Adapter for mounting a faceplate of a first style to an electrical outlet cavity of a second style

• US 7,829,788 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda, Hazani, Ami
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US12/512,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 220/241, 220/242, 335/28, 312/328, D83/53, D13/177
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

Apparatus for coupling a signal between a wiring and a device. Junction box mounting is popular in North America, whereas cavity mounting is popular in Europe and the Middle East. The apparatus includes an adapter and provides universal mounting for specialized faceplates which are designed and intended for junction box mounting. The adapter features clamps for gripping the inner surface of a wall cavity or sleeve and a plate for mounting an faceplate designed for junction box mounting. The plate has mounting points with a nominal center-to-center distance of 3¼ inches, corresponding to the requirements of junction box mounting.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coupling a signal between a wiring and a device, the wiring being accessed via an opening or cavity of a first shape, and the apparatus comprising:

a faceplate having a second shape different from the first shape, and the faceplate includes a connector for connecting to the device; and

an adapter having a boxlike construction, the adapter configured to be interposed between the faceplate and the cavity or opening, and the adapter is directly mountable into the opening or cavity and is securely attachable to structure defining the opening or cavity using a first style of attachment comprising at least one clamp for engaging the structure, and

the faceplate is mechanically attached to the adapter and secured to the adapter using a second style of attachment, the second style of attachment being different from the first style of attachment and comprising at least one of;

holes;

screws;

threaded posts;

friction-fit posts; and

snap-fit posts, and

the wiring is arranged to pass through the adapter and to be coupled to the connector for coupling the signal carried over the wiring to and from the device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiring is at least in part in a wall of a building, and the opening or cavity is in the wall.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening or cavity is a wall outlet opening or cavity for accessing the wiring.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wiring includes a telephone wire pair connected to carry a telephone signal, the opening or cavity is a standard telephone outlet wall opening or cavity, and the connector is a telephone connector.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wiring includes a cable television coaxial cable connected to carry a cable television signal, the wall outlet opening or cavity is a standard cable television wall outlet opening or cavity, and the connector is a coaxial connector.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wiring includes alternating current power wires connected to carrying an alternating current power signal, the wall outlet opening or cavity is a standard alternating current power wall outlet opening or cavity, and the connector is an alternating current jack.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wiring includes data network wiring, the wall outlet opening or cavity is a standard data network wall outlet opening or cavity, and the connector is a data connector.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first shape is circular.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a pair of spaced apart clamps for engaging an inner surface of a structural boundary that defines the outlet cavity or opening.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a back plate and the raised edge projects from the back plate.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises raised posts constituting mounting points for the faceplate and forming components of the second style of attachment.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adapter forms a junction box.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adapter forms a junction box.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wall cavity or opening is configured according to a first geographic region style, and the faceplate is shaped to be mounted onto a wall cavity or opening shaped according to a second geographic region style.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second shape is rectangular.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first style is used in Europe and the Middle East and the second style is used North America.