Abstract:
A system, device and method are claimed for installing electrical switches and electrical plug connectors in a wall, without the use of junction boxes. The system uses prefabricated switch assemblies and/or receptacle assemblies. These assemblies contain either a switch or a receptacle that is manufactured into a housing. On the rear of the housing are one or two protrusions. Wire connector ports are disposed within the areas defined by the protrusions. The wire connector ports are coupled to either the switch or receptacle within the housing. To install an assembly, at least one hole is drilled into a wall and a cable run through the hole. The wires from the cable are stripped and inserted into the wire connector ports within the protrusion on the rear of the assembly. The protrusion is then inserted into the hole in the wall and the assembly is mounted flush on the face of the wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to wire termination boxes of the type use to house plugs and switches in a traditional 120-volt wiring system. More particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of the wire termination boxes and the method in which the wire termination boxes are installed. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In modern construction, electrical receptacles and switches are traditionally placed within junction boxes. The junction boxes are recessed in the wall and are typically made of metal or a fire resistant formulation of a poly-vinyl chloride (PVC). Traditional junction boxes have access ports that enable wires to enter and exit the interior of the junction box at a variety of locations. Wires are led into the junction box from various electrical cables. Within the junction box, the wires are connected to some electrical component, such as a receptacle, switch or the like. The front of the junction box is then covered with a plate, thereby isolating the interior of the junction box. 
     The purpose of the junction box is to isolate the connection between the wires and the electrical component placed in the box. In this manner, if the connection were ever to come loose or otherwise fail, any sparks produced would be contained within the junction box. This greatly reduces the risk of fire occurring within a wall. 
     Although the use of traditional junction boxes greatly increases safety, it also greatly increases labor costs during installation. In new construction, an electrician sets the junction boxes in the walls. The workers who place wall coverings on the walls must then cut holes in the wall coverings that correspond to the position and size of the junction boxes. With gypsum board, the cutting of the holes for the junction boxes is fairly simple. However, with wall coverings, such as tile, stone, brick, marble or the like, the cutting of the holes for the junction boxes is a highly labor intensive and expensive task. 
     The time involved in placing a traditional box in an existing wall is even more labor intensive. First, a proper position in a wall must be determined. That position cannot be directly atop a framing stud, pipe or other interior wall obstacle. A rough opening must then be cut through the existing wall covering. The rough opening must match the dimensions of the junction box being installed. As such, the rough opening created in the wall is typically rectangular, since most junction boxes are rectangular. Wires must then be advanced to the position of the rough opening and the junction box installed into the rough opening. The junction box must then be secured to the wall. At this point, a receptacle or switch can be connected to the wires within the junction box in the traditional manner. 
     In an attempt to reduce the amount of time, and thus cost, that it takes an electrician to install a receptacle or a switch, new junction box designs have been developed. Such prior art designs are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,651 to Werner, entitled Minimum Wire Box And Device Adapters and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,695 to Opel, entitled Electrical Outlet and Plug therefore. Such prior art systems simplify the installation of a receptacle or switch to wires within the junction box. However, these prior art devices do not simplify the process of installing a junction box into a wall. 
     Consequently, a need therefore exists for an improved system that reduces the time and costs associated with installing receptacles and switches. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system, device and method for installing electrical switches and electrical plug connectors in a wall, without the use of junction boxes. The system uses prefabricated switch assemblies and/or receptacle assemblies. These assemblies contain either a switch or a receptacle that is manufactured into a housing. On the rear of the housing are one or two protrusions. Wire connector ports are disposed within the ends of the protrusions. The wire connector ports are coupled to either the switch or receptacle within the housing. 
     To install a switch assembly, a hole is drilled into a wall and a cable run through the hole. The wires from the cable are stripped and inserted into the wire connector ports within the protrusion on the rear of the assembly. The protrusion is then inserted into the hole in the wall and the assembly is mounted flush on the face of the wall. 
     To install the receptacle connector, two holes are drilled in the wall and cable run through the holes. The wires from the cables are stripped and inserted into the wire connector ports within the two protrusions on the rear of the assembly. The protrusions are then inserted into the holes in the wall and the assembly is mounted flush on the face of the wall. 
     As such, only small holes need to be drilled into the wall behind each of the assemblies. The housing of the assemblies acts as its own junction box. As a result, new junction boxes need not be installed. Since junction boxes do not need to be installed into the walls, the installation procedure is greatly simplified. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switch assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the wall behind the switch assembly is shown in cross-section: 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the switch assembly shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a receptacle assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein the wall behind the receptacle assembly is shown in cross-section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although the present invention assembly can be used to terminate electrical wires with any type of electrical component, such as a light fixture, a ceiling fan base, a dimming switch or the like, the present invention assembly is especially well suited for terminating wires with either a receptacle or a single pole switch. Accordingly, in order to present the best mode contemplated for the present invention device, the assembly will be described using a receptacle and a single pole switch. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a wall  11 , of a common construction. The wall  11  contains wall covering material  12  supported by framing studs  13 . The wall covering material  12  can be gypsum board, plaster, tile, brick, marble, paneling or any combination thereof. Also shown in FIG. 1, is an exemplary embodiment of a switch assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention. 
     The switch assembly  10  is a complete manufactured unit. As such, it requires no assembly. The switch assembly  10  includes a housing  14  that mounts flush onto the face of the wall  11 . The front of the housing  14  is covered by a faceplate  16  that is integrally formed as part of the housing  14 . The housing  14  and faceplate  16  can be molded in a variety of different colors and shapes to match the diversified desires of the consuming public. 
     The faceplate  16  on the housing  14  is preferably slightly smaller than a traditional switch cover plate. In this manner, a person can optionally attach a traditional switch cover plate  18  over the faceplate  16 . The traditional faceplate  18  will therefore appear to become part of the switch assembly  10 . In this manner, a person can customize the look of the switch assembly  10 . 
     Inside the switch assembly  10  is a single pole or double pole switch that is rated for at least 120 volts and thirty amps. The switch is activated by a toggle  19  that protrudes from the faceplate  16 , as is traditional with electric switches. The toggle  19  can be replaced with a touch plate, push button or any other design currently used as the physical interface in electrical wall switches. 
     The housing  14  of the switch assembly  10  acts as its own junction box. Consequently, the switch assembly  10  need not be connected to any existing junction box. Rather, to install the switch assembly  10 , a person need only supply electrical wires behind the switch assembly  10  and mount the switch assembly  10  to the wall  11 . 
     To provide electrical wires behind the switch assembly  10 , a round hole  20  is drilled in the wall  11  at the point where the switch assembly  10  is to be mounted. The hole  20  is preferably between one half inch and three-quarters of an inch in diameter. A hole  20  of such a diameter can easily be drilled through any wall material, provided the right type of drill bit is used. A hole  20  of such dimensions is also large enough for standard fourteen gauge and twelve gauge wire cables to pass. As such, first a hole  20  is drilled in the wall  11 . A length of cable  22  is then extended through the hole  20 . 
     Depending upon the configuration of the wall  11 , two smaller mounting holes  24  may also be drilled into the wall  11 . For instance, if the wall  11  were tile, marble, or plaster, two small mounting holes  24  would be drilled above and below the wire cable hole  20 . Screw fittings would then be placed in the mounting holes  24  so that screws  28  can be threaded into these holes  24 . 
     Screw holes  30  are formed through the housing  14  of the switch assembly  10 . The screw holes  30  correspond to the mounting hole locations of a standard prior art switch cover plate  18 . Mounting screws  28  are provided. The mounting screws  28  attach the switch assembly  10  to the wall  11  and can also serve to attach a switch cover plate  18  to the switch assembly  10 . However, the use of mounting screws  28  is optional. If desired, the switch assembly  10  can be mounted to the wall  11  using double-sided tape or any appropriate adhesive. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that on the rear surface of the switch housing  14  is a protrusion  32 . The shown protrusion  32  is cylindrical. However, any shaped protrusion can be used provided the protrusion passes into the hole  20  that is formed in the wall  11 . In the shown embodiment, outside diameter of the cylindrical protrusion  32  is smaller than the diameter of the hole  20  drilled into the wall  11 . As a result, when the switch assembly  10  is mounted to the wall  11 , the cylindrical protrusion  32  extends into the hole  20  in the wall  11 . This allows the rear of the switch housing  14  to lay flush against the wall  11 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that contained within the protrusion  32  are three wire connector ports  34 . Each of the wire connector ports  34  receives a segment of wire that has been stripped of insulation. The use of wire connector ports  34  is commonplace in modern switch and plug connector designs. Any prior art wire connector port configuration can be adapted for use with the present invention. In the shown embodiment, there are three wire connector ports  34  in the protrusion  32 . This is to receive the three wires that lead to a single pole switch. If the switch assembly contained a double pole switch, four wire connector ports would be present. 
     Release slots  36  are positioned on the outside of the protrusion  32  so that a person can selectively remove a wire from a wire connector port  34  after a wire has been inserted into a wire connector port  34 . The use of release slots adjacent wire connector ports is commonplace in the prior art. 
     Inside the tip of the protrusion  32  are divider walls  38 . The divider walls  38  can have many different appearances. However, the purpose of the divider walls  38  is to separate the various wire connector ports  34  from one another. In order for an electrician to insert a wire into a wire connector port  34 , the electrician first strips the insulation from each of the wires. As an electrician strips the insulation from the wires, the length of the removed insulation may vary slightly from wire to wire. As such, when the bare wires are inserted into the wire connector ports  34 , each wire may have a small segment of uninsulated wire exposed in front of the wire connector ports  34 . The purpose of the recessed tip of the protrusion  32  and the divider walls  38  is to protect any exposed segment of wire from being inadvertently contacted once within the wall. The recessed tip of the protrusion  32  and the divider walls  38  also prevent sparks from occurring between exposed areas of wire and objects surrounding the protrusion  32  in the wall. 
     The mounting of the switch assembly  11  flush to a wall is only one way in which it can be installed. It will be understood that switch assembly  10  can also be retroactively added into the junction box opening of a traditional switch. To do so, the traditional switch is removed so that the open junction box is exposed. The housing  14  of present invention switch assembly can then be inserted into the open junction box with a friction fit. Alternatively, adhesive can be applied to the back surface of the cover plate  18  near its peripheral edge. The switch assembly  10  is inserted into the open junction box and the cover plate  18  is adhesively attached to the wall  11 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a receptacle assembly  40  is shown in accordance with the present invention. The receptacle assembly  40  contains a receptacle  41  sealed within a housing  42 . The receptacle assembly  40  is a premanufactured unit that requires no assembly by an electrician. The housing  42  of the receptacle assembly  40  has an integral faceplate  44 . However, an optional cover plate  46  can be attached to the receptacle assembly  40  if desired. 
     Often receptacles are installed in series. As such, each receptacle is coupled to an incoming electrical cable and an outgoing electrical cable. Since two cables may lead to the receptacle assembly  40 , two holes  48  are drilled in the wall  11  behind the receptacle assembly  40 . Each hole  48  is preferably between one half inch and three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Holes of such diameters can easily be drilled through any wall material, provided the right type of drill bit is used. Holes of such dimensions are large enough for standard fourteen gauge and twelve gauge wire cables to pass. 
     Depending upon the configuration of the wall  11 , a smaller mounting hole  49  may also be drilled into the wall  11 . For instance, if the wall is tile, marble, brick or plaster, a small mounting hole  49  may be drilled between the wire cable holes  48 . A screw fitting would then be placed in the mounting hole so that a mounting screw  50  can be threaded into the hole  49 . 
     A screw hole  52  is formed through the housing  42  of the receptacle assembly  40 . The hole  52  corresponds to the mounting hole location of a standard prior art outlet cover plate  46 . A mounting screw  50  is provided. The mounting screw  50  attaches the receptacle assembly  40  to the wall  11  and can also serve to attach an outlet cover plate  46  to the receptacle assembly  40 . However, the use of a mounting screw  50  is optional. If desired, the receptacle assembly  40  can be mounted to the wall  11  using double sided tape or any appropriate adhesive. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that on the back of the receptacle assembly  40  is located two protrusions  56 . Each of the protrusions  56  surrounds a set of wire connector ports. The protrusions  56  protect the wire connections with the wire connector ports in the same manner as has previously been explained with reference to FIG.  3 . It will also be understood that the receptacle assembly can be added to a open junction box of a traditional receptacle in the same manner as was described for the switch assembly in FIG.  3 . 
     In view of the above descriptions, it can be seen that either a switch or a receptacle can be installed on a wall without first having to place a junction box in the wall. Accordingly, by using the present invention system, outlets and switches can be added to existing walls in a fraction of the time previously needed. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many modifications to the described embodiments. For instance there are many different types of electrical switches and receptacles in existence. The structure of any such switch or receptacle can be adapted for use in the present invention. The way the switch or receptacle internally functions is not of importance. Rather, it is the placement of a switch or a receptacle in a premanufactured assembly that can be mounted to a wall without a junction box that is at the center of the present invention. As such, the type and appearance of the switch or receptacle can be varied as desired. All such modifications, alterations and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims listed below.