Single-fastener mounting plate for electrical outlets
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsChristopher Alan Carbone, Bart Richard Hogestyn, Ryan Gene Papageorge, Thomas Louis Scanzillo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mounting plate for an electrical outlet includes a central region having a front surface, a rear surface, and an opening for accessing an outlet. A first mounting tab and a second mounting tab extend from the central region at an angle. The mounting plate may be used to attach an outlet to an outlet housing having a wiring compartment and a panel at least partially enclosing the wiring compartment. The panel has a front wall and an opening for receiving an outlet.
Claims20
An outlet housing comprising:
- a wiring compartment;
- a panel at least partially enclosing the wiring compartment and including a first feature;
- an outlet;
- and
- a mounting plate coupled to the outlet, the mounting plate including a central region having an opening, the opening receiving a portion of the outlet and permitting access to the outlet, the mounting plate further including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned adjacent a first edge of the central region and oriented at an angle relative to the central region, the first portion including a second feature configured to engage the first feature positioned on the panel and retain the mounting plate relative to the panel, the second portion positioned adjacent a second edge of the central region;
- and
- a fastener extending through the second portion and removably coupled to the panel.
An outlet housing comprising:
- a wiring compartment;
- a panel at least partially enclosing the wiring compartment;
- an outlet;
- a mounting plate coupled to the outlet, the mounting plate including a central region having an opening, the opening receiving at least a portion of the outlet and permitting access to the outlet, the mounting plate further including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned adjacent a first edge of the central region and oriented at an angle relative to the central region, the second portion positioned adjacent a second edge of the central region;
- a protrusion connected to one of the panel and the first portion of the mounting plate;
- an aperture positioned on the other of the panel and the first portion of the mounting plate, the aperture receiving at least a portion of the protrusion to retain the first portion of the mounting plate against movement relative to the panel;
- and
- a fastener extending through the second portion and removably coupled to the panel.
A method of installing an outlet in a housing, the method comprising:
- attaching the outlet to a mounting plate, the mounting plate including a central region having an opening, the opening receiving at least a portion of the outlet and permitting access to the outlet, the mounting plate further including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned adjacent a first edge of the central region and oriented at an angle relative to the central region, the second portion positioned adjacent a second edge of the central region;
- positioning the first portion of the mounting plate proximate a surface of a panel such that a first feature on the first portion engages a second feature connected to the panel;
- pivoting said mounting plate about the first portion to move the second portion toward the panel;
- and
- securing the second portion of the mounting plate relative to the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.