Recessed signal-receiver mounting system for a building structure and associated methods

• US 7,709,733 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nex Gen Wiring Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nex Gen Wiring Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Plankell, Gary Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R
• Application Number:
  US11/563,862
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/480, 174/481, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/17.R, 174/59, 174/61, 174/62, 174/63, 174/503, 220 32- 39, 220/4.02, 248/906, 439/535, 439/536, 379/428.01, 379/428.02, 379/428.03, 379/428.04
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/021 Loading or unloading of containers H05K13/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A system for mounting a pair of signal-receiving devices recessed within a building surface includes a base housing having an inner chamber and positionable behind a building surface. A front has a first opening, and a wall has a second and third opening. A secondary housing is positionable adjacent the base housing and has an interior space. A first aperture is positionable in communication with the second opening. A second aperture is positioned in spaced relation from the base housing'"'"'s wall. A first signal receiver is positionable within the interior space and is connectable to a first signal carrier. A second signal receiver is positionable within the inner chamber and has a second connector positionable adjacent the third opening and connectable to a second signal carrier.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a pair of signal-receiving devices in a recessed position within a building surface comprising:

a base housing having a wall defining an inner chamber, the wall having a first opening in a front thereof and a second and a third opening therein, each of the first, the second, and the third opening leading into the inner chamber, the base housing positionable behind a building surface;

a secondary housing positionable behind the building surface and adjacent the base housing and having a wall defining a closable interior space, the wall having a first aperture therethrough into the interior space positionable in communication with the base housing second opening, the wall further having a second aperture therethrough into the interior space, the second aperture in spaced relation from the base housing wall;

a first signal receiver positionable within the secondary housing interior space as part of the wall defining the closed interior space and is connectable through a first connector to a first signal carrier within the secondary housing inner chamber; and

a second signal receiver terminating within the base housing inner chamber and having a second connector positionable adjacent the third opening, the second connector able to receive a signal from a second signal carrier through the second signal receiver;

wherein the first signal carrier and the second signal carrier are distinct and different enough to be non-interchangeable with each other.

2. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein the base housing further comprises a wall mounting flange connected to an outer surface of the base housing wall for providing connection to a structural element behind the building surface.

3. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein the first signal receiver comprises a power outlet, the first connector comprises a power outlet socket, and the first signal carrier comprises electrical wiring.

4. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein the second signal receiver comprises a data jack, the second connector comprises a data jacket socket, and the second signal carrier comprises data cabling.

5. The mounting system recited in claim 1, further comprising a base housing cover plate positioned to cover the base housing first opening and having an aperture formed therein adapted to allow passage of at least one signal-carrying cord therethrough.

6. The mounting system recited in claim 5, wherein the base housing cover plate is adapted for mounting onto the building surface in substantially flush relation therewith and in covering relation to the base housing first aperture.

7. The mounting system recited in claim 5, further having a hardware mount adapted to connect to a mounting element of a hardware device to thereby mount the hardware device to an interior wall of the building structure.

8. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein the second signal receiver comprises a surge protector, the second connector comprises an electrical outlet, and the second signal carrier comprises electrical wiring.

9. The mounting system recited in claim 8, wherein the first signal receiver and the first connector comprise a data jack, and the first signal carrier comprises one of cable wiring and/or telephone wiring.

10. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein:

the second signal receiver and the second connector comprise an electrical outlet, and the second signal carrier comprises electric wiring; and

the first signal receiver comprises a television signal receiver, the first connector comprises a television signal connector, and the first signal carrier comprises one of television cabling wiring and/or and satellite signal wiring.

11. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein:

the base housing has a first rail adjacent the second opening;

the secondary housing has a second rail adjacent the first aperture; and

the first and the second rail are adapted to engage each other for slidably connecting the secondary housing to the base housing.

12. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein:

the secondary housing is dimensioned at a first surface opposed to the first aperture smaller than the base housing second opening;

the secondary housing has a protrusion at a second surface adjacent the first aperture and opposed to the first surface dimensioned larger than the base housing second opening;

the secondary housing is movable between the first position within the base housing inner chamber and a second position wherein the secondary housing first surface is outside the base housing inner chamber and the secondary housing secondary surface is retained within the base housing inner chamber by the secondary housing protrusion.

13. The mounting system recited in claim 12, wherein the secondary housing further comprises a deformable tab generally parallel to the protrusion and closer to the base housing second opening when the secondary housing is in the first position, the deformable tab depressible to a first orientation adjacent the secondary housing wall when the secondary housing is being moved from the first position to the second position so as to pass through the first aperture, and biased to a second orientation in spaced relation from the secondary housing wall when the secondary housing is in the second position, for preventing the secondary housing from moving to the first position without a further depression of the tab.

14. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein the wall defining the closable interior space of the secondary housing further comprises a cover associated with the first signal receiver.

15. The mounting system recited in claim 1, wherein the inner chamber is further provided to access both the first signal receiver and the second signal receiver when positioned behind a building surface.

16. A method for mounting a pair of signal-receiving devices in a recessed position within a building surface comprising the steps of:

positioning a base housing behind a building surface, the base housing having a wall defining an inner chamber, the wall having a first opening in a front thereof and a second and a third opening therein, each of the first, the second, and the third opening leading into the inner chamber, the base housing positionable behind a building surface;

positioning a secondary housing behind the building surface and adjacent the base housing, the secondary housing having a wall defining a closable interior space, the wall having a first aperture therethrough into the interior space positionable in communication with the base housing second opening, the wall further having a second aperture therethrough into the interior space, the second aperture in spaced relation from the base housing wall;

positioning a first signal receiver, as a part of the wall defining the closed interior space, within the secondary housing interior space;

connecting the first signal receiver to a first signal carrier within the secondary housing inner chamber;

positioning a second signal receiver terminating within the base housing inner chamber;

positioning a second connector adjacent the third opening; and

connecting the second connector to a second signal carrier within the base housing inner chamber wherein the second signal carrier is distinct and different enough from the first signal carrier to be non-interchangeable with the first signal carrier.

17. The mounting method recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of positioning a base housing cover plate in covering relation to the base housing first opening, the base housing cover plate having an aperture formed therein adapted to allow passage of at least one signal-carrying cord therethrough.

18. The mounting method recited in claim 16, wherein the second signal receiver comprises a surge protector, the second connector comprises an electrical outlet, and the second signal comprises electrical wiring.

19. The mounting method recited in claim 18, wherein the first signal receiver and the first connector comprise a data jack, and the first signal carrier comprises one of data cabling and/or telephone wiring.

20. The mounting method recited in claim 16, wherein:

the second signal receiver and the second connector comprise an electrical outlet, and the second signal carrier comprises electrical wiring; and

the first signal receiver comprises a television signal receiver, the first connector comprises a television signal connector, and the first signal carrier comprises one of television cable wiring and/or satellite signal wiring.

21. The mounting method recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of moving the secondary housing from a first position within the base housing inner chamber to a second position wherein a portion of the secondary housing is outside the base housing inner chamber and another portion of the secondary housing is retained within the base housing inner chamber.