# US 9,437,959 B2 · Slim line while in use cover and methods for making and using the same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,437,959 B2
- Document ID: US9437959B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/788,628
- Filed: 2013-03-07
- Published: 2013-09-12
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-08
- Assignees: Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corporation
- Applicants: Ashok Alilughatta Sathyanarayana; Lokesh Kumar Sahu; Chandrakanthrao Gireeshrao; Vishal Krishnarao Patil
- Inventors: Ashok Alilughatta Sathyanarayana; Lokesh Kumar Sahu; Chandrakanthrao Gireeshrao; Vishal Krishnarao Patil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437959B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/5213: {Covers}
- H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle}
- H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box
- H01R 13/6392: {for extension cord}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

In one embodiment, a while in use cover assembly 10, comprising: a lid 14 hingedly attached to a base 12 having a back wall 64; and socket assembly 52,152 comprising a receiver socket 20 attached to the lid 14 and/or the base 12, and located between the lid 14 and the base 12; wherein the receiver socket 20 comprises a face 122 with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug 86; wherein the socket face 122 changes orientation with respect to the back wall 64 when the lid is opened; and wherein the while in use cover assembly 10 is configured to be attached to an outlet socket 50.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A while in use cover assembly (10), comprising:
a lid (14) hingedly attached to a base (12) having a back wall (64); and
socket assembly (52,152) comprising a receiver socket (20) attached to the lid (14) and/or the base (12), and located between the lid (14) and the base (12);
wherein the receiver socket (20) comprises a face (122) with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug (86);
wherein the socket face (122) changes orientation with respect to the back wall (64) when the lid is opened; and
wherein the while in use cover assembly (10) is configured to be attached to an outlet socket (50).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the back wall (64) further comprises an aperture (70) that enables access to an interrupter switch (124) when the while in use cover assembly (10) is installed on a junction box.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the while in use cover assembly (10) has a depth in use and with the lid closed that is less than or equal to 1.5 inches.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the socket assembly (52) further comprising an adapter plug (22) connected to the receiver socket (20) by an adapter plug cord (24), wherein the adapter plug (22) is configured to electrically connect to the outlet socket (50); and wherein the receiver socket (20) is attached to the lid (14).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 4, wherein the adapter plug (22) comprises an adapter plug head (60) that is rotatable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The while in use cover assembly of claim 4, wherein the adapter plug head (60) comprises a rotatable face comprising plug elements (62).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the receiver socket (20) is irremovably attached to the lid (14).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the receiver socket (20) is removably attached to the lid (14).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the base (12) has a longer side (126) and a shorter side (128), and wherein the longer side (126) can be oriented on horizontally or vertically, and wherein the lid opens away from the ground in the open position regardless of whether the longer side (126) is oriented on horizontally or vertically.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the socket face (122) is non-perpendicular to the back wall (64), when the lid (14) in an open position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the socket face (122) forms an angle Φ with the back wall (64) when the lid (14) is in an open position, and wherein the angle Φ is 150 to 180 degrees.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the back wall (64) comprises removable tabs (100).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the back wall (64) comprises an extension (74) sized and shaped to cover the outlet socket (50) when the adapter plug (22) is attached to the outlet socket (50).

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the back wall (64) further comprises an access port (76) oriented and sized to allow access to an outlet socket interrupter switch (124) when the while in use cover assembly (10) is attached to the outlet socket (50).

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the base (12) has a lip (118) extending from the back wall (64) away from the lid (14), wherein the lip (118) is sized and shaped to extend around an outer periphery of a junction box opening.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the base (12) further comprises a channel around a perimeter of the base (12), wherein an outside perimeter of the lid (14) is positioned within the channel when the while in use cover assembly (10) is closed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the receiver socket (20) is attached to the lid (14) and connected to socket terminals (132), wherein the socket terminals (132) are in physical contact with base terminals (130).

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the receiver socket (20) is attached to the lid (14), and wherein the socket face (122) has an angle such that, when a power cord plug (86) is inserted into the receiver socket (20) such that the power cord plug (86) forms a plug angle θ with the lid of greater than 0 degrees.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 18, wherein the plug angle θ is 5 to 45 degrees.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 1, further comprising
an arm (142) extending from the socket assembly (152) to the lid (14);
wherein the socket assembly (152) has socket terminals (132) that are in direct contact with base terminals (130) when the lid (14) is in a closed position;
wherein, when the lid is opened, the arm causes the socket face (122) to change positions and form angle Φ with the back wall (64); and
wherein the angle Φ is greater than 90 degrees.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 20, wherein the arm (142) further comprises access hole (154) that enables access to a junction box attachment portion (66,68) on the back wall (64).

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The while in use cover assembly (10) of claim 20, wherein the angle Φ is 150 to 180 degrees.

### Claim 23

A while in use cover assembly (10), comprising:
a lid (14) connected to a base (12) having a power cord exit (106) and a back wall (64); and
socket assembly (52,152) comprising a receiver socket (20) located between the lid (14) and the base (12);
wherein the receiver socket (20) comprises a socket face (122) with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug (86);
wherein the while in use cover assembly (10) has a constant depth, when the lid (14) is closed, when in use and when not in use; and
wherein, when the while in use cover assembly (10) is in use, a power cord plug (86) is attached to the receiver socket (20), and a power cord (98) extending from the power cord plug (86) extends through the power cord exit (106) while bending toward the back wall (64) or the lid by less than or equal to 15 degrees as measured from an angle parallel with an axis A.

### Claim 24

A socket assembly (52), comprising:
a receiver socket (20) having blade apertures (82) for receiving a power cord plug; and
an adapter plug cord (24) extending from the receiver socket (20) to an adapter plug (22);
wherein the adapter plug (22) has plug elements (62) extending therefrom and configured to be received in an outlet socket (50); and
wherein the receiver socket (20) comprises a first surface (94) configured to engage with an attachment mechanism (48) on a lid (14) of a while in use cover assembly (10).

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The socket assembly (52) of claim 24, wherein the attachment mechanism (48) comprises an adhesive pad, a snap fit engagement, a pressure fit engagement, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The socket assembly (52) of claim 24, wherein the adapter plug (22) comprises a rotatable adapter plug head (60).

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The socket assembly (52) of claim 26, wherein the adapter plug (22) further comprises a rotatable face comprising the plug elements (62).

### Claim 28

A method of using a while in use cover assembly (10), comprising:
opening a lid of the while in use cover assembly (10), wherein the while in use cover assembly (10) comprises
a lid (14) hingedly attached to a base (12) having a back wall (64) with a junction box attachment portion (66,68); and
socket assembly (52,152) comprising a receiver socket (20) physically attached to the lid (14) and/or the base (12), and located between the lid (14) and the base (12);
wherein the receiver socket (20) comprises a face (122) with blade apertures (82) configured to receive a power cord plug (86);
wherein as the lid is opened, the socket face (122) changes orientation with respect to the back wall (64); and
attaching the while in use cover assembly (10) to a junction box via the junction box attachment portion (66,68).

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the while in use cover assembly (10) further comprises an arm (142) extending from the socket assembly (152) to the lid (14);
wherein the socket assembly (152) has socket terminals (132) that are in direct contact with base terminals (130) when the lid (14) is in a closed position;
wherein the change in orientation of the of the socket face (122) is caused by the arm; and
further comprising using an access hole (154) through the arm to access the junction box attachment portion (66,68).

### Claim 30

A method of using a while in use cover assembly (10), comprising:
opening a lid of the while in use cover assembly (10), wherein the while in use cover assembly (10) comprises
a lid (14) hingedly attached to a base (12) having a back wall (64) with a junction box attachment portion (66,68); and
socket assembly (52,152) comprising a receiver socket (20) physically attached to the lid (14) and/or the base (12), and located between the lid (14) and the base (12);
wherein the receiver socket (20) comprises a face (122) with blade apertures (82) configured to receive a power cord plug (86);
changing an orientation of the socket face (122);
inserting the male socket (84) into the blade apertures (82); and
attaching the while in use cover assembly (10) to a junction box via the junction box attachment portion (66,68).