In-wall extension apparatus

#Electrical outlets are typically positioned very near the floors in a home. However, it is becoming common for individuals to mount flat-screen and plasma televisions at eye level or several feet above the height of electrical outlets. Routing power and audio/video content to such wall-mounted devices typically requires running unsightly electrical and audio/video cords between the mounted devices and one or more electrical outlets or content sources, such as a set-top box or Blu-Ray™ player, below. Homeowners may be able to conceal dangling electrical cords and audio/video cables by strategically positioning furniture and/or wall hangings in the room, or they may opt to install an electrical outlet behind the television. However, making an electrical connection or modifying the electrical system in a home typically requires work and/or inspection by a licensed electrician, which can be costly and inconvenient. Many cost-conscious do-it-yourself homeowners may forgo hiring a licensed electrician and instead choose to drill holes in a wall and route an extension cord up inside the wall to the wall-mounted device, but this practice is dangerous and in violation of the National Electric Code™ (NEC™). Heat may cause an extension cord inside of a wall or an enclosed space to dry out over time. Lacking proper ventilation, an in-wall extension cord may crack, expose bare wires, create a point of electrical short, and spark. A system for safely and easily running electrical power and audio/video cables up the inside of a wall to a wall-mounted appliance is desirable.

#The same number represents the same element or same type of element in all drawings.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a side-profile, in-wall view of an embodiment of an in-wall extension apparatus.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus having a single electrical input and output.

#The various embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus, systems, and methods for running power from an existing electrical outlet up the inside of a wall to an enclosure mounted behind or near a wall-mounted television or audio/video rack. Alternative embodiments provide apparatus, systems and methods for transferring audio/video content from a content source near the floor of a room, up inside of a wall to an enclosure mounted behind or near a wall-mounted television. More particularly, the various embodiments described herein provide for the installation and use of a UL-listed, in-wall power extension apparatus that may be safely and legally installed and used without work or inspection by a licensed electrician.

#The embodiments described herein comprise input and output enclosures and wiring therebetween. The output enclosure is to be mounted adjacent to a first wall opening located behind or near to a wall-mounted presentation device. The input enclosure is to be mounted adjacent to a second wall opening located on the same wall, somewhere below the presentation device and preferably near an outlet in the room. When installed, the wiring is to run inside the wall between the input and output enclosures. Power may then be routed from an already-existing electrical outlet in the room through the input enclosure, up through wiring in the wall and through the output enclosure to the presentation device. A variety of embodiments are configured to similarly transport audio/video content from a content source to the presentation device by utilizing at least one audio/video input connector, audio/video cabling, and at least one audio/video output connector.

#An in-wall view of an embodiment of an in-wall extension apparatus system is illustrated in FIG. 1. An appliance 104 mounts to wall 101. In at least one embodiment, the appliance 104 is a presentation device, such as a television or computer monitor, that is operable to display audio/video content. The appliance 104 may also comprise a plurality of electronics devices including, but not limited to, one or more wall-mounted speakers, a set-top box, a receiver, or an optical disk player such as a Blu-Ray™ or DVD player. The appliance 104 is powered by power source 103, and power source 103 is electrically connected to the appliance 104 by in-wall extension apparatus 110.