Add-a-depth ring and cover plate assembly
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsKrzysztof W. Korcz, Kenneth Moehle, Mahran Husain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable depth cover plate assembly includes a top plate and an adjustable sleeve to compensate for different spacing between the outer surface of a wall and the front side of an electrical box. The adjustable cover plate is positioned on the electrical box with the end of the sleeve abutting the electrical box. Mounting screws of an electrical wiring device pass through an opening in the top plate of the cover plate into the electrical box whereby the cover plate is captured between the wiring device and the electrical box. The length of the sleeve of the cover plate is adjustable by providing frangible score lines or telescoping members.
Claims22
An electrical box cover plate for coupling to an electrical box, comprising:
- a planar top member having an access opening with a dimension sufficient to receive an electrical wiring device and having an outer edge with a dimension to contact an outer surface of a wall, said access opening defining an inner edge of said top member, said top member having at least one screw opening for receiving a mounting screw of the electrical wiring device for coupling the cover plate to the electrical box;
- and a sleeve coupled to a bottom face of said top member around said inner edge, said sleeve extending substantially perpendicular to said top member and being spaced inwardly from said outer edge, and where said sleeve has an axial adjustable length, said screw opening is spaced inwardly from said sleeve.
An electrical box assembly including an electrical box having a front face with an opening, and an adjustable cover plate, the adjustable cover plate comprising:
- a one piece unitary planar top plate having an access opening for receiving an electrical wiring device, a continuous inner edge defined by said access opening, and a continuous outer edge, said top plate having a dimension to contact an outer surface of a wall and to support the electrical wiring device;
- and
- a sleeve coupled to a bottom face of said top plate and having a continuous wall around said inner edge, said sleeve extending substantially perpendicular to said top plate and being spaced inwardly from said outer edge, said sleeve having an axially adjustable length and having an axial end contacting said front face of said electrical box.
A method for coupling an electrical wiring device to an electrical box, the method comprising:
- coupling an electrical box to a support structure having a wall membrane attached thereto, the wall membrane having an opening aligned with an opening in the electrical box;
- positioning an adjustable cover plate on an outer surface of the wall membrane opposite the electrical box, the cover plate having a top plate with an inner edge defining an access opening, an outer edge, and a sleeve coupled to a bottom face of the top plate and having an axial end, the adjustable cover plate being positioned with the sleeve extending through the opening in the wall membrane having the axial end of the sleeve abutting the electrical box, and a bottom face of the cover plate abutting an outer surface of the wall membrane;
- and
- coupling the electrical wiring device to the adjustable cover plate and electrical box by a screw extending from the wiring device through an opening in the cover plate inside the sleeve and threaded into a threaded hole in the electrical box.
An electrical box cover plate for coupling to an electrical box, said cover plate comprising:
- a planar top member having an access opening with a dimension to receive an electrical wiring device, said opening defining an inner edge, said top member further having an outer edge with a dimension to contact an outer surface of a wall;
- and
- a sleeve coupled to a bottom face of said top member surrounding said opening and being spaced radially outward from said inner edge and radially inward from said outer edge, said sleeve having an adjustable axial length for contacting an outer surface of the electrical box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.