IP Library Granted Patent US 8,490,815
Granted Patent B2
US 8,490,815 · App. 12/563,286 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Method and system of a reversible nose faceplate

Inventors: Charles J. Provenzano (Houston, TX); Michael Leung (Missouri City, TX)
Assignee: DirectConnect
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,490,815
App. No.
12/563,286
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Reversible nose faceplate. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems including a faceplate and a nose member. The nose member includes: an extension portion; a nose portion; a first abutting surface; a second abutting surface; a first set of ears coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose portion; and a second set of ears coupled to the extension portion opposite the first set of ears. The nose member is configured to couple to the faceplate in multiple configurations, including: a first configuration in which the nose portion protrudes through a nose aperture of the faceplate in the direction of the front side of the faceplate, the first abutting surface abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate is affixed to the first set of ears; and a second configured in which the nose portion protrudes in the direction of the back side of the faceplate, the second abutting surface abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate is affixed to the second set of ears.

Claims (70)

1. A faceplate system comprising:

a faceplate that defines a front side, a back side and a nose aperture;

a nose member that comprises:

an extension portion that defines an aperture therein;

a nose portion coupled to the extension portion, the nose portion at least partially occludes the aperture of the extension portion;

a first abutting surface coupled to the extension portion and adjacent the nose portion;

a second abutting surface coupled to the extension portion opposite the first abutting surface;

a first set of ears coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose portion, the first set of ears coplanar;

a second set of ears coupled to the extension portion opposite the nose portion, the second set of ears coplanar;

wherein the nose member is configured to couple to the faceplate in multiple configurations, comprising:

a first configuration in which the nose portion protrudes through the nose aperture in the direction of the front side of the faceplate, the first abutting surface abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate is affixed to the first set of ears; and

a second configured in which the nose portion protrudes in the direction of the back side of the faceplate, the second abutting surface abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate is affixed to the second set of ears.

2. The faceplate system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one ear comprises an aperture having internal diameter;

the faceplate comprises a fastener aperture having an internal diameter, the fastener aperture separate from the nose aperture, and wherein the internal diameter of the fastener aperture is greater than the internal diameter of the aperture in the ear; and regardless of the configuration

the faceplate affixes to the nose portion by way of a screw telescoped through the fastener aperture and threaded to the aperture of the ear.

3. The faceplate system of claim 1 further comprising each ear comprises a proximal end coupled to the extension portion, and a distal end extending outward from the extension portion, and at least one ear comprises a feature at the proximal end at which feature the ear detaches from extension portion.

4. The faceplate system of claim 3 wherein the feature is a narrowing of the thickness of the ear, and wherein the ear detaches by breaking the ear member along the feature.

5. The faceplate system of claim 3 wherein the feature is a series of dimples along the proximal end, and wherein the ear detaches by breaking the ear along the feature.

6. The faceplate system of claim 1 wherein the nose member further comprises:

a first flange portion coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose member, the first flange portion defines the first abutting surface; and

a second flange portion coupled to the extension portion opposite the first flange member, the second flange portion defines second abutting surface.

7. The faceplate system of claim 1 wherein the nose member further comprises a flange portion, the flange portion defines the first and second abutting surfaces.

8. A method comprising:

removing a first set of ears from a nose member;

coupling the nose member to a work box by way of a second set of ears;

abutting a faceplate against the nose member; and

coupling the faceplate to the second set of ears of the nose member.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein removing the first set of ears further comprises breaking each ear of the first set of ear at a feature on a proximal end of the ear.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein removing the first set of ears further comprises breaking each ear along a narrowing of the thickness of the ear.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein removing the first set of ears further comprises breaking each ear along a series of dimples of the ear.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein abutting the faceplate further comprises abutting the faceplate with a nose portion of the nose member protruding in the direction of the backside of the faceplate.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein abutting the faceplate further comprises abutting the faceplate with a nose portion of the nose member protruding through an aperture in the faceplate, and the nose portion protruding in the direction of the front side of the faceplate.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein coupling further comprises telescoping a screw through an aperture in the faceplate and threading the screw into an aperture in an ear of the second set of ears.

15. A faceplate system comprising:

a faceplate that defines a front side, a back side and a nose aperture;

a nose member that comprises:

an extension portion that defines an aperture therein;

a nose portion coupled to the extension portion, the nose portion at least partially occludes the aperture of the extension portion;

a first flange portion coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose portion;

a second flange portion coupled to the extension portion opposite the first flange portion;

a first set of ears coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose portion, the first set of ears coplanar;

a second set of ears coupled to the extension portion opposite the nose portion, the second set of ears coplanar;

wherein the nose member is configured to couple to the faceplate in multiple configurations, comprising:

a first configuration in which the nose portion protrudes through the nose aperture in the direction of the front side of the faceplate, the first flange portion abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate is affixed to the first set of ears; and

a second configured in which the nose portion protrudes in the direction of the back side of the faceplate, the second flange portion abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate is affixed to the second set of ears.

16. The faceplate system of claim 15 further comprising:

at least one ear comprises an aperture having an internal diameter;

the faceplate comprises a fastener aperture having an internal diameter, the fastener aperture separate from the nose aperture, and wherein the internal diameter of the fastener aperture is greater than the internal diameter of the aperture in the ear; and regardless of the configuration

the faceplate affixes to the nose member by way of a screw telescoped through the fastener aperture and threaded to the aperture of the ear.

17. The faceplate system of claim 15 further comprising each ear comprises a proximal end coupled to the extension portion, and a distal end extending outward from the extension portion, and at least one ear comprises a feature at a proximal end of the ear at which feature the ear detaches from extension portion.

18. The faceplate system of claim 17 wherein the feature is a narrowing of the thickness of the ear, and where the ear member detaches by breaking the ear along the feature.

19. The faceplate system of claim 17 wherein the feature is a series of dimples along the proximal end, and where the ear detaches by breaking the ear along the feature.

20. A nose member of a faceplate system, the nose member comprising:

an extension portion that defines an aperture therein;

a nose portion coupled to the extension portion, the nose portion at least partially occludes the aperture of the extension portion;

a first abutting surface coupled to the extension portion and adjacent the nose portion;

a second abutting surface coupled to the extension portion opposite the first abutting surface;

a first set of ears coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose portion, the first set of ears coplanar;

a second set of ears coupled to the extension portion opposite the nose portion, the second set of ears coplanar;

wherein the nose member is configured to couple to a faceplate in multiple configurations, comprising:

a first configuration in which the nose portion protrudes through a nose aperture of the faceplate in the direction of a front side of the faceplate, the first abutting surface abuts a back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate affixed to the first set of ears; and

a second configuration in which the nose portion protrudes in the direction of the back side of the faceplate, the second abutting surface abuts the back side of the faceplate, and the faceplate affixed to the second set of ears.

21. The nose member of claim 20 further comprising each ear comprises a proximal end coupled to the extension portion, and a distal end extending outward from the extension portion, and at least one ear comprises a feature at the proximal end at which feature the ear detaches from extension portion.

22. The nose member of claim 21 wherein the feature is a narrowing of the thickness of the ear, and wherein the ear detaches by breaking the ear member along the feature.

23. The nose member of claim 21 wherein the feature is a series of dimples along the proximal end, and wherein the ear detaches by breaking the ear along the feature.

24. The nose member of claim 20 wherein the nose member further comprises:

a first flange portion coupled to the extension portion adjacent the nose member, the first flange portion defines the first abutting surface; and

a second flange portion coupled to the extension portion opposite the first flange member, the second flange portion defines second abutting surface.

25. The nose member of claim 20 wherein the nose member further comprises a flange portion, the flange portion defines the first and second abutting surfaces.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 8, 2026
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: RESIDEO LLC
Reel/Frame 075929/0497 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 8, 2026
From: RESIDEO LLC
To: ADI GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION LLC
Reel/Frame 075994/0508 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 4, 2026
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: RESIDEO LLC
Reel/Frame 075686/0660 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 21, 2026
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: RESIDEO LLC
Reel/Frame 075620/0259 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 7, 2025
From: ELECTRONIC CUSTOM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.; ADEMCO INC.
To: ADEMCO INC.
Reel/Frame 071615/0871 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 27, 2022
From: ELECTRONIC CUSTOM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061552/0416 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2009
From: PROVENZANO, CHARLES J.; LEUNG, MICHAEL
To: ELECTRONIC CUSTOM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023258/0569 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110068103A1 · Mar 24, 2011