Receptacle cover

• US 9,464,795 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• 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:
  US14/158,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20140133130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 362/95
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 clip module for a receptacle cover comprising:

a first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a first conductive portion of a face plate and to a first power line of an electrical receptacle; and

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

wherein the clip module is positioned between and electrically couples the face plate to the first and second power lines.

2. The clip module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second transmission tabs is configured as an elongated, rigid or semi-flexible tab extending from an edge of the clip module.

3. The clip module of claim 2, wherein the at least one transmission tab comprises one or more conductive surface structures configured to face a conductive portion of the electrical receptacle.

4. The clip module of claim 1, wherein the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab are configured to couple to power lines of a light source incorporated within the face plate.

5. The clip module of claim 1, wherein at least one transmission tab comprises one or more contact points configured to couple with opposing contact conductive surfaces of the face plate.

6. The clip module of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to snap-fit around the electrical receptacle.

7. The clip module of claim 1, wherein the face plate defines a connector aperture that exposes at least a portion of the electrical receptacle.

8. The clip module of claim 1, wherein the face plate is configured to be received between the electrical receptacle and a decorative receptacle plate.

9. The clip module of claim 1, further comprising a safety cover coupled to the face plate, wherein the safety cover is positioned over a screw used to join the face plate and the clip module.

10. The clip module of claim 1, wherein the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab are removable from the clip module.

11. A cover for an electric receptacle, comprising:

a removable clip module comprising a first transmission tab configured to be in electrical communication with a first power line, a second transmission tab laterally spaced apart from the first transmission tab and configured to be in electrical communication with a second power line, and a circuit in communication with the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab;

a faceplate coupled to the removable clip module, the faceplate comprising one or more apertures configured to expose at least a portion of the electric receptacle; and

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

wherein the removable clip module is positioned between and electrically couples the faceplate to the first power and second power lines.

12. The cover of claim 11, wherein the device is incorporated within the faceplate.

13. The cover of claim 11, wherein the faceplate is coupled to the clip module with a screw, and wherein a safety cover is positioned over the screw.

14. The cover of claim 13, wherein the safety cover couples to the faceplate using a snap-on mechanism.

15. The cover of claim 11, wherein the device is in communication with the circuit using the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab.

16. The cover of claim 15, wherein the device is a light source, and wherein when an ambient light is at a first level the circuit activates the light source and when the ambient light is at a second level the circuit deactivates the light source.

17. The cover of claim 16, further comprising a sensor in communication with circuit and configured to detect the ambient light.

18. The cover of claim 11, wherein the electric receptacle is one of a power outlet or a switch receptacle.

19. The cover of claim 11, wherein the at least one transmission tab comprises one or more conductive surface structures configured to face a conductive portion of the electrical receptacle.

20. A clip module for a receptacle cover comprising:

a first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a first conductive portion of a face plate and to a first power line of an electrical receptacle;

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

wherein the clip module is configured to snap-fit around the receptacle to electrically couple the clip module to the electrical receptacle.