Active cover plates
DCFirst Claim
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1. An active cover plate extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the active cover plate comprising:
- a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction;
a prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture;
the prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction;
the prong comprising;
an upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction,a resilient contact located on an inboard side of the upright, andthe resilient contact having a bow shape and comprising a first end, second end, and middle portion;
the prong wherein the first and second ends are positioned proximate the upright and the middle portion bows away from the upright; and
the prong wherein movement of the middle portion of the resilient contact toward the upright in the lateral direction at least partially flattens the bow shape of the resilient contact and causes the second end of the resilient contact to move in the transverse direction with respect to the upright.
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Abstract
A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An active cover plate extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the active cover plate comprising:
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a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction; a prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture; the prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction; the prong comprising; an upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction, a resilient contact located on an inboard side of the upright, and the resilient contact having a bow shape and comprising a first end, second end, and middle portion; the prong wherein the first and second ends are positioned proximate the upright and the middle portion bows away from the upright; and the prong wherein movement of the middle portion of the resilient contact toward the upright in the lateral direction at least partially flattens the bow shape of the resilient contact and causes the second end of the resilient contact to move in the transverse direction with respect to the upright. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An active cover plate extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the active cover plate comprising:
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a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction; a first prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture; the first prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction; the first prong comprising; a first upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction, and a first resilient contact located on an inboard side of the first upright, and the first resilient contact having a bow shape and comprising a first end, second end, and middle portion; and the first prong wherein (1) the first and second ends of the first resilient are positioned proximate the first upright and the middle portion of the first resilient contact bows away from the first upright, and (2) movement of the middle portion of the first resilient contact toward the first upright causes the first and second ends to move away from each other in the transverse direction and the bow shape of the first resilient contact to at least partially flatten. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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obtaining an active cover plate comprising a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the front plate, and a first prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture, the first prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate, and the first prong comprising (1) a first upright extending rearward away from the backside of the front place, (2) a first resilient contact located on an inboard side of the first upright, and (3) the first resilient contact having a bow shape and comprising a first end, second end, and middle portion; inserting the first prong into a first gap between a first side of an electrical receptacle and a first wall of an electrical box in which the electrical receptacle is installed; contacting, by the first prong during the inserting, the first side and the first wall simultaneously; deflecting, by the first prong as a result of the contacting, to a reduced width; producing, by the deflecting, an at least partial flattening of the bow shape of the first resilient contact and movement of the second end of the resilient contact toward or away from the front plate; rebounding, by the first prong after the inserting, to a second width greater than the reduced width; and touching, by the first prong after the rebounding, a first electrical terminal located on the first side of the electrical receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification