Active cover plates
First Claim
1. A wall-plate system extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the wall-plate system comprising;
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, and at least one outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the face plate in the transverse direction;
a back plate abutting the back of the face plate and comprising at least one wall extending rearward away from the face plate in the transverse direction;
electronic circuitry comprising an electrical port;
at least one clip connected to the face plate and extending rearward away from the back of the face plate in the transverse direction wherein at least one post extends from the face plate to secure a base of the at least one clip to the face plate;
the at least one clip positioned inboard of the at least one wall in the lateral direction and resiliently deflecting from a neutral position spaced from the at least one wall to a deflected position in contact with the at least one wall and the at least one clip comprising an inwardly angled portion connected to the base and wherein the inwardly angled portion extends toward a center of the face plate, a bent portion of the clip above the inwardly angled portion, and an outwardly angled portion above and connected to the contact wherein the outwardly angled portion extends toward an edge of the face plate; and
wherein the bent portion comprises the most inwardly extending portion of the clip and is configured to connect to a power source; and
at least one conductor between the face plate and the back plate and extending to electrically connect the at least one clip to the electronic circuitry.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wall-plate system is disclosed. The wall-plate system may include a face plate, a back plate, electronic circuitry comprising an electrical port, a clip, and a conductor. The face plate may have a front, a back, and at least one outlet aperture. The back plate may abut the back of the face plate and have a wall extending rearward away from the face plate. The clip may connect to the face plate and extend rearward away from the back of the face plate. The clip may be positioned laterally inboard of the wall and resiliently deflect from a neutral position spaced from the wall to a deflected position in contact with the wall. The conductor may be sandwiched between the face plate and the back plate and extend to electrically connect the clip to the electronic circuitry.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A wall-plate system extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the wall-plate system comprising;
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, and at least one outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the face plate in the transverse direction;
a back plate abutting the back of the face plate and comprising at least one wall extending rearward away from the face plate in the transverse direction;
electronic circuitry comprising an electrical port;
at least one clip connected to the face plate and extending rearward away from the back of the face plate in the transverse direction wherein at least one post extends from the face plate to secure a base of the at least one clip to the face plate;
the at least one clip positioned inboard of the at least one wall in the lateral direction and resiliently deflecting from a neutral position spaced from the at least one wall to a deflected position in contact with the at least one wall and the at least one clip comprising an inwardly angled portion connected to the base and wherein the inwardly angled portion extends toward a center of the face plate, a bent portion of the clip above the inwardly angled portion, and an outwardly angled portion above and connected to the contact wherein the outwardly angled portion extends toward an edge of the face plate; and
wherein the bent portion comprises the most inwardly extending portion of the clip and is configured to connect to a power source; and
at least one conductor between the face plate and the back plate and extending to electrically connect the at least one clip to the electronic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, and at least one outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the face plate in the transverse direction;
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12. A wall-plate system extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the wall-plate system comprising:
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, at least one outlet aperture extending therethrough in the transverse direction, and a rectangular outer perimeter, wherein the rectangular outer perimeter forms lengthwise and widthwise extremes of the face plate in the longitudinal and lateral directions, respectively;
a protrusion comprising;
four walls extending forward away from the front of the face plate in the transverse direction, and a front surface connecting the four walls in a plane that is away from the front of the face plate in the transverse direction electronic circuitry housed within the protrusion;
at least one post connected to the face plate and extending rearward away from the back of the face plate in the transverse direction;
at least one clip connected to the face plate and extending rearward away from the back of the face plate in the transverse direction, the at least one clip being positioned inboard of the at least one post in the lateral direction wherein the at least one post secures a base of the at least one clip to the face plate and wherein the at least one clip is configured to resiliently deflect from a neutral position spaced from an at least one insulating wall to a deflected position toward the at least one insulating wall, the at least one clip further comprising an inwardly angled portion connected to the base and wherein the inwardly angled portion extends toward a center of the face plate, a bent portion of the clip above the inwardly angled portion, and an outwardly angled portion above and connected to the contact wherein the outwardly angled portion extends toward an edge of the face plate; and
wherein the bent portion comprises the most inwardly extending portion of the clip and is configured to connect to a power source; and
at least one conductor electrically connecting the at least one clip to the electronic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, at least one outlet aperture extending therethrough in the transverse direction, and a rectangular outer perimeter, wherein the rectangular outer perimeter forms lengthwise and widthwise extremes of the face plate in the longitudinal and lateral directions, respectively;
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23. A wall-plate system extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the wall-plate system comprising:
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, at least one outlet aperture extending therethrough in the transverse direction;
the face plate further comprising a rectangular outer perimeter forming lengthwise and widthwise extremes of the wall-plate system in the longitudinal and lateral directions, respectively;
the face plate further comprising a protrusion extending forward from the front of the face plate in the transverse direction, wherein the protrusion is contained within the rectangular outer perimeter of the face plate in the longitudinal and lateral directions;
electronic circuitry housed within the protrusion;
at least one wall connected to the face plate and extending rearward away from the back of the face plate in the transverse direction;
at least one clip connected to the face plate, and extending rearward away from the back of the face plate in the transverse direction, wherein at least one post extends from the face plate to secure a base of the at least one clip to the face plate;
the at least one clip being positioned inboard of the at least one wall in the lateral direction and resiliently deflecting from a neutral position spaced from the at least one wall to a deflected position in contact with the at least one wall, wherein the at least one clip comprises an inwardly angled portion connected to the base and wherein the inwardly angled portion extends toward a center of the face plate, a bent portion of the clip above the inwardly angled portion, and an outwardly angled portion above and connected to the contact wherein the outwardly angled portion extends toward an edge of the face plate; and
wherein the bent portion comprises the most inwardly extending portion of the clip and is configured to connect to a power source; and
at least one conductor electrically connecting the at least one clip to the electronic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- a face plate comprising a front, a back, at least one outlet aperture extending therethrough in the transverse direction;
Specification