Wall mountable connector with wall covering plate

• US 9,941,183 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Read, Travis, Emmons, David J., Wolff, Steven L., Barton, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Hiram E
• Application Number:
  US15/042,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20170236766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/32 Holders for supporting the complete device in operation, i.e. detachable fixtures H01L23/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0018 having an electronic display

Abstract

A wall mountable connector assembly with an optional wall covering plate is disclosed. The wall mountable connector provides electrical connections to each of a plurality of field wires and is configured to provide electrical connections to a thermostat secured to the wall mountable connector. The optional wall covering plate is configured to fit over the wall mountable connector and provide a pleasing appearance.

Claims

1. A wall mountable connector assembly comprising:

an adapter plate configured to be secured relative to a wall, the adapter plate further configured to accommodate a plurality of field wires exiting the wall;

a wall mountable connector having a first side for facing the wall and a second opposing side, the wall mountable connector configured to be secured to the adapter plate with the first side of the wall mountable connector positioned adjacent the adapter plate, the wall mountable connector including a field wiring connection block that is configured to provide an electrical connection to the plurality of field wires and a thermostat terminal block that is configured to provide an electrical connection to a thermostat to be connected to the wall mountable connector; and

a wall covering plate having a front side and a back side with a wall mountable connector aperture extending from the front side to the back side that is sized to accommodate the wall mountable connector therethrough in order to allow the wall covering plate to be slipped over the second opposing side of the wall mountable connector and down to the adapter plate while the wall mountable connector is secured to the adapter plate, wherein the wall covering plate is configured to be secured to the adapter plate.

2. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is configured to be secured to an in-wall junction box, with the plurality of field wires extending through the in-wall junction box.

3. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is configured to be secured directly to the wall over a wall aperture through which the plurality of field wires exit the wall.

4. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate comprises a raised portion that mirrors a perimeter of the wall mountable connector and raises the wall mountable connector a distance.

5. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the adapter plate comprises one or more slots disposed proximate the raised portion, and the wall covering plate comprises one or more corresponding tabs that engage with the one or more slots to secure the wall covering plate to the adapter plate.

6. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the wall covering plate is configured to be releasably securable to the adapter plate, such that the wall covering plate can be removed from the adapter plate, leaving the wall mountable connector in place.

7. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the wall covering plate has a length and width sufficient to cover the adapter plate.

8. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the wall covering plate has a rear portion that is configured to fit over the adapter plate.

9. The wall mountable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the wall covering plate has a front recess that is sized to permit at least part of the thermostat to set into the front recess when the thermostat is connected to the wall mountable connector.

10. A wall covering plate for use in combination with a wall mountable connector that is mountable to an adapter plate, the wall covering plate configured to fit behind a thermostat that is connectable to the wall mountable connector, the wall covering plate comprising:

a back portion that is sized and configured to fit over an adapter plate such that an outer perimeter of the back portion hides the adapter plate from view; and

a wall mountable connector aperture formed through the wall covering plate, the wall mountable connector aperture extending through the back portion and sized and configured to fit around the wall mountable connector such that the wall mountable connector can extend through the wall mountable connector aperture such that the wall covering plate can be secured relative to the adaptor plate even after the wall mountable connector has been mounted to the adapter plate.

11. The wall covering plate of claim 10, wherein the back portion of the wall covering plate includes tabs that are configured to fit into corresponding slots disposed on either side of the adapter plate in order to secure the wall covering plate to the adapter plate.

12. The wall covering plate of claim 10, wherein the wall mountable connector aperture provides a frictional fit with the wall mountable connector in order to secure the wall covering plate in position against the wall.

13. The wall covering plate of claim 10, wherein the wall covering plate is secured in position against the wall at least in part by virtue of being captured between the wall and a back of the thermostat that is secured to the wall mountable connector.

14. The wall covering plate of claim 10, wherein the wall covering plate is rigid.

15. A mounting assembly for securing a thermostat to a wall, the mounting assembly comprising:

an adapter plate configured to be secured relative to a wall, the adapter plate further configured to accommodate a plurality of field wires exiting the wall;

a wall mountable connector configured to be secured to the adapter plate, the wall mountable connector including a field wiring connection block that is configured to provide an electrical connection to the plurality of field wires and a thermostat terminal block that provides an electrical connection between individual terminals of the field wiring connection block and a thermostat to be connected to the wall mountable connector; and

a wall covering plate having a front side and a back side with a wall mountable connector aperture extending from the front side to the back side that is sized and configured to permit the wall mountable connector to pass through the wall mountable connector aperture to enable the wall covering plate to fit over the wall mountable connector and be secured to the adapter plate even after the wall mountable connector is secured to the adapter plate.

16. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the adapter plate is configured to be secured to an in-wall junction box.

17. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the adapter plate is configured to be secured directly to the wall.

18. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the wall covering plate is releasably securable to the adapter plate, such that the wall covering plate can be removed from the adapter plate, leaving the wall mountable connector in place.

19. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the wall covering plate has a length and width that are sized and configured to cover wall blemishes remaining from previous thermostat installations.