Self-trimming interior in-wall receptacle and method therefor
A self-trimming in-wall receptacle and method therefor, comprising an injection molded receptacle having a storage area, a trim and a coupling mechanism that allows a person to insert the receptacle into an opening in a wall. The receptacle is self-trimming and easy to couple to a wall, eliminating the need for complicated installation. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle can substantially flush-mount wall-mounted electrical objects such as smoke detectors, air conditioning control units, alarm keypads, doorbell chime boxes and the like, as well as store other objects.
This invention relates generally to in-wall receptacles and methods therefor and, more specifically, to a self-trimming in-wall receptacle having a storage area and method therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVirtually all residential and commercial construction include smoke detectors and air conditioning control units. These devices are almost always mounted externally on an interior wall, protruding several inches from the surface of the wall. In addition, residential construction typically includes doorbell chime boxes, which also protrude from the wall. External, wall-mounted devices are not only unaesthetic, they can cause injury to a passerby. The trend of modern construction is towards smooth interior wall surfaces with as few protrusions as possible.
It is commonplace to flush-mount electrical outlets inside both commercial and residential buildings. Typically, a hole is first cut into the drywall, an electrical box for housing wiring is subsequently inserted into the wall, and a plate is secured over the electrical box to hide its contents. Light switches are similarly mounted.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,219 issued to Reid shows a flush-mount for an electrical circuit box, having multiple apertures and a face plate. The Reid patent is designed to be completely flush-mounted with the wall, using a wall-engaging leg and multiple steps, such as chiseling and using filler material to flush-mount the electrical circuit box. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,770 issued to Stanback discloses a cover, door and latch that is attached to an existing electrical control device box. The Stanback device is a cover for an electrical box that otherwise lacks an outward facing trim. The Stanback device requires the additional step of mounting the cover on the electrical box after the electrical box is already mounted in the wall. U.S. Pat. No. 6,444,906 issued to Lewis shows an exterior wall-mounted accessory designed for housing outlets in a vehicle or mobile home. The externally wall-mounted Lewis outlet box comprises a mounting plate and at least one electrical power accessory outlet. In addition, the mounting plate substantially bisects the housing, substantially eliminating any storage area within the housing.
Thus, a need existed for a self-trimming in-wall receptacle having a storage area and being capable of being inserted into an opening in a wall and coupled to the wall while at the same time the receptacle having a trim that is dimensioned to cover the edge of the opening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of substantially flush-mounting wall-mounted objects that are usually externally mounted in a self-trimming receptacle.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of storing objects in an interior space behind a wall.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for installing a self-trimming in-wall receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSIn accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a self-trimming in-wall receptacle is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end and a closed end and defining a storage area therebetween, a trim coupled to and extending from an outer edge of the open end of the receptacle, the receptacle and the trim injection molded to form a one-piece assembly, and a coupling mechanism coupled to the receptacle and dimensioned to couple the receptacle to a wall so that an inner surface of the trim being proximate an outer surface of the wall and the closed end of the receptacle being housed inside an interior space behind the wall.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for installing a self-trimming in-wall receptacle is disclosed, comprising, in combination the steps of injection molding a receptacle having an open end and a closed end and defining a storage area therebetween, injection molding a trim coupled to and extending from an outer edge of the open end of the receptacle, the receptacle and the trim forming a one-piece assembly, cutting an aperture in a wall, the aperture having a circumference greater than a circumference of the closed end of the receptacle while at the same time the circumference of the aperture being smaller than a circumference of the trim, inserting the closed end of the receptacle through the aperture, and coupling the receptacle to the wall so that an inner surface of the trim being proximate an outer surface of the wall and the closed end of the receptacle being housed inside an interior space behind the wall.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
In one embodiment of the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 of the present invention, a covering 24 (shown in
Referring now to
In the preferred embodiment, the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 further comprises a key 36 (shown in
In one embodiment of the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 of the present invention, shown in
In another embodiment of the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 of the present invention, shown in
Referring now to
There are several ways to couple the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 to a wall 30. In one embodiment, shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The storage area 18 of the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 can house an air conditioning control unit 19 (shown in
Referring now to
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in
While, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the receptacle is between approximately 4 inches and 6 inches, the width of the receptacle is between approximately 4 inches and 22.5 inches, and the length of the trim is between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately 1.5 inches, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 in which different sizes are used, even those that deviate, even substantially, from the preferred measurements, in either direction.
Statement of Operation Referring now to
In one embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
While, various methods for coupling the self-trimming in-wall receptacle 10 to a wall 30 have been disclosed, it is within the spirit and scope of this invention that alternative coupling methods be used so long as the result is the secure coupling of the receptacle 12 to the wall 30 with the closed end 16 of the receptacle housed in an interior space 34 behind the wall 30 and an interior surface of the trim 20 proximate an outer surface 32 of the wall 30.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A self-trimming in-wall receptacle comprising, in combination:
- a receptacle having an open front end and a closed end and defining a storage area therebetween the receptacle terminating at the closed end;
- a trim coupled to and extending from and around substantially all of an outer edge of said open front end of said receptacle, said receptacle and said trim injection molded to form a one-piece assembly; and
- a coupling mechanism coupled to said receptacle and dimensioned to couple said receptacle to a wall so that an inner surface of said trim being proximate an outer surface of said wall and said closed end of said receptacle being housed inside an interior space behind said wall.
2. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 further comprising a covering coupled to said receptacle proximate said front open end and dimensioned to cover said front open end of said receptacle.
3. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 2 wherein said covering defines apertures dimensioned to allow air to flow through said storage area of said receptacle to vent said storage area of said receptacle.
4. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 2 further comprising at least one locking device coupled to one of said covering and said receptacle and said trim, said at least one locking device dimensioned to lock said covering in a closed position over said front open end of said receptacle.
5. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 4 wherein said at least one locking device further comprises a locking tab dimensioned to be inserted into at least one slot defined by one of said receptacle and said covering.
6. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 5 further comprising a key dimensioned to be inserted into said at least one locking device and turned to initiate locking of said covering by insertion of said locking tab into said slot and opening of said covering by removal of said locking tab from said slot.
7. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said receptacle having substantially a shape of a rectangle.
8. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said receptacle having substantially a shape of a circle for storing substantially circular objects.
9. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said closed end of said receptacle defines a plurality of perforations dimensioned to allow a person to remove at least a portion of said closed end of said receptacle to permit electrical wiring to pass therethrough.
10. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said closed end of said receptacle defining defines at least one aperture dimensioned to permit electrical wiring to pass therethrough.
11. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said coupling mechanism comprises at least one screw dimensioned to be inserted through said trim and into said wall so as to couple said receptacle to said wall.
12. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said coupling mechanism comprises an adhesive strip for securing said receptacle to said wall, said adhesive strip being coupled along an interior surface of said trim.
13. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 12 wherein said adhesive strip further comprises:
- a tacky surface for adhering said receptacle to said wall; and
- a removable backing strip, said backing strip being coupled to said tacky surface of said adhesive strip so as to protect said tacky surface prior to use of said adhesive strip.
14. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of gripping arms coupled to said receptacle, said gripping arms having a first end coupled to said receptacle proximate said closed end and a second end spaced apart from said receptacle and extending to said front open end of said receptacle beyond an outer edge of said trim, said gripping arms being dimensioned to permit said closed end of said receptacle to be inserted into a similarly sized aperture cut into said wall while at the same time said second end of said plurality of gripping arms being dimensioned to couple said receptacle to an interior surface of said wall.
15. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said receptacle having a width of approximately 22.5 inches and wherein said coupling mechanism comprises at least one screw dimensioned to be inserted through a side of said receptacle and into a wall stud so as to couple said receptacle to said wall so that said inner surface of said trim being proximate an outer surface of said wall and said closed end of said receptacle being housed in an interior space behind said wall.
16. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 further comprising a light source coupled to an interior surface of said receptacle for illuminating the interior thereof.
17. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said storage area being dimensioned to house one of an air conditioning control unit, a smoke detector, and a doorbell sound generating device.
18. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said receptacle and said trim being comprised of high-impact injection molded thermal plastic.
19. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein a distance between said closed end of said receptacle to said front open end of said receptacle being approximately 4 inches for 2×4 construction and approximately 6 inches for 2×6 construction.
20. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 19 wherein said receptacle having a width of between approximately 4 inches to approximately 22.5 inches.
21. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of claim 1 wherein said trim extending between approximately 0.5 inches to approximately 1.5 inches from said outer edge of said front open end of said receptacle.
22-30. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2005
Inventors: Kevin Kregle (Queen Creek, AZ), Kim Kregle (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 10/843,768