Wall grommet for power connection

Abstract

Provided is a wall grommet, which can be installed through the surfaces of walls to route wiring in the walls' interior spaces. In particular, the wall grommet is configured for running power cords inside walls and presenting the electrical connectors of a power cord in a manner such that power cords are hidden from view. The grommet may comprise a housing, which defines an interior space that is adapted to hold either the female connector or male connector of a power cord. The housing may be configured to enclose and secure the electrical connector of the power cord in the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power cord rated for use inside walls, comprising:
 a type NM-B cable terminating with a female receptacle connector on one end and terminating with a male prong connector on another end;   wherein the female receptacle connector and male prong connector are integrally formed with the type NM-B cable to form a unitary power cord;   wherein each of the female receptacle connector and male prong connector comprises a body defining a front face providing electrical connection points, the body defining a longitudinal axis normal to the front face;   wherein the type NM-B cable extends from the body of the female receptacle connector transversely to the longitudinal axis of the female receptacle connector; and   wherein the type NM-B cable extends from the body of the male prong connector transversely to the longitudinal axis of the male prong connector.   
     
     
         2 . The power cord of  claim 1 , wherein each of the female receptacle connector and male prong connector further comprises a flange extending from the body along a plane parallel to the front face or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The power cord of  claim 2 , wherein the flange of each of the female receptacle connector and male prong connector is offset from the front face along the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The power cord of  claim 2 , wherein the flange of each of the female receptacle connector and male prong connector extends circumferentially around the body. 
     
     
         5 . The power cord of  claim 1 , wherein the type NM-B cable extends from the body of the female receptacle connector at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis of the female receptacle connector; and
 wherein the type NM-B cable extends from the body of the male prong connector at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis of the male prong connector. 
 
     
     
         6 . A power cord rated for use inside walls, comprising:
 a first electrical connector disposed at a first end of a cable that is rated for use inside walls and a second electrical connector disposed at a second end of the cable;   wherein each of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector comprises a body defining a front face providing electrical connection points, the body defining a longitudinal axis normal to the front face;   wherein the cable extends from the body of the first electrical connector transversely to the longitudinal axis of the first electrical connector; and   wherein the cable extends from the body of the second electrical connector transversely to the longitudinal axis of the second electrical connector.   
     
     
         7 . The power cord of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector further comprises a flange extending from the body along a plane parallel to the front face or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The power cord of  claim 7 , wherein the flange of each of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector is offset from the front face along the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The power cord of  claim 7 , wherein the flange of each of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector extends circumferentially around the body 
     
     
         10 . The power cord of  claim 6 , wherein the cable is a type NM-B cable. 
     
     
         11 . The power cord of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrical connector is a female receptacle connector and the second electrical connector is a male prong connector. 
     
     
         12 . The power cord of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are integrally formed with the cable to form a unitary power cord. 
     
     
         13 . The power cord of  claim 6 , wherein the cable extends from the body of the first electrical connector at a 90° angle to the axis normal to the front face of the first electrical connector; and
 wherein the cable extends from the body of the second electrical connector at a 90° angle to the axis normal to the front face of the second electrical connector. 
 
     
     
         14 . An electrical connector assembly for routing power cords or audio/video cables inside a wall, the assembly comprising:
 a power cord terminating with a first electrical connector integrally provided at a first end of the power cord and terminating with a second electrical connector integrally provided at a second end of the power cord;   wherein the power cord comprises a type of cable that is rated for use inside walls;   a first wall grommet comprising a housing configured to be secured to the first electrical connector at the first end of the power cord; and   a second wall grommet comprising a housing configured to be secured to the second electrical connector at the second end of the power cord;   wherein each of the first wall grommet and second wall grommet is configured to be inserted through a hole in a surface of a wall and mounted in the wall, such that the power cord can be routed through an interior space of the wall.   
     
     
         15 . The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the housing of the first wall grommet is configured to be secured to the first electrical connector on the first end of the power cord such that the first electrical connector is recessed from the surface of the wall when the housing of the first wall grommet is mounted in the wall; and   wherein the housing of the second wall grommet is configured to be secured to the second electrical connector on the second end of the power cord such that the second connector is recessed from the surface of the wall when the housing of the second wall grommet is mounted in the wall.   
     
     
         16 . The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing of each of the first wall grommet and the second wall grommet defines a front opening, a front interior space, a back interior space, and an interior wall separating the front interior space and the back interior space, the interior wall having a vertical portion defining a connector opening that connects the front interior space and the back interior space. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the back interior space defined by the housing of the first wall grommet is configured to accommodate the first electrical connector at the first end of the power cord, such that the first electrical connector at the first end of the power cord is accessible from the front opening and front interior space of the housing through the electrical-connector opening; and   wherein the back interior space defined by the housing of the second wall grommet is configured to accommodate the second electrical connector at the second end of the power cord, such that the second electrical connector at the second end of the power cord is accessible from the front opening and front interior space of the housing through the electrical-connector opening.   
     
     
         18 . The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the housing of each of the first wall grommet and the second wall grommet defines a power cord opening to the back interior space configured to allow the power cord to extend out of the housing transversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the housing of each of the first wall grommet and the second wall grommet further comprises an egress opening providing access to the front interior space of the housing;   wherein a portion of the interior wall of each of the first wall grommet and the second wall grommet curves from a back edge of the wire egress opening toward the front interior space and the front opening; and   wherein the curved portion of the interior wall and the egress opening of each of the first wall grommet and the second wall grommet are configured such that a cable can be routed from the front opening of the housing of either the first wall grommet or the second wall grommet, through the front interior space of the housing of that wall grommet, out through the egress opening of that wall grommet, and into the interior space of the wall when that housing is mounted in the wall.   
     
     
         20 . The electrical connector assembly according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein each of the first and second electrical connectors comprises a flange configured to engage the interior wall of the housing around the electrical-connector opening;   wherein each of the first and second electrical connectors comprises a front face protruding from the flange such that the front face of the electrical connector extends through the electrical-connector opening when the flange engages the interior wall of the housing around the electrical-connector opening.