Patent US4576431A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4576431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixture for securing an electrical connector
Assignee: THAYER ADVANCED SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-01
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Granted: 1986-03-18
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Expires: 2005-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A fixture for securing an electrical connector, such as an outlet plate, includes a flat rectangular portion and elongated legs that can be fabricated during a single manufacturing step. The flat rectangular portion has a central opening with parallel sides at which the legs are bent. The legs of one side are staggered with respect to the legs of the other side. During installation the central rectangular opening is used as a template for marking where an opening is to be cut in a wall, and then the legs are inserted into the wall opening and bent outward to secure the opening to the wall. The connector element is then screwed to the flat rectangular portion of the fixture.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Kenneth Thayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/20; H01R13/73; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/906; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A fixture for mounting an electrical connector element in an opening in a panel, the connector element having a plurality of openings to accommodate mounting screws, comprising: a sheet metal element having a substantially flat portion with an opening therein, said opening having first and second spaced-apart ends and first and second spaced-apart sides that are substantially parallel, a plurality of first elongated legs joining said substantially flat portion at respective first bent regions that are disposed along said first side of said opening at first predetermined distances from said first end, each first leg being longer than half the distance between said first and second sides, and a plurality of second elongated legs joining said substantially flat portion at respective second bent regions that are disposed along said second side of said opening at second predetermined distances from said first end, said second predetermined distances being different from said first predetermined distances to stagger said second legs with respect to said first legs so that said legs so that said legs alternate from a first leg to a second leg, for all of said legs, from one of said ends to the other of said ends, each second leg being longer than half the distance between said first and second sides; and screw securing means disposed on said substantially flat portion for securing the mounting screws.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A fixture for mounting an electrical connector element in an opening in a panel, the connector element having a plurality of openings to accommodate mounting screws, comprising: a sheet metal element having a substantially flat portion with an opening therein, said opening having first and second spaced-apart ends and first and second spaced-apart sides that are substantially parallel, a plurality of first elongated legs joining said substantially flat portion at respective first bent regions that are disposed along said first side of said opening at first predetermined distances from said first end, each first leg being longer than half the distance between said first and second sides, and a plurality of second elongated legs joining said substantially flat portion at respective second bent regions that are disposed along said second side of said opening at second predetermined distances from said first end, said second predetermined distances being different from said first predetermined distances to stagger said second legs with respect to said first legs so that said legs so that said legs alternate from a first leg to a second leg, for all of said legs, from one of said ends to the other of said ends, each second leg being longer than half the distance between said first and second sides; and screw securing means disposed on said substantially flat portion for securing the mounting screws.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The fixture of claim 1, wherein said substantially flat portion has at least one screw opening adjacent said first end and at least one screw opening adjacent said second end, and wherein said screw securing means comprises, for each screw opening, a fastener clip affixed to said substantially flat portion at the respective screw opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The fixture of claim 1, wherein said screw securing means comprises at least one dimple projecting from said substantially flat portion adjacent said first end and at least one dimple projecting from said substantially flat portion adjacent said second end, said dimples having centrally disposed openings therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The fixture of claim 1, wherein said substantially flat portion has at least one irregular opening adjacent said first end and at least one irregular opening adjacent said second end, and wherein said screw securing means comprises, for each irregular opening, a plurality of screw engagement legs provided by the opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fixture of claim 4, wherein said irregular openings are generally H-shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fixture of claim 1, wherein said panel is a wall in a building and wherein said connector element is an outlet plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fixture of claim 6, wherein said outlet plate is a television outlet plate for conveying a television signal into a room of said building.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fixture of claim 6, wherein said opening in said substantially flat portion is a rectangle providing template means for marking said wall to provide a path for cutting an opening therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fixture of claim 6, wherein said sheet metal element is rectangular, wherein said opening in said sheet metal opening is rectangular, and wherein said legs are rectangular.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-17 | 1989-09-16 | 1990-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-17 | 1993-09-16 | 1994-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-17 | 1997-09-16 | 1998-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |