Patent ID: 6220897
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical outlet assembly installable in a wall of a building for use in connecting an electrical appliance to a source of electrical power and comprising:an electrical outlet having a front, a back spaced from the front, a pair of opposed sides extending between the front and the back, a pair of ends extending between the front and the back and between the opposed sides, at least one outlet socket disposed in said front for receiving an electrical connector of the appliance, an outlet connector comprising pins extending perpendicularly away from one of said ends, and means for electrically connecting the at least one outlet socket to the outlet connector;a housing for releasably receiving said electrical outlet and comprising an open-fronted box having a back wall, a pair of opposed side walls extending forwardly from said back wall, and a pair of opposed end walls extending between said side walls and forwardly of said back wall, a power terminal, the power terminal having a housing socket disposed in one of said end walls for releasably receiving said outlet connector, means for electrically connecting the housing socket to a power source; anda face plate having a central opening and being releasably attachable to said electrical outlet to cover an outer periphery of the front of the housing and to expose said at least one socket of the electrical outlet through said central opening when the electrical outlet is received in said housing, said electrical outlet having a pair of ridges formed one to each side thereof, and said face plate including a front member and a pair of lugs extending perpendicularly from a rearward side of the front member, each lug having a channel for receiving a respective ridge of said electrical outlet in a snap fit.