Configurable electrical outlet cover enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10777981-B1
Application number	US-201916524680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 29, 2019
Priority date	Sep 14, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

An electrical outlet cover with a lid having a configurable protrusion or recess to accommodate different uses and weather resistance states. The electrical outlet cover includes a base coupled to an electrical outlet and a lid hingedly coupled to the base along a first side. The lid includes a frame with a central aperture and a telescoping enclosure with a flange at a front edge of a sleeve, the flange extending outward from the sleeve. The sleeve may include a ledge extending outward from the sleeve adjacent a back edge of the sleeve on at least two sides of the sleeve. The sleeve is slidably coupled within the central aperture and movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The flange may abut the frame in the collapsed position and the ledge may abut the frame in the expanded position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for an electrical outlet, comprising:
a base having a first hinge member and an electrical device opening configured to allow an electrical cord to electrically couple with an electrical device through the electrical device opening, the base further having a base locking aperture that extends through the base at a corner of the base; and
a lid comprising:
only one frame having a second hinge member and a central aperture extending through a center of the frame, the frame further having a frame locking aperture that extends through the frame at a corner of the frame; and
a center-portion having an enclosure with a front wall and a continuous enclosure wall extending around a perimeter of the front wall, the enclosure wall having a back edge distal to the front wall, the back edge forming a ledge extending outward from the enclosure wall;

wherein the lid is coupled to the base through the first hinge member being coupled to the second hinge member;
wherein the center-portion is slidably coupled to the frame with the enclosure extending through the central aperture of the frame and slidable between an extended, in-use position and a collapsed, not-in-use position; and
wherein the lid is pivotable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the base locking aperture and the frame locking aperture are immediately adjacent to each other the lid is in the closed position and are configured to cooperate to enable the frame to be locked in the closed position against the base by a lock extending through at least one of the base locking aperture and the frame locking aperture.

2. The cover of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge pin coupled to the first hinge member and to the second hinge member.

3. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the center-portion is configured to snap into one of the extended, in-use position and the collapsed, not-in-use position.

4. The cover of claim 1 , the base further having at least one cord port configured to allow the electrical cord to enter the outlet cover and couple to the electrical outlet.

5. A cover for an electrical outlet, comprising:
a base having a base locking aperture extending through the base and an electrical device opening configured to allow an electrical cord to electrically couple with an electrical device through the electrical device opening; and
a lid comprising:
a frame having a central aperture extending through a center of the frame and a frame locking aperture extending through the frame; and
a center-portion having an enclosure with a front wall and a continuous enclosure wall extending around a perimeter of the front wall, the enclosure wall having a back edge distal to the front wall, the back edge forming a ledge extending outward from the enclosure wall;

wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to the base;
wherein the center-portion is coupled to the frame with the enclosure extending through the central aperture of the frame and linearly movable between an extended, in-use position and a collapsed, not-in-use position;
wherein the lid is pivotable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position; and
wherein the base locking aperture and the frame locking aperture are aligned with each other when the lid is in the closed position, and are configured to cooperate to lock the frame against the base in the closed position.

6. The cover of claim 5 , wherein the center-portion is configured to snap into one of the extended, in-use position and the collapsed, not-in-use position.

7. The cover of claim 5 , the base further having at least one cord port configured to allow the electrical cord to enter the outlet cover and couple to the electrical outlet.

8. A cover for an electrical outlet, comprising:
a base having an electrical device opening configured to allow an electrical cord to electrically couple with an electrical device through the electrical device opening; and
a lid comprising:
a frame having a central aperture extending through a center of the frame; and
a center-portion having an enclosure with a front wall and a continuous enclosure wall extending around a perimeter of the front wall, the enclosure wall having a back edge distal to the front wall, the back edge forming a ledge extending outward from the enclosure wall;

wherein the center-portion is coupled to the frame with the enclosure extending through the central aperture of the frame and slidable between an extended, in-use position and a collapsed, not-in-use position;
wherein the frame is coupled to the base and is pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the base further having a base locking aperture extending through the base and the frame further having a frame locking aperture extending through the frame, wherein the base locking aperture and the frame locking aperture are configured to be aligned with one another when the lid is in the closed position.

9. The cover of claim 8 , wherein the center-portion is configured to snap into one of the extended, in-use position and the collapsed, not-in-use position.

10. The cover of claim 8 , the base further having at least one cord port configured to allow the electrical cord to enter the outlet cover and couple to the electrical outlet.

11. The cover of claim 8 , the base further having a first hinge member and the frame having a second hinge member, wherein the frame is coupled to the base through the first hinge member being coupled to the second hinge member.

Assignees

• Baldwin Jeffrey P
• Klein John E

Inventors

• Baldwin Jeffrey P
• Klein John E

Classifications

• H02G3/088

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

• H02G3/083 Primary

  Inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/10

  for surface mounting on a wall · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title