Electrical activating assembly and closure member therefor

• US 4,289,921 A
• Filed: 12/26/1979
• Issued: 09/15/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Centria, Inc. (Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: H.H. Robertson Co. (Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gray, Charles R., Gartner, Rodney W., Hazen, John O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, Gene Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, D. A.
• Application Number:
  US06/107,350
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/49, 174/67, 174/57, 52/221, 220/242, 220/3.7, 339/36, 339/43, 339/44 R, 339/44 M, 16/171
• US Class Current: 174/488
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/185 Floor outlets and access cups

Abstract

An electrical activating assembly provides a flush-with-the-surface electrical receptacle. The assembly includes a closure member providing access to a simplex or duplex receptacle supported by a support plate substantially flush with a barrier upper surface. The closure member includes a perimeter bead extending upwardly from the member upper face to provide a cover socket. A cover fitting within the cover socket is pivotally and removably connected to the perimeter bead for access to the receptacle. An alternative closure member is disclosed for use with a high voltage simplex receptacle. A cover fits within the cover socket, is secured to the receptacle, and includes an access opening exposing the outlet.

Claims

1. A closure member for an electrical outlet comprising:

p1 a plate having perimeter edges, a plate outer face and a plate inner face;

an access opening in said plate disposed between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges;

a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening and being inwardly inset from said perimeter edges, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote from said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead;

a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead; and

a cover fitting within said cover socket and being supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface.

2. The closure member of claim 1 including

a second access opening adjacent to and on the same side of the bilateral axis as the first said access opening and within said cover socket;

and

a second cover fitting within said cover socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface, the first said cover and said second cover presenting confronting ends and remote ends.

3. The closure member of claim 1 or 2 including

connecting means connecting each said cover to said perimeter bead for pivotal movement between a capping position covering said access opening and an upstanding position exposing said access opening.

4. The closure member of claim 3 wherein each said connecting means comprises

first and second pins extending coaxially from opposite sides of said cover;

and

recesses, one formed in each of opposed interior faces of said perimeter bead, each of said recesses receiving one of said pins.

5. The closure member of claim 4 wherein one of said recesses has an open end at said bead outer surface permitting passage of one of said pins during removal and installation of the cover.

6. The closure member of claim 3 wherein said plate includes a fastener-receiving aperture provided within said cover socket.

7. The closure member of claim 3 wherein one said connecting means is provided at each of said remote ends.

8. The closure member of claim 1 or 2 wherein said plate is provided with

a removable weakened area on that side of the bilateral axis opposite said access opening.

9. The closure member of claim 1 including:

a central access opening in said cover; and

second fastener-receiving openings in said cover adapting said cover for securement to structure adjacent to said plate inner face.

10. The closure member of claim 9 wherein said cover has a lengthwise depression in the undersurface thereof confronting that portion of said plate outer face within said cover socket.

11. An assembly for use with an electrical distribution system to provide an electrical receptacle substantially flush with the outer surface of a barrier, said assembly including rim means presenting a rim opening, support means adapted to support an electrical receptacle, and closure means for capping said rim opening, said closure means comprising:

a substantially flat plate covering said rim opening and having perimeter edges and a plate outer face to be disposed flush with the outer surface of the barrier with which the assembly is used and a plate inner face, said plate having an access opening between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges providing access to the outlet of the receptacle to be supported by said support means, and a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote from said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead;

a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead;

a cover fitting within said socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface; and

fastening means for securing said plate to said support means.

12. The assembly of claim 11 including a second access opening adjacent to and on the same side of the bilateral axis as the first said access opening and within said cover socket;

and

a second cover fitting within said cover socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface, the first said cover and said second cover presenting confronting ends and remote ends.

13. The assembly of claim 11 or 12 including:

connecting means connecting each said cover to said perimeter bead for pivotal movement between a capping position covering said access opening and an upstanding position exposing said access opening.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said connecting means comprises:

first and second pins extending coaxially from opposite sides of said cover; and

elongated recesses, one formed in each of opposed interior surfaces of said perimeter bead, each of said recesses receiving one of said pins.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein one of said recesses has an open end at said bead outer surface permitting passage of one of said pins during removal and installation of said cover.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said fastening means includes:

an aperture in said plate within said cover socket; and

a fastener extending through said aperture for threadedly engaging said support means.

17. The assembly of claim 11 or 12 wherein said plate is provided with

a removable weakened area on that side of the bilateral axis opposite said access opening.

18. The assembly of claim 11 including:

a central access opening in said cover; and

second fastener-receiving openings in said cover adapting said cover for securement to structure adjacent to said plate inner face.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said cover has a lengthwise depression in the undersurface thereof confronting that portion of said plate outer face within said cover socket.

20. A barrier including a layer of settable material presenting a barrier outer surface;

a chamber in said barrier including a barrier opening at said barrier outer surface;

an electrical receptacle presenting at least one outlet;

support means supporting said receptacle within said barrier opening and proximate to and substantially parallel with said barrier outer surface; and

closure means supported in capping relation with said barrier opening and providing access to said receptacle;

said closure means comprising;

a plate having perimeter edges and a plate outer face substantially flush with said barrier outer surface, said plate including an access opening between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges providing access to said outlet, and a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead;

a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead;

a cover fitting within said socket and being supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface;

fastening means securing said plate to said support means; and

a decorative covering overlying said barrier outer surface and that portion of said plate outer face presented exteriorly of said perimeter bead.

21. The barrier of claim 20 including connecting means removably connecting said cover to said perimeter bead for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with said plate outer face between a capping position covering said access opening and an upstanding position exposing said access opening.

22. The barrier of claim 20 or 21 wherein said fastening means includes:

an aperture in said plate within said cover socket; and

a fastener extending through said aperture and threadedly engaged with said support means.

23. The barrier of claim 20 wherein said plate is provided with

a removable weakened area on that side of the bilateral axis opposite said access opening.