Wall plate assembly

• US 7,271,339 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• 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): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/501,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20060266540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/53, 174/58, 174/63, 174/64, 174/66, 174/67, 439/76.1, 439/929, 439/925, 439/535, 248/906, 361/119, 220/241, 220/242
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A wall plate assembly includes a front faceplate having two lateral openings. A rear faceplate is connected to the front faceplate such that the rear faceplate is recessed from the front faceplate and access to the rear faceplate is provided through one of the lateral openings. The rear faceplate has a low voltage port. A clamp is connected to a rear surface of the front or rear faceplates for securing the front faceplate to a wall structure.

Claims

1. A wall plate assembly comprising:

a front faceplate having a first lateral opening and a second lateral opening, said front faceplate having a rear surface, said second lateral opening having an area;

an electrical power outlet having a front surface, said electrical power outlet being secured to said front faceplate such that access is provided to said electrical power outlet through said first lateral opening,

a rear faceplate connected to said front faceplate such that said rear faceplate is recessed from said front faceplate and access to said rear faceplate is provided through said second lateral opening, said rear faceplate having a low voltage port which has an area such that said area of said second lateral opening is larger than said area of said low voltage port; and

a clamp connected to a rear surface of said front or rear faceplates for securing said front faceplate to an outer surface of a wall structure such that said front faceplate has an outward position relative to the wall structure.

2. A wall plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein said low voltage port is rectangular.

3. A wall plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rear faceplate is parallel to said front faceplate.

4. A wall plate assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising a flange structure fixed to a rear surface of said front faceplate and to a front surface of said rear 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.