Cover plate for electrical outlets and switches
OwnerKyung T. Kiminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover plate for an electrical outlet or electrical switch unit includes an attachment element having one surface attached to an inside surface of the cover plate and another surface configured to be removably secured to a surface of the outlet or switch unit. Advantageously, this attachment method of the cover plate onto the outlet or switch unit conceals unsightly screws. In one embodiment, the attachment element comprises magnets to connect the cover plate to the outlet or switch unit. In another embodiment, mating VELCRO™ portions are used to connect the cover plate to the outlet or switch unit.
Claims24
A method of attaching a cover plate to an electrical access unit, the method comprising:
- attaching a separately formed attachment element to the cover plate;
- engaging a flange portion on an edge of the cover plate with a notch on an edge of the electrical access unit;
- while the flange portion is engaged with the notch, pivoting the cover plate about the edge of the electrical access unit so that the cover plate pivots toward the electrical access unit;
- and
- removably securing the attachment element of the cover plate to the electrical access unit;
- wherein the cover plate is selectively attachable and detachable with respect to the electrical access unit.
A cover plate for an electrical access unit, comprising:
- a face plate having a substantially flat inner surface and a flange portion on an edge of the face plate, the flange portion configured to engage a notch on an edge of an electrical access unit so that the face plate can pivot about the edge of the electrical access unit while the flange portion engages the notch;
- and
- an attachment element attached to the inner surface of the face plate, the attachment element configured to be removably secured to a substantially flat surface of the electrical access unit;
- wherein the face plate is selectively attachable and detachable with respect to the electrical access unit.
A wall-mounted electrical access unit cover plate, comprising a face plate and an attachment element mounted to a substantially flat inner surface of the face plate, the attachment element designed to securely and removably attach to an attaching target of an electrical access unit, the face plate having an edge with a flange portion configured to engage a notch on an edge of the electrical access unit so that the face plate can pivot about the edge of the electrical access unit while the flange portion engages the notch, the cover plate being selectively attachable and detachable with respect to the electrical access unit.
A method of attaching a cover plate to an electrical access unit, the method comprising:
- attaching a separately formed attachment element to the cover plate, the attachment element comprising one or more magnets configured to become magnetically secured to metal surfaces of the electrical access unit;
- engaging a flange portion on an edge of the cover plate with an interlock element on an edge of the electrical access unit;
- while the flange portion is engaged with the interlock element, pivoting the cover plate about the edge of the electrical access unit so that the cover plate pivots toward the electrical access unit;
- removably securing the attachment element of the cover plate to the electrical access unit;
- and
- aligning an indexing pocket on an inside surface of the cover plate to a metal surface of the electrical access unit, the indexing pocket containing one of the one or more magnets;
- wherein the cover plate is selectively attachable and detachable with respect to the electrical access unit.
A method of attaching a cover plate to an electricity outlet, the method comprising:
- attaching a separately formed attachment element to the cover plate;
- engaging a flange portion on an edge of the cover plate with an interlock element on an edge of the electricity outlet;
- while the flange portion is engaged with the interlock element, pivoting the cover plate about the edge of the electricity outlet so that the cover plate pivots toward the electricity outlet;
- and
- removably securing the attachment element of the cover plate to the electricity outlet;
- wherein the cover plate is selectively attachable and detachable with respect to the electricity outlet.
A cover plate for an electrical access unit, comprising:
- a face plate having a substantially flat inner surface and a flange portion on an edge of the face plate, the flange portion configured to engage an interlock element on an edge of an electrical access unit so that the face plate can pivot about the edge of the electrical access unit while the flange portion engages the interlock element;
- and
- an attachment element attached to the inner surface of the face plate, the attachment element configured to be removably secured to a substantially flat surface of the electrical access unit;
- wherein the face plate is selectively attachable and detachable with respect to the electrical access unit, the inner surface of the face plate including an indexing pocket configured to be aligned with an attaching target on the electrical access unit, said indexing pocket containing the attachment element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.