# US 12,224,566 B1 · Swing lid horizontal surface cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,566 B1 - Document ID: US12224566B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/521,541 - Filed: 2023-11-28 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-11 - Assignees: Titan3 Technology LLC - Applicants: Titan3 Technology LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey P. Baldwin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224566B1 ## CPC - H02G 3/081: {Bases, casings or covers} - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - H02G 3/185: {Floor outlets and access cups} - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A horizontal surface cover with a cover plate, at least one opening, and at least one access door. The cover plate is configured to cover an electrical device within an electrical box. The at least one opening extends through the cover plate and is sized to allow access to the electrical device through the at least one opening. The at least one access door is sized and shaped to fit within the at least one opening, and has a hinge with a hinge axis. The at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis and rotate about the hinge axis to move between a closed position and an open position. The at least one access door is aligned with and inside of the at least one opening when in the closed position, and is misaligned with the at least one opening when in the open position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A horizontal surface cover, comprising: a cover plate configured to cover an electrical device within an electrical box; at least one opening extending through the cover plate; at least one access door having a hinge with a hinge axis; and at least one latch positioned on a face of the cover plate and configured to lock a position of the at least one access door, wherein the at least one latch is configured to move with respect to the cover plate between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein the at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis and rotate about the hinge axis to move between a closed position and an open position; wherein when the at least one access door is in the closed position, the at least one access door covers the at least one opening, and when the at least one access door is in the open position, the at least one opening is exposed; and wherein the at least one access door is rotationally biased toward the open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The horizontal surface cover of claim 1, the cover plate further having a top surface, wherein when the at least one access door is in the closed position, the at least one access door is flush with the top surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The horizontal surface cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis between the closed position and an intermediate position and rotate about the hinge axis between the intermediate position and the open position, wherein, when the at least one access door is in the intermediate position, the at least one access door is aligned with but outside of the at least one opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The horizontal surface cover of claim 3, wherein, when in the closed position, the at least one access door is biased toward the intermediate position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The horizontal surface cover of claim 1, wherein the hinge axis is perpendicular to the cover plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The horizontal surface cover of claim 1, further comprising: the electrical box configured to surround the electrical device and couple with the cover plate; and the electrical device configured to electrically couple with and provide power to an electrical plug. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The horizontal surface cover of claim 1, wherein one of the at least one access door and the at least one latch has a lip and the other of the at least one access door and the at least one latch has an indentation, the lip and the indentation are configured to mate, and the at least one access door is configured to unlock when the lip is removed from the indentation. ### Claim 8 A horizontal surface cover, comprising: a cover plate configured to cover an electrical device within an electrical box; at least one opening extending through the cover plate; at least one access door having a hinge with a hinge axis, wherein the at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis and rotate about the hinge axis to move between a closed position and an open position; and at least one latch positioned on a face of the cover plate and configured to lock the at least one access door in the closed position, wherein the at least one latch is configured to linearly move with respect to the cover plate between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein when the at least one access door is in the closed position, the at least one access door covers the at least one opening, and when the at least one access door is in the open position, the at least one opening is exposed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The horizontal surface cover of claim 8, the cover plate further having a top surface, wherein when the at least one access door is in the closed position, the at least one access door is flush with the top surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The horizontal surface cover of claim 8, wherein the at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis between the closed position and an intermediate position and rotate about the hinge axis between the intermediate position and the open position, wherein, when the at least one access door is in the intermediate position, the at least one access door is aligned with but outside of the at least one opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The horizontal surface cover of claim 10, wherein, when in the closed position, the at least one access door is biased toward the intermediate position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The horizontal surface cover of claim 8, wherein the hinge axis is perpendicular to the cover plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The horizontal surface cover of claim 8, further comprising: the electrical box configured to surround the electrical device and couple with the cover plate; and the electrical device configured to electrically couple with and provide power to an electrical plug. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The horizontal surface cover of claim 8, wherein one of the at least one access door and the at least one latch has a lip and the other of the at least one access door and the at least one latch has an indentation, the lip and the indentation are configured to mate, and the at least one access door is configured to unlock when the lip is removed from the indentation. ### Claim 15 A horizontal surface cover, comprising: a cover plate configured to cover an electrical device within an electrical box; at least one opening extending through the cover plate; and at least one access door having a hinge with a hinge axis, wherein the at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis and rotate about the hinge axis to move between a closed position and an open position; wherein when the at least one access door is in the closed position, the at least one access door covers the at least one opening, and when the at least one access door is in the open position, the at least one opening is exposed; and wherein the at least one access door is rotationally biased toward the open position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The horizontal surface cover of claim 15, the cover plate further having a top surface, wherein when the at least one access door is in the closed position, the at least one access door is flush with the top surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The horizontal surface cover of claim 15, wherein the at least one access door is configured to translate along the hinge axis between the closed position and an intermediate position and rotate about the hinge axis between the intermediate position and the open position, wherein, when the at least one access door is in the intermediate position, the at least one access door is aligned with but outside of the at least one opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The horizontal surface cover of claim 17, wherein, when in the closed position, the at least one access door is biased toward the intermediate position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The horizontal surface cover of claim 15, the cover plate comprising at least one latch, wherein one of the at least one access door and the at least one latch has a lip and the other of the at least one access door and the at least one latch has an indentation, the lip and the indentation are configured to mate, and the at least one access door is configured to unlock when the lip is removed from the indentation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The horizontal surface cover of claim 15, further comprising at least one latch positioned on a face of the cover plate and configured to lock the at least one access door in the closed position, wherein the at least one latch is configured to linearly move with respect to the cover plate between a locked position and an unlocked position.