Slim line while in use cover and methods for making and using the same

• US 9,960,524 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Sathyanarayana, Ashok Alilughatta, Chavan, Vinayak Manohar, Khodape, Yuvraj Totaram, Divekar, Shriram Ramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/434,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20170237198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 439521
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A while in use cover assembly includes a lid hingedly attached to a base having a back wall; a current member attached to the base, wherein the current member comprises a face with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug; and a orientable adaptor attached to the current member, wherein the orientable adaptor is symmetrical about a center line and wherein the orientable adaptor allows the current member to have a constant orientation within the base; and wherein the while in use cover assembly is configured to be attached to an outlet socket.

Claims

1. A while in use cover assembly, comprising:

a lid hingedly attached to a base having a back wall;

a current member attached to the base, wherein the current member comprises a plug receiving portion and a orientable adaptor receiving portion, wherein the orientable adaptor receiving portion is disposed perpendicularly to the plug receiving portion; and

an orientable adaptor attached to the orientable adaptor receiving portion of the current member, wherein the orientable adaptor is symmetrical about a center line and wherein the orientable adaptor allows the current member to have a constant orientation within the base;

wherein the while in use cover assembly has a constant depth, when the lid is closed, when in use and when not in use; and

wherein, when the while in use cover assembly is in use, a power cord plug is attached to the current member, and a power cord extending from the power cord plug extends through a power cord exit while bending toward the back wall or toward the lid by less than or equal to 15 degrees as measured from an angle parallel with an axis A.

3. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the orientable adaptor is configured to electrically connect to the outlet socket.

4. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the orientable adaptor orientation changes according to a position of a grounding terminal on the outlet socket.

5. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the back wall further comprises an orifice that enables access to an interrupter switch when the while in use cover assembly is installed on a junction box.

6. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the while in use cover assembly has a depth in use and with the lid closed that is less than or equal to 2.0 inches.

7. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the back wall comprises an extension sized and shaped to cover the outlet socket when the current member is attached to the outlet socket.

8. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the base has a first side and a second side, wherein a length of the first side and a length of the second side can be the same or different.

9. The while in use cover assembly of claim 8, wherein if the length of the first side and the second side are different, the longer side of the base can be oriented horizontally or vertically, and wherein the lid opens away from the ground in the open position regardless of whether the longer side is oriented horizontally or vertically.

10. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the orientable adaptor includes an adaptor side and a receiving side, wherein the adaptor side is configured to insert into a socket and wherein the receiving side is configured to accept an electrical plug.

11. The while in use cover assembly of claim 10, wherein the adaptor side includes a grounding tab and a prong.

12. The while in use cover assembly of claim 10, wherein the receiving side includes a grounding aperture and blade apertures.

13. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the orientable adaptor includes a cap connected to adaptor power elements, wherein the adaptor power elements are disposed in an adaptor housing and the cap is configured to cover the housing.

14. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the current member includes a cover connected to current member power elements, wherein the current member power elements are disposed in a current member housing and the cap is configured to correspondingly mate with the current member housing.

15. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the current member includes a plug receiving portion including a grounding aperture and blade apertures.

16. The while in use cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the current member cover includes a center portion with a grounding tab and a prong, wherein the center portion is configured to mate with a corresponding grounding aperture and blade aperture.

17. The while in use cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes a gasket extending from the back wall away from the lid, wherein the gasket is sized and shaped to extend around an outer periphery of a junction box opening.

2. A while in use cover assembly, comprising:

a lid hingedly attached to a base having a back wall;

a current member attached to the base, wherein the current member comprises a face with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug; and

an orientable adaptor attached to the current member, wherein the orientable adaptor is symmetrical about a center line and wherein the orientable adaptor allows the current member to have a constant orientation within the base; and

wherein the while in use cover assembly is configured to be attached to an outlet socket.

18. A method of using a while in use cover assembly, comprising:

opening a lid of while in use cover assembly, wherein the while in use cover assembly comprises

a lid hingedly attached to a base having a back wall;

a current member attached to the base, wherein the current member comprises a face with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug; and

an orientable adaptor attached to the current member, wherein the orientable adaptor is symmetrical about a center line and wherein the orientable adaptor allows the current member to have a constant orientation within the base;

attaching the orientable adaptor to a socket, wherein the orientable adaptor is disposed according to a position of a grounding terminal on the socket

attaching the current member to the orientable adaptor; and

attaching the while in use cover assembly to a junction box.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the orientable adaptor is disposed 180 degrees from the position of the ground terminal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the orientable adaptor orientation changes according to a position of a grounding terminal on the socket.