping the wall between said rear side of said faceplate and said second clamp.

5. A wall outlet plate according to claim 3, wherein

said first flange includes a vertical leg, a long horizontal leg, and a short horizontal leg;

said second flange includes a vertical leg, a long horizontal leg, and a short horizontal leg;

said first opening is formed between said long horizontal leg of first flange and said short horizontal leg of said second flange; and

said second opening is formed between said long horizontal leg of said second flange and said short horizontal leg of said first flange.

6. A wall outlet plate according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes

a first clamp movable between a first position, in which said first clamp is oriented such that said outlet plate can be installed into a hole in the wall, and a second position, in which said first clamp is oriented such that the wall can be gripped between said rear side of said faceplate and said first clamp;

and

a second clamp movable between a first position, in which said second clamp is oriented such that said outlet plate can be installed into the hole in the wall, and a second position, in which said second clamp is oriented such that the wall can be gripped between said rear side of said faceplate and said second clamp.

7. A wall outlet plate according to claim 6, wherein said mounting means further includes

a first screw attached to said first clamp, such that when said first screw is turned, said first clamp moves from its said first position to its said second position, further turning of said first screw drawing said first clamp axially along said first screw toward the wall, thereby gripping the wall between said rear side of said faceplate and said first clamp;

and

a second screw attached to said second clamp, such that when said second screw is turned, said second clamp moves from its said first position to its said second position, further turning of said second screw drawing said second clamp axially along said second screw toward the wall, thereby gripping the wall between said rear side of said faceplate and said second clamp.

8. A wall outlet plate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of connectors includes a female connection on said front side of said faceplate.

9. A wall outlet plate according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of connectors includes two coaxial cable connectors and two telephone wire connectors.

10. A wall outlet plate according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of connectors includes a coaxial cable connector.

11. A wall outlet plate according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of connectors includes a telephone wire connector.

12. A wall outlet plate according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of connectors includes a loudspeaker wire connector.

13. A wall outlet/plate late according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of connectors includes an audio/video connector.

14. A wall outlet plate comprising:

a faceplate having a front side and a rear side;

a plurality of connectors extending though said faceplate from said front side to said rear side, said connectors being integrally formed with said faceplate, each of said connectors including a female connection on said rear side of said faceplate; and

mounting means for mounting said outlet plate in a wall, said mounting means being located on said rear side of said faceplate.

15. A wall outlet plate comprising:

a faceplate having a front side and a rear side;

a plurality of connectors extending though said faceplate from said front side to said rear side, said connectors being integrally formed with said faceplate, each of said connectors including a hard-wired connection on said rear side of said faceplate; and

mounting means for mounting said outlet plate in a wall, said mounting means being located on said rear side of said faceplate.