IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,183,802
Granted Patent B2
US 11,183,802 · App. 16/725,398 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

In-floor electrical fitting

Inventors: Albert Carter, III (West Hartford, CT); Timothy S. Bowman (Canton, CT); Marc Galasso (Beacon Falls, CT); Shaun Abbott (Middletown, CT)
Assignee: THE WIREMOLD COMPANY
H01R13/745H01R13/447
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,183,802
App. No.
16/725,398
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An in-floor electrical fitting includes a lower body, an upper body detachably connected to the lower body, and at least one detachable retention clip movable between a first position in which a portion of the at least one detachable retention clip extends outwardly past a periphery of the body and a second position in which the portion of the at least one detachable retention clip is moved inward from the periphery of the body. An angular position of the upper body may be reconfigurable relative to the lower body into at least two different orientations.

Claims (39)

1. An in-floor electrical fitting comprising:

a body forming a compartment, the body configured to be disposed in a hole in a floor;

a flange formed at an upper end of the body and having at least one opening into the compartment, the flange configured to sit on a surface of the floor when the body is disposed in the hole; and

at least one detachable retention clip secured to the body and accessible through the at least one opening in the flange,

wherein the at least one detachable retention clip is movable between a first position in which a portion of the at least one detachable retention clip extends outwardly past a periphery of the body to engage a side of the hole and a second position in which the portion of the at least one detachable retention clip is moved inward from the periphery of the body and is disengaged from the side of the hole.

2. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one detachable retention clip comprises two detachable retention clips.

3. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 2 , wherein the two detachable retention clips are on opposite sides of the body.

4. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the portion of the at least one detachable retention clip includes a plurality of tabs.

5. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one detachable retention clip has at least one alignment feature configured to engage a corresponding alignment feature on the body when the at least one detachable retention clip is in the first position.

6. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:

a lower portion including first and second channels extending therethrough; and

an upper portion detachably connected to the lower portion, the upper portion including the flange and a divider dividing the at least one opening into a first opening and a second opening;

wherein an angular position of the upper portion is reconfigurable relative to the lower portion into at least two distinct orientations.

7. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 6 , wherein the upper portion is reconfigurable between a first position in which the divider is positioned between the first and second channels so that the first channel is located below the first opening and the second channel is located below the second opening and a second position in which the divider is positioned over both the first and second channels so that a first portion of the first channel and a first portion of the second channel are located below the first opening and a second portion of the first channel and a second portion of the second channel are located below the second opening.

8. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to be disposed on an upper surface of the flange, the cover including at least one sliding door providing access to the compartment when in an open position and preventing access to the compartment when in a closed position.

9. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 8 , wherein the cover includes a locking mechanism that automatically locks the least one sliding door when the at least one sliding door is in the closed position.

10. An in-floor electrical fitting comprising:

a lower body including first and second channels extending therethrough; and

an upper body detachably connected to the lower body, the upper body including a flange formed at an end of the upper body distal from the lower body, the flange having an opening divided into a first compartment and a second compartment by a divider;

wherein an angular position of the upper body is reconfigurable relative to the lower body into at least two different orientations; and

wherein the upper body is reconfigurable between a first position in which the divider is positioned between the first and second channels so that the first channel is located below the first compartment and the second channel is located below the second compartment and a second position in which the divider is positioned over both the first and second channels so that a first portion of the first channel and a first portion of the second channel are located below the first compartment and a second portion of the first channel and a second portion of the second channel are located below the second compartment.

11. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 10 , wherein the upper body comprises a mounting plate at an end of the upper body proximate the lower body, the mounting plate detachably connecting the upper body to the lower body.

12. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one detachable retention clip secured to the mounting plate and accessible through the opening in the flange,

wherein the at least one detachable retention clip is movable between a first position in which a portion of the at least one detachable retention clip extends outwardly past a periphery of the mounting plate and a second position in which the portion of the at least one detachable retention clip is moved inward from the periphery of the mounting plate.

13. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one detachable retention clip comprises two detachable retention clips.

14. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 13 , wherein the two detachable retention clips are on opposite sides of the mounting plate.

15. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 14 , wherein the portion of the at least one detachable retention clip includes a plurality of tabs.

16. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one detachable retention clip has at least one alignment feature configured to engage a corresponding alignment feature on the mounting plate when the at least one detachable retention clip is in the first position.

17. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 10 , further comprising a cover configured to be disposed on an upper surface of the flange, the cover comprising:

a first sliding door providing access to the first compartment when in an open position and preventing access to the first compartment when in a closed position; and

a second sliding door providing access to the second compartment when in an open position and preventing access to the second compartment when in a closed position.

18. The in-floor electrical fitting according to claim 17 , wherein the cover includes locking mechanisms that automatically lock the first and second sliding doors when in the closed position.

19. An in-floor electrical fitting comprising:

a lower body including first and second channels extending therethrough;

an upper body detachably connected to the lower body, the upper body including a flange formed at an end of the upper body distal from the lower body, the flange having an opening providing access to a compartment formed in at least one of the upper body or the lower body;

at least one detachable retention clip secured to the body and accessible through the opening in the flange, the at least one detachable retention clip being movable between a first position in which a portion of the at least one detachable retention clip extends outwardly past a periphery of the body and a second position in which the portion of the at least one detachable retention clip is moved inward from the periphery of the body; and

a cover configured to be disposed on an upper surface of the flange, the cover including at least one sliding door providing access to the compartment when in an open position and preventing access to the compartment when in a closed position;

wherein the cover includes a locking mechanism that automatically locks the least one sliding door in the closed position when the at least one sliding door is moved to the closed position; and

wherein an angular position of the upper body is reconfigurable relative to the lower body into at least two different orientations.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2021
From: CARTER, ALBERT, III; BOWMAN, TIMOTHY S.; GALASSO, MARC; ABBOTT, SHAUN
To: THE WIREMOLD COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057117/0859 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62783454 · Dec 21, 2018
Related Publication 20200203899A1 · Jun 25, 2020