Through-wall electrical system

• US 6,774,307 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Technology And Solutions
• Original Assignee: Applied Technology And Solutions
• Inventors: Bryant, Russell L., Kruse, Russell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinkins, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Anton B
• Application Number:
  US10/141,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 174/53, 174/57, 220/3.5, 220/3.7, 220/3.8, 220/3.94
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A system for accessing an electrical wiring network from opposing sides of a wall. The wall includes at least one structural support and a wall surface. The system includes an electrical box having a perimeter wall and two open sides. The open sides located at opposing ends of the perimeter wall, thereby defining a passageway through the electrical box. Additionally, the system includes a pair of frames coupled to the electrical box at the open sides, and at least two electrical outlets coupled to the frames. Each outlet includes a plurality of integral conductor leads extending therefrom.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to an electrical wiring network from opposing sides of a wall, the wall comprising at least one structural support, said system comprising:

an electrical box comprising a perimeter wall and two open sides, said open sides located at opposing ends of said perimeter wall, thereby defining a passageway through said electrical box;

a pair of frames, each said frame comprising a single aperture located substantially off-center in said frame, said frames configured to be coupled to said opposing open sides such that each said aperture is located substantially off-center within said respective open side, whereby said apertures are positioned diagonally opposed from each other on said electrical box; and

at least one electrical outlet configured to be coupled to each said aperture such that said electrical outlets are positioned diagonally opposed within said electrical box; and

wherein the diagonally opposed apertures provide space behind each said electrical outlet such that wiring connected to said electrical outlet in one of said apertures will not interfere with wiring connected to said electrical outlet in said other diagonally opposed aperture.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each said aperture comprises at least one raised lip located along the perimeter of said aperture configured to have a height equal to a thickness of the wall surface, each said aperture configured to receive at least one electrical outlet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical outlet comprises a housing having a non-conductive outer surface free from actively conductive appendages.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical outlet comprises a housing having a non-conductive outer surface free from exposed actively conductive surfaces.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical outlet comprises a plurality of integral leads extending therefrom.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each said lead comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a wire, and a layer of insulating material covering said wire from said proximal and to said distal end.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein a predetermined length of said insulating material is pre-stripped from said distal end of at least one said lead.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said outlet further comprises a first connector of an electrical connection module and said lead proximal ends are connected to a second connector of said electrical connection module, said first connector configured to couple with said second connector thereby providing electrical connection of said leads with said receptors.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical box perimeter wall configured to have a depth equal to a width of the structural support, said electrical box configured to be coupled to the structural support and said frames configured to be coupled to said electrical box prior to the wall surface being coupled to the structural support.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical box perimeter wall is configured to have a depth approximately equal to a width of the structural support plus the thickness of at least one wall surface attached to at least one side of the structural support.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical box perimeter wall is configured to adjustable such that the depth of the perimeter wall is adjustable to various depths.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said system further includes at least one electrical control module configured to be coupled to one of said frames, each said control module comprising a plurality of integral leads extending therefrom.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein said integral leads are bundled together inside a non-conductive casing such that at least a portion of said distal ends of said integral leads extends past a distal end of said non-conductive casing.

13. A utility box frame comprising a single aperture located substantially off-center within said frame, said aperture configured to receive at least one medium distribution module, said frame configured to be coupled to an open side of a utility box such that a vertical centerline of said frame approximately aligns with a vertical centerline of the utility box, said off-center aperture configured to be located substantially off-center within said open side when coupled to said utility box such that a vertical centerline of said aperture is substantially closer to a first edge of the utility box than an opposing second edge of the utility box, thereby providing substantial space within the utility box when the medium distribution module is coupled to said aperture.

14. The frame of claim 13 wherein said aperture comprises at least one raised lip located along the perimeter of said aperture configured to have a height equal to a thickness of a wall surface.

16. The frame of claim 13 wherein said frame further comprises a solid portion located adjacent said aperture, said solid portion configured to be at least as wide as said aperture.

17. A system for providing access to an electrical wiring network from opposing sides of a wall, said system comprising:

an electrical box comprising a perimeter wall and two open sides, said open sides located at opposing ends of said perimeter wall, thereby defining a passageway through said electrical box; and

a pair of frames, each said frame comprising a single aperture located substantially off-center within said frame, said frames configured to be coupled to said opposing open sides of said electrical box such that a vertical centerline of each said frame approximately aligns with a vertical centerline of said electrical box, said off-center apertures configured to be located substantially off-center within each said respective open side such that a vertical centerline of each said aperture is substantially closer to one edge of the electrical box than an opposing other edge of the said electrical box, thereby positioning said apertures diagonally opposed from each other on said electrical box,

wherein the diagonally opposed apertures provide space behind each said electrical outlet such that wiring connected to said electrical outlet in one of said aperture will not interfere with wiring connected to said electrical outlet in said other diagonally opposed aperture.