Cover panel for electrical outlets

• US 8,212,146 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COVERPLUG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steve F. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Steve F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R
• Application Number:
  US12/749,417
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 220/241, 220/242, D83/53, D13/177, 439/142, 439/135, 439/148, 439/149
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

A cover panel is described that plugs into unused electrical outlets and camouflages or conceals the receptacle and faceplate and creates a safety barrier to the electrical components of an unused electrical outlet is described. Embodiments of the cover panel include a solid panel front surface of non-conductive molded material with a paintable surface on the outside and posts adapted to fit into the orifices of an electrical socket on the inside. The cover panel fits over the outlet'"'"'s faceplate and is “plugged” into the socket, requiring no tools to install or remove. Embodiments of the cover panel have a paintable surface which can be painted to match or complement nearby walls camouflaging unused outlets. The painted cover panel serves as a physical barrier to the electrical outlet, and makes the electrical outlet less conspicuous. Embodiments include cover panels containing recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

Claims

1. A cover panel for covering one or more electrical outlets and an associated faceplate, the cover panel comprising:

a solid panel front surface, the solid panel front surface being substantially planar and residing on a front side of the cover panel;

a back panel surface, the back panel surface being parallel to the solid panel front surface and residing on a back side of the cover panel;

a beveled edge, the beveled edge surrounding the solid panel front surface and being convex on a front side and concave on a back side; and

two or less protrusions extending from the back panel surface, each of the two or less protrusions being adapted to insertion into a ground plug orifice of an electrical outlet, wherein the cover panel is adapted to installation over the associated faceplate.

2. The cover panel of claim 1, wherein the cover panel is a one piece unit of a non-conductive material and the solid panel front surface covers an entire front of the cover panel within the beveled edge.

3. The cover panel of claim 2, wherein the solid panel front surface is devoid of apertures and both the solid panel front surface and the beveled edge are adapted to paint adherence.

4. The cover panel of claim 3, wherein the solid panel front surface comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

5. The cover panel of claim 4, wherein the solid panel front surface is covered with wall paint.

6. A cover panel combination comprising:

the cover panel of claim 5;

a wall, the two electrical outlets being installed in the wall and surrounded by a faceplate, the two or less protrusions residing in the ground plug orifice and the two electrical outlets and the faceplate being completely obscured behind the cover panel.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein a surface of the wall is covered by the wall paint.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the solid panel front surface has dimensions larger than the dimensions of the faceplate.

9. The cover panel of claim 3, wherein the solid panel front surface comprises recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

10. The cover panel of claim 9, wherein the cover panel comprises about 5% acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) by weight.

11. The cover panel of claim 1, wherein each of the front surfaces of the top, bottom, left and right beveled edge portions are convex.

12. The cover panel of claim 11, wherein each of the back surfaces of the top, bottom, left and right beveled edge portions are concave.

13. A cover panel for a pair of electrical outlets and an associated standard duplex outlet faceplate, the cover panel comprising:

a solid plate portion having front and back surfaces;

beveled edge portions surrounding the solid plate portion, the beveled edge portions comprising front and rear beveled surfaces, the front plate surface and front beveled surface forming a solid contiguous front, and the rear plate surface and rear beveled surface forming a cavity adapted to encase the standard double wall outlet faceplate when installed; and

two or less protrusions extending from the rear plate surface, each of the two or less protrusions being adapted to insert into a ground plug orifice of a pair of electrical outlets, wherein the cover panel is adapted to installation over the associated faceplate.

14. The cover panel of claim 13, wherein the cover panel is molded from a non-conductive resin as a unitary piece.

15. The cover panel of claim 14 wherein the resin comprises recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

16. The cover panel of claim 15, wherein the cover panel is substantially rectangular.

17. The cover panel of claim 16, wherein the front surfaces of the beveled edges are convexly-shaped.

18. The cover panel of claim 17, wherein the back surfaces of the beveled edges are concavely-shaped.

19. A cover panel for covering one or more electrical outlets and an associated faceplate, the cover panel consisting essentially of:

a solid panel front surface, the solid panel front surface being substantially planar and residing on a front side of the cover panel;

a back panel surface, the back panel surface being parallel to the solid panel front surface and residing on a back side of the cover panel;

a beveled edge, the beveled edge surrounding the solid panel front surface and being convex on a front side and concave on a back side; and

two or less protrusions extending from the back panel surface, each of the two or less protrusions being adapted to insertion into a ground plug orifice of an electrical outlet, wherein the cover panel is adapted to installation over the associated faceplate.

20. The cover panel of claim 19, wherein the cover panel consists essentially of a non-conductive material.