IP Library Granted Patent US 9,531,177
Granted Patent B1
US 9,531,177 · App. 15/096,688 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

TV bridge kit

Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz (Delray Beach, FL)
Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
H02G3/22A47B97/001H01R13/405H01R27/02H02G3/081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,531,177
App. No.
15/096,688
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

A TV bridge kit including an assembly of components for mounting a TV to a wall while minimizing disruption to the wall surface. The kit includes a first and second frame member with cover plates and an electrical cable having a male and a female plug end. Frame members include rotatable clamp arms to enable rapid installation to existing walls. Cover plates include openings and peripheral walls adapted to receive nose portions of the plug ends. Tabs on the plug ends of the electrical cable enable connection to bosses in the peripheral walls of the cover plates. An outer flange on the frame members enable recessed mounting of the cover plates with the front surface of the plug ends flush with the cover plate. After installation on a wall, the TV bridge kit is powered by connection of a conventional electrical cord from an existing outlet.

Claims (52)

1. A TV bridge kit, comprising:

an upper frame member including a flange, a recessed wall, and an outlet cover plate;

a lower frame member including a flange, a recessed wall, and an input cover plate;

said cover plates each including a rear surface with a peripheral wall and bosses on said peripheral wall;

means for attaching said frame members to a wall;

an electrical cable including a male plug and a female receptacle;

tabs on said male plug for enabling attachment of said male plug to the bosses on said input cover plate; and

tabs on said female receptacle for enabling attachment of said female receptacle to the bosses on said output cover plate.

2. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 wherein

said recessed wall of said frame member includes a front surface; and

said front surface of said recessed wall is parallel to said flange of said frame member.

3. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 , further comprising a nose portion on said male plug and a nose portion on said female receptacle.

4. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 , further comprising a flange extending laterally from said male plug and a flange extending laterally from said female receptacle.

5. The TV bridge kit of claim 4 , wherein said tabs extend from said flange of said male plug and said flange of said female receptacle.

6. The TV bridge kit of claim 5 , further comprising:

a front face on said nose portion of said male plug and a front face on said nose portion of said female receptacle; and

a front face on said flange of said male plug and said female receptacle.

7. The TV bridge kit of claim 6 wherein

said front face on said nose portion of said male plug is parallel with said front face of said flange of said male plug; and

said front face on said nose portion of said female receptacle is parallel with said front face of said flange of said female receptacle.

8. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 , further comprising:

an opening in said input cover plate, said opening having a periphery;

an opening in said output cover plate, said opening having a periphery; and

a hub on said input cover plate and said output cover plate.

9. The TV bridge kit of claim 8 , further comprising:

a rear surface on said cover plates;

said hub of said cover plates including a peripheral wall extending from said rear surface of said cover plates; and

a boss integral with said peripheral wall of said cover plate.

10. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said frame members to a wall includes

a pair of clamp arms on opposing sides of each said frame member; and

a clamp fastener extending through said front flange of said frame members and engaging said clamp arm.

11. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said frame members to a wall includes a pair of screws extending through said front flange of said frame members.

12. The TV bridge kit of claim 1 , further comprising:

sidewalls on said frame members; and

one or more rails on said sidewalls of said frame members.

13. A TV bridge kit, comprising:

an upper bracket including a frame member, a flange, a recessed wall, and an outlet cover plate;

a lower bracket including a frame member, a flange, a recessed wall, and an input cover plate;

clamp arms on opposing sides of said frame member;

a clamp fastener extending through said front flange of said frame members and engaging said clamp arm;

said cover plates each including a rear surface with a peripheral wall and bosses on said peripheral wall;

an electrical cable including a male end and a female end; and

means for securing said male end to the bosses on said input cover plate and said female end to the bosses on said output cover plate.

14. The TV bridge kit of claim 13 , wherein said means for securing said cable ends to said cover plate includes

tabs on said male end and said female end; and

apertures in said tabs.

15. The TV bridge kit of claim 14 , wherein said means for securing said cable ends to said cover plate further includes

a peripheral wall on said cover plates; and

a boss in said peripheral wall corresponding to each of said apertures in said tabs of said cable ends.

16. The TV bridge kit of claim 13 , further comprising:

a rearward-extending collar; and

a cable tie-off on said a rearward-extending collar.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2026
From: ARLINGTON INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 075416/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2016
From: GRETZ, THOMAS J.
To: ARLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 038255/0661 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62146348 · Apr 12, 2015