Apparatus for recessing an electrical device in a wall

• US 6,750,398 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Richardson
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Richardson
• Inventors: Richardson, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/106,080
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 174/48, 174/50, 174/53, 220/241, 220/242, 220/3.8, 335/28
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An electrical device such as an outlet receptacle or a signal cable receptacle are mounted in a recessed relationship to a wall to allow a flat cover plate to be removably applied, thereby to create an aesthetic appearance concealing the device and to protect it from abuse when the electrical device is not in use, especially abuse caused by children inserting foreign objects into the device. One result of this invention is added safety from electrical shock hazzard from plugs that are partially inserted into an electrical outlet housed in the apparatus of this invention. Additionally, the concealment and protecting features of the flat cover plate used in this invention can be extended to flush-mounted electrical devices.

Claims

1. Apparatus for recessing a substantially flat-faced electrical device mounted in a wall, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having an open front and an open back and adapted to be mounted alternatively by means of a first flange to a side of a wall stud, which side of said wall stud is perpendicular to said wall, and by means of a second flange to face a of the wall stud, which face abuts said wall, said frame adapted to receive said electrical device with the flat-face thereof in a substantial recessed relationship, nominally one-half inch, with respect to the surface of said wall with said open front of said frame being substantially coplanar with the surface of said wall;

a escutcheon plate having an outer rim for engaging the surface of said wall and also having a recessed open center portion adapted to engage and frame said electrical device, to which said escutcheon plate is adapted to be removably attached.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a removable cover plate that cooperatively engages and removably attaches to said escutcheon plate to cover and protect said electrical device when it is not in use.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said escutcheon plate has peripheral notches to receive protrusions on said cover plate to provide for removable attachment thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising, at least one tab adjacent and integral with an edge of said open back of said frame and extending in a rearward direction therefrom and a fastening means on said tab, said tab thereby adapting said edge for aligning with, engaging with, and fastening to at least one edge of an open face of an electrical junction box used to enclose the back of said electrical device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said fastening means comprises a spring clip.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a removable cover plate that cooperatively engages and removably attaches to said escutcheon plate to cover and protect said electrical device when it is not in use.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said escutcheon plate has peripheral notches to receive protrusions on said cover plate to provide for removable attachment thereof.

8. Apparatus for recessing a substantially flat-faced electrical device mounted in a wall, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having an open front and an open back and adapted to be mounted by means of a flange to a side of a wall stud, which side of said wall stud is perpendicular to said wall, said frame adapted to receive said electrical device with the flat-face thereof in a substantial recessed relationship, nominally one-half inch, with respect to the surface of said wall with said open front of said frame being substantially coplanar with the surface of said wall;

a escutcheon plate having an outer rim for engaging the surface of said wall and also having a recessed open center portion adapted to engage and frame said electrical device, to which said escutcheon plate is adapted to be removably attached.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a removable cover plate that cooperatively engages and removably attaches to said escutcheon plate to cover and protect said electrical device when it is not in use.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said escutcheon plate has peripheral notches to receive protrusions on said cover plate to provide for removable attachment thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising, at least one tab adjacent and integral with an edge of said open back of said frame and extending in a rearward direction therefrom and a fastening means on said tab, said tab thereby adapting said edge for aligning with, engaging with, and fastening to at least one edge of an open face of an electrical junction box used to enclose the back of said electrical device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fastening means comprises a spring clip.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a removable cover plate that cooperatively engages and removably attaches to said escutcheon plate to cover and protect said electrical device when it is not in use.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said escutcheon plate has peripheral notches to receive protrusions on said cover plate to provide for removable attachment thereof.

15. Apparatus for recessing a substantially flat-faced electrical device mounted in a wall, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having an open front and an open back and adapted to be mounted by means of a flange to a face of a wall stud, which face of said wall stud abuts said wall, said frame adapted to receive said electrical device with the flat-face thereof in a substantial recessed relationship, nominally one-half inch, with respect to the surface of said wall with said open front of said frame being substantially coplanar with the surface of said wall;

a escutcheon plate having an outer rim for engaging the surface of said wall and also having a recessed open center portion adapted to engage and frame said electrical device, to which said escutcheon plate is adapted to be removably attached.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a removable cover plate that cooperatively engages and removably attaches to said escutcheon plate to cover and protect said electrical device when it is not in use.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said escutcheon plate has peripheral notches to receive protrusions on said cover plate to provide for removable attachment thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising, at least one tab adjacent and integral with an edge of said open back of said frame and extending in a rearward direction therefrom and a fastening means on said tab, said tab thereby adapting said edge for aligning with, engaging with, and fastening to at least one edge of an open face of an electrical junction box used to enclose the back of said electrical device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said fastening means comprises a spring clip.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a removable cover plate that cooperatively engages and removably attaches to said escutcheon plate to cover and protect said electrical device when it is not in use.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said escutcheon plate has peripheral notches to receive protrusions on said cover plate to provide for removable attachment thereof.