Mounting assembly with video distribution functionality

• US 8,031,482 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Martich, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi; Dameon
• Application Number:
  US11/841,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728, 361/807, 361/809, 174/480, 174/489, 439/676
• US Class Current: 361/807
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/525 Outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2416 the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires

Abstract

A mounting assembly device, system and method support multimedia/video distribution functionalities. The mounting assembly includes a front face and a rear housing sized to fit within a conventional wall box, e.g., a single gang box. The mounting assembly includes a balun that is adapted to receive and convert signals, such that signals received by the balun may be transmitted from a coaxial cable to twisted pair cable, and vice versa. Additional communication modalities may be supported by the mounting assembly device/system, e.g., conventional jack/plug based communications and/or wireless communications.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a. a front face that includes an outwardly directed coaxial connector;

b. a rear housing defining first and second housing regions and an intermediate recessed region between the first and second housing regions, the rear housing enclosing a balun in communication with the coaxial connector and supporting a connector assembly including wire connection mechanism for mounting of twisted pair wires, the connector assembly positioned in the intermediate recessed region and in communication with the balun;

wherein the balun facilitates at least one of multimedia and audio signal transmission between the coaxial connector and twisted pair wires mounted with respect to the connector assembly; and

wherein the rear housing is configured and dimensioned to fit within an electrical box such that the front face can be mounted with respect to the electrical box.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the coaxial connector is a female F-connector.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the wire connection mechanism mounts one of UTP cable, STP cable and FTP cable.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the coaxial connector transmits signals for at least one application selected from the group consisting of cable television, closed circuit audio or video transmissions, satellite communications, and combinations thereof.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the balun is in communication with a remotely positioned hub that facilitates signal distribution.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outwardly directed jack mounted with respect to the front face.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein twisted pair cable mounted with respect to the wire connection mechanism include (i) one or more twisted pairs carrying signals that are converted by the balun for transmission through the coaxial connector, and (ii) one or more twisted pairs carrying signals that are transmitted through the outwardly directed jack mounted with respect to the front face.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the wire connection mechanism includes one or more IDC'"'"'s.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear housing is configured and dimensioned to fit within a single gang wall box.

10. The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional communication modality.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional communication modality includes a wireless communication functionality.

12. A method for distributing at least one of multimedia and video signals, comprising:

a. providing twisted pair cable that communicates with at least one source of multimedia or video signals, the twisted pair cable being routed to an electrical box;

b. providing a mounting assembly that includes (i) a front face that supports an outwardly directed coaxial connector, (ii) a rear housing that houses a balun in communication with the coaxial connector, the balun facilitating signal transmission between the coaxial connector and the twisted pair cable;

(iii) the rear housing defining first and second housing regions and an intermediate recessed region between the first and second housing regions; and

(iv) a connector assembly that includes wire connection mechanism for mounting of twisted pair wires associated with the twisted pair cable, the connector assembly positioned in the intermediate recessed region of the rear housing and in communication with the balun;

c. mounting twisting pair wires associated with the twisted pair cable with respect to the connector assembly; and

d. mounting the mounting assembly with respect to an electrical box.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting a coaxial cable to the coaxial connector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a forwardly directed jack, and further comprising mounting a plug with respect to the forwardly directed jack to facilitate signal transmission therethrough.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wire connection mechanism includes a plurality of IDC'"'"'s.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the mounting assembly is mounted with respect to a single gang electrical box.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the rear housing is positioned within the single gang electrical box.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of multimedia and video signals are transmitted across the mounting assembly from twisted pair cable to coaxial cable.