Apparatus for mounting a telephone or other cordless device in a building structure and related methods

• US 7,141,736 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Design Go Ltd (DG International Holdings Limited), Nex Gen Wiring Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Design Go Ltd (DG International Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Plankell, Gary Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US10/734,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/48, 174/49, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/17.R, 174/59, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.4, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.7, 220/3.8, 220/3.9, 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: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a cordless device in a building or furniture structure to provide reduced wiring visualization and exposure, and methods for mounting, installing, and using such apparatus are provided. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a base housing having a base open front, a base backwall, a plurality of base sidewalls, and a base inner chamber. The base open front provides access to the base inner chamber and is sized large enough to allow the passage into and storage in the inner chamber of a combination of an alternating current power plug, an alternating current power cord, at least one male telephone jack connector, and a telephone cord. The apparatus also includes a power outlet housing connected to a base sidewall, the position of which thereby reduces overall depth of the apparatus within the building or furniture structure.

Claims

1. A combination electrical power and telephone outlet housing comprising:

a base housing having a backwall and a sidewall defining an inner chamber and having an open front, the inner chamber adapted to house an electrical power cord, a power plug, and a telephone cord, the open front dimensioned to permit the passage therethrough of an electrical power cord, a telephone cord, and a male telephone jack, the sidewall having an aperture therethrough for receiving a power outlet and a female telephone jack;

a power outlet housing affixable to the base housing and comprising a backwall, an open front and a sidewall defining an auxiliary inner chamber, the open front positionable in communication with the base housing aperture, the sidewall having a wiring aperture therethrough dimensioned for passing electrical wiring from exterior of the power outlet housing through to the auxiliary inner chamber, the auxiliary inner chamber dimensioned for housing the power outlet; and

means for affixing a power outlet within the combination housing, the power outlet comprising a front side having a socket and an outlet body protruding rearward of the front side, wherein the power outlet front side is affixable to face the inner chamber so as to be substantially flush with the base housing sidewall, the outlet body contained within the auxiliary inner chamber and connectable to electrical wiring passed through the wiring aperture.

2. The outlet housing of claim 1, further comprising a wall mounting flange connected to an outer surface of the base sidewall for providing connection to a wall stud of the building structure.

3. The outlet housing of claim 1, wherein the base sidewall has an outer surface including a transversely extending upper rail, a lower rail substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper rail, the upper rail and lower rail having adjacent first and second ends, and a lateral stop adjacent one of the first and second ends of the upper and lower rails, wherein the power outlet housing includes an upper flange and a lower flange substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper flange and positioned adjacent the open front of the power outlet housing, and wherein the power outlet housing is slidably connected to the outer surface of the first base sidewall along the upper and lower flanges between the upper rail, lower rail, and lateral stop of the base housing to provide for quick mounting and removal of the power outlet housing from the base housing.

4. The outlet housing of claim 1, wherein the base sidewall further includes an exterior surface including a transversely extending upper rail, a lower rail substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper rail, the upper rail and lower rail having adjacent first and second ends, and a lateral stop adjacent an end of the upper and lower rails, wherein the outlet housing further comprises a wall mounting flange having first and second mounting plates substantially forming an L-shape, and wherein the first mounting plate of the wall mounting flange is slidably connected to the exterior surface of the base sidewall along the upper rail, the lower rail, and the lateral stop and substantially parallel with the exterior surface of the base sidewall, to provide for quick mounting of the wall mounting flange to and removal from the base housing.

5. The outlet housing of claim 4, wherein the second mounting plate of the wall mounting flange includes at least one spike adapted to pierce a wall stud and positioned substantially parallel to the sidewall for connecting to a wall stud of a building structure.

6. The outlet housing of claim 1, further comprising a power outlet cover plate positioned in the base inner chamber and positioned to overlie portions of the power outlet housing open front and inner surface portions of the base sidewall and having a power outlet cover aperture extending therethrough to provide access to the power outlet socket when positioned within the housing.

7. The outlet housing of claim 1, further comprising a base housing cover plate positioned to cover the base open front and having at least one cord channel formed in a peripheral region of the base housing cover plate adapted to allow passage of at least one of an alternating current power cord and a telephone cord therethrough. and further having a cordless telephone base station mount adapted to connect to a wall hanging slot of a base station of a cordless telephone to thereby mount the cordless telephone to an interior wall of the building structure, and wherein the base open front includes an inner perimeter, and wherein the base housing includes a plurality of base housing cover plate supports positioned at least partially within the base inner chamber adjacent the inner perimeter of the base open front to provide a mounting connection for the base housing cover plate to the base housing adjacent the base open front in covering relation to the base open front and to enclose the base inner chamber.

8. The outlet housing of claim 1, wherein the base sidewall further has a female telephone jack aperture sized to receive a female telephone jack.

9. The outlet housing of claim 8, wherein the base sidewall includes a pre-scored surface adapted to be detached by a user to form the female telephone jack aperture defining a removable telephone jack knockout to thereby provide a user selectable aperture for connecting the female telephone jack to the base housing to accommodate at least one of top side and bottom side building structure telephone wiring.

10. The outlet housing of claim 1, wherein the base backwall has at least one power outlet aperture to receive an alternating current female electrical power outlet therein, and the power outlet backwall has a building structure alternating current electrical wiring aperture adapted to allow passage of building structure alternating current electrical wiring to connect to and supply electrical power to the alternating current female electrical power outlet when positioned therein, and further wherein at least one of the power outlet sidewall and the power outlet backwall includes a pre-scored surface adapted to be detached by a user to form the building structure alternating current electrical wiring aperture defining a removable electrical wiring knockout to thereby provide a user selectable passageway to accommodate at feast one of top side and bottom side building alternating current electrical wiring to connect to and supply electrical power to an alternating current female electrical power outlet, and wherein the power outlet housing further includes a pair of external spaced apart protuberances positioned adjacent the building structure alternating current electrical wiring aperture to provide guidance for passage of the building structure alternating current electrical wiring through the alternating current electrical wiring aperture into the auxiliary inner chamber of the power outlet housing to connect to and supply electrical power to the alternating current female electrical power outlet.

11. The outlet housing of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of base cover plate connectors, wherein the base housing cover plate includes a plurality of base housing cover plate connection apertures positioned to provide for the passage of the plurality of base housing cover plate connectors and positioned to align with the plurality of base housing cover plate supports when the base housing cover plate is positioned to cover the base open front to thereby connect the base housing cover plate to the plurality of base housing cover plate supports, wherein the base housing cover plate has a front cover plate surface and an outer perimeter surrounding the front cover plate surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer perimeter is deflected away from the front cover plate surface to further provide reduced wiring visualization and exposure when the base housing cover plate is positioned to cover the base open front.

12. The outlet housing of claim 6, wherein the base sidewall further includes a plurality of bores to provide a mounting connection for the power outlet cover plate to mount the power outlet cover plate to the base sidewall and to enclose the auxiliary inner chamber of the power outlet housing between the base housing and the power outlet housing.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a base housing having a base open front, abase backwall, a plurality of base sidewalls extending between the base open front and the base backwall, and a base inner chamber therein positioned between the base backwall and plurality of base sidewalls so that the base open front provides access to the base inner chamber, the base open front being sized large enough to allow the passage into and storage in the inner chamber of a combination of an alternating current power plug, an alternating current power cord, at least one male telephone jack connector, and a telephone cord associated with a telephone, the plurality of base sidewalls comprising;

a first base sidewall positioned transverse to and extending between the base open front and the base backwall of the base housing and having at least one power outlet aperture adapted to receive an alternating current female electrical power outlet therein, and a second base sidewall positioned transverse to and extending between the base open front and the base backwall of the base housing and having a female telephone jack aperture adapted to receive a female telephone jack therein;

a power outlet housing connected to the first base sidewall of the base housing and having an auxiliary inner chamber therein positioned to interface with the at least one power outlet aperture of the first base sidewall of the base housing to thereby reduce overall depth of a combination of the base housing and the power outlet housing within a building structure, the power outlet housing having a wiring aperture therethrough dimensioned for passing electrical wiring from exterior of the power outlet housing through to the auxiliary inner chamber; and

means for affixing a power outlet within the apparatus, the power outlet comprising a front side having a socket and an outlet body protruding rearward of the front side, wherein the power outlet front side is affixable to face the inner chamber so as to be substantially flush with one of the base housing sidewalls, the outlet body contained within the auxiliary inner chamber and connectable to electrical wiring passed through the wiring aperture.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a base housing cover plate positioned to cover the base open front of the base housing to enclose major lengthwise extents of the telephone cord when connected to the male telephone jack connector and the alternating current power cord when connected to the alternating current power plug within the base inner chamber of the base housing so that the major lengthwise extents of the telephone cord and the alternating current power cord are not readily visible outside of the base housing.

15. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the base housing cover plate has at least one cord channel formed in a peripheral region of the base housing cover plate adapted to allow passage of at least one of the alternating current power cord and the telephone cord therethrough.

16. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the base housing cover plate has a plurality of cordless telephone base station mounts adapted to connect to a plurality of wall hanging slots of a base station of the cordless telephone to thereby mount the cordless telephone to an interior wall of the building structure.

17. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first base sidewall has an outer surface including a transversely extending upper rail, a lower rail substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper rail, the upper rail and lower rail having adjacent first and second ends, and a lateral stop adjacent one of the first and second ends of the upper and lower rails, wherein the power outlet housing includes an upper flange and a lower flange substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper flange and positioned adjacent the power outlet open front of the power outlet housing, and wherein the power outlet housing is slidably connected to the outer surface of the first base sidewall along the upper and lower flanges between the upper rail, lower rail, and lateral stop of the base housing to provide for quick mounting and removal of the power outlet housing from the base housing.

18. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of base sidewalls of the base housing further includes a third base sidewall having an outer surface positioned opposite the first base sidewall of the base housing, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a wall mounting flange connected to the outer surface of the third base sidewall to thereby provide connection of the base housing to a wall stud of the building structure.

19. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of base sidewalls further includes a third base sidewall having an exterior surface including a transversely extending upper rail, a lower rail substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper rail, the upper rail and lower rail having adjacent first and second ends, and a lateral stop adjacent an end of the upper and lower rails, wherein the apparatus further comprises a wall mounting flange having first and second mounting plates, and wherein the first mounting plate of the wall mounting flange is slidably connected to the exterior surface of the third base sidewall along the upper rail, the lower rail, and the lateral stop to provide for quick mounting of the wall mounting flange to and removal from the base housing.

20. A apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second mounting plate of the wall mounting flange further includes at least one spike adapted to pierce the wall stud to connect the base housing to the wall stud of the building structure.

21. An apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second mounting plate of the wall mounting flange includes a plurality of slots adapted to allow for the passage of a plurality of stud connectors, and wherein the at least one spike is positioned substantially parallel to the third sidewall of the base housing.

22. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the power outlet housing further includes a power outlet open front to provide access to the auxiliary inner chamber, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a power outlet cover plate positioned in the base inner chamber and positioned to overlie portions of the power outlet housing open front and inner surface portions of the base side wall and having a power outlet cover aperture extending therethrough to provide access to the at least one female power outlet when positioned in the auxiliary inner chamber of the power outlet housing.

23. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the base open front includes an inner perimeter, and wherein the base housing includes a plurality of base housing cover plate supports positioned at least partially within the base inner chamber adjacent the inner perimeter of the base open front of the base housing to provide a mounting connection for the base housing cover plate to connect the base housing cover plate to the base housing adjacent the base open front of the base housing, the base housing cover plate to cover the base open front of the base housing and enclose the base inner chamber.

24. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of base sidewalls of the base housing further includes a third base sidewall having a second female telephone jack aperture sized large enough to receive the female telephone jack, and wherein the second base sidewall of the base housing is one of a top and a bottom base sidewalls and the third base sidewall is the other of the top and the bottom base sidewalls.

25. An apparatus of claim 24, wherein the female telephone jack includes the proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending therebetween sized for and positioned in the female telephone jack aperture of one of the second and third base sidewalls and having a cavity for receiving at least one male telephone jack connector, the proximal end of the female telephone jack having a proximal surface extension to provide an inner stop, and the body having a plurality of side connectors to form an outer stop, the combination of the proximal surface extension and plurality of side connectors to provide a positive lock of the female telephone jack within the telephone jack aperture when so positioned.

26. An apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of the top base sidewall and bottom base sidewall includes a pre-scored surface adapted to be detached by a user to form the female telephone jack aperture defining a removable telephone jack knockout to thereby provide a user selectable aperture for connecting the female telephone jack to the base housing to accommodate at least one of top side and bottom side building structure telephone wiring.

27. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the power outlet housing further includes a power outlet open front, a power outlet backwall, a plurality of power outlet sidewalls extending between the power outlet open front and the power outlet backwall, the auxiliary inner chamber therein positioned between the power outlet backwall and the plurality of power outlet sidewalls so that the power outlet open front provides access to the auxiliary inner chamber, wherein at least one of the plurality of power outlet sidewalls and the power outlet backwall includes a pre-scored surface adapted to be detached by a user to form the building structure alternating current electrical wiring aperture defining a removable electrical wiring knockout, and wherein the power outlet housing further includes a pair of external spaced apart protuberances positioned adjacent the building structure alternating current electrical wiring aperture to provide guidance for passage of the building structure alternating current electrical wiring through the alternating current electrical wiring aperture into the auxiliary inner chamber of the power outlet housing to conned to and supply electrical power to the alternating current female electrical power outlet.

28. An apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of base cover plate connectors, wherein the base housing cover plate includes a plurality of base housing cover plate connection apertures positioned to provide for the passage of the plurality of base housing cover plate connectors and positioned to align with the plurality of base housing cover plate supports when the base housing cover plate is positioned to cover the base open front of the base housing to thereby connect the base housing cover plate to the plurality of base housing cover plate supports, wherein the base housing cover plate has a front cover plate surface and an outer perimeter surrounding the front cover plate surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer perimeter is deflected away from the front cover plate surface to further provide reduced wiring visualization and exposure when the base housing cover plate is positioned to cover the base open front of the base housing.

29. An apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first base sidewall of the base housing further includes a plurality of bores to provide a mounting connection for the power outlet cover plate to mount the power outlet cover plate to the first base sidewall of the base housing adjacent the at least one power outlet aperture of the base housing and to cover an outer periphery of the alternating current female electrical power outlet and enclose the auxiliary inner chamber of the power outlet housing between the base housing and the power outlet housing, and wherein the power outlet cover plate includes a plurality of power outlet connection apertures positioned to align with at least two flange apertures extending from the alternating current female electrical power outlet and at least two of the plurality of bores in the first base sidewall of the base housing to connect the power outlet cover plate and alternating current female electrical power outlet to the first base sidewall.

30. An apparatus comprising:

a cordless telephone including a base station having a plurality of wall hanging slots adapted to mount the cordless telephone to an interior wall of a building structure;

a combination base housing and power outlet housing, the base housing having a base open front, a base backwall, and a plurality of base sidewalls extending between the base open front and the base backwall, each of the plurality of base sidewalls having an exterior surface, the power outlet housing connected to the exterior surface of one of the plurality of base sidewalls of the base housing to thereby reduce overall depth of a combination of the base housing and the power outlet housing when recessed within the building structure; and

a base housing cover plate including a plurality of cordless telephone base station mounts adapted to cover the base open front and adapted to connect to the plurality of wall hanging slots of the base station of the cordless telephone to thereby mount the cordless telephone to the interior wall of the building structure.

31. An apparatus of claim 30, wherein the base housing includes a base inner chamber positioned between the base backwall and plurality of base sidewalls such that the base open front provides access to the base inner chamber, wherein a female telephone jack and alternating current female electrical outlet are located at least partially within the base inner chamber of the base housing, and wherein the base housing cover plate is positioned to cover the base open front of the base housing to enclose major lengthwise extents of a telephone cord when connected to the female telephone jack and alternating current power cord when connected to the alternating current power plug such that the major lengthwise extents of the telephone cord and the alternating current power cord are not readily visible outside of the base housing.

32. An apparatus for mounting a cordless device to produce reduced wiring visualization and exposure, the apparatus comprising:

a base housing having a base open front, a base backwall, and a plurality of base sidewalls extending between the base open front and the base backwall, and a base inner chamber therein positioned between the base backwall and plurality of base sidewalls so that the base open front provides access to the base inner chamber, the base open front being sized large enough to allow the passage into and storage in the inner chamber of an alternating current power plug and an alternating current powercord, at least one of the plurality of base sidewalls positioned transverse to and extending between the base open front and the base backwall and having at least one power outlet aperture;

a power outlet housing connected to the first base sidewall and having an auxiliary inner chamber therein positioned to interface with the base inner chamber; and

an alternating current female electrical power outlet positionable between the base inner chamber and the auxiliary inner chamber and removable therefrom for providing access to the auxiliary inner chamber from the base inner chamber to thereby reduce an overall depth of a combination of the base housing and the power outlet housing within at least one of a furniture and a building structure.

33. An apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a base housing cover plate positioned to cover the base open front of the base housing to enclose major lengthwise extents of the alternating current power cord when connected to the alternating current power plug within the base inner chamber of the base housing so that the major lengthwise extents of the alternating current power cord are not readily visible outside of the base housing, and wherein the base housing cover plate has at least one cord channel formed therein and adapted to allow passage of the alternating current power cord therethrough.

34. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the base housing cover plate has means for mounting a base station of the cordless device to the base housing cover plate adapted to connect the base station to the base housing cover plate when the base housing cover plate is positioned to cover the base open front of the base housing.

35. An apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first base sidewall has an outer surface including a transversely extending upper rail, a lower rail substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper rail, the upper rail and lower rail having adjacent first and second ends, and a lateral stop adjacent one of the first and second ends of the upper and lower rails, wherein the power outlet housing includes an upper flange and a lower flange substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper flange and positioned adjacent the power outlet open front of the power outlet housing, and wherein the power outlet housing is slidably connected to the outer surface of the first base sidewall along the upper and lower flanges between the upper rail, lower rail, and lateral stop of the base housing to provide for quick mounting and removal of the power outlet housing from the base housing.

36. An apparatus of claim 32, wherein the plurality of base sidewalls of the base housing further includes a second base sidewall having an outer surface positioned opposite the first base sidewall of the base housing, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a mounting flange connected to the outer surface of the second base sidewall to thereby provide connection of the base housing to the at least one of a furniture and a building structure.

37. An apparatus of claim 32, wherein the plurality of base sidewalls further includes a second base sidewall having an exterior surface including a transversely extending upper rail, a lower rail substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper rail, the upper rail and lower rail having adjacent first and second ends, and a lateral stop adjacent an end of the upper and lower rails, wherein the apparatus further comprises a mounting flange having first and second mounting plates, and wherein the first mounting plate of the mounting flange is slidably connected to the exterior surface of the second base sidewall along the upper rail, the lower rail, and the lateral stop to provide for quick mounting of the mounting flange to and removal from the base housing.

38. An apparatus of claim 32, wherein the power outlet housing further includes a power outlet open front to provide access to the auxiliary inner chamber, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a power outlet cover plate positioned in the base inner chamber of the base housing and positioned to overlie portions of the power outlet open front of the power outlet housing and inner surface portions of the first base sidewall and having a power outlet cover aperture extending therethrough to provide access to the at least one female power outlet when positioned in the auxiliary inner chamber of the power outlet housing.

39. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the plurality of base sidewalls also includes a top base sidewall positioned transverse to and extending between the base open front and the base backwall of the base housing and having a pre-scored surface adapted to be detached by a user to form a base inner chamber defining a removable base inner chamber knockout to thereby provide a user selectable aperture for at least one of connecting a female telephone jack to the base housing to accommodate mounting structure telephone wiring and venting residual heat generated by the alternating current power plug when positioned within the base inner chamber.

40. An apparatus of claim 33, further comprising means for connecting the base housing cover plate to the base housing including a quick disconnect means for disconnecting the base housing cover plate from the base housing without tools.

41. A method for mounting an outlet housing for a telephone in a building structure to provide reduced wiring visualization exposure, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a base housing having a base open front, a base backwall, and a plurality of base sidewalls extending between the base open front and the base backwall forming a base inner chamber therein, the plurality of base sidewalls including a first base sidewall positioned transverse to and extending between the base open front and the base backwall and having at least one power outlet aperture to receive an alternating current female electrical power outlet therein;

providing a power outlet housing having a power outlet open front, a power outlet backwall, a plurality of power outlet sidewalls extending between the power outlet open front and the power outlet backwall forming an auxiliary inner chamber therein, and a wiring aperture extending from external the power outlet housing and one of the power outlet sidewalls and the power outlet backwall through to the auxiliary inner chamber;

connecting the power outlet housing to the first base sidewall so that the power outlet open front interfaces with the at least one power outlet aperture of the first base sidewall to thereby reduce overall depth of the outlet housing within the building structure;

affixing a power outlet within the outlet housing so that a front side having a socket faces the base inner chamber so as to be substantially flush with the first base sidewall, an outlet body contained within the auxiliary inner chamber and connectable to electrical wiring passed through the wiring aperture; and

recessing the base housing and power outlet housing within an interior wall surface of the building structure.

42. A method of claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

connecting a wall mounting flange having at least one stud connection spike to an exterior surface of a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the base housing opposite the first base sidewall of the plurality of base sidewalls; and

mounting the base housing to a wall stud of the building structure by inserting the at least one stud connection spike into the wall stud of the building structure.

43. A method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

connecting a female telephone jack to at least one of a top and a bottom base sidewall of the base housing having a female telephone jack aperture sized to receive the telephone jack; and

connecting an alternating current female electrical power outlet at least partially within the base inner chamber of the base housing.

44. A method for installing a telephone in a building structure to provide reduced wiring visualization exposure, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a male telephone jack connector to a female telephone jack positioned in a base inner chamber of an outlet housing recessed within an interior wall of the building structure and having a base housing and a power outlet housing, by passing the male telephone jack connector through a base open front of the base housing to engage the female telephone jack;

connecting an alternating current power plug to an alternating current female electrical power outlet having an outlet surface facing into the base housing and a power outlet body positioned within the power outlet housing, by passing the alternating current power plug through the base open front and engaging a socket of the alternating current female electrical power outlet; and

positioning major lengthwise extents of a telephone cord connected to the male telephone jack connector and alternating current power cord connected to the alternating current power plug within the base inner chamber.

45. A method of claim 44, further comprising me step of:

connecting a base housing cover plate for the base housing to a plurality of base housing cover plate connection supports positioned within a base inner chamber of the base housing to cover a base open front of the base housing, the base housing cover plate having at least one cord channel formed in a peripheral region of the base housing cover plate adapted to allow passage of the alternating current power cord and the telephone cord, therethrough.

46. A method for mounting cordless device hardware in a building structure to provide reduced wiring visualization exposure, the method comprising the steps of:

threading electrical wiring through an aperture in a power outlet housing mounted within a wall structure of a building;

passing the electrical wiring through the power outlet housing and into an inner chamber of a base housing removably connected to the power outlet housing;

pulling the electrical wiring out of an open front of the base housing in spaced relation from the building wall structure;

connecting the electrical wiring to an alternating current power outlet having at least one power outlet socket on a front face thereof;

positioning the alternating current power outlet in bridging relation between the base inner chamber and the power outlet housing, the front face of the alternating current power outlet facing into the base inner chamber and an outlet body extending rearward of the front face contained within the power outlet housing; and

placing a cover plate over the base housing, the cover plate openable to provide access to the power outlet, thereby reducing an overall depth of a combination of the base housing and the power outlet housing within the building structure, and providing a significantly lower profile for the power outlet relative to the building wall structure.