The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for locating a pre-wired electrically isolated power source. The invention includes embodiments of encased receptacles for positioning in-wall power.
Providing electrical power behind a wall structure currently requires the use of a standard electrical receptacle and wiring to be mounted internal to an electrically isolated box to prevent access to the internal wiring. Typically, an electrician is required to complete the installation which requires connecting into existing power and locating the new electrical receptacle and box.
The electrical box includes a cover plate flush mounted to the exterior wall leaving an opening for the power receptacle.
More recently, some electrical appliances, particularly flat screen televisions, are mounted directly to the wall, so that externally connected plugs protruding out of the wall plate interfere with mounting the television in flat abutment with the surface of the wall.
There exists a need for an apparatus for positioning in-wall power which can be accomplished by a lay person without the need of an electrician, and which provides electrically isolated receptacles, that are pre-wired, which can be mounted either external to an electrical box, thereby creating space internal to the wall for isolating plugs and connectors, or directly to a wall when recessed receptacles are not necessary.
The foregoing and other problems are overcome, and other advantages are realized, in accordance with the disclosed, alternative embodiments of these teachings.
The power solution of the present invention comprises pre-wired electrically isolated female and male receptacles combined with an integrated enclosure that can be used in applications where power must be supplied to a remote unit, such as a flat panel TV being hung on a wall (behind wall installation), or in a remote location where an integrated enclosure is necessary for installation and electrical isolation (trade show/outdoor exhibit where remote power is utilized on a temporary wall fixture).
For behind wall installations the invention may be combined with “Deep Box” mounting enclosures. The “deep box” enclosures allow for the input and output receptacles of the present invention to be mounted deep inside a wall for visual isolation of receptacle outlets and associated plugs/connectors that may also be present in the enclosure.
In a behind wall installation, the integrated enclosures containing the female and male receptacles are separated behind a wall such that power can be supplied to the female end from an external source (such as an extension cord) which will supply power to a male receptacle mounted interior to the wall. The integrated enclosures for the receptacles are necessary to facilitate mounting in a variety of forms. Both the power input (female end) and power output (male end) integrated enclosures may contain a mounting frame for installation directly to a wall surface or onto any type of faceplate or in-wall enclosure, such as the “deep box” mounting enclosures of the present invention.
Alternatively, the integrated enclosures may be sold pre-mounted to any in-wall enclosure, including the “deep Box” enclosures disclosed in the present invention. Further, the integrated enclosed receptacles, interface wiring, and associated mounting frames or boxes (deep box or conventional electrical box) may be sold as a kit to facilitate easy installation. The electrical connection between the integrated enclosures may be separable via a snap plug or the like.
The integrated enclosures facilitate mounting of the power output and power input to a variety of electrical boxes including standard electrical boxes, flush mounted wall plates, and “deep boxes” disclosed in the present invention. Since the receptacles are encased and pre-wired, they are not required to be mounted internal to an electrical box for electrical isolation. This allows for the receptacles to be mounted externally to the electrical box enclosure, creating additional space within the box necessary for hiding connectors and the like. The encased receptacles may also be rough mounted to any wall surface.
The power input and power output integrated enclosure may be formed by overmolding, be a one piece boot, a two piece joinable encasement, or may comprise an integrated enclosure built around an overmolded connector. The receptacles are electrically connected within the integrated enclosure at the factory (pre-wired) and the electrical coupling between the enclosures can be ordered in specific lengths to meet the needs of a particular installation.
The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the present invention should not be limited to such illustrations and descriptions. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied as part of the present invention and are within the scope of the claims.
As seen in
The assembled In-Wall power apparatus 30 is purchased for particular applications with a fixed length electrical coupling 15. In the alternative, encased power input 20 and power output 10, can each contain a fixed length electrical coupling to be connected on-site. Each coupling may be a mating connector or bare wire to be connected during installation. Such an embodiment would facilitate selling components separately. The encased receptacle embodiment (both power input and power output) and coupling 15 are electrically insulated and pre-wired to meet applicable building codes and further to be installed by a laymen without the need for a licensed electrician.
As illustrated in
For a more decorative installation, faceplate 40 could be placed within the opening, connected to receptacles 10 and 20 via screw or nails through holes 25D and 40A, then faceplate 35 could be placed over receptacles 10 and 20 and connected over faceplate 40, via screws or nails through holes 35A and 25B. Receptacles 10 and 20 would be accessible through opening 35B of faceplate 35.
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment a molded boot 90 (
Other configurations of installations are possible, as described herein, such as recessed power input and power output within a walls interior surface.
An alternative application of the encased receptacles 10 and 20 is in combination with recessed electrical boxes 120 and is illustrated in
Referring to
Since the electrical receptacles are electrically isolated and pre-wired in one of the various forms described herein, they can be mounted external to recessed electrical box 120, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/516,768 filed 7 Apr. 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/630,677 filed 16 Dec. 2011, and U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/506,136 filed 29 Mar. 2012.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 13506136 | Mar 2012 | US |
Child | 14757864 | US |