Alignable electrical outlet

• US 5,171,939 A
• Filed: 10/12/1990
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Shotey
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Shotey
• Inventors: Shotey, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/596,678
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 174/57, 174/67, 220/3.7, 220/242, 267/158, 267/164
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

A bracket for supporting an electrical socket unit within an electrical outlet box includes elements for realigning the bracket relative to the outlet box and elements for laterally and longitudinally supporting the bracket within the outlet box at any realigned location. Pivot elements for pivotally attaching a cover and lock elements for locking the cover are disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for aligning an electrical socket unit with respect to an electrical outlet box having four sides, a bottom and a pair of studs extending from the bottom, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a) a bracket having an apertured frame, four sides depending from said frame, a base extending across said four sides, said base including an aperture for mounting the socket of the socket unit;

b) means for securing said base to the pair of studs extending from the bottom of the electrical box, said securing means including means for rotating said bracket relative to the outlet box to realign said sides of said bracket with the sides of the outlet box; and

c) means for supporting each of said sides of said bracket relative to the corresponding one of the sides of the outlet box at any point of realignment of said bracket with the outlet box.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a ridge extending from each of said sides of said bracket.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said ridges is centrally located with respect to the respective one of said sides of said bracket.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said ridges extends from a location in proximity to said frame to a location in proximity to said base of said bracket.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said ridges extends from opposed edges of the respective one of said sides of said bracket.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said ridges is rectangular in lateral cross section.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a cover for enclosing said frame to protect the electrical socket to be mounted within said bracket.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sides of said bracket are dimensioned to recess the electrical socket sufficiently to locate an electrical plug plugged into the electrical socket essentially within said bracket and wherein said cover includes means for accommodating passage of an electrical conductor extending from the plugged in electrical plug intermediate said cover and said frame.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including means for pivotally securing said cover with said frame.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said securing means comprises a pair of pins and retaining means for pivotally supporting said pins.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said securing means includes arm means extending from said frame for supporting said pins and wherein said retaining means includes a block removably secured to said cover.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including lock means for locking said cover in a closed position.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lock means includes a ledge extending from said frame and a translatable lip for selectively engaging said ledge.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including tab means for urging translation of said lip in a first direction to unlock said lock means and spring means for urging translation of said lip in a second direction to lock said lock means.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spring means comprises an oval element.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sides of said bracket are dimensioned to recess the electrical socket sufficiently to locate an electrical plug plugged into the electrical socket essentially within said bracket and wherein said cover includes means for accommodating passage of an electrical conductor extending from the plugged in electrical plug intermediate said cover and said frame.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the depth of said cover in combination with the recess defined by said bracket is sufficient to enclose an electrical plug plugged into the electrical socket upon closing of said cover and including means for accommodating passage of the electrical conductor extending from the plugged in electrical plug intermediate said cover and said bracket.

18. A method for aligning an electrical socket unit with respect to an electrical outlet box having four sides, a bottom and a pair of studs extending from the bottom, said method comprising the steps of:

a) mounting the electrical socket unit in a bracket having an apertured frame, four sides depending from the frame, a base extending across the four sides and an aperture disposed in the base to accommodate a socket of the electrical socket unit;

b) securing the base to the pair of studs extending from the bottom of the electrical box;

c) rotating the bracket relative to the outlet box to realign the sides of the bracket relative to the sides of the outlet box; and

d) supporting each of the sides of the bracket relative to the corresponding one of the sides of the outlet box at any point of realignment of the bracket with the outlet box.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of enclosing the recess defined by the sides of the base of the bracket with a cover.

20. The method as set froth in claim 19 including the step of pivoting the cover relative to the bracket.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of locking the cover to the bracket.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21 including the step of enclosing an electrical plug plugged into the electrical socket upon closure of the cover.

23. A lock for locking the cover of an electrical outlet, said lock comprising in combination:

a) a ledge extending from the electrical outlet;

b) a translatable lip extending from the cover for selectively engaging said ledge;

c) tab means for urging translation of said lip in a first direction to disengage said lip with said ledge;

d) spring means for urging translation of said lip in a second direction to engage said lip with said ledge, said spring means including a flexible oval having one side secured to said lip; and

e) anchor means disposed on the cover for anchoring the other side of said oval.

24. The lock as set forth in claim 23 wherein said spring means is of plastic.

25. The lock as set forth in claim 23 including guide means for guiding translation of said lip.

26. The lock as set forth in claim 25 wherein said guide includes means for translating said lip in a third direction defined by an arc into and out of engagement with said ledge.

27. A lock for locking the cover of an electrical outlet, said lock comprising in combination:

a) a ledge;

b) a translatable lip for selectively engaging said ledge;

c) tab means for urging translation of said lip in a first direction to disengage said lip with said ledge;

d) spring means for urging translation of said lip in a second direction to engage said lip with said ledge, said spring means including a flexible oval having one side secured to said lip; and

e) anchor means for anchoring the other side of said oval.