IP Library Granted Patent US 6,979,205
Granted Patent B2
US 6,979,205 · App. 11/058,389 · Granted Dec 27, 2005

Modular signal and power connection device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,979,205
App. No.
11/058,389
Granted
Dec 27, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical connection box for wall mounting provides a recessed external plug for receiving or transmitting power to electronic components. The connection box is configured to receive a variety of signal connection modules for interconnecting associated audio/visual electronics such as DVD players, displays and the like in adjacent apertures. The signal connection modules are inserted or extracted from the face of the connection box; replacing blanking plates, and is optionally recessed from the face of the box into the wall cut-out. The configuration and mating features of the box and modules also provides for a common and isolated ground reference for surge protection of the connected components.

Claims (46)

1. A signal connection module comprising:

a) a front face,

b) at least two opposing sides parallel to each other and disposed perpendicular to said front face,

c) a plurality of low voltage signal input sockets disposed on said front face,

d) a plurality of low voltage signal output connectors disposed behind said front face and emerging rearward there from,

e) wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connector connect at least one signal wire and a corresponding ground wire, and

f) at least one of said signal wires and said ground wires being in electrical connection to a sidewall of the signal module, and

g) means for latching the module in a connection box having an adjacent power socket wherein the latching means complete the ground connection to the ground of the power socket.

2. A signal connection module according to claim 1 wherein the ground wire is disposed as a co-axial shield about the signal wire.

3. A signal connection module according to claim 1 wherein said latching means comprises a cavity in at least one of said opposing side walls for receiving a mating feature disposed on the side walls of the connection box.

4. A signal connection module according to claim 1 further comprising a grip-receiving member disposed on the front face thereof for removal from the front of the connection box.

5. A signal connection module according to claim 4 and further comprising:

a. extension cables providing electrical continuity between the output connectors at a first end disposed behind said front face, and to the input connectors disposed on said front face.

6. A signal connection module according to claim 1 , wherein at least on of said input sockets and said output connectors are selected from the group consisting of RCA, VGA, Co-axial cable, phone, data communications and Ethernet type connectors.

7. A signal connection module according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. extension cables providing electrical continuity between the output connectors at a first end disposed behind said front face, and to the input connectors disposed on said front face.

8. A signal connection module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connectors are selected from the group consisting of RCA, VGA, Co-axial cable, phone, data communications and Ethernet type connectors.

9. A signal connection module comprising:

a) a front face,

b) At least two opposing side parallel to each other and disposed perpendicular to said front face,

c) a plurality of low voltage signal input sockets disposed on said front face,

d) a plurality of low voltage signal output connectors disposed behind said front face and emerging rearward there from,

e) wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connector connect at least on signal wire and a corresponding ground wire, and

f) at least one of said signal wires and said ground wires being in electrical connection to a sidewall of the signal module, and

g) wherein at least one of said opposing parallel sides has a recessed panel for receiving a printed label.

10. A signal connection module according to claim 9 further comprising means for latching the module in a connection box having an adjacent power socket wherein the latching means complete the ground connection to the ground of the power socket.

11. A signal connection module according to claim 10 wherein said latching means comprises a cavity in at least one of said opposing side walls for receiving a mating feature disposed on the side walls of the connection box.

12. A signal connection module according to claim 9 further comprising a grip-receiving member disposed on the front face thereof for removal from the front of the connection box.

13. A signal connection module according to claim 9 further comprising:

a. extension cables providing electrical continuity between the output connectors at a first end disposed behind said front face, and to the input connectors disposed on said front face.

14. A signal connection module according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connectors are selected from the group consisting of RCA, VGA, Co-axial cable, phone, data communications and Ethernet type connectors.

15. A signal connection module comprising:

a) a front face,

b) at least two opposing sides parallel to each other and disposed perpendicular to said front face,

c) a plurality of low voltage signal input sockets disposed on said front face,

d) a plurality of low voltage signal output connectors disposed behind said front face and emerging rearward there from,

e) wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connector connect at least one signal wire and a corresponding ground wire,

f) at least one of said signal wires and said ground wires being in electrical connection to a sidewall of the signal module, and

g) further comprising a grip-receiving member disposed on said front face for removal from the front of a connection box.

16. A signal connection module according to claim 15 further comprising means for latching the module in a connection box having an adjacent power socket wherein the latching means complete the grounding connection to the ground of the power socket.

17. A signal connection module according to claim 15 wherein said latching means comprises a cavity in at least one of said opposing side walls for receiving a mating feature disposed on the side walls of the connection box.

18. A signal connection module according to claim 15 further comprising extension cables providing electrical continuity between the output connectors at a first end disposed behind said front face, and to the input connectors disposed on said front face.

19. A signal connection module according to claim 15 , wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connectors are selected from the group consisting of RCA, VGA, Co-axial cable, phone, data communications and Ethernet type connectors.

20. A signal connection module according to claim 16 further comprising:

a. extension cables providing electrical continuity between the output connectors at a first end disposed behind said front face, and to the input connectors disposed on said front face.

21. A signal connection module according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of said input sockets and said output connectors are selected from the group consisting of RCA, VGA, Co-axial cable, phone, data communications and Ethernet type connectors.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT; XANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056614/0709 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041326/0071 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041327/0089 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 026276, FRAME 0073 Recorded Jun 3, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; ERGOTRON, INC.; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORDYNE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC. (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO THE AVC GROUP, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (F/K/A PANAMAX LLC); LINEAR LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SECURE WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 033083/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2013
From: PANAMAX LLC
To: CORE BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 029698/0515 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 3, 2011
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; ERGOTRON, INC., A MINNESOTA CORPORATION; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC; HUNTAIR, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LINEAR LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A ARIZONA CORPORATION; PANAMAX, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; SECURE WIRELESS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; AVC GROUP, LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LLC
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026276/0073 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded May 3, 2011
From: U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC; HUNTAIR, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LINEAR LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A ARIZONA CORPORATION; PANAMAX LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; SECURE WIRELESS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; AVC GROUP, LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LLC; VENMAR CES, INC., A CANADIAN CORPORATION; VENMAR VENTILATION INC., CANADIAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026275/0964 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2010
From: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023750/0040 →
CONVERSION Recorded Dec 11, 2009
From: PANAMAX INC.
To: PANAMAX LLC
Reel/Frame 023639/0847 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE LP; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 021316/0764 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 021301/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2005
From: JUNG, EDWARD K. Y.; LORD, ROBERT W.; LEVIEN, ROYCE A.; MALAMUD, MARK A.; RINALDO, JOHN D., JR.
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 016591/0556 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2005
From: HOOPES, GERALD B.; NEWELL, STEVEN
To: PANAMAX
Reel/Frame 016281/0366 →