Patent US5638481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5638481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flush mounted outlet
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-26
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2015-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An outlet assembly for use with optical fibers and, where called for, electrical cables has a hinged wall plate adapted to be mounted to an outlet box. The wall plate is adapted to receive couplers therein for receiving both optical fiber and electrical connectors. A storage spool is mountable to the rear of the wall plate for storing the required amounts of fiber slack and includes wall members and guide members for maintaining separation among at least some of the fibers. The wall plate has an upper portion which is pivotally connected to a lower portion and which can be swung away from the outlet box to provide access to the rear of the wall plate. A protective hood is movably mountable to the front of the wall plate to protect the various connections thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Jaime R. Arnett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3897; G02B6/381; G02B6/3817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An outlet assembly for communications type cables comprising: a wall plate member having front and rear portions and coupling members accessible from said front portion mounted therein for receiving cable connectors and said wall plate member having first and second portions; at least one of said coupling members being accessible from said rear portion; said wall plate member having means for mounting at least a portion of said plate member to an outlet box; and said wall plate member further having a pivot connection of said first portion to said second portion for providing access to said rear portion thereof when mounted to the outlet box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An outlet assembly for communications type cables comprising: a wall plate member having front and rear portions and coupling members accessible from said front portion mounted therein for receiving cable connectors and said wall plate member having first and second portions; at least one of said coupling members being accessible from said rear portion; said wall plate member having means for mounting at least a portion of said plate member to an outlet box; and said wall plate member further having a pivot connection of said first portion to said second portion for providing access to said rear portion thereof when mounted to the outlet box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further including storage means mounted to said rear portion for storing cable from said coupling members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further including protective hood means for providing protection to said front portion of said wall plate and the cable connectors connected to said couplers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said protective hood means is movably mounted to said front portion of said wall plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said storage means is movably mounted to said rear portion of said wall plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said storage means is dimensioned to fit within the outlet box when said wall plate is mounted thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said storage means includes means for maintaining the cables thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said storage means further includes means for maintaining separation of at least some of the cables stored thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front portion of both said first and second portions of the wall plate include means for movably mounting and guiding a protective hood on said front portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
An outlet assembly for optical fibers comprising: a wall plate having an upper and a lower portion and front and rear portions, said wall plate having a first optical fiber coupler for receiving an optical fiber coupler for receiving an optical fiber connector for connection thereof to said front portion and an optical fiber connector for connection thereof to said rear portion; said lower portion having means for mounting said lower portion to an outlet box; said upper portion having means for mounting said upper portion to the outlet box; means pivotally connecting said upper portion of said wall plate to said lower portion; storage means for storing optical fibers mounted to said rear portion of said upper portion of said wall plate; and protective means movably mounted to said front portion of said wall plate for protecting said front portion and the connector and coupler on said front portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
An outlet assembly for optical fibers comprising: a wall plate having an upper and a lower portion and front and rear portions, said wall plate having a first optical fiber coupler for receiving an optical fiber coupler for receiving an optical fiber connector for connection thereof to said front portion and an optical fiber connector for connection thereof to said rear portion; said lower portion having means for mounting said lower portion to an outlet box; said upper portion having means for mounting said upper portion to the outlet box; means pivotally connecting said upper portion of said wall plate to said lower portion; storage means for storing optical fibers mounted to said rear portion of said upper portion of said wall plate; and protective means movably mounted to said front portion of said wall plate for protecting said front portion and the connector and coupler on said front portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said wall plate is substantially planar and the said upper portion thereof has a first planar face formed thereon in which said first coupler is mounted, said planar face being oriented at an angle to the plane of said wall plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein a second coupler is mounted in said planar face.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first and second couplers are duplex type couplers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said storage means has means thereof for maintaining separation of the optical fibers from the optical fiber connectors connected to the rear portion of the couplers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein said storage means is dimensioned to fit within the outlet box when said wall plate is mounted thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An outlet assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said protective means comprises a hood and said front portion of said wall plate has means thereon defining a track for said hood.
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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) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |