Cover assembly for in-floor devices

• US 6,417,450 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wiremold Co (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Joe A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/652,094
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 174/5.R, 174/66, 174/67, 174/53, 220/241, 220/242, D13/156, D13/154, D13/177, D 8/350, D 8/352, D 8/353, 439/142, 439/148, 439/107
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/185 Floor outlets and access cups

Abstract

An access cover for an in-floor fitting of the type supporting a plurality of power and/or communication distribution devices includes a cover plate connectable to the fitting. The cover plate includes at least one access door and preferably separate access doors for each distribution device in the fitting. The access doors are pivotally connected to the cover plate for movement between a closed positions at which the doors overlies the associated distribution devices to prevent access thereto and an open positions at which the associated distribution devices are exposed to provide access thereto. A retainer plate is interposed between the cover plate and the fitting. The retainer plate includes retaining hooks associated with each of the access doors. Each of the retainer hooks is positioned to engage with an associated door to releasably maintain the door at its closed position. The retaining hooks are normally biased to first positions at which they engage with an the associated doors and are movable to second positions to permit the doors to be moved from their closed positions. The retainer plate further presents a rib that is positioned to engage with the hinge side of the doors to releasably maintain the doors at their open position.

Claims

1. An access cover for an in-floor fitting of the type supporting at least one communication or power distribution device, comprising:

a cover plate connectable to the in-floor fitting;

at least one access door pivotally connected to the cover plate for movement between a closed position at which the door overlies the at least one distribution device to prevent access thereto and an open position at which the distribution device is exposed to provide access thereto;

a retaining hook positioned to engage with the access door to when the door is at its closed position so as to retain the access door at its closed position; and

a rib positioned to engage with the access door to releasably maintain the door at its open position.

2. The access cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining hook is normally biased to a first position at which it engages with the access door and is movable to a second position to permit the access door to be moved from its closed position.

3. An access cover for an in-floor fitting which houses a plurality of distribution devices, comprising:

a cover plate connectable to the in-floor fitting;

a plurality of access doors connected to the cover plate, each access door being movable between a closed position at which the door overlies one of the distribution devices to prevent access thereto and an open position to provide access to distribution device;

a retainer plate disposed between the cover plate and the in-floor fitting, the retainer plate including a plurality of retainer hooks, each retainer hook being positioned to engage with a different one of the access doors when the access door is at its closed position so as to maintain the access door in its closed position.

4. The access cover as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of the retainer hooks is normally biased to a first position at which it engages with one of the access doors and is movable to a second position to permit the access door to be moved from its closed position.

5. The access cover as set forth in claim 3, wherein retainer plate further includes at least one rib positioned to engage with the access doors to releasably maintain the access doors at their open position.

6. The access cover of claim 3, wherein the cover plate is formed of metal.

7. The access cover of claim 3, wherein the retainer plate is formed of metal.