Cover plate apparatus for electrical outlet

• US 5,165,042 A
• Filed: 08/21/1990
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harry E. Klinger
• Original Assignee: Harry E. Klinger
• Inventors: Klinger, Harry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/570,326
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 174/67, 220/242, 439/136
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

A cover plate apparatus for electrical outlets which comprises a bracket for mounting a plurality of female electrical receptacles including a first and second electrical receptacle connected to the electrical conduit, a base plate attached to the mounting bracket having longitudinal tongue members and a decorative face plate having an outer and inner surface and a central channel for receiving the raised rib provided in the base plate for slideable movement between a closed position wherein the receptacles are completely closed to an open position wherein the electrical receptacles are accessible to receive a male electrical plug having prongs for making an electrical connection.

Claims

1. A cover plate apparatus for covering an electrical outlet which includes;

a first receptacle and a second receptacle mounted on

a mounting bracket adapted for mounting the electrical receptacles on a wall;

said cover plate apparatus comprising;

a base plate having a one and other end for mounting on the mounting bracket over the receptacles with a plurality of apertures provided adjacent the receptacles, having a top and bottom surface and comprising a central rib having a pair of spaced apart dovetailed tongues and a post extending perpendicularly to the top surface;

a face plate having a one and other end and an inner surface and outer surface having a decorative finish and a central longitudinally extending channel provided on the inner surface having a pair of spaced apart dovetailed grooves for cooperatively engaging the dovetailed tongues of the base plate, and a longitudinal slot having a one and an other end having a spring clip on the one end for engaging the post extending perpendicularly outwardly from the base plate for permitting slideable movement between a closed position, wherein the receptacles and base plate are completely covered by the face plate and an open position wherein the other end of the face plate extends outwardly from the other end of the base plate to expose the two receptacles and to permit access thereto by a male electrical plug.

2. The cover plate apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base plate is mountable on the front of the bracket over the first and second electrical receptacles, said plurality of apertures for providing access to the first and second electrical receptacles for the prongs of an electrical male plug.

3. The cover plate apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rib is provided on the top surface of the base plate, extending longitudinally along the entire central axis of the base plate having a plurality of grooves spaced apart on opposite sides of the rib for slideable mounting of said face plate for movement between a closed position and an open position.

4. The cover plate apparatus of claim 1 wherein the face plate includes a pair of rail means spaced apart positioned adjacent to and extending outwardly from the channel for providing a support for the face plate during movement between the closed position and the open position.

5. The cover plate apparatus of claim 1 wherein said face plate is of greater size than the base plate for superimposing over the base plate and for covering the electrical receptacles, said apparatus further comprising;

i) the outer surface having a decoration and having a unitary area greater than the base plate, the inner surface having tongue means provided on opposite sides thereof for slideably mounting the face plate on the base plate with the tongues cooperatively fitting in the grooves for movement of the face plate between an open and a closed position;

ii) said inner surface channel provided on the inner surface of the face plate extending longitudinally along the entire central axis thereof.

6. In an electrical outlet which comprises;

a) an electrical conduit having a first and other end for connecting to a source of electrical power;

b) female receptacle means comprising a first and second electrical receptacle connected to the electrical conduit and for receiving prongs of an electrical male plug;

c) a mounting bracket installed in a recess provided in the wall for mounting the female receptacle means having a one end and an other end;

d) a tapped hole positioned in the mounting bracket for receiving a mounting screw, the improvement which comprises;

e) a base plate mounted on the mounting bracket over the first and second electrical receptacles having a plurality of apertures for providing access to the first and second electrical receptacles by the prongs of an electrical male plug;

f) a raised rib provided on the top surface of the base plate extending longitudinally along the entire central axis of the base plate having a plurality of dovetailed longitudinal grooves spaced apart on opposite sides of the raised rib comprising a first and second groove extending along the outer edges of the raised rib for slideable mounting of a face plate for movement between a closed position and an open position;

g) a face plate having a one and other end and an outer and inner surface and being of greater size than the base plate for superimposing over the base plate and for covering the within contained electrical receptacles comprising;

i) the outer surface has a unitary area greater than the area of the base plate;

ii) dovetailed tongue means provided on opposite horizontal extending sides of the face plate for slideably mounting the face plate on the base plate with the dovetailed tongue means cooperatively fitting in the dovetailed grooves for movement of the face plate between an open and a closed position;

iii) a channel provided on the inner surface of the face plate extending longitudinally along the entire central axis thereof.