Receptacle cover

• US 8,668,347 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lighting Defense Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cordell Eldred Ebeling
• Inventors: Ebeling, Cordell Eldred
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US13/233,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 362/95, 362/85, 362/276, 362/640, 362/641, 362/642, 431/13, 174/66, 174/67, 220/241, 220/242
• US Class Current: 362/95
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A cover for an electrical receptacle including a faceplate. The cover also includes a first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a first power line of the electrical receptacle and a second transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a second power line of the electrical receptacle. Additionally, the cover includes a device (such as a light source, circuit, port, or sensor) in communication with the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab.

Claims

1. A cover for an electrical receptacle comprising:

a faceplate;

a first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a first power line of the electrical receptacle;

a second transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a second power line of the electrical receptacle; and

a device in communication with the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab;

wherein at least one of the first and the second transmission tabs is configured as an elongated, rigid or semi-flexible tab extending from a back side of the faceplate; and

wherein the at least one transmission tab comprises one or more conductive surface structures configured to face a conductive portion of the electrical receptacle.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the electrical receptacle is one of a power outlet or a switch receptacle.

3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab are removable from the faceplate.

4. The cover of claim 1, wherein the device is a light source.

5. The cover of claim 4, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

6. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the device.

7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the faceplate defines an connector aperture that exposes at least a portion of the electrical receptacle.

8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the device is a universal serial bus port.

9. A cover configured to be received around a portion of an electric receptacle, comprising:

a faceplate;

a set of transmission tabs extending, from a rear surface of the face plate;

a sensor in communication with the transmission tabs; and

a light source in communication with the sensor and the transmission tabs;

wherein at least one of the transmission tabs is configured as an elongated, rigid or semi-flexible tab extending from a back side of the faceplate; and

wherein the at least one transmission tab comprises one or more conductive surface structures configured to face a conductive portion of the electrical receptacle.

10. The cover of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a photodetector or a photosensor.

11. The cover of claim 9, wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode.

12. A cover for an electrical receptacle comprising:

a faceplate;

a first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a first power line of the electrical receptacle;

a second transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a second power line of the electrical receptacle; and

a device in communication with the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab;

wherein the faceplate is configured to be received between the electrical receptacle and a decorative receptacle plate.

13. The cover of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and the second transmission tabs is configured as an elongated, rigid or semi-flexible tab extending from a back side of the faceplate.

14. The cover of claim 12, wherein the at least one transmission tab comprises one or more conductive surface structures configured to face a conductive portion of the electrical receptacle.

15. The cover of claim 12, wherein the device is a light source.

16. The cover of claim 15, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

17. The cover of claim 12, further comprising a sensor in communication with the device.

18. The cover of claim 12, wherein the faceplate defines an connector aperture that exposes at least a portion of the electrical receptacle.

19. The cover of claim 12, wherein the device is a universal serial bus port.

20. The cover of claim 12, wherein at least one of the transmission tabs is removable from the faceplate.