Wall grommet for routing cables inside walls

Abstract

Provided is a grommet for routing one or more cables through the interior space of a wall. The grommet may be configured to be inserted through a hole in a surface of the wall and mounted substantially flush with the surface of the wall to route one or more cables in the wall's interior space. The grommet can be used to route power cords and low-voltage cables for audio and video applications. For instance, the grommet may be configured to allow a cable to be inserted through a hole in the surface of a wall and into the interior space of the wall. Also, the grommet may be configured to hold an end of a cable so that the cable may be routed through the interior space of the wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall grommet for routing cables inside a wall, comprising:
 a housing defining a front opening, a back opening and an interior space; and   a cable connector disposed in the interior space of the housing, the cable connector comprising a receptacle and a terminal;   wherein the receptacle is accessible through the front opening of the housing and is configured to be connected to a first cable; and   wherein the terminal is accessible through the back opening of the housing and is configured to be connected to a second cable.   
     
     
         2 . The wall grommet of  claim 1 , further comprising means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the wall grommet to the wall. 
     
     
         3 . The wall grommet of  claim 2 , wherein the means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the wall grommet to the wall comprises a toggle connected to the housing, the toggle being configured to secure the housing to the wall;
 wherein the toggle has a bore that engages a fastener and the toggle is configured to rotate with the fastener between a closed position that allows the housing to be inserted through the hole in the surface of the wall and an open position for engaging a backside of the wall for securing the housing to the wall.   
     
     
         4 . The wall grommet according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cables are audio or video cables. 
     
     
         5 . The wall grommet according to  claim 3 , wherein the second cable is a CL2 or CL3 rated cable, or other type of cable that is rated for use inside walls. 
     
     
         6 . The wall grommet of  claim 1 , further comprising a trim ring having a planar surface that defines an opening, wherein the trim ring is adapted to engage the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The wall grommet according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is a spring-loaded receptacle or a binding-post receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The wall grommet according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal is configured to be attached to the second cable with solder. 
     
     
         9 . A wall grommet for routing cables inside a wall, comprising:
 a housing that defines a front opening, an interior space and a back wall; and   means for hanging an object from the wall grommet;   wherein the back wall defines an opening configured such that a cable can be inserted through the opening in the back wall, into the interior space of the housing and out through the front opening of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The wall grommet of  claim 9 , wherein the means for hanging an object from the wall grommet comprises a hanging element disposed on the housing, the hanging element being configured to engage an object such that the object can be hung from the hanging element. 
     
     
         11 . The wall grommet of  claim 9 , further comprising means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the wall grommet to the wall. 
     
     
         12 . The wall grommet of  claim 11 , wherein the means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the wall grommet to the wall comprises a toggle connected to the housing, the toggle being configured to secure the housing to the wall;
 wherein the toggle has a bore that engages a fastener and the toggle is configured to rotate with the fastener between a closed position that allows the housing to be inserted through the hole in the surface of the wall and an open position for engaging a backside of the wall for securing the housing to the wall.   
     
     
         13 . The wall grommet according to  claim 9 , wherein the cable is an audio or video cable. 
     
     
         14 . The wall grommet according to  claim 13 , wherein the cable is a CL2 or CL3 rated cable, or other type of cable that is rated for use inside walls. 
     
     
         15 . The wall grommet of  claim 9 , further comprising a trim ring having a planar surface that defines an opening, wherein the trim ring is adapted to engage the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The wall grommet according to  claim 9 , wherein the means for hanging an object from the wall grommet comprises a screw. 
     
     
         17 . The wall grommet according to  claim 16 , wherein the screw is inserted into a hole in the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A wall grommet assembly for routing audio/video cables inside a wall, the assembly comprising:
 a first wall grommet comprising:
 a first housing defining a first front opening, a back opening and a first interior space; and 
 a cable connector disposed in the first interior space of the first housing, the cable connector comprising a receptacle and a terminal; 
 wherein the receptacle is accessible through the first front opening of the first housing and is configured to be connected to a first cable; and 
 wherein the terminal is accessible through the back opening of the first housing and is configured to be connected to a second cable; and 
   a second wall grommet comprising:
 a second housing that defines a second front opening, a second interior space and a back wall; and 
 means for hanging an object from the second wall grommet; 
 wherein the back wall defines an opening configured such that a cable can be inserted through the opening in the back wall, into the second interior space of the second housing and out through the second front opening of the second housing; 
   wherein the terminal of the first wall grommet is configured to be attached to the first end of the cable; and   wherein the opening in the back wall of the second grommet is configured such that the second end of the cable can be inserted therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The wall grommet assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first wall grommet further comprises means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the first wall grommet to the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The wall grommet assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the first wall grommet to the wall comprises a toggle connected to the housing, the toggle being configured to secure the first housing to the wall;
 wherein the toggle has a bore that engages a fastener and the toggle is configured to rotate with the fastener between a closed position that allows the housing to be inserted through the hole in the surface of the wall and an open position for engaging a backside of the wall for securing the first housing to the wall.   
     
     
         21 . The wall grommet assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second wall grommet further comprises means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the second wall grommet to the wall. 
     
     
         22 . The wall grommet assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the means for engaging the backside of the wall to secure the second wall grommet to the wall comprises a toggle connected to the housing, the toggle being configured to secure the second housing to the wall;
 wherein the toggle has a bore that engages a fastener and the toggle is configured to rotate with the fastener between a closed position that allows the housing to be inserted through the hole in the surface of the wall and an open position for engaging a backside of the wall for securing the first housing to the wall.   
     
     
         23 . The wall grommet assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the receptacle of the first grommet is a spring-loaded receptacle or a binding-post receptacle. 
     
     
         24 . The wall grommet assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the terminal of the first grommet is configured to be attached to the cable with solder. 
     
     
         25 . The wall grommet assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the cable is a CL2 or CL3 rated cable, or other type of cable that is rated for use inside walls. 
     
     
         26 . The wall grommet assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the means for hanging an object from the second wall grommet comprises a screw. 
     
     
         27 . The wall grommet according to  claim 26 , wherein the screw is inserted into a hole in the second housing.