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US 10,381,788 B2Granted
Active cover plates
AssigneeSnapRays LLC
InventorsJeremy C. Smith, R. Camden Robinson, Darren C. Knight, Martin Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described.
Claims30
An active cover plate comprising:
- a face plate;
- a prong extending from a back surface of the face plate, wherein the prong comprises:
- an upright comprising at least one aperture;
- and
- a resilient contact comprising a fixed end and a free end;
- wherein the upright is wider than the fixed end and the free end;
- wherein the resilient contact is disposed on an inboard side of the upright;
- and
- wherein the fixed end of the resilient contact is secured to the upright and at least a portion of the resilient contact extends over the at least one aperture in the upright.
6 more elements
An active cover plate extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the active cover plate comprising:
- a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an electrical receptacle aperture, wherein the electrical receptacle aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction;
- a prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the electrical receptacle aperture, the prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction, wherein the prong comprises a cantilever spring having two ends, a fixed end and a free end extending inboard of the fixed end;
- an insulative back element extending away from the back surface in the transverse direction, wherein the insulative back element comprises an outboard wall and lateral walls joined to opposite edges of the outboard wall.
A wall-plate system extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the wall-plate system comprising:
- a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an electrical receptacle aperture, wherein the electrical receptacle aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction;
- a first prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the electrical receptacle aperture;
- the first prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction;
- the first prong comprising:
- a first upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction,
- a first insulating back element, wherein the first insulating back element covers an outboard side of the first upright and left and right edges of the upright, wherein the first insulating back element is secured to the first upright through at least one aperture in the first upright;
- and
- a first resilient contact located on an inboard side of the first upright, and the first resilient contact comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle portion;
- and wherein the first end of the first resilient contact is fixed to the first upright of the first prong;
- a second prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the electrical receptacle aperture;
- a second prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction;
- the second prong comprising:
- a second upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction,
- a second insulating back element, wherein the second insulating back element covers an outboard side of the second upright and left and right edges of the second upright, wherein the second insulating back element is secured to the second upright through at least one aperture in the second upright;
- and
- a second resilient contact located on an inboard side of the second upright, the second resilient contact comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle portion;
- and wherein the first end of the second resilient contact is fixed to the second upright of the second prong;
- wherein the second prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the electrical receptacle aperture, the second prong being opposite the first prong across the electrical receptacle aperture.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.