USB wall plate

• US 6,943,296 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ever Win International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Perrella, Ronald, Kreiner, Barrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US10/726,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20050121220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 174/53, 174/57, 174/135, 174/17.CT, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/241, 220/242, 220/3.8, 702/250, 439/536, D13/156
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A USB wall plate is disclosed. The USB wall plate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and four side edges connected to the first and second surfaces. The wall plate defines a first opening and a second opening. The first opening extends from the first surface to the second surface and is adapted to receive a USB connector. The second opening extends from the first surface to the second surface and is adapted to receive an indicating light.

Claims

1. A wall plate that is mountable on a wall of a building structure, comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein a portion of the second surface contacts a side of the building wall when the wall plate is mounted on the building wall;

four side edges connected to the first and second surfaces; and

a printed circuit board having a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub circuit connected thereto, wherein the printed circuit board is connected to the second surface and is recessed in an opening in the building wall when the wall plate is mounted on the building wall.

2. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the wall plate is fabricated from an insulating material.

3. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the first surface includes a planar portion.

4. The wall plate of claim 3, wherein the first surface includes a tapered portion.

5. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the wall plate defines a rectangular-shaped opening extending from the first surface to the second surface.

6. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the wall plate defines a plurality of rectangular-shaped openings extending from the first surface to the second surface.

7. The wall plate of claim 6, wherein the wall plate defines four rectangular-shaped openings extending from the first surface to the second surface.

8. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the wall plate defines a circular-shaped opening extending from the first surface to the second surface.

9. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the wall plate defines a plurality of circular-shaped openings extending from the first surface to the second surface.

10. The wall plate of claim 9, wherein the wall plate defines four circular-shaped openings extending from the first surface to the second surface.

11. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the USB hub circuit includes a plurality of USB connectors.

12. The wall plate of claim 11, wherein the USB hub circuit includes an upstream USB connector and four downstream USB connectors.

13. The wall plate of claim 12, wherein each of the four downstream USB connectors extends through openings defined by the wall plate.

14. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the USB hub circuit includes a plurality of indicating lights.

15. The wall plate of claim 14, wherein the USB hub circuit includes four indicating lights.

16. The wall plate of claim 14, wherein each of the four indicating lights extends through openings defined by the wall plate.

17. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the USB hub circuit includes:

a downstream USB connector that extends through a first opening defined by the wall plate; and

an indicating light associated with the downstream USB connector, wherein the indicating light extends through a second opening defined by the wall plate.

18. The wall plate of claim 17, wherein the USB hub circuit includes a plurality of downstream USB connectors and a plurality of associated indicating lights.

19. The wall plate of claim 1, wherein the USB hub circuit includes a power supply.

20. The wall plate of claim 19, wherein the power supply includes a transformer.