Receptacle for enclosing low-voltage electronic devices in a wall

Abstract

A receptacle for enclosing low-voltage electronic devices and maintaining the integrity of a vapor barrier. The receptacle includes a base, and four side walls. Each side wall is joined to two adjacent side walls to form a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall is joined to the base and extends from it in a generally perpendicular fashion. The perimeter wall and base delineate a generally rectangular enclosure with five closed sides and one open side. A mounting flange is joined to the four side walls and extends from them in a generally perpendicular fashion. The receptacle is positioned within a wall of a building so as to allow at least one flange direct contact with a structural member. The structural members of the wall and the receptacle are both covered with a barrier film. The barrier film is sealingly attached to the flange. A hole is created through the barrier film within the confines of the receptacle so that a low voltage electronic device can be mounted in the wall without compromising the vapor barrier of the building.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A receptacle for enclosing low-voltage electronic devices and maintaining the integrity of a vapor barrier comprising: 
 a base portion and a perimeter wall housing surrounding the base;    a pattern of concentric generally geometric shapes radiating from proximate the center of the base;    a flange attached generally perpendicularly to the perimeter wall housing, the flange allowing the attachment of the receptacle within the cavity by securing at least a portion of the flange to a structural member of the building.    
     
     
         2 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of concentric geometric shapes is a pattern of concentric circles.  
     
     
         3 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of concentric geometric shapes is formed by alternating ridges and grooves in the base.  
     
     
         4 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is comprised of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic material is flame-retardant.  
     
     
         6 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed across the flange.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly for enclosing low-voltage electronic devices and maintaining the integrity of a vapor barrier comprising: 
 a receptacle having a base portion and a perimeter wall, the receptacle being disposed within a cavity comprising an area between structural members of a building;    a flange attached generally perpendicularly to the perimeter wall housing, the flange allowing the attachment of the receptacle within the cavity by securing at least a portion of the flange to at least one of the structural members of the building;    a vapor barrier film sealed to the flange; and    a length of wire disposed at the receptacle, at least a portion of the length being disposed at the receptacle extending in a first direction and a generally oppositely disposed second direction.    
     
     
         8 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the pattern of concentric geometric shapes is a pattern of concentric circles.  
     
     
         9 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the pattern of concentric geometric shapes is formed by alternating ridges and grooves in the base.  
     
     
         10 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle is comprised of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         11 . The receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic material is flame-retardant.  
     
     
         12 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed across the flange.  
     
     
         13 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the wire extends in the first and second direction to form a coil.  
     
     
         14 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the wire extends in the first and second direction to form a zig/zig pattern.  
     
     
         15 . A method of enclosing a low-voltage electronic device and maintaining the integrity of a vapor barrier, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a receptacle having a base portion, a perimeter wall housing surrounding the base, and a flange attached generally perpendicularly to the perimeter wall housing;    positioning the receptacle within a wall of a building so as to allow at least one flange direct contact with a structural member;    securing the flange to the structural member;    forming an aperture in the receptacle;    passing a conductive wire through the aperture in the receptacle;    placing a barrier film over the structural members of the wall and the receptacle;    sealing the barrier film to the receptacle;    creating a hole through the barrier film within the confines of the receptacle to accommodate a low-voltage electronic device; and    disposing an amount of wire at the receptacle, the wire at the receptacle extending in at least a first and a generally opposite second direction prior to connecting the electronic device.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the base portion of the receptacle includes a pattern of concentric geometric shapes.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pattern of concentric geometric shapes is a pattern of concentric circles.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pattern of concentric geometric shapes is formed by alternating ridges and grooves in the base portion of the receptacle.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further including the step of visualizing the pattern of geometric shapes.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wire extends in the first and second direction to form a zig/zig pattern.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the step of sealing the hole with a sealant.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the step of applying an adhesive to the flange.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wire extends in the first and second direction to form a coil.