Abstract:
An electrical unit includes a mounting portion, which can define, in part an interior region. The mounting portion includes a plurality of item clamping elements. The elements are displaced from one another to releasably support an item within the interior region. Items can be selected from a class which includes at least fasteners, wall anchors, and cable ties. First and second mounting holes are provided wherein a retainer, or wall anchor, can be removed from a respective clamping element and used to attach the unit to a selected mounting surface.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The application pertains to wall or surface mountable devices. More particularly, the application pertains to devices of a type usable in regional monitoring systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Devices such as thermostats, graphical user interfaces, keypads, intercoms, controllers and security devices, including, motion sensors, glassbreak sensors, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, are usually mounted on a wall or ceiling surface. Mounting screws are usually provided in separate package, typically in a sealed plastic bag that ends with trash after installation. The installer will have to open the bag to get screws in hand, and then pick one to install and keep the rest in his/her pocket or somewhere that he/she can reach when up on the ladder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a first embodiment of a part of a housing, or installation element with fasteners; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a second embodiment of a part of a housing, or installation element with fasteners; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an eight conductor embodiment with fasteners; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3B  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 3A  without fasteners; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment, corresponding to any of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3B  closed with a cover; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment hereof with a cable tie; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  illustrates yet another embodiment with a wall anchor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments hereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles hereof, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the claims hereof to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0011]    Fasteners to be used to install electrical units can be removably inserted in the units&#39; respective housing or mounting plate during the manufacturing process. With this retention feature all, usually 2 or 3, mounting fasteners are pre-located near the mounting holes of a portion of a housing or mounting bracket. No additional packaging is needed for the fasteners. 
         [0012]    The installer does not need to look for, or have to worry about where to keep the fasteners that are to be installed. One fastener can be removed to be installed. The rest of the fasteners can remain in the unit being installed. They can be removed individually for installation. This will save mounting time, improve user experience and reduce waste. 
         [0013]    With respect to  FIGS. 1-3B , several different portions of housing or mounting plates  10 - 1 ,  10 - 2  and  10 - 3  are illustrated. All of the elements  10 - 1 , - 2  and - 3  removably carry fasteners to attach the respective unit to a wall, ceiling or other mounting surface.  FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration  10 - 1  with three removable fasteners  14 - 1 , - 2 , - 3 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration  10 - 2  having a different arrangement of three removable fasteners  16 - 1 , - 2 , - 3 . 
         [0014]    The above noted fasteners are removably carried by respective pairs, such as  18 - 1 , - 2  and  20 - 1 , - 2  of yieldable or deformable clamping elements. The elements  18 - 1 , - 2 ,  20 - 1 , - 2  are integrally molded as part of the respective unit  10 - 1 ,  10 - 2 . Each of the clamping elements has one end attached to a respective surface, such as  10   a,    10   b.  A free second end, as best seen in  FIG. 3B , deforms as a respective fastener, such as  14 - 1  . . . - 3  or  16 - 1  . . . - 3  is inserted into the respective clamping element. 
         [0015]    In addition to the molded clamping elements  18 -I, or  20 -I, the housing portions can also carry additional modules, such as a respective connector module  22   a,    22   b  or  22   c  for attachment to communications and/or power lines. 
         [0016]    It will be understood that a wide variety of fasteners come within the spirit and scope hereof. These include screws, nails, snap fit elements or twist lock elements all without limitation. Those of skill will understand that the exact configuration of the fasteners is not a limitation hereof. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate different aspects hereof in connection with housing portions or mounting plates such as  10 - 3 . Pairs of exemplary clamping elements, such as  30   a,    30   b  integrally formed on a respective interior surface, such as  10   c,  have one end attached to the surface  10   c  by the molding process, and a second free end which deflects when the respective fastener, such as fasteners  26 - 1 , - 2 , - 3  , is inserted between the respective clamping elements. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, optional fastener receiving depressions  34   a,    34   b  can be molded into the surface  10   c,  best seen in  FIG. 3B . Such depressions can improve the grip of the clamping elements  30   a,    30   b  on the respective fastener, such as  26 - 1 , - 2  - 3 . 
         [0019]    Thus, as illustrated in the  FIGS. 1-3B , fasteners are stored for shipment and for the installer&#39;s use on the rear cover portion of the housing, or on a respective mounting plate. When mounting the device, the installer just picks up the rear cover, takes a fastener off of it, and then drills or otherwise attaches it to a wall or mounting surface. It saves the time that is required to take fasteners out of a plastic bag, and eliminates a need to keep track of them during the mounting process. In summary, the fasteners are conveniently and securely nested in place at time of manufacture to facilitate the shipping and provisioning of hardware to the installer prior to installation. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates an electrical unit  40  have a base portion, or mounting portion  10 -I as described above which can releasibly carry mounting fasteners  46   a, b.  The fasteners  46   a, b  are illustrated attaching the mounting plate portion  10 -I to a surface S. The fasteners  46   a, b  extend through openings  14   a, d  in the respective unit, such as the unit  10 - 1 ., best seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    Unit  40  can be closed with a cover portion  42  which can be attached to the mounting portion  10 -I as would be understood by those of skill in the art. The cover portion can carry one or more sensors,  44 , control circuits  46  and input output devices  48  as would be understood by those of skill in the art. Units, such as the unit  40  can be in wired, via modules  22   i,  or wireless communication with displaced monitoring and control panels or units without limitation. 
         [0022]    With respect to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  as those of skill will understand that instead of, or in addition to, carrying fasteners, such as  14 - 1 , - 2 , - 3 , or  16 - 1 , - 2 , - 3  alternate types of items including wall anchors  60 , cable ties  62  or the like, all of which are useful for field mounting or installation, can be releasably carried by the housing portion or mounting plate such as  10 - 1 , - 2 , - 3 , or - 4 . All such alternate items come within the spirit and scope hereof. 
         [0023]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.