Modular faceplate assembly for an electrical box

• US 6,616,005 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Sobieski, William G., Udelson, Tracy H., Pereira, Raul G., Milner, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US09/648,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.8, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/241, 220/242, 220/3.5, 174/66, 174/67, 174/55, D 8/353, D13/177, 439/536, 439/537
• US Class Current: 220/241
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2408 Modular blocks H01R9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A faceplate assembly for mounting to various wall, floor or ceiling mounted electrical boxes, such as a telecommunications box, that is easily assembled and disassembled, and in which the wiring device receiving modules are readily interchangeable. The faceplate assembly includes a plate for covering the box, holes in the plate aligned with holes in the box for securing the plate to the box, at least one aperture in the plate, at least two modules adapted to fit in the at least one plate aperture, and either a blank face on the module or at least one opening in the module for accessing a wiring device receptacle in the box with a wiring device. Fasteners received in the plate openings secure the plate to the box. A module is inserted in the at least one plate aperture from the front side of the plate, allowing a module to be removed and replaced with another module without having to remove the plate from the box. A module may have a blank front face, or it may have one or more openings for accessing the wiring device receptacle in the box. The openings may be oriented in a first direction having a longer horizontal side, or oriented in a second direction with a longer vertical side, as required by the wiring device receptacles housed in the box. The module may also have a sloped front face that facilitates accessing the wiring device. The quickly and easily removable and installable modules provide a versatile faceplate assembly that may be used on a wide variety of receptacle configurations.

Claims

1. A faceplate assembly for an electrical box, comprising:

a plate for covering the electrical box, said plate having at least one aperture, and a plurality of holes for connecting said plate to the box with a plurality of fasteners, said at least one aperture having a shoulder extending inwardly along opposing sides of said at least one aperture;

at least two modules adapted to snap fit in said at least one plate aperture in a first orientation from in front of said plate, each module having front and back faces, said back face of each module rests upon said at least one aperture shoulder, each module having at least one opening extending from said front face to said back face for accessing a wiring device receptacle in the box with a wiring device; and

two projections extending from opposing sides of said back face of each of said at least two modules for engaging said shoulders of said at least one plate aperture and creating a snap fit between said plate and each of said at least two modules.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said at least two modules have a slot proximal each projection for accessing said projection for disengaging said projection from said aperture shoulder.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said plate has a front face, and said front face of said at least two modules is flush with said front face of said plate.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said front face of said at least two modules has a downward sloping angle for facilitating accessing the wiring device receptacle in the electrical box by the wiring device.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said at least one module opening is oriented in a first direction for facilitating accessing the wiring device receptacle in the electrical box with the wiring device.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said at least one module opening is oriented in a second direction for facilitating accessing the wiring device receptacle in the electrical box with a wiring device.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said at least one plate aperture is substantially rectangular.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said at least one plate aperture is of a size sufficient to hold at least two modules.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said plate comprises a resilient plastic material.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said at least two modules comprise a resilient plastic material.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the electrical box is a telecommunications box.

12. A faceplate assembly for an electrical box, comprising:

a plate for covering the electrical box, said plate having front and back faces, said plate having at least one aperture, a shoulder extending inwardly along opposing sides of said at least one aperture, and a plurality of holes for connecting said plate to the box with a plurality of fasteners; and

at least two modules adapted to fit in said at least one plate aperture in a first orientation, said at least two modules having front and back faces, said back face of said at least two modules resting upon said shoulder of said at least one aperture, at least one opening extending from said front face to said back face of said at least two modules for accessing a wiring device receptacle in the box with a wiring device, and two projections extending from opposing sides of said back face of said at least two modules for engaging the shoulders of said at least one plate aperture and creating a snap fit between said plate and said at least two modules.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least two modules have a slot proximal each projection for accessing said projection for disengaging said projection from said aperture shoulder.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said front face of said at least two modules is flush with said front face of said plate.

15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said front face of said at least two modules has a downward sloping angle for facilitating accessing the wiring device receptacle in the electrical box with the wiring device.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least two modules opening is oriented in a second direction for facilitating accessing the wiring device receptacle in the electrical box with the wiring device.

17. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one plate aperture is substantially rectangular.

18. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one plate aperture is of a size sufficient to hold at least two modules.

19. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the electrical box is a telecommunications box.

20. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said plate comprises a resilient plastic material.

21. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least two modules comprise a resilient plastic material.

22. A faceplate assembly for a telecommunications box, comprising:

a plate for covering the telecommunications box, said plate having front and back faces, said plate having at least one substantially rectangular aperture, a shoulder extending inwardly along opposing sides of said aperture, and a plurality of holes for connecting said plate to the box with a plurality of fasteners; and

three modules adapted to fit in each said at least one plate aperture in a first orientation, each module having front and back faces, said back face of each module resting upon said aperture shoulder, at least one hole in said front face extending from said module front face to said module back face for accessing the telecommunications device receptacle in the box with a telecommunications device, and two projections extending from opposing sides of said back face of each module for engaging said shoulders of said at least one plate aperture and creating a snap fit between said plate and each module.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said front face of each module is flush with said front face of said plate.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said front face of each module has a downward sloping angle for facilitating accessing the telecommunications device receptacle in the electrical box with the wiring device.

25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein each module opening is oriented in a second direction for facilitating accessing the telecommunications device receptacle in the telecommunications box with the telecommunications device.

26. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said plate comprises a resilient plastic material.

27. The assembly of claim 22, wherein each module comprises a resilient plastic material.

28. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least two modules have a slot proximal each projection for accessing said projection for disengaging said projection from said aperture shoulder.