Snap-on wall plate assembly

• US 7,947,903 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Peck, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US12/337,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20100155099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/59, 174/60, 174/135, 174/66, 174/67, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242, 439/535, 248/56, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

The wall cover plate assembly includes a base and a cover for connecting to an electrical box and an electrical wiring device. The base is connected to the electrical box and/or the electrical wiring device by suitable fasteners. The base includes a first coupling member positioned along opposite side edges and second coupling members positioned at each corner of the base plate. A cover includes a first coupling member for engaging the first coupling member on the base plate and connectors for engaging the second coupling members on the base plate. The connectors of the cover are angled with respect to a plane of the cover to engage a connecting member of the second coupling members. The connectors provide a biasing force to engage the second coupling members of the base which increase when the cover plate is pulled outwardly from the base.

Claims

1. A wall cover plate assembly for covering an electrical device mounted to an electrical box, said assembly comprising:

a base plate having a substantially planar configuration with at least one opening for receiving a top face of the electrical device, said base plate having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a third end extending between said first and second ends and a fourth end extending between said first and second ends, said base having a plurality of screw holes for receiving a screw adapted for coupling said base plate to the electrical device and electrical box, and a plurality of openings extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the base plate, each of said openings having a surface extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said base plate and having a latch member extending from said surface; and

a cover plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with an opening to access the electrical device, said cover plate having a plurality of connectors extending from said bottom surface of said cover plate aligned with one of said openings in said base plate, each said connector having a longitudinal dimension with an engagement surface, said engagement surface oriented at an incline with respect to a plane of said surface of a respective opening in said base plate and extending toward said surface of said respective opening, said engagement surface having a plurality of teeth for coupling with said latch member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said latch member is positioned at a top end of said surface of each of said openings in said base, and where said surface is a substantially flat planar surface.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein

said openings in said base are formed in a raised portion extending upwardly from said top surface of said base plate and where said latch member is positioned above said top surface of said base plate.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said connectors of said cover plate include a plurality of teeth to engage said latch member during insertion of each of said connectors into one of said openings and deflect each of said connectors outwardly to apply a biasing force against said latch member, and where said biasing force decreases as one of said connectors penetrates said opening.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

each of said connectors are independently adjustable in a respective opening whereby said cover plate uniformly contacts a wall surface.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

said bottom surface of said cover plate is spaced from said base plate when said cover plate is coupled to said base plate thereby allowing independent adjustment of said connectors of said cover plate, and

said cover plate has a peripheral outer edge with a lip extending therefrom and having a length to contact a wall surface.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein

said first and second ends of said base plate each have a first coupling member spaced between two adjacent openings;

and

said lip of said cover plate has an inner surface with a second coupling member for mating with said first coupling member.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein

said electrical box is a multi gang box supporting a plurality of electrical devices, said first and second coupling members positioned at a midpoint between ends of said base plate and cover plate, respectively.

9. A cover plate assembly for connecting to a wall mounted electrical device mounted in an electrical box, the assembly comprising:

a base having a substantially planar configuration with a dimension to overlie said electrical device and having a first and an opposite second end, and a third and an opposite fourth end, said third and fourth ends extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second ends, said base having a plurality of openings spaced inwardly from said ends, each of said openings having coupling surface extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said base, and having a latch member on said coupling surface; and

a cover having a planar configuration with an outer dimension to cover said base, said cover having a top wall with a peripheral edge, and a lip extending substantially perpendicular from said peripheral edge of said top wall, said top wall having a plurality of connectors corresponding to each of said openings in said base, each of said connectors having a longitudinal dimension with an inwardly facing surface oriented at an incline with respect to a plane of said top wall and at an incline with respect to an outwardly facing surface of each of said openings in said base, each of said connectors having a plurality of recesses on said inwardly facing surface for mating with a respective latch member.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein

said latch members are positioned at a top end of said respective coupling surface of said openings in said base, and where said coupling surface is a substantially flat planar surface.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein

said openings in said base are defined by a raised portion extending upwardly from said top surface of said base and where said latch member is positioned above said top surface of said base.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein

each of said connectors are positioned so that said plurality of recesses on said connectors engage said latch member during insertion of said connector into said opening and deflect said connector outwardly from said base to apply a biasing force against said latch member.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein

said biasing force decreases as said connector penetrates said opening.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein

said biasing force is substantially constant as said connector penetrates said opening.

15. The assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said connectors are independently adjustable in one of said openings whereby said cover contacts a wall surface.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein

said cover has a bottom surface spaced from said base when coupled to said base thereby allowing independent adjustment of said connectors.

17. The assembly of claim 9, wherein

said first and second ends of said base have an outwardly facing first coupling member positioned at a midpoint of said first and second ends;

and said lip has an inner surface with second coupling members for coupling with a first coupling member.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein

said first coupling members of said base are a first projection;

and

said second coupling members of said cover are a second projection for mating with a respective first projection.

19. A cover plate assembly for a multi gang wall mounted electrical box having a plurality of electrical devices, the assembly comprising:

a base having a plurality of access openings aligned with a respective electrical device, said base having a plurality of screw holes for receiving a screw for coupling said base to said electrical box and said electrical devices, said base having an outer peripheral edge with a first end and an opposite second end, and a plurality of openings extending through said base, each of said openings having coupling surface with a latch member on said coupling surface and extending into said respective opening;

a coupling tab extending outward from said first end and second end;

a cover coupled to said base, said cover having a top wall and a plurality of access openings for said electrical devices, said cover having a lip extending from a peripheral edge of said top wall and having a dimension to surround said base, said lip having an inwardly facing coupling member for coupling with said coupling tab on said first side end and second side end of said base; and

a plurality of connectors extending from a bottom surface of said top wall of said cover plate for coupling with a respective latch member, each of said connectors having a longitudinal dimension with an inclined inner surface extending toward a bottom end of said outwardly facing surface of a respective opening in said base, said inclined inner surface having a plurality of teeth for engaging said latch member.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein

said latch members are positioned at a top end of the respective surface of said recesses in said base plate, and where said surface is a substantially flat planar surface.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein

said recesses in said base are defined by a raised portion extending upwardly from a top surface of said base and where said latch member is positioned above said top surface of said base.

22. The assembly of claim 19, wherein

each of said connectors are positioned so that said teeth on said connector engage said latch member during insertion of said connector into said recess and deflect said connector outwardly from said base to apply a biasing force against said latch member.

23. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising

a gasket member positioned between said base and cover.