Self-trimming interior in-wall receptacle and method therefor

Abstract

A self-trimming in-wall receptacle and method therefor, comprising an injection molded receptacle having a storage area, a trim and a coupling mechanism that allows a person to insert the receptacle into an opening in a wall. The receptacle is self-trimming and easy to couple to a wall, eliminating the need for complicated installation. The self-trimming in-wall receptacle can substantially flush-mount wall-mounted electrical objects such as smoke detectors, air conditioning control units, alarm keypads, doorbell chime boxes and the like, as well as store other objects.

1 . A self-trimming in-wall receptacle comprising, in combination: 
 a receptacle having an open front end and a closed end and defining a storage area therebetween the receptacle terminating at the closed end;    a trim coupled to and extending from and around substantially all of an outer edge of said open front end of said receptacle, said receptacle and said trim injection molded to form a one-piece assembly; and    a coupling mechanism coupled to said receptacle and dimensioned to couple said receptacle to a wall so that an inner surface of said trim being proximate an outer surface of said wall and said closed end of said receptacle being housed inside an interior space behind said wall.    
   
   
       2 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising a covering coupled to said receptacle proximate said front open end and dimensioned to cover said front open end of said receptacle.  
   
   
       3 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 2  wherein said covering defines apertures dimensioned to allow air to flow through said storage area of said receptacle to vent said storage area of said receptacle.  
   
   
       4 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 2  further comprising at least one locking device coupled to one of said covering and said receptacle and said trim, said at least one locking device dimensioned to lock said covering in a closed position over said front open end of said receptacle.  
   
   
       5 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 4  wherein said at least one locking device further comprises a locking tab dimensioned to be inserted into at least one slot defined by one of said receptacle and said covering.  
   
   
       6 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 5  further comprising a key dimensioned to be inserted into said at least one locking device and turned to initiate locking of said covering by insertion of said locking tab into said slot and opening of said covering by removal of said locking tab from said slot.  
   
   
       7 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle having substantially a shape of a rectangle.  
   
   
       8 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle having substantially a shape of a circle for storing substantially circular objects.  
   
   
       9 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said closed end of said receptacle defines a plurality of perforations dimensioned to allow a person to remove at least a portion of said closed end of said receptacle to permit electrical wiring to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said closed end of said receptacle defining defines at least one aperture dimensioned to permit electrical wiring to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       11 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said coupling mechanism comprises at least one screw dimensioned to be inserted through said trim and into said wall so as to couple said receptacle to said wall.  
   
   
       12 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said coupling mechanism comprises an adhesive strip for securing said receptacle to said wall, said adhesive strip being coupled along an interior surface of said trim.  
   
   
       13 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 12  wherein said adhesive strip further comprises: 
 a tacky surface for adhering said receptacle to said wall; and    a removable backing strip, said backing strip being coupled to said tacky surface of said adhesive strip so as to protect said tacky surface prior to use of said adhesive strip.    
   
   
       14 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of gripping arms coupled to said receptacle, said gripping arms having a first end coupled to said receptacle proximate said closed end and a second end spaced apart from said receptacle and extending to said front open end of said receptacle beyond an outer edge of said trim, said gripping arms being dimensioned to permit said closed end of said receptacle to be inserted into a similarly sized aperture cut into said wall while at the same time said second end of said plurality of gripping arms being dimensioned to couple said receptacle to an interior surface of said wall.  
   
   
       15 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle having a width of approximately 22.5 inches and wherein said coupling mechanism comprises at least one screw dimensioned to be inserted through a side of said receptacle and into a wall stud so as to couple said receptacle to said wall so that said inner surface of said trim being proximate an outer surface of said wall and said closed end of said receptacle being housed in an interior space behind said wall.  
   
   
       16 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising a light source coupled to an interior surface of said receptacle for illuminating the interior thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said storage area being dimensioned to house one of an air conditioning control unit, a smoke detector, and a doorbell sound generating device.  
   
   
       18 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle and said trim being comprised of high-impact injection molded thermal plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein a distance between said closed end of said receptacle to said front open end of said receptacle being approximately 4 inches for 2×4 construction and approximately 6 inches for 2×6 construction.  
   
   
       20 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 19  wherein said receptacle having a width of between approximately 4 inches to approximately 22.5 inches.  
   
   
       21 . The self-trimming in-wall receptacle of  claim 1  wherein said trim extending between approximately 0.5 inches to approximately 1.5 inches from said outer edge of said front open end of said receptacle.  
   
   
       22 - 30 . (canceled)