In-wall extension apparatus
AssigneeDISH Network L.L.C.
InventorDavid M. Lettkeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of the apparatus and/or methods are described for routing power to a wall-mounted appliance, particularly for routing electrical wiring and audio/video cabling up through a wall to power and communicate with a wall-mounted presentation device. The apparatus and systems include input and output enclosures with wiring therebetween and mechanisms for mounting the input and output enclosures adjacent to pre-cut wall openings. There exists at least one electrical input connector, disposed within the input enclosure, configured to electrically couple with a power source, and at least one electrical output connector, disposed within the output enclosure, configured to electrically couple with a wall-mounted appliance.
Claims12
An in-wall extension apparatus comprising:
- a first enclosure having a first predetermined shape configured to fit adjacent to a first wall opening and a first mounting mechanism configured to mount the first enclosure adjacent to the first wall opening;
- at least one input electrical connector, disposed within the first enclosure, configured to electrically couple with an appliance;
- a second enclosure having a second predetermined shape configured to fit adjacent to a second wall opening and a second mounting mechanism configured to mount the second enclosure adjacent to the second wall opening;
- at least one output electrical connector, disposed within the second enclosure, configured to electrically couple to at least one power source;
- and
- electrical-wiring configured to transfer power from the at least one power source to the appliance;
- wherein at least an in-wall portion of the apparatus is a single, molded, hard-wired unit with all connections sealed.
A system for providing power to a wall-mounted presentation device comprising:
- a presentation device mounted on a wall at a first height above the floor of a room;
- an in-wall extension comprising:
- an output enclosure having a first mounting mechanism configured to mount the output enclosure to a first wall opening in the wall, wherein the first wall opening is proximal to the wall-mounted presentation device;
- at least one electrical output connector, disposed within the output enclosure, configured to electrically couple with the presentation device;
- at least one audio/video output connector, disposed within the output enclosure, configured to communicatively couple with the presentation device;
- an input enclosure having a second mounting mechanism configured to mount the input enclosure to a second wall opening, wherein the second wall opening is located at a second height above the floor, wherein the second height is less than the first height;
- at least one electrical input connector, disposed within the input enclosure, configured to electrically couple with an electrical outlet;
- at least one audio/video input connector, disposed within the input enclosure, configured to communicatively couple with a content source;
- electrical wiring electrically coupled to the electrical input connector at a first end and electrically coupled to the electrical output connector at a second end;
- audio/video cabling communicatively coupled to the audio/video input connector at a first end and communicatively coupled to the audio/video output connector at a second end;
- and
- a content source communicatively coupled to the at least one audio/video input connector;
- wherein at least a portion of the in-wall extension is a single, hard-wired unit with all connections sealed, and the at least one electrical input connector is detachably coupled to an extension cord configured to plug into a wall.
An in-wall extension apparatus comprising:
- a first enclosure having a first predetermined shape and a first mounting mechanism configured to mount the first enclosure to a wall first opening;
- at least one input connector, disposed within the first enclosure, configured to electrically couple with an appliance;
- a single-piece second enclosure having a second predetermined shape and a second mounting mechanism configured to mount the second enclosure to a second wall opening;
- at least one output connector, disposed within the second enclosure, configured to electrically couple to at least one power source;
- and
- electrical-wiring configured to transfer power from the power source to the appliance;
- wherein at least an in-wall portion of the apparatus is a single, hard-wired unit with all connections sealed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.