Electrical receptacle assembly with outward-biasing faceplate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10714879-B2
Application number	US-201916354661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2019
Priority date	Apr 1, 2016
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

A faceplate assembly may include a faceplate having an opening configured to receive an electrical device insert, and an adapter that is disposed between the faceplate and a structure. The adapter may abut a surface of the structure. The faceplate assembly may include one or more biasing members that may be configured to bias the faceplate outward relative to the structure. A first biasing member may include one or more resilient fingers. The fingers may be configured to abut a yoke that is installed in the structure (e.g., attached within an opening of the structure). A second biasing member may include a resilient spacer that is configured to be disposed between the faceplate and the adapter. The one or more biasing members may apply forces against the faceplate that may cause the faceplate to be biased outward relative to the surface of the structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A faceplate assembly comprising:
a faceplate that defines an opening that is configured to receive an electrical device insert of an electrical device;
a biasing member comprising a plurality of resilient fingers that are cantilevered from a perimeter of the opening, the plurality of resilient fingers configured to abut a yoke of the electrical device; and
an adapter that is configured to be disposed between the faceplate and a structure, such that the adapter at least partially surrounds a portion of the electrical device insert, the adapter further configured to abut a surface of the structure.

2. The faceplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resilient fingers is configured to deflect against the yoke such that the faceplate is biased away from the surface of the structure.

3. The faceplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resilient fingers is configured to abut the yoke that is installed in the structure, and thereby to bias the faceplate against the electrical device insert.

4. The faceplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of resilient fingers comprises a cantilevered beam defined at a location along the perimeter of the opening, and wherein each of the plurality of resilient fingers is angularly offset inward relative to an outer surface of the faceplate.

5. The faceplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate further defines at least one ledge that is spaced inward from an outer surface of the faceplate, the at least one ledge configured to abut the electrical device insert when the faceplate is biased away from the surface of the structure.

6. The faceplate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one ledge comprises four ledges, and wherein each of the at least one ledge is defined at a corresponding corner of the opening.

7. The faceplate assembly of claim 6 , wherein the faceplate further defines inner walls that extend around the perimeter of the opening, and that extend rearward from an inner surface of the faceplate to the ledges, and wherein the faceplate further defines outer walls that extend rearward from the inner surface of the faceplate along an outer perimeter of the faceplate.

8. The faceplate assembly of claim 7 , wherein the adapter comprises walls that define an outer perimeter of the adapter,
wherein the inner walls of the faceplate fit within an area bound by the walls of the adapter, and
wherein the walls of the adapter fit within an area bound by the outer walls of the faceplate.

9. The faceplate assembly of claim 6 , wherein the ledges are spaced inward from the outer surface of the faceplate such that, when one or more of the ledges abut the electrical device insert, a front surface of the electrical device insert is proud or flush relative to the outer surface of the faceplate.

10. The faceplate assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of resilient fingers comprises eight resilient fingers, and wherein two resilient fingers extend from each ledge.

11. A faceplate that is configured to bias outward relative to a structure, the faceplate comprising:
a plate that defines a front surface and an opening that extends through the plate, the opening configured to receive an electrical device insert of an electrical device;
outer walls that extend rearward from the plate along an outer perimeter of the plate; and
a biasing member comprising a plurality of resilient fingers that are cantilevered from a perimeter of the opening, the plurality of resilient fingers configured to abut a yoke of the electrical device.

12. The faceplate of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of resilient fingers is configured to deflect against the yoke such that the faceplate is biased away from a surface of the structure.

13. The faceplate of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of resilient fingers configured to abut the yoke that is installed in the structure, and thereby to bias the faceplate against the electrical device insert.

14. The faceplate of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of resilient fingers comprises a cantilevered beam defined at a location along the perimeter of the opening.

15. The faceplate of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of resilient fingers is angularly offset inward relative to an outer surface of the faceplate.

16. The faceplate of claim 11 , wherein the plate defines at least one ledge that is spaced inward from the front surface of the plate, the at least one ledge configured to abut the electrical device insert when the faceplate is biased away from a surface of the structure, and wherein the at least one ledge comprises four ledges, and wherein each ledge is defined at a corresponding corner of the opening.

17. The faceplate of claim 16 , wherein the ledges are spaced inward from the front surface of the plate such that, when one or more of the ledges abut the electrical device insert, an outer surface of the electrical device insert is proud or flush relative to the front surface of the plate.

18. The faceplate of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of resilient fingers comprises eight resilient fingers, and wherein two resilient fingers extend from each ledge.

19. The faceplate of claim 16 , wherein the plate further defines inner walls that extend around the perimeter of the opening, and that extend rearward from the plate to the ledges.

20. A faceplate assembly comprising:
a faceplate that defines an opening that is configured to receive an electrical device insert of an electrical device;
a biasing member comprising a plurality of resilient fingers that are cantilevered from a perimeter of the opening, the plurality of resilient fingers configured to abut a yoke of the electrical device; and
an adapter that is configured to be disposed between the faceplate and a structure, such that the adapter at least partially surrounds a portion of the electrical device insert, the adapter further configured to abut a surface of the structure,
wherein the faceplate further defines inner walls that extend around the perimeter of the opening, and that extend rearward from an inner surface of the faceplate, and
wherein the faceplate further defines outer walls that extend rearward from the inner surface of the faceplate along an outer perimeter of the faceplate.

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Andersen Adam J
• Kreschollek Brad Michael

Classifications

• H02G3/14 Primary

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• H01R13/74 Primary

  Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel · CPC title

• H02G3/121

  in plain walls · CPC title

• H02G3/123

  in thin walls · CPC title

• H02G3/088

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets · CPC title