Active cover plates

• US 10,373,773 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2019
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaprays, LLC
• Original Assignee: Snaprays, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Jeremy C., Robinson, R. Camden
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dhiru R
• Application Number:
  US16/244,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20190148090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0066 Auxiliary contact devices for arc transfer H01H9/38; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/541
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7088 Arrangements for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/16 Fastening of connecting parts to base or case; Insulating connecting parts from base or case
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/119 Details of rigid insulating substrates therefor, e.g. three-dimensional details H05K1/117 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09027 Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1028 Thin metal strips as connectors or conductors

Abstract

A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles or switches are described.

Claims

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 at least one primary aperture, wherein the at least one primary 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 at least one primary aperture;

the prong comprising

a conductive upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction,

an electrically insulative material positioned inboard of and overlaying at least a portion of the conductive upright,

the material having a contact aperture extending in the lateral direction therethrough,

a resilient contact comprising first end, second end, and middle portion, the resilient contact electrically connected to the conductive upright, and

the resilient contact bowing out through the contact aperture.

2. The active cover plate of claim 1, wherein:

the middle portion is located between the first and second ends;

the first and second ends are positioned proximate the conductive upright; and

the middle portion bows away from the conductive upright in the lateral direction.

3. The active cover plate of claim 1, wherein the first end is fixed with respect to the conductive upright.

4. The active cover plate of claim 3, wherein the first end is farther away in the transverse direction from the back surface of the front plate than is the second end.

5. The active cover plate of claim 1, wherein the conductive upright comprises an opening extending in the lateral direction therethrough.

6. The active cover plate of claim 5, wherein the resilient contact arches over at least a portion of the opening.

7. The active cover plate of claim 1, wherein the prong further comprises a distal tip formed of an insulative material.

8. The active cover plate of claim 7, wherein the distal tip comprises an inboard surface that angles outward in both the lateral and transverse directions.

9. The active cover plate of claim 1, further comprising

an electric load connected to the front plate, and

conductive material extending to connect the conductive upright to the electric load.

10. The active cover plate of claim 9, wherein:

the front plate further comprises at least one light aperture; and

the electric load comprises a light source directing light out through the at least one light aperture.

11. 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 at least one primary aperture, wherein the at least one primary 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 at least one primary aperture;

the prong comprising a metal clip, the metal clip comprising;

a conductive upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction,

the conductive upright comprising an opening extending in the lateral direction therethrough, a resilient contact electrically connected to the conductive upright, and

the resilient contact extending to at least partially cover the opening in the conductive upright in the lateral direction.

12. The active cover plate of claim 11, wherein:

the resilient contact has a first end, second end, and middle portion located between the first and second ends;

the first end is connected to the conductive upright;

the second end is positioned proximate the conductive upright; and

the middle portion bows away from the conductive upright.

13. The active cover plate of claim 11, wherein the prong further comprises a front insulator covering at least a portion of an inboard side of the conductive upright.

14. The active cover plate of claim 13, wherein the front insulator comprises a contact aperture extending therethrough.

15. The active cover plate of claim 14, wherein the resilient contact bows out through the contact aperture.

16. The active cover plate of claim 11, wherein the prong further comprises a back insulator covering at least a portion of an outboard side of the upright, the back insulator comprising a ramp forming a distal end of the prong.

17. An active cover plate comprising:

a face plate comprising at least one primary aperture, a front, and a back;

a back plate abutting the back of the face plate;

at least one prong extending away from the back of the face plate, the at least one prong comprising;

a conductive upright having an inward side and an outward side,

a contact comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle portion, wherein the middle portion is connected by the first end to the conductive upright;

a front insulator that covers at least a portion of the inward side of the conductive upright, and

a back insulator that covers at least a portion of an outward side of the conductive upright;

electric circuitry positioned between the face plate and the back plate;

the electric circuitry electrically connected to the conductive upright; and

the electric circuitry comprising at least one light source positioned to project light out of the active cover plate.

18. The active cover plate of claim 17, wherein a monolithic piece of material comprises both the conductive upright and the contact.

19. The active cover plate of claim 17, wherein:

the middle portion is located between the first and second ends;

the first end is electrically connected to the conductive upright;

the second end is positioned proximate the conductive upright; and

the middle portion bows away from the conductive upright.

20. The active cover plate of claim 17, wherein:

the front insulator comprises a contact aperture extending therethrough; and

the contact extends out through the contact aperture.