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Snap-on wallplate system

  • US 5,895,888 A
  • Filed: 11/26/1997
  • Issued: 04/20/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A cover plate device for covering a wall mounted wiring device mounted in and to a ganged box mounted adjacent an aperture in a wall, said ganged box having a width dimension and a height dimension, said cover device having no visible fasteners when installed comprising:

  • a. a unitary, generally planar attachment member of generally uniform width having a first end and a second end and a width dimension substantially less than the width dimension of said ganged box, said attachment member having at least two mounting holes, at least one of said mounting holes adjacent said first end and at least one of said mounting holes adjacent said second end;

    said mounting holes permitting said attachment member to be attached adjacent a front face of and over said wiring device mounted in and to said ganged box after said wiring device is mounted in and to said ganged box;

    b. at least two latch members adjacent each of said first end and said second end of said attachment member, each of said at least four latch members having a free end with a knife-edge thereat;

    c. a cover plate member having a front surface and a rear surface and a ridge, said ridge having an inner surface and an outer surface, extending along an entire periphery of said rear surface to space said rear surface from any wall surface over which said cover plate member is applied;

    said cover plate member having a width dimension greater than said ganged box width dimension and a height dimension greater than said ganged box height dimension and having a first end and a second end and positioned to overlie said attachment member and the ganged box in and to which said wiring device is mounted;

    d. at least two sets of multiple recesses in the inner surface of said ridge adjacent each of said first and second ends of said cover plate member, said multiple recesses each being formed by a plurality of saw-tooth shaped teeth, each of said teeth forming a single recess of one of said multiple recesses and having an inclined front surface and a rear surface perpendicular to the inner surface of said ridge to receive a knife edge of an associated one of said at least two latch members on each of said first and second ends of said attachment member, said at least four latch members'"'"' knife-edges each coming to rest on said rear surface of one of said saw-tooth shaped teeth, each of said at least four latch members operating independently and each engaging one recess in an associated one of said at least four sets of multiple recesses based upon a position of the wall adjacent said aperture, to thereby assemble said cover plate member to said attachment member covering said attachment member, said ganged box and said aperture in said wall;

    e. two tabs, one adjacent said first end of said attachment member and the other adjacent said second end of said attachment member, said tabs permitting, when engaged by a suitable tool, removal of said cover plate member from said attachment member; and

    f) one slot in said second end of said cover plate member, at a location corresponding to an associated one of the tabs on said attachment member to permit a suitable tool to enter such slot and contact the associated one of the tabs for removal of said cover plate member from said attachment member.

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