Active cover plates

• US 9,917,430 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2017
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaprays, LLC
• Original Assignee: Snap Rays
• Inventors: Smith, Jeremy, Johnson, Martin, Dietz, Phil, Knight, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, PETE T
• Application Number:
  US15/486,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20170222417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• 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: H02B 1/46 Boxes; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

In one example, a cover plate may include a face plate with at least one outlet aperture, a back plate abutting the back of the face plate, an electric load between the face plate and the back plate, and at least one prong that extends from the face plate to a free end. The prong may be configured to interface with a terminal on the side of an outlet receptacle body and may include any or all of the following: an insulated portion and/or an electrical contact. The prong may resiliently deflects outward when interfacing with the terminal and may deflect with a first resistance prior to contacting a wall and with a second resistance that is greater than the first resistance when the prong contacts the wall. The cover play may also include at least one conductor electrically connecting the prong to the electric load.

Claims

1. A cover plate comprising:

a face plate comprising at least one outlet aperture;

a back plate abutting a back of the face plate;

an electric load between the face plate and the back plate;

at least one prong that extends from the face plate to a free end, the prong configured to interface with a terminal on a side of an outlet receptacle body, the prong comprising;

an insulated portion; and

an electrical contact;

wherein the free end of the prong comprises the insulated portion and wherein the prong resiliently deflects outward when interfacing with the terminal, and wherein the prong deflects with a first resistance prior to the insulated portion contacting a wall, and a second resistance that is greater than the first resistance when the insulated portion contacts the wall, wherein the wall comprises an interior wall of an electrical receptacle box; and

at least one conductor electrically connecting the prong to the electric load.

2. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein the second resistance limits further deformation of the prong.

3. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein contact with the wall increases contact pressure between the prong and the terminal.

4. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet aperture is shaped to admit a face of a duplex outlet therethrough.

5. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet aperture is shaped to admit a face of a dé

cor outlet therethrough.

6. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein the prong is configured to interface with a screw terminal.

7. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein the face plate further comprises a subset of posts, and wherein the prongs and the back plate fit over the posts to retain the prong between the face plate and the back plate.

8. A cover plate comprising:

a face plate comprising at least one outlet aperture;

electronic circuitry;

a pair of prongs coupled to the face plate, the pair of prongs comprising a first prong extending to a first free end and a second prong extending to a second free end, the prongs located on opposite sides of the at least one outlet aperture, each prong comprising;

a conductive portion, and a non-conductive portion comprising a ramp located at the free end of the prong, wherein the prong is configured to resiliently

deflect outward when interfacing with a terminal on the side of an outlet receptacle body and the ramp is configured to prevent the conductive portion from contacting a wall of an electrical box;

insulating tabs comprising a first insulating tab extending from the cover plate and positioned between the first prong and an edge of the face plate and a second insulating tab extending from the cover plate and positioned between the second prong and an edge of the face plate, wherein the insulating tabs comprise a hinged connection with the cover plate; and

at least one conductor electrically connecting the pair of prongs to electronic circuitry.

9. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein each prong further comprises a portion that extends inward toward the outlet aperture.

10. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein each prong further comprises the ramp is angled away from the outlet aperture.

11. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein the ramp is further configured to contact an interior wall of the electrical box.

12. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein the prongs are configured to interface with opposing screw terminals of an outlet receptacle body.

13. The cover plate of claim 8, further comprising:

an insulated cover shielding the conductive portion, the insulating cover comprising an aperture; and

the conductive portion of each prong comprising an electrical contact that extends through the aperture of the insulated cover.

14. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein the insulating tabs are shorter than the prongs.

15. The cover plate of claim 14, wherein the ramp of each prong extends over one of the insulating tabs.

16. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein the insulating tabs are integrally molded components of the cover plate.

17. The cover plate of claim 8, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a light and a light sensor.

18. A cover plate comprising:

a face plate comprising at least one outlet aperture;

at least one prong coupled to the face plate and extending from the faceplate to a free end, the prong configured to electrically couple to a terminal on the side of an outlet receptacle body, the prong comprising a conductive portion and a non-conductive portion; and

a tab located between the prong and an exterior edge of the face plate, the tab shielding an exterior side of the conductive portion of the prong;

wherein the non-conductive portion of the prong comprises a ramp configured to extend over the tab.

19. The cover plate of claim 18, wherein:

the tab comprises sidewalls that extend toward the prong; and

the non-conductive portion of the prong is formed from a resilient polymer.

20. The cover plate of claim 18, wherein the tab is a free standing structure.

21. The cover plate of claim 18, wherein the tab prevents the conductive portion from physical contact with conductors located outboard from the prong.

22. The cover plate of claim 18, wherein the tab prevents the conductive portion from arcing between the conductive portion and conductors located outboard from the prong.

23. The cover plate of claim 18, wherein the tab is flexible.