Wall recessed outlet box assembly

• US 7,078,618 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US11/131,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20050260881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/49, 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/52.1, 174/59, 174/61, 174/63, 174/66, 174/67, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.4, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.7, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242, 439/535, 439/536, 248/906, D13/152, D13/177
• US Class Current: 174/481
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An outlet box assembly includes an outer faceplate having an interior opening. An inner faceplate is connected to the outer faceplate such that the inner faceplate is recessed from the outer faceplate and access to the inner faceplate is provided through the interior opening. The inner faceplate has an outlet port and a communication port. The outlet box assembly further includes a support housing having an inner surface and an interior region bounded by the inner surface. The support housing is connected to a rear surface of the inner faceplate such that the outlet port provides access to the interior region. The support housing is configured to allow insertion of an electrical receptacle into the interior region and to provide an enclosure for the electrical receptacle.

Claims

1. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outer faceplate having a planar front surface and an interior opening, said interior opening having an outer periphery;

an inner faceplate connected to said outer faceplate such that said inner faceplate is recessed from said outer faceplate and access to said inner faceplate is provided through said interior opening, said inner faceplate having a planar front surface which is separated from said outer periphery by a distance which is orthogonal relative to said front surface of said outer faceplate, said distance being constant along said outer periphery, said inner faceplate having an outlet port and a communication port; and

a support housing having an inner surface and an interior region bounded by said inner surface, said support housing being connected to a rear surface of said inner faceplate such that said outlet port provides access to said interior region, said support housing being configured to allow insertion of an electrical receptacle into said interior region and to provide an enclosure for the electrical receptacle.

2. An outlet box assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support housing comprises

an outlet box comprising a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall each of which is fixed to said inner faceplate in perpendicular relation thereto, said top, side, and bottom walls being fixed to one another such that each of said side walls is between said top and bottom walls in perpendicular relation thereto resulting in said outlet box having a vertical cross-section which is rectangular,

said outlet box further comprising a rear wall fixed to said top, side and bottom walls such that said top, side and bottom walls are between said rear wall and inner faceplate, and said rear wall is parallel to said inner faceplate, said top, side, bottom and rear walls each having an inner surface each of which defines a portion of said inner surface of said support housing.

3. An outlet box assembly according to claim 1, wherein said communication port is rectangular.

4. An outlet box assembly according to claim 1, wherein said communication port has a forward end which intersects with a forward surface of said inner faceplate, said forward end having a circular cross-section, said communication port having a rear end which intersects with a rear surface of said inner faceplate, said rear end having a hexagonal cross-section.

5. An outlet box assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inner faceplate is parallel to said outer faceplate.

6. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outer faceplate having an interior opening;

an inner faceplate connected to said outer faceplate such that said inner faceplate is recessed from said outer faceplate and access to said inner faceplate is provided through said interior opening, said inner faceplate having an outlet port and a communication port;

a support housing having an inner surface and an interior region bounded by said inner surface, said support housing being connected to a rear surface of said inner faceplate such that said outlet port provides access to said interior region, said support housing being configured to allow insertion of an electrical receptacle into said interior region and to provide an enclosure for the electrical receptacle; and

a flange structure fixed to a rear surface of said outer faceplate and to a front surface of said inner faceplate, said flange structure comprising a top flange, a pair of side flanges, and a bottom flange which are fixed to one another such that each of said side flanges is between said top and bottom flanges in perpendicular relation thereto resulting in said flange structure having a vertical cross-section which is rectangular.

7. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outer faceplate having an interior opening;

an inner faceplate connected to said outer faceplate such that said inner faceplate is recessed from said outer faceplate and access to said inner faceplate is provided through said interior opening, said inner faceplate having an outlet port and a communication port; and

a support housing having an inner surface and an interior region bounded by said inner surface, said support housing being connected to a rear surface of said inner faceplate such that said outlet port provides access to said interior region, said support housing being configured to allow insertion of an electrical receptacle into said interior region and to provide an enclosure for the electrical receptacle,

said support housing being within an outer periphery of said inner faceplate, said outlet box assembly further comprising a pair of clips connected to a rear surface of said inner faceplate for clamping said outlet box assembly to a wall structure, said inner faceplate having opposing corners each of which has a respective one of said clips connected thereto, each of said clips having an arm which may be swung between a retracted position in which said arm is within said outer periphery and a clamped position in which said arm extends beyond said outer periphery such that said arm does not obstruct insertion and retraction of said inner faceplate through an opening in the wall structure when said arm is in said retracted position, said arm obstructing retraction of said inner faceplate through the opening in the wall structure when said arm is in said clamped position and the wall structure is clamped between said arms and outer faceplate.