Outlet box cover with mounting clips

• US 6,576,837 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belinda F. Peters
• Original Assignee: Belinda F. Peters
• Inventors: Pimentel, Demetrio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinkins, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/058,762
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 174/53, 174/55, 174/57, 174/60, 220/241, 220/242, 220/3.6, 220/3.8, 220/3.4, 220/3.9, 335/28, 248/906, 439/535
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A cover for an electrical outlet box which includes a plurality of bendable mounting clips constructed unitarily with the cover. In use, the mounting clips are oriented perpendicular to the outlet box cover and extend outwardly through an opening in a wall structure with the outer ends of the mounting clips then being bent outwardly into overlying engagement with the exterior of the wall surface in opposed relation to the outlet box cover thereby mounting the outlet box, and cover on the wall structure in alignment with the opening in the wall structure. The outlet box cover is mounted on the outlet box in a conventional manner and the mounting clips on the outlet box cover extend from the periphery of an opening in the cover for mounting electrical sockets, switches or the like in the outlet box in a conventional manner.

Claims

1. An outlet box cover comprising a substantially flat, rigid cover plate attached to and forming a closure for an open end of an outlet box, said plate including a centrally disposed opening for alignment with an opening in a wall surface to provide access to an interior of an outlet box connected to said plate, a plurality of bendable mounting clips extending from and unitary with the periphery of said opening in said plate, said mounting clips extending through an opening in a wall surface and being bendable to enable free ends thereof to be bent outwardly into overlying engagement with a wall surface peripherally of the opening in the wall surface.

2. The cover plate as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening is defined by a peripheral collar extending from the cover plate in opposed relation to an outlet box on which the plate is mounted, said bendable mounting clips being integral with said collar and said cover plate.

3. The cover plate as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening is circular and defined by a cylindrical collar, said mounting clips being integral with and extending from an edge of said collar spaced from the mounting plate.

4. The cover plate as defined in claim 2, wherein an annular extension member is mounted on said mounting clips and against said collar for extending through a wall opening in a thick wall structure.

5. A cover for an electrical junction box positioned interiorly of a wall panel having an opening therethrough, said cover being secured to and forming a closure for an open end of said junction box, said cover including a plurality of mounting clips unitary with the cover and projecting therefrom, said mounting clips extending through said opening in the wall panel to a position outwardly of the exterior of said wall panel, said clips including end portions bent outwardly into engagement with the exterior surface of the wall panel peripherally of the opening to secure the cover and junction box to said wall panel.

6. The cover as defined in claim 5, wherein said cover includes an opening to provide access to the interior of said junction box, said mounting clips being unitary with the peripheral edge of the opening in the cover and extending through the opening in the wall panel adjacent the peripheral edge of the opening in the wall panel to preclude lateral movement of the junction box and cover in relation to the wall panel.

7. The cover as defined in claim 6, wherein said opening in the cover and the opening in the wall panel are rectangular.

8. The cover as defined in claim 6, wherein said opening in the cover is circular and includes a cylindrical projection to which said mounting clips are connected.

9. The cover as defined in claim 5, wherein said cover includes an opening defined by a peripheral collar extending from the cover and into the opening in said wall panel, said mounting clips extending from and being unitary with said collar and extending from a free edge of said collar, a free end portion of said mounting clips being bendable outwardly into engagement with the exterior of the wall panel to secure the cover and junction box to said wall panel.

10. The cover as defined in claim 9 including an annular extension member mounted on said mounting clips and positioned against said collar for extending into an opening in a thick wall panel.

11. The cover as defined in claim 9, wherein said collar extends continuously around the peripheral edge of said opening.