Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02639234 2008-08-29
WALL PLATE BRACKET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a wall plate bracket for
mounting one or
more high voltage outlets and low voltage connectors on wall structures, and
more particularly,
to such a bracket in which outlets and connectors are recessed from the wall
structure.
[0002] The high voltage outlets have receptacles into which are inserted the
prongs of an
electrical plug for supplying electrical power to a conductor which is
connected to the plug.
High voltage outlets are also known as electrical power outlets. The high
voltage outlet includes
a support housing, which may be a box, within which the receptacles for the
prongs of the
electrical plug are supported. The support housing is secured to a stud in the
wall structure such
that the receptacles of the high voltage outlet are accessible through an
opening in the wall
structure from the front thereof. A wall plate is secured to the front of the
support housing such
that the wall surface of the wall structure is located between the wall plate
and the rear of the
support housing. The wall plate has an opening such that the receptacles of
the high voltage
outlet are accessible through the opening in the wall plate from the region in
front of the wall
structure. The clearance or gap between the support housing and wall plate is
typically covered
by a cover plate which is secured to the front surface of the wall plate. The
cover plate has an
opening such that the receptacles of the high voltage outlet are accessible
through the opening in
the cover plate from the region in front of the wall structure.
CA 02639234 2008-08-29
[0003] Wall plates may also provide support to low voltage connectors which
provide
junctions for the conductors of low voltage devices, such as telephones,
televisions, data cables,
and other communication equipment. Such other communication equipment may be
used for
connecting a computer to the internet or a local area network (LAN). Such wall
plates may
locate the low voltage connectors in the same plane as the front surface of
the wall structure
thereby exposing the connectors and the plugs inserted therein to contact from
persons, furniture
or other objects which may move in close proximity to the connectors. Such
contact may be
undesirable by urging the plugs to become dislodged from the low voltage
connectors or by
exceeding the structural strength of the plugs or connectors. The clearance or
gap between each
low voltage connector and wall plate is typically covered by a cover plate
which is secured to the
front surface of the wall plate. The cover plate has an opening such that the
corresponding low
voltage connector is accessible through the opening in the cover plate from
the region in front
thereof.
[0004] Wall plates may provide support for high voltage outlets without
providing
support for low voltage connectors. Also, wall plates may provide support for
low voltage
connectors without providing support for high voltage outlets. Both of such
wall plates may be
required to provide the connections needed by devices which require electrical
power and low
voltage connections. Such devices may include a combined telephone and
answering machine,
television, or a personal computer. Such separate wall plates typically
require redundant
structures and often require separate openings in the wall structure in which
the wall plates are
supported. Also, such separate wall plates may be located apart from one
another by a
significant distance. This distance may cause inconvenience for a device which
requires
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connection to a high voltage outlet and a low voltage connector since locating
such a device in
close proximity to both of such separate wall plates may be difficult.
[0005] The gap or clearance between the box of the high voltage outlet and
wall plate is
typically limited by building and electrical codes. Also, the high voltage
outlets and low voltage
connectors may be recessed from the wall structure to which the wall plates
are secured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The wall plate bracket of the present invention is for a high voltage
outlet. The
bracket includes a wall plate having front and rear surfaces. The wall plate
has an interior
opening. A support housing has an inner surface and an interior region bounded
by the inner
surface. The support housing is connected to the rear surface such that the
interior opening
provides access to the interior region. The support housing is configured for
support of the high
voltage outlet within the interior region. A clamp is connected to the wall
plate for securing the
wall plate to a wall structure. Consequently, mounting of the support housing
to a support
member within the wall structure, such as a stud, is not necessary.
[0007] The wall plate may have a rib which is connected to the rear surface
of the wall
plate. The rib is located relative to the interior opening such that the rib
is located between the
support housing and rear surface. The rib which is connected to the rear
surface covers a portion
of the clearance or gap between the support housing and rear surface which
reduces the
clearance. Limiting the clearance between the support housing and rear surface
obstructs access
to the interior of the support housing where the high voltage outlet is
located. Consequently,
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reducing the clearance facilitates compliance with the building and electrical
codes which limit
the size of the clearance.
[0008] The support housing may alternatively be positioned relative to the
wall plate by a
recess in the rear surface therein. The recess is located relative to the
interior opening such that a
mounting tab on the support housing extends into the recess. This limits the
clearance between
the support housing and rear surface.
[0009] The wall plate bracket of the present invention also provides for the
connection of
the support housing to a planar high voltage plate, and the support of a low
voltage connector on
a planar low voltage plate. The high and low voltage plates are connected to a
faceplate such
that the high and low voltage plates extend rearwardly relative to the
faceplate. Access to the
high and low voltage plates is provided through an interior opening of the
faceplate. The low
voltage plate intersects the high voltage plate which simplifies and makes
more compact the
configuration of the high and low voltage plates.
[0009.1] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a wall
plate bracket comprising: a faceplate having an interior opening; a planar
high voltage plate on
which a high voltage outlet is supportable, the high voltage plate being
connected to the faceplate
such that the high voltage plate extends rearwardly relative thereto and
access to the high voltage
plate is provided through the interior opening of the faceplate; a support
housing connected to
the high voltage plate, the support housing having a mounting tab securable to
the high voltage
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plate to connect the support housing thereto, and the high voltage plate
having a recess therein
such that the mounting tab is located in the recess; and a planar low voltage
plate on which a low
voltage connector is supportable, the low voltage outlet plate being connected
to the faceplate
such that the low voltage plate extends rearwardly relative thereto and access
to the low voltage
plate is provided through the interior opening of the faceplate, the low
voltage plate intersecting
the high voltage plate.
[0009.2] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a
wall plate bracket comprising: a wall plate having front and rear surfaces,
the wall plate having
an interior opening; a high voltage outlet; a support housing having an inner
surface and an
interior region bounded by the inner surface, the support housing being
configured for location
of the high voltage outlet within the interior region, the support housing
being connected to the
rear surface such that the interior opening provides access to the high
voltage outlet, and the wall
plate having a rib connected to the rear surface such that the rib is located
between the support
housing and rear surface; and a clamp connected to the wall plate for securing
the wall plate to a
wall structure.
[0010] These and other features of the invention will be more fully
understood from the
following description of specific embodiments of the invention taken together
with the
accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawings:
[0012] Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of the wall plate bracket of the
present invention
showing the ribs on the rear surface of the high voltage plate, the support
housing and low
voltage connectors being shown before assembly to the bracket;
[0013] Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 1,
the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
[0014] Fig. 3 is a right side elevation view of the wall plate bracket of Fig.
1, the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
[0015] Fig. 4 is a left side elevation view of the wall plate bracket of Fig.
1, the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
[0016] Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 1, the
support housing,
low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
[0017] Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 1, the
support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
[0018] Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 1,
the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
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100191 Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of an alternative second embodiment
of the wall
plate bracket of Fig. 1, the recess being shown on the rear surface of the
high voltage plate, the
support housing and low voltage connectors being shown before assembly to the
bracket;
100201 Fig. 9 is a rear elevation view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 8,
the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
[0021] Fig. 10 is a right side elevation view of the wall plate bracket of
Fig. 8, the
support housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
100221 Fig. 11 is a left side elevation view of the wall plate bracket of
Fig. 8, the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
100231 Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 8, the
support housing,
low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed;
100241 Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 8, the
support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed; and
100251 Fig. 14 is a front elevation view of the wall plate bracket of Fig. 8,
the support
housing, low voltage connectors, and fasteners being removed.
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[0026] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the
several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7, a
wall plate
bracket 10 is shown for mounting to a wall structure, such as the vertical
wall board of an
interior wall of a building structure.
[0028] The wall plate bracket 10 includes a wall plate 11. The wall plate
11 includes a
faceplate 12 which has an opening 14. The faceplate 12 has front and rear
surfaces 15, 16.
[0029] The wall plate 11 includes a flange structure 18 which is secured
to the rear
surface 16. The flange structure 18 includes opposing flanges 20, 22 which
have a perpendicular
orientation relative to the faceplate 12. The flanges 20, 22 are located
relative to the faceplate 12
such that the opening 14 is between the flanges.
[0030] The wall plate 11 includes a planar high voltage plate 24 which has
end edges 26,
28 and side edges 30, 32. The high voltage plate 24 is connected to the
faceplate 12 by the side
edge 30 being fixed thereto. The faceplate 12 is connected to the flange 20 by
the end edge 28
being fixed thereto. The faceplate 12 is connected to the flange 22 by the end
edge 26 being
fixed thereto.
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100311 The high voltage plate 24 has front and rear surfaces 34, 36. The high
voltage
plate 24 includes a rectangular interior opening 38 which is oriented relative
to the high voltage
plate 24 such that the side edges of the opening are parallel to the side
edges 30, 32. The high
voltage plate 24 has a pair of holes 40 located near diametrically opposed
comers thereof. The
high voltage plate 24 includes a pair of circular recesses surrounding
openings 42 located on the
rear surface 36 adjacent to the end edges of the opening 14.
100321 The high voltage plate 24 has a pair of elongate ribs 44 located
adjacent to
opposing side edges of the interior opening 38. The ribs 44 are parallel to
the side edges of the
interior opening 38 and are located such that the interior opening is between
the ribs. In this
embodiment, the ribs 44 have corresponding upper ends which are located
slightly above the
upper edge of the interior opening 38. Likewise, the ribs 44 have
corresponding lower ends
which are located slightly below the lower edge of the interior opening 38.
The ribs 44 each
have a corresponding rear edge 45.
100331 The wall plate bracket 10 includes a support housing or box 47 having
an inner
surface and an interior region which is bounded by the inner surface. The
support housing 47
has a front surface 81. The support housing 47 is configured for support of a
high voltage outlet
80 which is located within the interior region. The front surface of the high
voltage outlet 80
contains receptacles for the prongs of the plugs.
100341 The support housing 47 is assembled to the high voltage plate 24 by
initially
placing the front surface 81 against the corresponding rear edges 45 at the
ribs 44 such that the
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receptacles of the high voltage outlet 80 are accessible through the interior
opening 38. The
support housing 47 has a pair of screws which are located adjacent to the ends
of the front
surface 81. The screws have heads which extend forwardly beyond the front
surface 81. The
forwardly extending heads of the screws extend into the corresponding recesses
42 when the
front surface 81 of the support housing 47 is located against the
corresponding rear edges 45 of
the ribs 44.
[0035] The support housing 47 is located relative to the interior opening 38
such that the
holes 40 are aligned with corresponding holes in the support housing. This
provides for the
insertion of respective elongate fasteners 82 through the holes 40 and
corresponding holes in the
support housing 47. The fasteners 82 may be screws or bolts. The fasteners 82
may have a
threaded engagement with the corresponding holes in the support housing 47 or,
alternatively, a
threaded engagement with corresponding nuts such that tightening the fasteners
draws the
support housing into engagement with the rear edges 45 of the ribs 44 to
secure the support
housing thereto. It should be noted that in accordance with this invention,
the support housing or
box 47 is secured to and supported from the bracket 10 and is not directly
secured or mounted to
a stud or other wall support as is usually the case.
[0036] The securing of the support housing 47 to the high voltage plate 24
locates the
receptacles of the high voltage outlet 80 within the interior opening 38. The
interior opening 38
is preferably sized to accept a Decora-type high voltage outlet 80 and, hence,
a separate cover
plate is not needed. A Decora-type high voltage outlet 80 has a periphery
which corresponds to
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the periphery of the interior opening 38 such that the high voltage outlet is
accommodated within
the interior opening 38.
100371 The wall plate 11 includes a planar low voltage plate 46 which has end
edges 48,
50 and side edges 52, 54. The low voltage plate 46 is connected to the
faceplate 12 by the side
edge 52 being fixed thereto. The low voltage plate 46 is connected to the
upper flange 20 by the
end edge 50 being fixed thereto. The low voltage plate 46 is connected to the
lower flange 22 by
the end edge 48 being fixed thereto. The low voltage plate 46 intersects the
high voltage plate 24
by the side edge 54 being fixed to the side edge 32 in contiguous relation
thereto.
[0038] The low voltage plate 46 has front and rear surfaces 56, 58, and a pair
of
rectangular interior openings 60. The interior openings 60 are oriented
relative to the low
voltage plate 46 such that the side edges thereof are parallel to the end
edges 48, 50. The low
voltage plate 46 has a circular hole 62 located next to each of the end edges
of the interior
openings 60 such that each of the interior openings is located between a pair
of the holes 62.
[0039] The low voltage connectors 84 are assembled to the wall plate bracket
10 by
placing the front surfaces of the low voltage connectors against the rear
surface 58 of the low
voltage plate 46 such that the sections of the low voltage connectors to which
the low voltage
plugs attach are accessible through the corresponding interior opening 60. The
low voltage
connectors 84 are secured to the low voltage plate 46 by elongate fasteners
86. The fasteners 86
may be screws or bolts. The fasteners 86 extend through the corresponding hole
62 and into
corresponding holes in the low voltage connectors 84. The fasteners 86 may
have a threaded
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engagement with the corresponding holes in the low voltage connectors 84 or,
alternatively, a
threaded engagement with corresponding nuts such that tightening the fasteners
86 draws the low
voltage connectors into engagement with the rear surface 58 of the low voltage
plate 46 to secure
the low voltage connectors thereto.
100401 The interior openings 60 are preferably sized to accept
corresponding Decora-type
low voltage connectors 84 and, hence, respective separate cover plates are not
needed. A
Decora-type low voltage connector 84 has a periphery which corresponds to the
periphery of the
corresponding interior opening 60 such that the low voltage connector is
accommodated within
the interior opening 60.
100411 The wall plate bracket 10 includes a pair of clamps 64 which are
secured to the
faceplate 12 and flange structure 18 near diagonally opposing corners of the
faceplate. Each of
the clamps 64 has an elongate flange 66 and an arm 68 pivotally connected to
the corresponding
flange in perpendicular relation thereto. Each of the flanges 66 is connected
to the rear surface
16 of the faceplate 12 and to the corresponding adjacent flange 20, 22. The
arms 68 are each
coupled to an elongate member, such as a pin 70, which extends through the
corresponding
flange 66. The forward ends of the pins 70 each have a head 72 to which may be
coupled a tool
for rotating the pin. Such coupling may be provided, for example, by forming
in the front
surface of each of the head 72 a recess which may be engaged by a screw
driver. Rotation of
each of the pins 70, such as by a screw driver, causes pivoting of each of the
arms 68 about the
corresponding flange 66. The arms 68 may each thereby be swung from a
retracted position in
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which the corresponding arm is within the outer periphery 76 of the faceplate
12 to a secured
position 78 in which the corresponding arm extends beyond the outer periphery.
[0042] The wall plate bracket 10 is mounted to the wall structure initially by
orienting the
bracket such that the rear surface 16 of the faceplate 12 faces the opening in
the wall structure.
The outer periphery 76 of the faceplate 12 extends beyond the periphery of the
opening in the
wall structure. The support housing 47 and low voltage connector 84 are within
the periphery of
the opening in the wall structure which allows the insertion of the low
voltage connectors and
support housing through the opening in the wall structure. Before such
insertion, the arms 68 are
swung to the corresponding retracted positions by rotating the corresponding
pins 70, such as by
engaging the corresponding heads 72 with a screw driver. When the arms 68 are
in the
corresponding retracted positions, the arms do not obstruct insertion of the
support housing 47
and low voltage connectors 84 through the opening in the wall structure.
Accordingly, with the
arms 68 in the corresponding retracted positions, the support housing 47 and
low voltage
connectors 84 are inserted through the opening in the wall structure.
[0043] The relative sizes of the support housing 47 and low voltage connectors
84, and
opening in the wall structure result in the rear surface 16 of the faceplate
12 squarely contacting
the outer surface of the wall structure adjacent to the opening therein. The
longitudinal positions
of the arms 68 on the corresponding flanges 66 result in the arms being to the
rear of and
adjacent to the wall structure when the rear surface 16 of the faceplate 12
squarely contacts the
outer surface of the wall structure. This relative positioning of the arms 68
and the wall structure
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allows the arms to be swung to the corresponding secured positions 78 when the
faceplate 12
squarely contacts the outer surface of the wall structure.
[0044] Following insertion of the support housing 47 and low voltage
connectors 84 into
the opening in the wall structure such that the rear surface 16 of the
faceplate 12 squarely
contacts the outer surface of the wall structure, the arms 68 are swung to the
corresponding
secured positions 78 by rotating the corresponding pins 70, such as by
engaging the
corresponding heads 72 with a screw driver. Moving the arms 68 to the
corresponding secured
positions 78 results in the wall structure being secured between the arms and
faceplate 12. This
securing obstructs forward retraction of the support housing 47 and low
voltage connectors 84
through the opening in the wall structure.
[0045] The wall plate bracket may be released and retracted from the opening
in the wall
structure by swinging the arms 68 to the corresponding retracted positions by
rotating the
corresponding pins 70, such as by engaging the corresponding heads 72 with a
screw driver. The
arms 68, when in the corresponding retracted positions, do not obstruct
forward retraction of the
support housing 47 and low voltage connectors 84 through the opening in the
wall structure.
[0046] An alternative embodiment of the wall plate bracket 10a is shown in
Figs. 8 to 14.
Parts illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14 which correspond to parts illustrated in
Figs. 1 to 7 have the
same reference numeral as in Figs. 1 to 7 with the addition of the suffix "e
in Figs. 8 to 14. The
rear surface 36a of the high voltage plate 24a has a recess 88 which includes
a pair of shoulder
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sections 90. The shoulder sections 90 are located adjacent to the end edges of
the interior
opening 38a. The holes 40a are located within the shoulder sections 90a.
[0047] The support housing 47a has a pair of mounting tabs 92 each of which
has a
corresponding hole 94. The outer peripheries of the front surface 81a and the
outer edges of the
mounting tabs 92 correspond to and are slightly smaller than the outer
periphery of the recess 88.
The shoulder sections 90 each have a depth which corresponds to the thickness
of the respective
mounting tab 92 located therein.
[0048] The corresponding and relative sizes of the peripheries of the recess
88, front
surface 81a, and mounting tabs 92, as shown in Fig. 8, allow the front surface
81a and mounting
tabs to be inserted in the recess 88. The support housing 47a is assembled to
the high voltage
plate 24a by inserting the front surface 81a and mounting tabs 92 into the
recess 88 such that the
mounting tabs are located within corresponding shoulder sections 90. The
location of the
mounting tabs 92 within the corresponding shoulder sections 90 provides for
the holes 94 to each
be aligned with the corresponding hole 40a. The alignment of the corresponding
pairs of the
holes 40a, 94 allows for the insertion of one of the elongate fasteners 82a
through each of the
pairs of aligned holes 40a, 94. Tightening the elongate fasteners 82a draws
the support housing
47a into engagement with the rear surface 36a of the high voltage plate 24a to
secure the support
housing thereto.
[0049] While the invention has been described by reference to certain
preferred
embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes could be made
within the spirit
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and scope of the inventive concept described. Accordingly, it is intended that
the invention not
be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope
permitted by the language
of the following claims.
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