Wide safety strap for electrical fixtures

• US 8,029,301 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheetah USA Corp
• Original Assignee: Cheetah USA Corp
• Inventors: Kidman, Brent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US12/610,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100163267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 439/136, 439/535, 439/536, 174/66
• US Class Current: 439/136
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An electrical fixture having a front side and a back side and defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another. The electrical fixture may include a body, a flange, and at least one anchor. The body may have at least one terminal extending laterally to the exterior thereof. The flange may extend laterally and longitudinally from the body to substantially preclude transverse access to the terminal from the front side of the electrical fixture. The at least one anchor may transversely extend from the flange to provide securement with a connection box.

Claims

1. A fixture configured to be secured to a connection box and be at least partially covered by a face plate, the fixture comprising:

a main body having a front portion, a side portion and a back portion;

a strap extending from the main body, the strap having a skirting configured to limit access from the front portion to at least one of the side portion and the back portion of the main body, the strap defining at least one face plate engagement aperture configured to receive a prong extending from the face plate in a manner that secures the face plate to the fixture, the strap being configured to directly engage a wall to which the connection box is mounted; and

at least one anchor secured to and extending from the strap and configured to engage the connection box for securing the fixture to the connection box.

2. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the fixture is a power receptacle and the main body includes a first electrical socket and a second electrical socket.

3. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the strap is integrally formed with the fixture as a one-piece member.

4. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the skirting defines at least one anchor securement aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the at least one anchor to a backside of the skirting.

5. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the skirting is configured to extend beyond an outer periphery of the connection box and hold the fixture flush with the wall to which the connection box is mounted.

6. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one face plate engagement aperture comprises a first face plate engagement aperture and a second face plate engagement aperture.

7. The fixture of claim 6, wherein the first face plate engagement aperture and the second face plate engagement aperture are rectangular in shape.

8. The fixture of claim 4, wherein the at least one face plate engagement aperture comprises a first face plate engagement aperture and a second face plate engagement aperture, and the anchor securement aperture is located between the first face plate engagement aperture and the second face plate engagement aperture.

9. A device configured to be secured to a connection box, the device comprising:

an electrical fixture including a main body having a front portion, a side portion and a back portion; and

a strap secured to the electrical fixture, the strap having a skirting that surrounds a periphery of the electrical fixture and limits access from the front portion to at least one of the side portion and the back portion of the electrical fixture, the strap defining an anchor securement aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the electrical fixture to the connection box and defining at least one face plate engagement aperture configured to receive a prong extending from a face plate in a manner that secures the face plate to the electrical fixture, the strap being configured to directly engage a wall to which the connection box is mounted; and

at least one anchor secured to and extending from the strap and configured to engage the connection box for securing the fixture to the connection box.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrical fixture includes at least one flange extending from the main body, the at least one flange defining an aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the strap to the electrical fixture.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one anchor extends from a backside of the strap.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a threaded fastener passing through the anchor securement aperture and the aperture of the at least one flange for securing the at least one anchor to the strap, the at least one flange being positioned between the strap and the at least one anchor.

13. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

the face plate configured to be secured to the skirting, the face plate including at least one prong that is configured to be inserted into the at least one face plate engagement aperture,

wherein the at least one prong is not visible from a front side of the face plate.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the electrical fixture is a power receptacle and main body includes a first electrical socket and a second electrical socket.

15. A strap configured to be secured to an electrical fixture that is received by a connection box and be at least partially covered by a face plate, the strap comprising:

a skirting configured to surround a periphery of the electrical fixture, the skirting defining an opening configured to receive the electrical fixture and at least one face plate engagement aperture configured to receive a prong extending from the face plate in a manner that secures the face plate to the skirting, the skirting being configured to directly engage a wall to which the connection box is mounted; and

at least one anchor secured to and extending from the skirting and configured to engage the connection box for securing the electrical fixture to the connection box,

wherein the skirting is configured to limit access from a front portion to at least one of a side portion and a back portion of the electrical fixture.

16. The strap of claim 15, wherein the strap is formed of a dielectric material.

17. The strap of claim 15, wherein the strap is formed as a one-piece member.

18. The strap of claim 15, wherein the skirting is configured to engage an edge of the connection box to which the electrical fixture is secured.

19. The strap of claim 15, wherein the skirting defines at least one anchor securement aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the at least one anchor to a backside of the skirting.

20. The strap of claim 15, wherein the skirting defines at least one face plate securement aperture configured to receive a screw for securing a traditional face plate to the skirting.

21. The strap of claim 15, further comprising a grounding clip engaging the skirting, the grounding clip being configured to ground the face plate that is at least partially formed of a conductive material to the connection box.

22. The strap of claim 15, wherein the skirting is integrally formed with the electrical fixture as a one-piece member.

23. The strap of claim 15, wherein the skirting surrounds the periphery of the electrical fixture in a continuous manner.

24. The strap of claim 15, wherein the at least one face plate engagement aperture has a cross sectional shape that is substantially rectangular.

25. The strap of claim 15, wherein the skirting has a peripheral shape that is substantially rectangular.

26. The strap of claim 15, wherein the at least one anchor extends from a backside of the strap.